URS Scholar Program Coordinator

Job Summary:

The Undergraduate Research Scholars (URS) program (https://urs.ls.wisc.edu/ ) brings together new UW-Madison students with faculty and staff to enhance the university's mission of research and creative endeavor. URS helps create a diverse and inclusive scholarly community, develops leadership through peer mentoring, and assists students in planning challenging post-baccalaureate opportunities.
The Scholar Program Coordinator for the Undergraduate Research Scholars (URS) program is the first point of contact for students interested in the URS program and for URS Scholars (enrolled URS students). They manage the recruitment, selection, and enrollment of URS Scholars. After admitting Scholars into the program, the Scholar Program Coordinator also assists in matching each student Scholar to their research or creative practice projects. They advise and provide support to Scholars throughout the academic year in a variety of ways. They hold weekly drop-in advising hours, track Scholar enrollment, communicate program information via email and Canvas, and assess post-semester feedback from Scholars. They also provide additional support to URS Research Fellows (near-peer mentors to program Scholars), who facilitate weekly discussions with Scholars. This support includes working with the URS team to provide Scholar-centered feedback on those weekly discussion plans and help with Research Fellows' training during the summer, fall, and spring semesters. The Scholar Program Coordinator works with the URS Director and Assistant Director as well as other campus units to facilitate URS Scholar workshops. Some examples of the workshops include: Scholar Orientations, Abstract Writing Workshops, Undergraduate Symposium Application Workshops, and Presentation Skills Workshops. Through their work with Scholars and Fellows, the Scholar Program Coordinator also supports URS efforts to the L&S STEM Scholars initiative.
The Scholar Program Coordinator works closely with the URS Director and Assistant Director. The URS Director works with campus faculty and staff who mentor URS Scholars in their research or creative practice projects (known as URS Mentors). The Assistant Director supports and coordinates URS Research Fellows in their near-peer mentoring of URS Scholars. Since the Scholar Program Coordinator works closely with program Scholars, all three URS administrative staff positions must communicate and collaborate frequently. A successful Scholar Program Coordinator candidate will be excited to partner with URS staff and others and will be deeply committed to helping students, especially those from historically underrepresented groups, find and build meaningful community on campus.

Responsibilities:
Contributes to the development, implementation, administration, coordination, and evaluation for one or more academic programs to ensure effectiveness in meeting departmental and student development goals and initiatives. Strives to create a welcoming, equitable, and inclusive work environment.

• 20% Utilizes independent judgement regarding development, implementation, promotion, and evaluation for one or more academic programs, initiatives, or events
• 20% Identifies program, needs, contributes to the development of unit workflows, schedules logistics and secures resources for meetings, events, and interviews
• 30% Coordinates program components and evaluates program effectiveness and provides recommendations for improvement
• 10% May supervise the day to day activities of one or more academic programs and resolves issues exercising discretion to meet unit goals.
• 20% Recruits, tracks enrollment, advises, and provides pedagogical support for students participating in the Undergraduate Research Scholars program

Institutional Statement on Diversity:

Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background - people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.
For more information on diversity and inclusion on campus, please visit: Diversity and Inclusion

Education:

Required
Bachelor's Degree

Qualifications:

Required
-Minimum one year engaging in a sustained research or creative practice project at the undergraduate or graduate level
-At least two years of experience advising or mentoring undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds, for example, low-income students and/or first-generation college students (may include undergraduate- or graduate-level experience)
-Proven experience contributing to class plans, curriculum, and/or syllabi for undergraduate students individually or as part of a team
-Proven ability to manage multiple projects at once, ensuring projects stay on schedule and adhere to applicable policies
-Excellent oral and written communication skills and strong attention to detail
-Excellent interpersonal and collaborative problem-solving skills
Preferred
-Knowledge of first-year undergraduate experiences
-Demonstrated experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion best practices
-Ability to incorporate student feedback into recommendations for program improvement
-Experience working with High-Impact Practice programs
-Understanding of dynamics students may face at large, decentralized campuses and predominantly white institutions
-Demonstrated ability to interact professionally with and build effective collaborations among students from culturally diverse backgrounds

Work Type:

Full Time: 100%
This position may require some work to be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. Some work may be performed remotely, at an offsite, non-campus work location.

Appointment Type, Duration:

Terminal, 24 month appointment.
This position has the possibility to be extended or converted to an ongoing appointment based on need and/or funding

Salary:

Minimum $45,000 ANNUAL (12 months)
Depending on Qualifications
The full salary range for this position is $36,500-$67,700. The typical starting salary for this position is $45,000 to $52,100 depending on qualifications and experience. . Employees in this position can expect to receive benefits such as generous vacation, holidays, and paid time off; competitive insurances and saving accounts; and retirement benefits. Learn more: https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/new-employee-benefits-enrollment/  

Additional Information:

This position is a terminal appointment from June 17, 2024-June 16, 2026. There is the possibility of the position being converted to an ongoing, renewable appointment based on work need and funding availability.
This position requires that most work be performed in-person, onsite, at a designated campus work location. There is an opportunity for some remote work up to one day a week after initial onboarding and training are completed.
URS is housed in the department of Student Academic Affairs (SAA) within the College of Letters & Science (L&S). SAA enhances the Wisconsin Experience of L&S students by providing services and programs designed to support academic success. These services and programs include academic advising, High-Impact Practice programming, scholarships, and academic information and policy problem-resolution.

How to Apply:

Please click on the "Apply Now" button to start the application process.
For questions on the position, contact: Kelly Cuene, [email protected] , 608-890-3382.
To apply for this position, you will need to upload a cover letter and resume/CV. Your cover letter should address skills and experience in the following areas:
-Participating in a sustained research or creative practice project at the undergraduate or graduate level
-Advising or mentoring undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds, for example, low-income students and/or first-generation college students
-Example(s) of contributions to class plans, curriculum, and/or syllabi for undergraduate students individually or as part of a team
Please limit application length (resume/CV and cover letter) to three pages total.
Contact information for at least three professional references, including current supervisor, will be requested from finalists. References will not be contacted without advance notice.

Contact:

Kelly Cuene
[email protected]
608-890-3382
Relay Access (WTRS): 7-1-1. See RELAY_SERVICE for further information.

Official Title:

Academic Program Specialist(AE010)

Department(s):

A48-COL OF LETTERS & SCIENCE/ADM-STU ACAD AFF/STU AF-GN

Employment Class:

Academic Staff-Terminal

Job Number:

294653-AS

 
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer.
Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, including but not limited to, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, disability, or status as a protected veteran and other bases as defined by federal regulations and UW System policies. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply.
If you need to request an accommodation because of a disability, you can find information about how to make a request at the following website: https://employeedisabilities.wisc.edu/disability-accommodation-information-for-applicants/
Employment will require a criminal background check. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.
The University of Wisconsin System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Wis. Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
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