Job Description

Position Information
Announcement Number STAFF - VA - 26200
For questions regarding this position, please contact:
Durward Sobek
406-994-7140
Classification Title Program Mgr II
Working Title Director of University Studies
Brief Position Overview
Montana State University seeks a dynamic, student-centered leader to serve as the Director of University Studies. The ideal candidate will champion academic exploration and discovery, build strong partnerships across campus, and advance MSU's mission by fostering a culture of engagement, achievement, and belonging for all University Studies students, including those in first-year seminars, pre-med, pre-law, and other exploratory or foundational programs.
Position Number 4M1342
Department University Studies
Division Office of Academic Affairs
Appointment Type Classified
Contract Term Fiscal Year
Semester
If other, specify From date
If other, specify End date
FLSA Exempt
Union Affiliation Exempt from Collective Bargaining
FTE 1.0
Benefits Eligible Eligible
Salary $38.10 per hour, commensurate with experience, education, and qualifications.
Contract Type Classified Salary
If other, please specify
Recruitment Type 4-Campus
Position Details
General Statement
University Studies delivers first-year seminars and other courses to over 1,500 students across dozens of course sections each year. Central to this program are three university seminar Core courses: US 101US - First-Year Seminar, which focuses on the transition from high school to college-level learning; COMX 111US - Introduction to Public Speaking, which prepares students to deliver effective presentations for a variety of contexts and audiences; and HLD 121US - Leadership Foundations, which promotes leadership skills for individual and organizational effectiveness. These and other course offerings engage students as critical thinkers and are ideal for both decided and undecided majors. They provide structured frameworks for students navigating college while introducing strategies and skills to meet the rigors of college-level academic work and beyond, regardless of a student's chosen area of study. Most importantly, University Studies creates learning spaces where students are the focus-encouraging them to explore new experiences, ideas, and challenges while interacting with peers and learning under the guidance of experienced faculty. Reporting to the Vice Provost, the Director of University Studies provides strategic vision, leadership, and administrative oversight for the University Studies program at Montana State University (MSU). This position champions academic exploration and student success, guiding students as they discover their academic and professional pathways. The Director oversees all aspects of University Studies-including academic programming, faculty and staff supervision, student persistence initiatives, and collaboration with academic and student success partners across campus. The Director ensures that these courses and programs are well-integrated, data-informed, and aligned with MSU's mission to foster exploration, engagement, and student achievement.
Duties and Responsibilities
Academic Oversight and Administration

• Provide vision and leadership for all aspects of the University Studies program, championing exploration, academic engagement, and student success.
• Oversee all University Studies course offerings, including instructor and course coordinator hiring, evaluation, scheduling, and approval of catalog edits.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate staff, including the COMX 111US Course Coordinator, First-Year Seminar Director, Health Professions Advising (HPA) Director, Pre-Law Advisor, and Leadership Fellows Certificate Program Director.
• Oversee the management of the Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Med Certificate and Leadership Fellows Certificate programs.
• Coordinate the assessment of University Studies courses, programs, and certificates to ensure alignment with institutional learning outcomes and continuous improvement.
• Manage the University Studies budget and ensure responsible stewardship of resources.
• Represent University Studies to campus committees and external organizations, developing strong relationships with MSU's academic colleges, departments, and student support units.

Student Success and Persistence

• Develop, lead, and assess student persistence initiatives and programming for University Studies, Pre-University Studies, and Pre-Med Intake majors.
• Track student progress and success metrics related to persistence and retention.
• Manage extraordinary student requests and appeals (e.g., CERC, GARC, suspension appeals).
• Collaborate with partners in Student Success to design and deliver timely, impactful courses and programs that enhance student development and persistence.

Program Development and Collaboration

• Identify and develop new opportunities for courses, academic programs, and co-curricular experiences that support MSU's mission and student success goals.
• Develop, coordinate, and oversee major exploration events and programming in collaboration with the University Studies team.
• Collaborate with Admissions on recruitment efforts for University Studies programs and participate in orientation and outreach activities for new and prospective students.
• Coordinate advising services with the Advising Commons for University Studies, Pre-University Studies, and Pre-Med students, including orientation, preregistration, and drop-in advising.
• Foster campus-wide collaboration and partnerships to advance University Studies initiatives and strengthen student pathways.

Required Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills * Master's degree.

• Demonstrated effective leadership experience in higher education.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience.
• Strong communications skills.

Preferred Qualifications - Experience, Education, Knowledge & Skills * Experience teaching at the college level.

• Experience developing and assessing academic or co-curricular programs.
• Knowledge of student persistence and retention strategies in higher education.
• Proven ability to collaborate across academic and student support units.

The Successful Candidate Will

• Committed to student success.
• Establish and maintain strong cooperative working relationships with a variety of constituencies, including students, faculty, staff and community members to advance sustainability goals through inclusive partnerships.
• Sound judgement and initiative in decision-making, while maintaining professionalism and confidentiality.
• Exceptional verbal, written and visual communications skills with the ability to translate technical sustainability concepts into presentations and reports for a variety of audiences.
• Find creative solutions to challenges, adapt to changing circumstances, and maintain motivation and resilience during periods of adversity.
• Manage and adapt to multiple priorities with attention to detail, accuracy, flexibility and adherence to deadlines in a dynamic work environment.
• Excellent organizational and conflict management skills.
• Effectively analyze complex data and make informed decisions.
• Demonstrate effectiveness in interacting and supporting constituencies from all backgrounds, including students, faculty, and staff.

Position Special Requirements/Additional Information
This job description should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements, but a general description of the job. Nothing contained herein restricts Montana State University's rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
Physical Demands
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily with or without reasonable accommodations. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
This position has supervisory duties? Yes
Posting Detail Information
Number of Vacancies 1
Desired Start Date January 12, 2026
Position End Date (if temporary)
Open Date
Close Date
Applications will be:
Screening of applications will begin on December 1, 2025; however, applications will continue to be accepted until an adequate applicant pool has been established.
Special Instructions
This position is not eligible for sponsorship.
EEO Statement
Montana State University is an equal opportunity employer. MSU does not discriminate against any applicant on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, political ideas, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, national origin, physical or mental disability, or any other protected class status in violation of any applicable law.
In compliance with the Montana Veteran's Employment Preference Act, MSU provides preference in employment to veterans, disabled veterans, and certain eligible relatives of veterans. To claim veteran's preference, please complete the veteran's preference information located in the Demographics section of your profile.
Applicant Documents
Required Documents * Resume

• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Skills Required