Educational Development Specialist: First-Generation Student Success Initiatives

Oakland University • Rochester, MI

44d

About The Position

The Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) is seeking an experienced and innovative Educational Development Specialist to join our team. The specialist will design and facilitate professional development for faculty, partner with academic departments to redesign courses, and provide expert guidance on inclusive and evidence-based teaching practices tailored to the needs of first-generation students. This position is central to CETL's mission of supporting faculty in creating effective and equitable learning environments that improve student outcomes. The specialist will also serve as a key faculty development liaison, collaborating with campus partners like Enrollment, Admissions, and the Academic Success Center to integrate teaching development into broader university student success strategies.

Requirements

• College or university teaching experience (minimum 3 years as an instructor of record).
• Demonstrated experience designing and facilitating professional development workshops, institutes, or faculty learning communities.
• Strong understanding of first-generation student challenges and effective, evidence-based support strategies.
• Excellent facilitation, collaboration, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with educational technology and online learning management systems.

Nice To Haves

• A terminal degree or certifications in a relevant discipline such as higher education, instructional design, or teaching and learning.
• Experience in a faculty development, instructional design, or educational support role in higher education.
• Familiarity with current research on first-generation student success and experience with program assessment methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Program Development & Leadership: Plan, organize, and facilitate faculty development programs, including multi-day course design institutes focused on first-generation student success principles and integrating proactive outreach and early/anytime alert practices into teaching and feedback approaches. Design and deliver workshops and self-paced microcourses on topics such as growth mindset, transparency in course design, and Universal Design for Learning (UDL).
• Faculty Consultation & Support: Provide individual and group consultations to faculty on course design and teaching strategies to better support first-generation students. Support faculty in implementing transparency frameworks and developing clear learning outcomes. Facilitate early intervention and early/anytime alert training for faculty.
• Campus Collaboration: Work closely with CETL staff and serve as a liaison to campus partners, including Enrollment, Admissions, and advising offices, to align faculty development with broader student success and retention efforts, including alignment with the early/anytime alert system implementation and training.
• Resource Development: Create and curate comprehensive online resources, web-based guides, and toolkits for faculty focused on evidence-based practices for supporting first-generation students.
• Program Assessment: Develop assessment tools and use data to evaluate the effectiveness of faculty development initiatives and measure their impact on student success outcomes.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: No Education Listed