MSU - Assistant Debate Coach, Specialist - Curriculum Dev-Continuing

Position Summary

The Michigan State University Debate Program, a unit within the Honors College, invites applications for the position of Assistant Debate Coach. This is an Academic Specialist – Curriculum Development and Outreach position with a 12-month appointment reporting to the Director of the Debate Program. This position requires the ability to work on-site/on-campus on a regular and ongoing basis as needed by Debate Program operations. Work hours to be arranged including weekends and evenings.

The Assistant Debate Coach is responsible for assisting in the preparation and coaching of the debate team including organizing research assignments for the students; researching and preparing debate information for the Debate Team and Spartan Debate Institute (SDI); maintaining debate files; overseeing practice debates and speeches; supervising travel to/from and student competition in tournaments; regularly attending debate competitions and fulfilling judging obligations, note that this position requires travel to a minimum of four tournaments per semester. With respect to the SDI, this position is responsible for pre-program preparation of research and debate materials, participating in all required, recommended and necessary trainings before, during and after the camp, as well as teaching responsibilities for the duration of the camp.  Responsibilities also include assisting with public events and other initiatives of the Debate Program as directed.

Position Roles and Responsibilities

  • Participate in preparation of and coaching of MSU’s Policy Debate team including organizing research assignments for the students, researching and preparing debate information, maintaining debate files, and overseeing practice debates and speeches.
  • Regularly attend interscholastic competitions, offer on-the ground advice related to argumentation strategy, and fulfill associated judging obligations.
  • Supervise travel to/from and student competition in tournaments; requires travel to a minimum of four tournaments per semester.
  • Participate in team recruiting including attendance at high school tournaments, outreach events, and college fairs
  • Assist in development and execution of inclusive programming that raises the profile of MSU Debate including workshops, webinars, public debates, and tournaments
  • Participate in the Spartan Debate Institute including pre-program preparation of research and debate materials, all required, recommended and necessary training, and all pre-camp training sessions.
  • Serve as an instructor at the Spartan Debate Institute.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Required Degree

Bachelors

Minimum Requirements

  • Excellent interpersonal, organizational, verbal/written presentation and computer skills
  • One to three years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience, including competing in elimination rounds of college policy debate tournaments, coaching competitive policy debate, or conducting in-depth debate research and use of database software

Desired Qualifications

In addition to the required experience and education, desired qualifications include experience in coaching policy debate teams at the national level including being the primary coach/researcher, being recognized as a top judge in the debate community and assisting with administration of a major debate program, familiarity with Lexis-Nexis and other electronic databases, and expertise with online debate platforms.

Required Application Materials

(1) A cover letter describing the applicants’ interest in and qualifications for the position (2) resume (3) contact information for three professional references

Together-we-will Statement

The university is requiring all MSU students, faculty and staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19 with limited exceptions. Learn more at: https://msu.edu/together-we-will/

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Website

https://debate.msu.edu/

Department Statement

Our Mission

The Honors College at Michigan State University – one of the country’s most distinctive and extensive honors programs – serves academically talented, committed students who wish to pursue and achieve academic excellence. The Honors College strives to ensure an enriched academic and social experience for its members and to create an environment that fosters active and innovative learning. The Honors College emphasizes personalized academic program planning rather than a tightly prescribed set of courses. Honors College members enjoy the connectedness of a small-college atmosphere on the campus of one of the world’s leading research universities.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The Honors College takes an active approach to ensure that the College closely mirrors Michigan State University's commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The phrase inclusive excellence is a great way to describe the value we hold true: we are a better and stronger Honors College the more diverse we are in experience and composition. A philosophy of inclusive excellence means that we think about issues of equity and inclusion in everything that we do; that we are necessarily and intentionally thinking about how our actions with regard to academic policy and programs, student services and admissions are inclusive. Whatever stake or role you have in the Honors College, we invite you to join us in our commitment to and role-modeling of inclusive excellence.

MSU Statement

Michigan State University has been advancing the common good with uncommon will for more than 160 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU pushes the boundaries of discovery and forges enduring partnerships to solve the most pressing global challenges while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

Advertised: May 4, 2022 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: May 25, 2022 Eastern Daylight Time