Thriving as an Academic Specialist

Registration opens fall 2026.

This annual workshop is designed to provide guidance to academic specialists in navigating the academic specialist system at Michigan State University. Workshop objectives are to:

• Discuss the roles, appointment types, and promotion system for Academic Specialists at MSU
• Expand Academic Specialists’ understanding of MSU’s annual evaluation process
• Discuss approaches to documentation and record-keeping, including the use of the Academic Specialist Recommendation Form (form on Progress and Excellence)
• Provide an introduction to writing reflective essays

The workshop will also provide a venue for answering your questions. Many specialists find it helpful to attend this program more than once, finding various elements useful at different stages of their careers.