Specialist - Advisor-Fixed Term

MSU - Michigan State University; East Lansing (MI); Hybrid; USD 58,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine seeks a student-centered Academic Advisor/Learning Specialist to provide individualized academic coaching and proactive student support across three campuses (East Lansing, Detroit Medical Center, Macomb University Center). This hybrid role emphasizes regular student meetings, actionable guidance, and data-informed planning to support academic success.

The position involves coordinating with faculty and student support partners, implementing evidence-based

Qualifications

• Masters in education or a relevant field.
• Experience providing academic coaching or student support to adult learners.
• Experience delivering workshops or educational programming.
• Ability to interpret academic performance data to inform support strategies.

Responsibilities

• Provides individualized academic coaching focusing on evidence-based learning strategies and self-regulated learning.
• Meet regularly with students, follow up, and develop customized action plans.
• Build supportive relationships with students, balancing empathy with accountability.
• Assess learning preferences and develop personalized study plans for courses and exams.
• Monitor progress and implement proactive intervention strategies.
• Refer students to mental health counseling, disability resources, or other supports.
• Facilitate workshops on academic success and self-directed learning.

Skills

Academic coaching

Student support

Evidence-based learning strategies

Self-regulated learning

Time management

Exam preparation

Education

Master's degree in Education or relevant field

Job description

Position Summary

The MSU College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM) seeks a student-centered, collaborative Academic Advisor/Learning Specialist to provide individualized academic coaching and proactive student support. This student-facing role is ideal for someone who enjoys meeting regularly with students, building trust, translating evidence-based learning strategies into practical guidance, and helping students develop realistic plans for academic success.

The successful candidate will be organized, empathetic, clear in communication, and comfortable working in a fast-paced educational environment. Prior experience in medical or health professions education is helpful but not required; we are especially interested in candidates with strong advising, coaching, teaching, or student support experience who are eager to learn the medical education context and contribute to a collaborative team.

This is a hybrid position located in East Lansing, MI. This position will support students at all three MSUCOM campuses (East Lansing, Detroit Medical Center, and Macomb University Center), as well as those completing clinical rotations at 23 base hospitals across the state. Anticipated travel is minimal and student advising sessions that are not located at selected home site would take place via Zoom. Advising services will be offered through a combination of in-person meetings, Zoom meetings, emails, and phone interactions.

Fixed Term explanation: Fixed term is a categorization process for personnel utilized by Michigan State University. Please note, this position is expected to be renewed annually.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provides individualized academic coaching to students, with emphasis on evidence-based learning strategies, self-regulated learning, time management, exam preparation, test-taking, and post-exam reflection.
• Meet regularly with students, provide timely follow-up, and develop customized action plans based on each student's needs, goals, academic progress, and performance data.
• Build supportive, professional relationships with students by establishing trust, communicating clearly, meeting students where they are, and balancing empathy with accountability.
• Assess student's learning preferences, study habits, and academic performance patterns to inform the development of personalized study plans for course, board, and remediation exams.
• Monitor academic performance data, assessment results, and other indicators of student progress to inform and implement proactive, individualized, intervention strategies.
• Refer students to appropriate support services, including mental health counseling, disability resources, or other relevant resources.
• Facilitate presentations and workshops on academic success, self-directed learning, and evidence-based study techniques.

Additional Duties:

• Maintain a thorough understanding of the curriculum, academic policies, and institutional procedures.
• Engage in ongoing professional development related to academic coaching, evidence-based learning strategies, medical education, student support, and assessment-informed intervention.
• Balance established processes and protocols with individualized support to help students overcome academic challenges and improve performance.
• Actively contribute to a collaborative environment by sharing resources, communicating clearly, supporting colleagues, and participating in shared student success initiatives.
• Collaborate with faculty, administration, and student support partners to coordinate interventions and provide holistic support for students.
• Assist in the design, implementation, and promotion of academic support initiatives and resources.
• Document student advising sessions accurately and maintain timely, detailed records in accordance with institutional and departmental policies and procedures.
• Participate in meetings, trainings, and other duties as assigned.

Professional Misconduct Review:

As an institution of higher learning, Michigan State University is committed to providing a safe environment for its students, faculty, and staff in support of its educational mission. With this commitment, the University conducts criminal background checks and professional misconduct reviews of all applicants for employment in faculty, academic staff, and executive management searches.

A professional misconduct review is a prerequisite for a candidate to be selected for this position. Applicants will be asked to disclose whether they are subject to any pending investigation, findings, or sanctions related to professional misconduct. Professional misconduct includes misconduct related to a person's employment, including, but not limited to, theft, embezzlement, research integrity, discrimination, or harassment under civil rights laws and policies, including protected identity harassment, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct (sexual assault, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, etc.), and retaliation. All applicants will be asked to sign an authorization and release, which authorizes the University to contact the candidate's current and former employers, for a period of 7 years prior to the date of application, related to any pending investigations, findings of responsibility and/or sanctions related to professional misconduct. Nothing will be sent to current or former employers unless the candidate reached the semi-finalist stage.

The existence of professional misconduct history does not automatically exclude a candidate from employment. The University will assess the history, including any information provided by the candidate, in determining whether it is compatible with the position. The University may decline to hire a candidate based on the professional misconduct review. All records obtained from external employers will be kept in a secure location, separate from personnel files. If an applicant fails to sign the authorization and release, the application will be deemed incomplete and will be withdrawn.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Masters -Education or relevant field

Minimum Requirements

The successful candidate must have, at minimum, a masters degree in education or a relevant field. Experience in working with adult learners.

Desired Qualifications

Experience providing academic coaching, advising, teaching, tutoring, or student support to adult learners, graduate or professional students, and/or students in rigorous academic programs. Experience helping students develop actionable strategies related to studying, time management, exam preparation, test-taking, or academic performance improvement. Experience interpreting academic performance data, assessment results, or other student success metrics to inform student support strategies. Experience facilitating workshops, presentations, or educational programming.

Required Application Materials

(1) CV/Resume

(2) Cover letter describing the candidate's experience providing individualized academic support or coaching to students, including how they help students translate feedback, performance data, or academic challenges into actionable next steps.

(3) List of three references. The search committee will not contact references without first notifying the candidate.

Review of Applications Begins On

09/16/2026

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.