JOB SUMMARY

The Assistant Dean for Admissions and Student Financial Support leads Michigan State University (MSU) Law College’s enrollment management, admissions, pathway, and student financial support functions, in alignment with the University and Law College’s mission of inclusive excellence. The Assistant Dean engages in significant outreach, education, and counseling across campus, the legal profession, and the nation related to implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) best practices as they relate to diversifying the profession, creating greater access to education, and building evidence-based pathways to the profession.

The current College of Law Remote Work Policy states remote work should not exceed two days per week.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1.Develop and implement the Law College’s enrollment management activities in alignment with the Law College’s strategic mission and vision.

• Provide data-driven leadership on outreach, recruitment, conversion, and matriculation activities to develop and maintain an inclusive applicant and admit pool.

• Work strategically to increase the knowledge of and high regard for MSU College of Law among various external constituencies.

• Plan and execute creative and targeted admission strategies to recruit an inclusive academically talented student body.

• Provide ongoing leadership and innovation regarding holistic admissions and financial aid review processes.

2.Develop and implement the Law College’s student financial support function in alignment with the Law College’s mission and vision.

• Work collaboratively with the Dean to establish policies and practices to manage and award institutional aid, including private donor funds.

• Provide counseling to current and prospective students on financial aid processes, financial literacy, student loan management, and financial planning.

• Work collaboratively with the MSU Office of Financial Aid to ensure timely federal aid awards and effective support of current and prospective students.

3.Develop outreach, access, and educational content for key internal and external constituencies.

• Engage with the broader campus, K-12 sector, the public, the legal profession, and global community regarding pathway approaches to the legal profession, systemic inequities within the legal profession, and DEI best practices.

• Engage with and take leadership with peer group organizations and professional societies/organizations such as Law School Admissions Council, Law School Admissions Minority Network, and the State Bar of Michigan among others.

• Make scholarly presentations on enrollment management, DEI, pathways to the profession, and workforce development approaches.

• Draft and lead equity, inclusion, and access curricular programs.

4.Lead and manage the Law College’s strategic outreach activities, including working collaboratively with the Marketing and Communication Department.

• Work collaboratively with the Director of Admissions, the Director of Pathway Programming, Outreach, and Education, and the Director of Marketing and Communications to ensure the development of an effective marketing and communications plan and content.

• Develop traditional and electronic communication campaigns that leverage key differentiators to various external audiences.

• Work collaboratively where appropriate with central campus Communications Office to leverage resources and amplify messages.

• Using various data sets, engage in an annual evaluation of the efficacy of current marketing and communications approaches in service of enrollment management, student financial support and pathway goals.

5.Provide intersectional academic and co-curricular advising to members of the Law College community and various external constituencies.

• Program, serve, coach, advise, collaborate, and support individuals from but not limited to the following populations/interest areas: underrepresented ethnic and cultural groups, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, members of various religious groups, non-traditional aged (prospective) students, persons across different genders, gender identities and expressions, first-generation college students, students from Immigrant backgrounds, first-generation U.S citizens, student-parents, first generation lawyers, and differently-abled persons.

• Create innovative approaches to addressing, creating, and systematizing inclusive best practices.

• Support and guide co-curriculum programs.

• Work collaboratively with key Law College programs and departments, in particular the Academic Success Program, Diversity and Equity Services, the Chief of Staff, Career Services, the Indigenous Law and Policy Center, and the Office of Student Affairs.

6.Develop and implement a comprehensive data analysis approach to evaluate and inform enrollment management, student financial support, pathway and equity and inclusion functions.

• Develop a comprehensive data analysis strategy in service of achieving key institutional and enrollment outcomes.

• Identify any gaps in available data sets, working collaboratively to access that data.

• Develop a comprehensive reporting process to various college constituencies.

• Implement a weekly reporting format to the Dean and various internal and external constituencies.

7.Report to and communicate with various internal and external audiences.

• Write reports and present key data to on-campus audiences including the MSU Provost and President’s Office, regarding key outcome measures and metrics.

• Marshal data and key metrics to support the advancement of the mission of the Law College to internal and external audiences, including members of the bar, bench, funders, alumni, the press, and other external constituencies.

8.Work collaboratively to advance DEI best practices in all functions related to enrollment management, student financial support, pathway programming and throughout the student life cycle.

• Work with key senior staff to ensure the implementation of DEI best practices throughout the prospective and current student experience.

9.Work with the Director of Admissions and the Director of Pathway Programming, Outreach, and Education to ensure effective, mission-aligned daily operations of the Law College Admissions Office.

• Facilitate yearly strategic planning and goal facilitation.

• Ensure an open, welcoming, and fulfilling environment for staff and student workers.

• Provide customized professional development opportunities for staff.

• Develop and manage the office budget.

Supervisory Responsibilities: Supervises Director of Admissions, and the Director of Pipeline Programming, Outreach and Education.