Working/Functional Title
Secretary for Academic Governance
Position Summary
MSU seeks a detail-oriented business professional to serve as Secretary for Academic Governance. This role supports university governance committees through strong coordination and communication. Join us in advancing shared governance at MSU. Apply now!
The Secretary for Academic Governance is a position formally established in the Bylaws for Academic Governance. The Secretary for Academic Governance plays a key role in faculty and academic staff governance b y facilitating and coordinating the work of its committees, liaising with the Provost, President, and the Secretary to the Board of Trustees on governance matters, and by generally ensuring that its processes run effectively in a shared governance model.
The Secretary for Academic Governance serves as an ex-officio non-voting member of several university-level committees: University Council, Faculty Senate, the Steering Committee and Academic Congress. This position serves those bodies as parliamentarian and must be fluent in Robert's Rules of Order. Additionally, the Secretary is an ex officio voting member of the University Committee on Academic Governance, guiding that committee in recommending amendments, and offering review and interpretation of university, college, and unit bylaws.
The Secretary for Academic Governance oversees the Office for Academic Governance and will dually report to the Faculty Senate Chair and the Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs. The Secretary for Academic Governance works closely with the Chair of the Faculty Sen ate in matters pertaining to academic governance. The Office o f Academic Governance provides staff support and coordination to T he Steering Committee, University Council, Faculty Senate, and the University-Level Standing Committees. The office conducts and oversees elections for faculty vacancies on Standing Committees, Advisory Consultative Committees, At-Large Faculty Members of the Steering Committee and Other Boards and Committees. The position supervises a staff of one full-time administrative professional, one hourly graduate student employee, and undergraduate student employees.
Per the Bylaws for Academic Governance, the appointment of an incumbent in this position requires approval by the President, in consultation with the Steering Committee. The performance of the Secretary for Academic Governance is reviewed annually and more extensively at intervals not to exceed five years, under a procedure determined by the President.
MSU is a large university with many resources and excellent benefits for employees. Salary range begins at $90,000 and is commensurate with experience. Financial support for professional development is also provided.
The Secretary will provide administrative support for the university-level governance meetings, including:
- Providing administrative support for the the Faculty Senate, Steering Committee, and University standing committees through the Office of Academic Governance.
- Providing or overseeing administrative and logistical support for university-level governance meetings.
- Assisting the chairs of the Faculty Senate, Steering Committee, and University Council in curating and developing the agendas for committee meetings.
- Coordinating the preparation of material provided to governance committees for action and information, including reviewing content for completeness, accuracy, and effectiveness.
- Leading the university’s goal of governance transparency by ensuring the website and its contents are up to date and readily accessible.
- Overseeing follow-up on action items from governance committee meetings and ensuring they are updated regularly on the website.
As an internal liaison, the Secretary will:
- Serve as liaison between university faculty governance committees and University administration, communicating directly with representatives of the Office of the President and Office of the Provost .
- Attend university-level governance meetings of the University Council, Faculty Senate, the Steering Committee, University Committee on Academic Governance, General Assembly of the Associated Students of MSU, and Academic Congress.
- Serve as parliamentarian, secretary, and non-voting ex-officio member of the Steering Committee, Faculty Senate, University Council, and the Academic Congress.
- Serve as a non-voting ex-officio member of the General Assembly of the Associated Students of MSU
- Advise, educate, and engage with faculty governance committees and University’s senior administrators and staff regarding the Bylaws for Academic Governance and implementation of its procedures.
- Interact with diverse populations (faculty, administrators, students, staff) with a wide range of differing interests.
As the head of the Office for Academic Governance, the Secretary will:
- Serve as an ex-officio member of the University Committee on Academic Governance (UCAG) and collaborate with UCAG to identify opportunities for new or revised bylaws to enhance effective governance for the university.
- Design and conduct an orientation program each year for new governance committee members and supporting administrative staff.
- Oversee preparation, curation, and maintenance of records of minutes from the university-level governance meetings.
- Direct the Office of Academic Governance in consultation with the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and the chair of the Faculty Senate
- Supervise the Office of Academic Governance staff.
- Provide coordination and management for Academic Governance efforts and initiatives; track and ensure progress and completion; manage tasks and timelines; oversee follow-up on action items from committee meetings; ensure efficient and organized Academic Governance communication.
- Maintain the budget for the Academic Governance Office in consultation with the chair of the Faculty Senate.
- Supervise nominations and elections for all Academic Governance committees with review by the University Committee on Academic Governance.
Work hours are 8 AM to 5 PM with some nights and weekends. This is an on-site position. This is an off-dated position funded for five years from date of hire, with possible extension.
MSU is a large university with many resources and excellent benefits for employees. Salary range begins at $90,000 and is commensurate with experience.
Minimum Requirements
Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree; eight or more years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in office procedures and administration, or in performing responsibilities related to the operational activities of the employing unit; experience in a supervisory role; experience with word processing, database, spreadsheet, presentation software and/or desktop publishing, web page software; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Desired Qualifications
Proven experience in management and ability to meet timelines and budget; experience in supervising direct-report sta
