Assistant Program Director

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Penn State Millennium Scholars Program seeks an innovative, energetic professional to fill the position of Assistant Program Director (Student Advocacy Specialist). This position provides academic coaching and support to about 150 undergraduate students participating in the Millennium Scholars Program, with a special focus on second-year students and their unique needs. The mission of the Penn State Millennium Scholars Program (MSP) is to cultivate a diverse group of undergraduate scholars who are highly motivated to ultimately pursue doctoral degrees in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. This program is managed through the Office of the President.

The Assistant Program Director assists all MSP students in meeting program requirements through specialized counseling and instruction regarding professional development, obtaining research experience, participation in professional conferences, and preparing for strong academic outcomes. The Assistant Program Director also plans, prepares, and implements a series of ongoing workshops, programs, and events including seminar courses, scholarly visits to research facilities, and individualized advising, counseling, and mentorship. Throughout the academic year, the Assistant Program Director provides weekly seminars and instruction on topics relevant to academic and summer research preparation such as selection of labs/programs, interview skills, personal statement preparation, and the REU/internship application process. This position will also assist in managing the MSP tutoring program with the responsibility to identify and match tutors with MSP scholars and provide support and training for tutors.

This position works with students, advisors, associate deans, and faculty in six colleges (Eberly College of Science, Agricultural Sciences, Information Sciences and Technology, Engineering, Earth and Mineral Sciences, and Health and Human Development.) This position is also engaged with residence life, financial aid, and the Millennium Scholars Program Steering Committee. The Millennium Scholars Program is one of six similar programs that follow the Meyerhoff Scholars model and form a national partnership sharing best practices. The Assistant Program Director visits, works with, and shares best practices with counterparts at other universities, enabling all programs to be more effective in increasing the number of undergraduate students academically prepared to become Ph.D. scholars. External engagement also extends to an additional 10 to 15 institutions where student research partnerships are developed. This individual will assist students in transitioning from undergraduate rationale to strategic thinking for graduate success and help students initiate early research efforts towards eventual graduate school admission. This Assistant Program Director will know studentswell and contribute to the strategies unique to each student's academic success.

All Assistant Program Directors for the MSP (each with a specific focus on first-, second-, third-, and fourth-year scholars) positively and directly impact the retention and graduation rate of student audiences that are not typically engaged in STEM majors at Penn State. While the national average for graduation in STEM fields for these groups without intervention is well below 50%, the graduation rate for Penn State Millennium Scholars is at 91%, with most going on directly into Ph.D. programs. This success can be directly attributed to the Assistant Program Directors who together invest in all four years of the student experience at Penn State.

Education and experience:

This position requires a minimum of 6+ years of relevant experience and a Master's degree in STEM education, a STEM field, counselor education, college student personnel, higher education administration, or related fields. A Ph.D. is preferred with experience in STEM intervention programming and a demonstrated understanding educational access.

This position requires the following clearances:

PA State Police Criminal Background Check, PA Child Abuse History Clearance Form, and Federal (FBI) Fingerprint Criminal Background Check.

This position requires that you operate a motor vehicle as a part of your job duties. A valid driver's license and successful completion of a motor vehicle records check will be required in addition to clearances.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion inall ofits forms.We embrace individual uniqueness, foster a culture of inclusive excellencethat supports both broad and specific diversity initiatives, leverage the educational and institutional benefits of diversity, and engage all individuals to help them thrive. We value inclusive excellence as a core strength and an essential element of our public service mission.

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades is:

Salary Structure - additional information on Penn State's job and salary structure.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: