Assistant Director of Graduate Studies

Ball State University

Muncie, IN

ID: 7298709 (Ref.No. BSU46308)
Posted: Newly posted
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

Job Description

In collaboration with faculty, the incumbent will actively contribute to student retention and achievement in the graduate-level instructional programs. Provide comprehensive student support and advising within the Center.

The Center is an intense, 11-month interdisciplinary and entrepreneurial graduate/professional program that combines theory and practical learning in information and communication sciences through a curriculum that serves as the nexus for technology, business, and public policy. Housed in the College of Communication, Information, and Media—one of the largest and most technologically advanced communication colleges in the United States—the Center is comprised of six full-time senior faculty in addition to interdisciplinary adjunct instructors and distinguished visitors. As the largest graduate STEM program at BSU, the Center serves a diverse student body and graduates 60 to 90 master’s degree candidates per year. CICS boasts a loyal and supportive alumni base of over 2,000 as well as a job placement rate of over 90 percent each year in the information and communications technology industry in the U.S. and on five other continents. For the past forty years, CICS has been recognized as a student-centered leader in the field, and the new Graduate Program Coordinator will have the opportunity to advance the vision for the Center’s fourth decade and beyond.

Job Function:

Minimum Education:

Master’s Degree in Business or a Technology field (e.g., Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Data Science and Analytics, MIS, Computer Science)) from an accredited university by date of employment.

Preferred Education:

Possess a terminal degree (e.g., PhD, DBA, DIT, EdD, JD) in an appropriate field (e.g., Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Data Science and Analytics, MIS, Business Administration, Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction) from an accredited institution.

Minimum Experience:

At least three years of demonstrated non-academic industry experience related to consultative sales, management, consulting, IT Leadership, or relevant leadership positions.
Mentoring experience: Student advising or teaching, faculty support, and managing academic programs or corporate training and development, customer success manager, or program management experience.
Demonstrated experience developing industry partnerships.
Demonstrated teaching experience at the graduate level.

Preferred Experience:

Experience supporting or knowledge of the Center for Information and Communication Sciences Master’s program.
Additional experience in higher education administration or industry program management.
Experience with graduate program operations, student advising, and faculty coordination.
Experience with job placement.
Seven or more years of demonstrated non-academic industry experience related to consultative sales, management, consulting, IT Leadership, or relevant leadership positions.
Experience with diversity in STEM initiatives.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Administer graduate programs in the Center for Information and Communication Sciences (CICS) as well as teaching therein; serve as a liaison to the Graduate School and serve as an ad hoc member of the Graduate Committee; review and make admissions decisions in consultation with the CICS Director and the Graduate School, manage probationary plans, and process applications for special programs. Serve as a liaison with the graduate school, admissions office, international services, and other university departments; manage and update program delivery methods and application terms; participate in the monthly graduate program coordinator meetings and update program requirements in the admissions system.
Teach up to 6 credit hours each semester.
Act as the primary contact for alumni, facilitating connections between alumni and current students or faculty. Collaborate with the CICS Alumni Council. Manage the ICS LinkedIn pages and groups and other social media platforms. Lead the Constant Contacts interaction and monthly newsletters. Engage the community with CICS SSLP and other opportunities.
Collaborate with the CICS Director in the hiring process for graduate assistants, including reviewing applications, conducting interviews, and making hiring decisions in conjunction with the Director and faculty. Conduct orientation and training for new graduate assistants and provide ongoing professional development and support. Assist in graduate assistant scheduling and instruction for faculty support and other course-related tasks.
Organize the annual WWiT conference, including speaker engagement, marketing, logistics, chairing the alumni planning board, and securing sponsors. Supervise the assigned graduate assistant in scheduling professional development events. Assist with event planning such as Taste of ICS and other SSLP and outreach events.
Ensure student success by working with faculty and staff to monitor students’ progress, grades, attendance, and performance to ensure student success and support students’ academic goals.
Serve on appropriate and relevant governance committees as required. An example of such committee service would be the CICS Non-Tenure Line Salary Committee and the CICS Curriculum Committee.
Provide comprehensive advising to graduate students, including course selection, career guidance, and support for personal development. Track student progress through the program, including dual-degree and probationary students. Process and approve Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Career Practical Training (CPT) applications and manage program extensions for international students
Perform other related duties as assigned.

At Ball State University, we recognize inclusive excellence as an integral endeavor to fulfill our University’s mission and our strategic plan. We recruit, support, and retain a diverse population of students, faculty, and staff. We encourage and reward diversity of thought. We promote a work environment that encourages and rewards innovation and creativity. We pledge to keep Inclusive Excellence at the highest level of institutional importance and as a foundation in all that we strive to do. Our over-arching goal for Inclusive Excellence is to adopt a university-wide Inclusive Excellence approach to academic, administrative support, and service functions of the university. We believe Inclusive Excellence must be infused in every step we take.

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