Coordinator of First Year Experience

University of Minnesota; Morris (MN); On-site; USD 53,000 - 58,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition assistance

Retirement plans

PSLF opportunity

Job summary

The University of Minnesota Morris seeks a Coordinator of First Year Experience to lead large-scale first-year programs, including New Student Orientation, IS1101 Morris 1101, and Academic Alerts. The role focuses on program development, staff training, and collaboration with campus partners to deliver student success initiatives.

Responsibilities include curriculum development for IS 1101, training advisers, coordinating course scheduling, and contributing to the Student Success Center and

Qualifications

• Master's degree strongly preferred plus at least two years of relevant experience or BA/BS plus at least four years of relevant experience.
• Excellent organization, attention to detail, problem solving, and project management.
• Exceptional interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills with diverse constituencies.
• Ability to support educational needs of a diverse student population and work independently or in a team.
• Ability to accommodate a flexible work schedule including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Experience with FERPA compliance and handling confidential student data (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of New Student Orientation programs for fall and spring.
• Register new students for classes, in-person and virtually, and train advisers.
• Lead Academic Alert program and support CARE team initiatives.
• Develop and refine IS 1101 curriculum and coordinate instructor collaboration.
• Support SSC workshops and campus community programs and serve on committees.

Skills

Strong organization

Excellent communication

Team collaboration

Flexibility in schedule

Education

Master's degree strongly preferred

BA/BS with 4+ years relevant experience

Tools

PeopleSoft

APLUS

UM Reports

APAS

Perceptive Experience

Job description

About the Job

The Coordinator of First Year Experience leads the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of large-scale first-year student experience and transition programs. Key responsibilities include oversight of New Student Orientation, IS1101, Academic Alerts, and the Family Portal. This is an on-campus position. Candidates may also be eligible for Assistant Director responsibilities depending on qualifications.

Please note, this position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship. This position does not offer a STEM OPT training program.

Job Duties

New Student Orientation Leadership & Program Development (35%)

• Leads the development and implementation of New Student Orientation programs for students entering in fall and spring semesters
• Develops and refines strategies for registering new students for classes both in-person and virtually
• Collaborates extensively with colleagues in Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, and Academic Affairs to ensure programs meet student and supporter needs
• Manages maintenance of the New Student Checklist and collaboration with system developers to ensure the Checklist is clear, accurate, and student-friendly
• Coordinates with the Lead Academic Adviser and Academic Advising Specialist to provide training for academic and professional advisers supporting New Student Orientation advising

Academic Alert (30%)

• Leads the Academic Alert program for students in the first year and beyond
• Co-convenes the Academic Alert team and serves as a member of the campus CARE team
• Serves as a resource for faculty and staff responding to student academic concerns
• Establishes and maintains processes to ensure alerts receive timely, appropriate response

First Year Seminars (IS 1101 Morris 1101 & Intellectual Community) (20%)

• Develops and refines curriculum for a required first-year experience course (IS 1101), with a focus on creating common student experiences
• Manages instructor development and collaboration for IS 1101, and teaches sections of the course
• Serves as a success coach for students taking IS 1101 and as an ongoing Academic Recovery Coach for students needing additional support
• Coordinates course scheduling and instructor collaboration for Intellectual Community (IC) courses
• Coordinates common read project

Student Success Center (SSC) & Campus Community Support (15%)

• Contributes to and supports Student Success Center Workshops and programs
• Serves as a resource and content area expert for colleagues in SSC
• Collaborates with colleagues across campus to create new FYE opportunities (programming, etc.) and strengthen current offerings
• Serves on campus committees and teams, where appropriate
• Other duties as assigned or approved

The employer reserves the right to modify, change or add to the duties of this position, consistent with the classification description, at any time.

Qualifications

Essential Qualifications

• Master's degree strongly preferred plus at least two years of relevant experience or BA/BS plus at least four years of relevant experience
• Demonstrated excellence in organization, attention to detail, problem solving, and project management
• Exceptional interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, with a proven ability to develop effective working relationships with broad constituencies
• Demonstrated ability to support the educational needs of a diverse student population
• Ability to work effectively both independently and within a highly collaborative, team-oriented environment
• Ability to accommodate a flexible work schedule that may include occasional evening and weekend hours

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in a higher education setting, specifically in student success, orientation, or academic advising
• Experience navigating higher education student information systems and platforms (e.g., PeopleSoft, APLUS, UM Reports, APAS, Perceptive Experience, or equivalent platforms)
• Demonstrated experience working with confidential student data and maintaining FERPA compliance
• Strong customer service skills with the capacity to adapt, prioritize, and manage differing stakeholder needs

Pay and Benefits

Pay Range: $52,600 - $58,000; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Diversity

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Employment Requirements

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

About University of Minnesota

The University of Minnesota Morris (UMN Morris) makes its home on a 121-year-old campus on the western edge of the state and is one of the top public liberal arts colleges in the nation. The small, close-knit campus emphasizes faculty/student collaboration in research, study abroad, and community engaged learning. Deeply rooted in the tall grass prairies of Minnesota, the campus also has advanced sustainable, environmentally friendly initiatives that have grown to levels of national leadership and touch nearly all aspects of campus life.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023, 2025, 2026), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.