Graduate Students

The Office for Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs (FASA) is seeking a student intern to support the comprehensive review of faculty affairs policy at Michigan State University.

Background:

FASA works collaboratively with leaders, faculty, and staff across the university to ensure that MSU is a place where faculty are supported and recognized for their essential contributions to our students, the university and their disciplines. MSU aspires to create the optimal environment in which excellence and opportunity thrive and one that will attract and keep talent and create conditions where staff and faculty can do their best work, individually and collaboratively. The fundamental framework for any work environment is its human resource policies. MSU’s faculty affairs policies can serve as a basis to underpin MSU’s goal of becoming a workplace of choice – and a desirable place to stay – by incorporating fair, equitable, supportive, and inclusive practices that respond to the aspirations and needs of every employee.

In order to enhance MSU’s ability to recruit, retain, and support an internationally competitive faculty and outstanding academic staff, it is crucial that we continue to assess and revise policies that may be: (1) dated, less relevant in the current environment, potentially disconnected from subsequent interrelated policies, and (2) unintentionally creating barriers or inequities for faculty and academic staff - disparate impact, and unintentional consequences.

This is a new internship opportunity to support the comprehensive review of faculty affairs policy at MSU. Participating in an internship program provides rewarding opportunities for both the students and for FASA. The internship allows students and supervisors the ability to design the internship as a learning opportunity to explore and learn valuable information and skills related to the rapidly evolving world of faculty affairs policy.

Scope of Work:

Students will perform tasks such as organizing policies, conducting research, policy review and analysis, benchmarking best practices of other higher education universities, writing formal reports, recommendations, summaries, and policy proposals. Students will learn and assist the Office for Faculty and Academic Staff Affairs with the practical policy development skills necessary for developing and advancing their expertise in the field of human resources/faculty affairs within higher education institutions.

Students will learn how to research, apply, and communicate effectively about the issues facing today's higher education leaders within the scope of recruiting, retaining, and supporting faculty.

Students will be given the opportunity to discuss faculty affairs/human resources issues of concern with the FASA team and an opportunity to meaningfully observe the inner workings of the development of faculty affairs policy within a higher education institution.

Program Goals:

• Prepare students for professional careers in human resources policy development with hands-on real-world work experiences within a higher education institution.
• Empower students to communicate and interact effectively across a broad and diverse group of individuals such as policy makers, higher education executives, deans, and leaders, faculty, attorneys, and human resources professionals.
• Develop the core competencies in a specialized field which are necessary for professional success.

Program Outcomes:

• Research and analyze key issues in faculty affairs policy from a human resources perspective.
• Communicate complex ideas, verbally and in writing, using HR-specific terminology.
• Implement the basic components of an effective human resources policy review program in a higher education setting.
• Evaluate programs and policies for potential improvement and identify and propose improvements that empower and support the work of faculty.

Criteria:

• Approximately 12-20 hours per week.
• Paid internship (non-credit bearing) on an hourly basis at $16 per hour.

Requirements:

• Must be a MSU graduate student in good standing
• Weekly availability for team meetings

How to Apply:

• Submit a compiled application consisting of: 1) your resume/curriculum vitae, 2) a cover letter, 3) a professional/academic writing sample (e.g., written paper, etc), and 4) a list of at least two reference contacts.
• Submit to:

Dr. Philip Strong
Assistant Provost
101B Wills House, 287 Delta Ct.
strongp@msu.edu

Applications will be reviewed as they are received until the position is filled.