Job Summary

The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) is seeking an individual to provide the highest level of excellence in the development and implementation of advanced research and leadership opportunities for U-M undergraduate students conducting research and scholarly work. We seek an individual that will be energized by working in a student-centered, multidisciplinary, and collaborative team environment. We seek an individual who values working with students, researchers, and academic support units; has a creative approach to work; is comfortable taking action in a growing and changing workplace; and who will contribute to a motivated collegial team environment. . We are looking for candidates with a commitment to creating access and comprehensive support to students pursuing independent, advanced scholarly work and students pursuing post-baccalaureate research opportunities, while centering student development, student success, and students' needs at the various stages of their academic and professional development. The position involves building synergy amongst and across all the programs, without duplicating current efforts.

The Senior Academic Program Manager will oversee in their job portfolio several, small cohort-based student programs. The first program they will lead is the U-M STAMPS Scholars Program, in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR), including the building and scaffolding of a 4-year student cohort model. The goal is to recruit approximately 7 high achieving students per year, which would equate to approximately 30 students (scaled total). The STAMPS Scholars Program is for exceptional U-M undergraduate students who exhibit leadership, scholarship, and service in their research fields. To learn more, visit OVPR webpage and UROP webpage. The second student-based cohort model is the UROP Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) focused on preparing students for graduate education and advanced research skills. Working collectively with all U-M academic Departments, Rackham Graduate School, and UROP campus partners, the Program Manager will have the opportunity to build the program from scratch; working with the Director of UROP and campus partners on securing student funding; and providing holistic personal, professional, academic, and research support for students engaged in the 2 year, upperclassmen program. Each student cohort would be 20-25 students. The third student-based cohort model the Academic Program Manager would oversee is UROPs current partnership with Michigan Medicine on the "Research for Impact Program", a medical and research mentorship program, that launched in Fall 2021. As part of Michigan Medicine's curriculum, UROP students can work with a medical team on applying medical research toward delivering a solution to an issue within a real-world setting and begin to explore sustained self-directed learning in an area of the student's passion. Each student is paired with a physician, a clinical researcher, and a medical student. The student-cohort size is 15 students per year, for a total cohort size of 30 students for a two year period.

All of the above small, student cohort programs are aligned with UROPs broader vision for the future and UROPs Student Success Model. Thus, the Senior Academic Program Manager would work with the Director of UROP and Student Success Coaches on the design and implementation of UROPs Research-Student Success Workshops, providing a centralized service and support to U-M undergraduate students engaged in research, scholarly, and creative inquiry. UROP has strong partnerships across U-M Divisions, Schools/Colleges, and Academic and Student Affairs. We will continue to leverage and scale our partnerships through ongoing collaboration.

The Senior Academic Program Manager for Advanced Research, Leadership, and Post-Baccalaureate Research Programs reports to the Director of UROP.

Mission Statement

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

Who We Are

The University of Michigan (U-M) has a strong tradition of engaging undergraduate students in mentored research opportunities and is a national leader in promoting early engagement and broad access to research. Given the wealth of cutting edge research being conducted on campus, an undergraduate research experience clearly adds to the value of a degree from the University of Michigan. The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) engages U-M undergraduate students in undergraduate research and discovery experiences across the University of Michigan, providing wrap-around services for students (travel grants, professional training and research training workshops, and more).

MISSION:

The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) is a cross-campus partnership creating a multi-dimensional community of learners and researchers at the University of Michigan (U-M). UROP encourages students towards a lifelong appreciation for discovery, building understanding across differences, and critically examining information in the world around them. UROP provides opportunities for undergraduate students to work on research and creative projects with University of Michigan researchers and community partners in all academic disciplines, allowing students to develop into independent thinkers, scholars, and engaged citizens while developing critical life skills and well-being habits. By developing intentional strategies focused on student and mentor engagement, training and development, UROP creates conditions for an equitable, inclusive, justice-based, and supportive educational community. Our mission is to provide an environmental culture where every person is both valued and has an opportunity to add value.

VISION:

The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) envisions a world where every student, regardless of background and lived experiences, has the opportunity to apply academic knowledge to important research questions and real-world challenges. This vision inspires UROP to lead and innovate while developing a culture of inclusive student, faculty, and staff collaboration that increases student success and access to research, scholarship, and creative practice. UROP equips future leaders with skills to realize their full intellectual potential, to develop scholarly relationships, and find creative answers to challenges facing today's world.

Responsibilities*

Responsibilities included but are not limited to:

I. Manage the Program Development and Operations for the U-M STAMPS Scholars Program (35%)

Working with U-M OVPR, oversee the student recruitment and admission for the prestigious program.
Oversee the UROP STAMPS Scholars Summer Fellowship Program
Coordinate the STAMPS Scholars peer mentoring program and the STAMPS Scholars alumni-student engagement series.
Conduct academic, leadership, and research workshops that serve students at a more advanced level of their research and scholarly work.
Working with U-M campus partners in Student Affairs, provide leadership development and training to STAMPS Scholars, based on their developmental and personal needs.
Provide coaching and academic support to STAMPS Scholars presenting at professional conferences and/or other intellectual engagement activities.
Monitor student academic standing and professional development over a 4-year period. Provide individual support to students to ensure their ongoing academic, research, scholarly and professional success.
Collaborate with U-M OVPR on the STAMPS Scholars Special Lecture Series and opportunities to learn from national and international leaders.
Collaborate with U-M OVPR on program evaluation and the Annual Foundation Report.

II. Manage and Oversee the UROP Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (25%)

The goal for the Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP program) would prepare students for graduate education, similar to the University of California Leadership Excellence through Advanced Degrees (LEADS) program and/or the U.S. Department of Education Ronald E. McNair Program.

Design and coordinate the UROP Grad PREP Program..
Provide significant academic and professional support for students who have the potential to earn a graduate education and degree but who might otherwise struggle to complete their degrees-particularly in STEM fields (although the program will serve all academic areas).
Work with UROP leadership and other campus units (Rackham, academic departments, etc.) on research opportunities and professional development, faculty and graduate student mentorship, and courses to provide structured support in graduate school exploration and preparation.
Develop a 1-2 graduate school preparatory program within UROP, with a focus on Diversity-Equity-Inclusion-Justice (DEIJ), to produce highly competitive graduate school applicants who have the skills and experiences necessary to succeed in their graduate studies.
Supervise two graduate/doctoral students.
Conduct evaluation of the program, including monitoring and maintaining program records, acting as a liaison with other colleges and graduate program faculty.

III. Design and manage the academic and professional development Student Success Workshop Series (25%)

The Senior Academic Program Manager would be responsible for workshops related to Entering Undergraduate Research; the coaching and preparation for students applying to undergraduate research opportunities, both internal and external to U-M; as well as all professional development workshops related to teaching students on becoming an independent researcher. Workshops would span from the novice researcher to the more experienced researcher, since UROP serves undergraduate students from all academic levels.
The Academic Program Manager would have support from research-student success coaches to build upon and scale much of UROPs professional development series so that it is available to all U-M undergraduate student researchers.
Working with the Director of UROP and established campus partners, develop more support for post-baccalaureate research opportunities for undergraduate students seeking such pathways.

IV. Co-Lead with the University of Michigan School of Medicine faculty and medical students on CURSCI's Research for Impact Program-Medical Mentorship Program (15%)

This includes the recruitment of students, collaborating with Michigan Medicine on the educational and professional programming and training for the program, and ongoing tracking and evaluation.

Required Qualifications*

Ph.D with a minimum of 2 years of responsible experience in higher education professional development work; or an equivalent combination of education plus experience.
Reasonable, increasingly responsible experience as a successful member of a high-level support team in program development, management and coordination in a university setting, including program leadership, planning and administration.
Understanding of the current graduate education landscape, particularly knowledge of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice (DEIJ) in higher education and career diversity for doctoral students.
Experience implementing effective and innovative professional development programs and services for diverse audiences.
Understanding, appreciation of, and strong personal commitment to the advancement of graduate education for low income, first generation, and minoritized students.
Program evaluation experience and familiarity with quantitative and qualitative methodologies for assessing programs.
Demonstrated customer service attitude and experience and excellent interpersonal communication skills, including the capacity to build collegial relationships with students, faculty and staff within the Graduate School and across the University and the ability to work with a wide range of people who represent our diverse and multicultural society.
Demonstrated ability to exercise a high level of initiative, creativity and judgment and to achieve organizational and operational change within a large and complex organization with multiple operations and constituencies.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with faculty, staff and
graduate student constituencies, both orally and in writing, including the ability to exercise discretion and judgment in matters of a sensitive or confidential nature.
Commitment to empowering students in their professional development.
Understanding and value of diversity and the importance of inclusion as demonstrated through a commitment to apply and incorporate the differences, complexities, and opportunities that diversity brings to an organization.

Desired Qualifications*

1-2 years of management and supervision experience strongly preferred. Experience implementing initiatives that require organizational/cultural change.
Extensive knowledge of graduate education and the diverse cultures of schools, colleges, and units with which the graduate school interacts. Knowledge of university organizational structure, policies, procedures, and practices.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

As one of the world's great liberal arts colleges, LSA pushes the boundaries of what is understood about the human experience and the natural world, and we foster the next generation of rigorous and empathetic thinkers, creators, and contributors to the state of Michigan, the nation, and the world.

To learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion in LSA, please visit lsa.umich.edu/lsa/dei.

To learn more about LSA's Mission, Vision and Values, please visit lsa.umich.edu/strategicvision.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.