Director of Planning and Assessment

Director Of Planning And Assessment

McNeese State University invites internal applicants for the position of Director of Planning and Assessment. This is a full-time, 12-month, unclassified staff position. This appointment is available to begin immediately.

Position Number: U99071

SALARY: $58,000, non-negotiable

UNIT: Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness

REPORTING AUTHORITY: Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs

POSITION SUMMARY: Reporting to the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Director of Planning and Assessment provides leadership and coordination for university-wide assessment, planning, and institutional effectiveness activities. This role collaborates with all academic and administrative units to ensure compliance with accreditation, regulatory, and system-level requirements while promoting a culture of continuous improvement. The Director oversees academic program and student learning outcomes assessment, institutional evaluation, curriculum and catalog management, and policy review to ensure alignment with the University's mission and strategic goals. Serving as a key resource on assessment, accreditation, curriculum, and policy matters, the Director analyzes and reports assessment data to inform decision-making, supports governance and compliance processes, leverages approved technologies and AI tools to enhance planning and assessment, and works closely with Academic Affairs and other campus offices to maintain academic integrity, data accuracy, and effective communication across the institution.

DEADLINE: Position will remain open until filled.

APPLICATION PROCESS AND MATERIALS: For the application process, applicants MUST complete an electronic application and upload required documents listed below:

• Letter of application (cover letter)
• Resume
• Unofficial transcripts
• Three professional references (Include: name, phone number, and e-mail address)

ONLY completed application packets including all items listed above will be reviewed.

ALL JOB OFFERS ARE CONTINGENT UPON THE SUCCESSFUL RESULT OF A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK AND RECEIPT OF OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT(S) IF APPLICABLE.

TO APPLY FOR THIS VACANCY, click on the "APPLY" button at the top of advertisement to complete the electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page. Required application materials WILL NOT be accepted after the deadline, if applicable. Applications may be rejected if incomplete.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS POSITION MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE CHAIR:

Stephanie Tarver at View email address on click.appcast.io

Office of Human Resources Contact :

Kim Dronett, HR Analyst/Employment Liaison: View email address on click.appcast.io or View phone number on click.appcast.io

POSITION DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES

• Works with all University units for assessment, continuous improvement, and compliance requirements.
• Ensures academic program and student learning outcomes assessment, as well as data driven institutional evaluation and assessment, are appropriately conducted, documented, and utilized for planning and improvement in all institutional units.
• Maintains comprehensive data files for institutional effectiveness and planning; assures assessment data informs institutional evaluation and planning; maintains documentation in appropriate files such as Xitracs, webpages, or other repositories.
• Creates analyses of assessment data and provides reports of assessment results to the associate vice president of academic affairs or other administrative staff.
• Develops, coordinates, and evaluates policies and procedures to uphold the institutional mission in compliance with University of Louisiana System, Board of Regents, and accreditation requirements; ensures that governance and accreditation requirements are incorporated in academic program, unit, departmental, college, and institutional goals and objectives.
• Regularly reviews policies in the Academic Catalog and on the University Policies webpage to ensure accuracy and compliance with University of Louisiana System, Louisiana Board of Regents, Federal regulations, and SACSCOC policies and accreditation standards. Recommends policy revisions to the provost as needed.
• Updates and produces the University's Academic Catalog using the Modern Campus Catalog management software.
• Serves as a resource to the campus community on accreditation, assessment, and policy matters.
• Uses AI in accordance with policy and provides recommendations for improving assessment and planning as needed.
• Coordinates and manages the University's curriculum and course development process using the Modern Campus Curriculum management software; submits related documentation to the University of Louisiana System and Louisiana Board of Regents as needed.
• Works collaboratively with the Office of Academic Affairs, the Office of E-Learning and Testing, and the academic colleges and departments for Modern Campus Concourse Syllabus software implementation, maintenance, compliance, and reporting.
• Supervises the Assessment Specialist
• Ensures the curriculum process follows appropriate process for academic program integrity.
• Communicates college/department changes and significant curriculum revisions to the Office of Recruiting, Office of Admission, Office of Enrollment Management, Office of Financial Aid, Office of Advising, and Office of Marketing and Communications.
• Maintains current knowledge of institutional accreditation, ULS and Board of Regents policies, and higher education best practices.
• Serves on University committees as required by position or as requested.
• Adheres to all University policies.
• Completes other duties as assigned by the associate vice president of academic affairs or the provost and vice president for academic affairs.

REQUIRED/PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Current employee of McNeese State University
• Master's degree from a university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education recognized accreditor
• Knowledge of The Commission on Colleges and Universities (SACSCOC) accreditation standards and experience ensuring compliance with accreditation standards
• Experience writing accreditation compliance narratives for an institution's initial accreditation or reaffirmation report to The Commission on Colleges and Universities (SACSCOC)
• Experience with Ellucian Banner, Modern Campus Catalog and Curriculum, Xitracs, Concourse Syllabus
• Experience working in a higher educational community
• Exceptional technical skills and proficiency in the use of MS Office and statistical analyses
• Strong analytical, interpersonal, writing, and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively and collegially with others using tact and diplomacy
• Willingness to learn assessment and planning best practices
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment and efficiently manage multiple tasks with competing priorities and deadlines
• Ability to handle confidential information in a professional manner
• Ability to adapt to, initiate, and encourage positive change
• Strong organizational and strategic planning skills
• Meticulous attention to detail

Preferred:

• Experience as an evaluator for accreditation compliance

GENERAL UNIVERSITY INFORMATION

McNeese State University, located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, is a public university and a member of the University of Louisiana System. Under Louisiana law, applications and all supporting materials will become public record. All applicants are expected to submit complete and accurate materials as specified in the position announcement. A background check and an English Proficiency assessment (Faculty Only) will be conducted on selected finalists. We comply with Louisiana Revised Statute 49:1001, et seq, and State of Louisiana Executive Order 98-38, which provides for drug testing of employees, appointees, prospective employees, and prospective appointees. Prospective employees and employees are informed if a drug test is required.

McNeese State University is an AA/EEO/ADA employer committed to excellence through diversity and a SAME agency (State as a Model Employer for People with Disabilities) for the State of Louisiana.

Persons needing reasonable accommodations as provided by the Americans with Disabilities Act should contact the ADA Coordinator, Dr. Desmond Wallace, Office of Inclusive Excellence: Voice: View phone number on click.appcast.io; TDD/TTY, Hearing Impaired: View phone number on click.appcast.io; or View email address on click.appcast.io.

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 requires McNeese State University to inform applicants that the University can employ only U.S. citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the U.S. Each new employee is required to present documentation verifying his