Assets and Student Capital Specialist (UL493)

Position Overview:

Reporting to the Associate University Librarian for Student Success, the Assets and Student Capitals Specialist is responsible for developing university-wide relationships that foster student mattering, students' sense of belonging, and student success through outreach, co-curricular and curricular learning activities, and assessment. This position leads the Libraries' connection to students of Color assets and capitals that we help develop through their matriculation at the university. This position also supports library professionals' understanding and teaching towards asset-based pedagogies through workshops, teaching, and interdisciplinary programming.

This is a hybrid position and requires in-person work 3 days per week, on the Twin Cities campus. This position is not eligible for H-1B sponsorship.

Key Responsibilities/Duties and Percentage of time:

Critical Literacies, Reflexivity, and Framework Development (35%)

• Develops understanding of and engagement with Student Success Service Area frameworks of sense of belonging, mattering, asset-based equity pedagogies, and Community Cultural Wealth among Libraries' staff through workshops and other programs
• Co-creates events, workshops, roundtables, and other gatherings with students to access their community cultural wealth and draw connections between information literacy and their academic and personal lives
• Supports other high-impact practices work in the Libraries around first-year experiences, undergraduate research, living learning communities, and particularly in exploring ePortfolios for students' self-reflection and self-narrativizing
• Designs assessment of initiatives and works closely with the Assessment Librarian on ensuring programming is measurable and impactful
• Engages with current scholarship on critical librarianship

Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, and University Partnerships (25%)

• Builds relationships with various student affairs and academic affairs departments around the university to partner with on initiatives and events around student success, including the Office of Undergraduate Education's student success work and especially Tutoring & Academic Success Centers (TASC) and Center for Academic Planning & Exploration (CAPE)
• Broadens the Libraries' connections to under-represented BIPOC students, particularly through continuing engagement with the MLK Program, Multicultural Center for Academic Excellence (MCAE), International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), and the First-Generation Center in OUE
• Explores partnerships with community research and engagement offices such as Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center (UROC) and Center for Community-Engaged Learning (CCEL)
• Engages shared work around career preparation and internships with university-level (Career Services) and college-level career services offices
• Coordinates connections with ethnic studies departments on campus to foster resistant capital with students
• Serves as an advocate for the Libraries' student success work to departments around campus

Curriculum Integration (15%)

• Develop holistic understandings of the Libraries' instructional curriculum for Libraries' staff, students, faculty, and other staff
• Develop approaches to connecting with students through their understandings of their curricula

Instruction (15%)

• Working closely with the Teaching and Learning Program Lead, delivers effective, active learning instruction in First-Year Writing and other course-embedded library partnerships
• Works with the Teaching and Learning Program Lead on developing a holistic approach to instruction in the Libraries, including curriculum mapping and library instructional staff development
• Works with the Instructional Design Lead; creates and maintains tutorial content
• Works with and socializes asset-based equity pedagogies across the Libraries

Professional Development and Contribution (5%)

• Participates in professional development opportunities and/or contributes to the profession especially on topics related to student learning, asset-based pedagogy, community cultural wealth, and cultural capital.

Service to the Libraries, University, and/or the Community (5%)

• Serve on committees for the Libraries and any affiliated departments on campus.

Required

• BA/BS degree plus at least six years of experience, or master's degree plus at least four years of experience.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to effectively work with and engage a diverse student population with special focus on Black, American Indian, Southeast Asian, Latino, Pacific Islander, and Asian International students
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and effectively in a team environment
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree (e.g., Library Science, Student Affairs, Higher Education, etc.)
• Demonstrated experience with using critical frameworks (e.g, Bourdieu's Cultural Capital Theory, Community Cultural Wealth, etc.) to design and implement programming for racially minoritized students
• Evidence of cultivating relationships with faculty, students, staff, and community members to encourage collaborative partnerships
• Demonstrated experience in working and cultivating programming with racially minoritized undergraduates.

The Student Success Service Area (SSSA) integrates experiential learning, course material services, and access services with undergraduate services. The SSSA comprises staff who provide general and specialized information services, including: makerspaces, media services, virtual reality, technology space support, all aspects of course materials, coordinated information and access services, undergraduate teaching and support, tutoring support, accessibility, and instructional design. The Student Success Service Area has a lead role in coordinating, planning, and reporting on the Libraries' strategic plan goal to "Foster student success and life-long learning in partnership with our academic and community partners." Student Success doesn't do this work alone, but instead works with individuals across the Libraries and with partners on campus to facilitate student success.

Pay Range: $75,000 - $81,580; depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% (40 hours/week) Appointment; Annual Renewable

Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

To be considered for this position, the following application materials are required:

1. Resume
2. Cover Letter (Identify cover letter with UL493)

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.