Director of Assessment and Accreditation

Director Of Assessment And AccreditationThe Director of Assessment and Accreditation provides university-wide leadership for institutional assessment, accreditation, and continuous improvement in support of the University's mission and strategic priorities. The Director develops, coordinates, and evaluates comprehensive assessment processes for academic programs, general education, administrative units, and educational support units and promotes the use of evidence to improve student learning, programs, services, and institutional decision-making. The Director serves as a primary institutional resource for assessment and accreditation and works collaboratively with academic and administrative leadership, faculty, staff, and university committees to ensure that assessment practices are systematic, meaningful, sustainable, and appropriately documented. The position provides leadership and coordination for institutional accreditation activities, including ongoing compliance with applicable accreditation standards, preparation and maintenance of supporting documentation, institutional reporting, reaffirmation activities, substantive change processes, and other accreditation related requirements. Particular emphasis is placed on supporting compliance with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) Principles of Accreditation. The Director provides consultation, professional development, training, and technical assistance in assessment design, student learning outcomes, data analysis and interpretation, accreditation documentation, institutional reporting, and the use of results for continuous improvement. The role requires strong collaboration, project management, analytical judgment, diplomacy, and communication with senior administrators, faculty, staff, committees, and external constituents.1. Institutional Assessment and Academic Quality Lead and oversee the University's comprehensive assessment program for academic programs, general education, administrative units, and educational support services. Establish, implement, and evaluate processes for assessment planning, reporting, and continuous improvement. Provide leadership and consultation for student learning and general education assessment, including development of outcomes, curriculum mapping, selection of direct and indirect measures, rubric development, analysis of results, and documentation of improvements 2. Accreditation Leadership and Compliance Coordinate and support institution-wide accreditation activities, with primary responsibility for SACSCOC compliance. Monitor accreditation requirements and timelines; coordinate evidence, documentation, and institutional responses; and support reaffirmation, institutional reporting, substantive change, and other accreditation-related processes. Collaborate with university leadership, academic units, and administrative offices to maintain institutional readiness and ensure compliance with applicable accreditation requirements. 3. Assessment Planning, Consultation, and Professional Development Partner with deans, associate deans, department chairs, faculty, administrators, and staff to develop and implement annual and comprehensive assessment plans and reports aligned with the University's mission, strategic priorities, and institutional effectiveness processes. Provide consultation, mentoring, workshops, training, resource materials, and hands-on assistance related to assessment, accreditation, data use, reporting, and continuous improvement. 4. Institutional Reporting, Data Analysis, and University Service Coordinate institutional assessment and accreditation reports and synthesize findings to identify trends, improvement opportunities, and connections among assessment, accreditation, strategic planning, program review, institutional research, and decision-making. Oversee assigned institutional assessment instruments and surveys, including administration, analysis, interpretation, reporting, and dissemination of results. Participate in and provide leadership to relevant university committees, councils, work groups, and task forces; represent the institution in appropriate professional activities; and perform other duties as assigned.Educational Requirements Master's degree Required Experience Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in higher education assessment, accreditation, institutional effectiveness, academic affairs, institutional research, or a closely related area. Demonstrated experience leading or coordinating assessment activities at the institutional, college, department, or program level. Knowledge of student learning outcomes assessment, research methods, data analysis, and continuous improvement practices. Experience supporting accreditation, institutional compliance, or external review processes. Strong project-management and organizational skills; excellent written, verbal, interpersonal, consultation, and presentation skills; ability to interpret and communicate complex standards and requirements to diverse audiences; demonstrated ability to collaborate with faculty, staff, administrators, committees, and senior leadership; and ability to independently manage multiple complex projects and deadlines. Proficiency with data management, reporting, spreadsheet, and related technology tools.Preferred Educational Qualifications Doctorate / PhD Preferred Experience Doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in higher education, educational leadership, assessment, research, administration, or a related discipline. Direct professional experience with SACSCOC accreditation, including reaffirmation, compliance certification, institutional reporting, substantive change, accreditation documentation, or preparation for accreditation reviews. Experience with institutional effectiveness, strategic planning, academic program review, and general education assessment. Prior experience as a faculty member or academic administrator in higher education. Experience with assessment-management or accreditation-management systems and proficiency with data analysis, survey, spreadsheet, reporting, statistical, or visualization technologies.Salary is commensurate with experience.The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2.Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of West Georgia as determined by the University of West Georgia in its sole discretion; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials, reference checks; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. Applicants may be subject to a pre-employment drug test. Offers are made expressly subject to the applicable federal and state laws, to the statutes, rules and regulations of this institution and to the Bylaws and Policies of the Board of Regents (BOR) of the University System of Georgia (USG), which are available for your inspection upon request.Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia (USG). The Board of Regents prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual's age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status ("protected status"). No individual shall be excluded from the participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under, any USG program or activity because of the individual's protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individual's protected status, except that preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.The mission of the University of West Georgia is to enable students, faculty, and staff to realize their full potential through academic engagement, supportive services, professional development, and a caring, student-centered community. The institutional mission and daily operation of the University of West Georgia are guided by our values that support our vision to be the best place to work, learn, and succeed: ACHIEVEMENT, CARING, COLLABORATION, INCLUSIVENESS, INNOVATION, INTEGRITY, SUSTAINABILITY, and WISDOM.