AVP, Institutional Effectiveness

Virginia Union University•Richmond, VA

About The Position

Virginia Union University (VUU) is a distinguished private institution founded in 1865 that proudly upholds a legacy of academic excellence and community engagement. With a historic 86-acre campus, it offers a dynamic and nurturing environment for its 1,568 undergraduate and graduate students. Virginia Union University is recognized in the 2024 edition of U.S. News & World Report, holding a prestigious position as #39 among Historically Black Colleges and Universities. Five fundamental principles (core values) guide Virginia Union University. Each principle is essential to our ability to provide a Best-In-Class educational experience for students, faculty, and staff. These principles help our community understand the right path to fulfilling our institution's mission. The principles are Innovation, Spiritual Formation, Integrity, Diversity & Inclusion, and Excellence. The Assistant Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness provides strategic leadership and oversight for the university’s assessment, accreditation, institutional research, and continuous improvement initiatives. This role ensures the institution maintains compliance with regional and specialized accreditation standards while fostering a culture of data-informed decision-making and institutional excellence. The AVP partners with academic and administrative leadership to evaluate institutional performance, enhance student success outcomes, and support strategic planning through robust data analysis, assessment practices, and reporting.

Requirements

Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, Educational Leadership, Research, Public Administration, or related field.
Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive experience in institutional effectiveness, research, accreditation, or assessment within higher education.
Must be able to lift 10 pounds.

Responsibilities

Advise senior leadership on institutional performance, trends, and improvement opportunities.
Oversee all regional and programmatic accreditation processes and reporting.
Ensure compliance with accrediting bodies (e.g., SACSCOC) and federal/state regulations.
Coordinate institutional self-studies, reaffirmation processes, and site visits.
Direct the collection, analysis, and reporting of institutional data.
Develop dashboards, reports, and metrics to support decision-making and accountability.
Ensure data integrity, accuracy, and accessibility across the institution.
Lead university-wide assessment of academic programs, student learning outcomes, and administrative units.
Promote a culture of continuous improvement through assessment best practices.
Provide training and guidance to faculty and staff on assessment methodologies.
Track institutional effectiveness metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs).
Prepare reports for leadership, governing boards, and external agencies.
Supervise institutional effectiveness, research, and assessment staff.
Collaborate with academic leadership, enrollment management, student affairs, and finance.
Serve as a liaison to accrediting agencies, government entities, and external partners.