"Assistant Director, Morrill Engineering Program - Engineering Administration"

Assistant Director, Morrill Engineering Program - Engineering Administration

Company: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Job Location: Urbana, 61820

Category: Academic Advising

Type: Full-Time

Assistant Director, Morrill Engineering Program Undergraduate Programs Office The Grainger College of Engineering University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

The Undergraduate Programs Office in The Grainger College of Engineering seeks applicants for an Assistant Director position for the Morrill Engineering Program. This position is primarily responsible for building and sustaining a vibrant MEP program community that fosters belonging, engagement, and academic excellence. This role will provide academic and professional advising to undergraduate engineering students, with particular emphasis on supporting underrepresented minority students (African American, Native American, Hispanic). This role includes designing, implementing, and evaluating academic enrichment and support programs that improve retention, access, and success of students who seek support from the Morrill Engineering Program.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Academic Support/Retention
  • Provide proactive advising to MEP students, especially those considered academically at risk, by monitoring academic progress, initiating timely interventions.
  • Actively participate in the delivery of the MEP Mentoring Course for First Year students (ENG 111) and related retention programs that promote academic accountability, professional development and cohort building.
  • Collaborate with the Jeffries Center to support retention and academic support programs for engineering students.
  • Coordinate with the Center for Academic Resources in Engineering (CARE) to organize facilitated study groups (Peer-Lead Teams) and academic enrichment workshops for MEP students on study skills, time management and academic planning.
  • Lead the planning of MEP signature activities including the EMBARK early move-in program, System of Success (SOS) retreats and annual banquet in collaboration with the MEP Program Coordinator. This includes engaging with corporate sponsors, alumni, and student leaders and overseeing recruitment, training, and supervision of student staff.
  • Partner with University and college offices, programs, and cultural centers on matters of initiatives related to inclusion, diversity, and outreach to underrepresented minority populations in engineering.
• Recruitment
  • Collaborate with Grainger Engineering staff to attract underrepresented minority students through outreach strategies and recruitment events, both on- and off-campus.
  • Work with the Division of Exploratory Studies (EXP) and other campus units to engage underrepresented minority students in inter-college transfer (ICT) into engineering.
  • Partner with the MEP Program Coordinator to improve the yield of underrepresented minority students admitted to Grainger Engineering.
• Student Professional Development
  • Promote MEP student engagement with scholarship programs, co-curricular activities, and professional development activities through timely communication and referrals.
  • Track and support students' professional, academic, and personal development by connecting them with corporate partners, graduate programs, and national organizations supporting underrepresented students in engineering.
  • Collaborate with the Coordinator of Undergraduate Research to proactively place students in research positions.
  • Work with the Graduate & Professional Programs office to develop pathways for MEP student participation in graduate degree programs.
• Program Development
  • Research national best practices in minority student recruitment and retention to inform and enhance MEP initiatives.
  • Participate in regional and national organizations and conferences (e.g., ASEE, NAMEPA, NACME) that support minority student success in engineering.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, STEM education, or a field related to the position.
• A total of three (3) years (36 months) in education, training, and/or work experience supporting college students in student programming or administration.
• Demonstrated experience in college student advising and/or academic retention programs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in engineering, STEM education, or a related area.
• Professional work experience with academic and professional development programs for undergraduate engineering students.
• Supervisory/management experience (e.g. experience selecting, training, supervising, and evaluating staff and volunteers).
• Demonstrated experience in mentoring and advising underrepresented minority college students.

APPOINTMENT INFORMATION

This is a full-time Civil Service Program Coordinator position appointed on a 12-month service basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible after the closing date. The budgeted salary range for this position is $65,000 - $75,000. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. This position will be expected to work at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus on a full-time basis per the University's Workplace Flexibility policy. Sponsorship for work authorization is not available for this position.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES AND DEADLINE INFORMATION

Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (CST) on 10/15/25. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. Please upload your cover letter, resume, and names/contact information for three references. In order to be considered as a transfer candidate, you must apply for this position. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. If required by the position, transcripts or other documentation of credentials are to be provided no later than the first day of employment. For further information about this specific position, please contact Anisa Abalos-Ramirez at aabalos@illinois.edu. For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.

The University of Illinois offers a very competitive benefits portfolio, depending on the position. Click for a complete list of Employee Benefits.