Director, Institutional Assessment, Accreditation, & Compliance

Alvernia University • Reading, PA

9h • Hybrid

About The Position

Under the general supervision of the Provost’s Office, the Director of Institutional Assessment, Accreditation, and Compliance will provide leadership and management for planning, design, implementation, coordination, and reporting of institutional assessment activities for instructional and non-instructional units at the university. This role provides oversight and budgetary support in areas of the university’s accreditation compliance by reporting on the status of meeting accreditation standards for the institution, and individual academic programs. The Director will operationalize and manage the comprehensive institutional assessment model/framework, which aligns institutional operations and resources with the institution’s mission and strategic priorities. They will establish and maintain a network of assessment contacts across all units and at all levels of the university to ensure that strategic goals are infused in the annual objectives of individual units and that each unit’s ability to achieve its objectives is regularly assessed. This role supports continuous improvement of assessment efforts through consultation and training of appropriate university personnel, partnering and coordinating university assessment efforts with other assessment personnel at the university. The Director will maintain assessment databases and assist with the collection, cleaning, and organizing of data. They will also assist in the production and dissemination of assessment reports to internal and external constituencies and work with instructional and non-instructional units to support analysis and reporting of data for assessment, program review, and accreditation. Additionally, the Director will plan, organize, and coordinate university compliance for state and federal reporting in coordination with the office of institutional research, and oversee academic compliance for the university, including undergraduate, graduate, and off-site programming with the goal of managing Alvernia’s liability risk as it relates to experiential learning. Performs other duties as required to meet organizational needs.

Requirements

• Commitment to the Mission, core values, and goals of Alvernia University.
• Bachelor's degree with a strong quantitative background.
• Advanced knowledge of MS Office Suite.
• Proficiency in MS Excel and MS Word required.
• Knowledge of principles of assessment, accreditation, and related activities in higher education.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Working knowledge of statistical software packages.
• Ability to learn new software.
• Knowledge of institutional assessment processes and structures.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to work independently and to perform effectively in a fast-paced environment under shifting priorities and tight deadlines.
• Ability to handle multiple projects concurrently and follow through all phases to completion.
• Strong interpersonal skills and discretion in handling confidential information required.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Familiarity with national and regional accreditation processes and requirements are highly preferred.
• Experience in higher education is desirable but not required.

Responsibilities

• Plan, organize, and coordinate university assessment processes, including annual unit outcomes, assessment reporting, and periodic unit reviews in alignment with the mission and strategic plan of the university.
• Plan, organize, and coordinate university compliance for state and federal reporting in coordination with the office of institutional research.
• Routinely review and advise the provost office on changes in federal, state and NC-SARA requirements, including federal advisory letters.
• Maintain records and coordinate oversee budgets for program accreditation and inform units, provost’s office and president’s office of upcoming deadlines and budgetary needs.
• Develop policies and procedures required for the effective operation and reporting requirements of the Office of Institutional Assessment.
• Monitor institutional effectiveness and continuous improvement.
• Work with faculty and institutional committees, departments, programs, and other faculty and institutional groups to support the implementation of institutional assessment activities at the unit, program, and divisional levels.
• Work with academic deans, department chairs, program directors, and faculty to support the collection, analysis, and reporting of data for program review, accreditation, and compliance.
• Support continuous improvement of institutional assessment practices through consultation and professional development of faculty and staff.
• Coordinate and support institutional assessment reporting processes, including provision of data, in collaboration with IT, IR, Finance, and other units.
• Continuously maintain and organize assessment records on institutional platforms (e.g., Weave and SharePoint).
• Work with existing and new technologies to collect, interpret, and present data on student, program, and institutional performance with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Respond to ad-hoc information requests and support assessment reporting for internal and external constituencies.
• Assist in managing assessment databases, including oversight of cleaning, organization, and preparation of data for reporting.
• Serve on committees, advisory boards, and task forces.
• Assist university administrators in the development of plans, analysis of trends, and the understanding of outcomes.
• Leads and facilitates institutional accreditation efforts.
• Review all agency affiliation agreements, work with the Office of the Provost to negotiate differences or work with the Office of the Provost to negotiate differences, revise if necessary, and share the recommendations with the Office of the Provost who will sign on behalf of the university; advise Department Chairs, Program Coordinators and Administrative Assistants of “Master Agreements” affecting all majors/programs and the agreements’ requirements.
• Review and share addendums to agreements with the Office of the Provost who will sign on behalf of the university.
• Consult with the Office of the Provost to seek legal counsel when appropriate with legal questions and complex agreements.
• Manage affiliation agreement templates and change process; consult with Office of the Provost to obtain legal counsel when appropriate.
• Manage affiliation agreement organization and compliance with agreement requirements.
• Ensure that department leaders and Administrative Assistants have created and sustained tracking methods.
• Provide orientation and/or updates related to academic compliance for faculty and staff.
• Serve as resource to departments when legal or ethical issues arise from agencies, faculty, and staff and share outcomes with the Office of the Provost.
• Work with the Office of the Provost to develop and monitor the currency and accuracy of relevant policies related to academic compliance in the university catalogs, website, marketing materials, and specific program student handbooks; consult with legal counsel on high-stake policies.
• In conjunction with the Office of the Provost and Academic Compliance Coordinator, recommend methods to meet agency contractual requirements related to educational training such as CPR, OSHA, HIPAA, child protection, etc.
• Serve as a resource and liaison to the Penn Medicine Alvernia Medical and Counseling Center, the Business Office, and the Student Accounts Office related to health requirements, liability insurance, and fees.
• Stay abreast of state and federal regulatory changes affecting fieldwork.
• Undergo biannual security training per PA State Police requirements.
• Ensure security of clearances and agreements in a central location.
• Forward any charges reported on students’ clearance forms to the Office of the Provost for research and verification of actual dispositions. Upon report from the Office of the Provost, advise Department Chair and University Life of pending charges and dispositions.
• Supervise the Academic Compliance Coordinator (“ACC”); provide guidance and training as needed to the ACC; conduct annual employee evaluations of the ACC; develop and evaluate annual goals for the ACC.
• Learn new software as required.
• Handle day-to-day activity according to supervisor’s general instructions.
• Promote Franciscan ideals and adherence to the Mission of the University.
• Performs other services as deemed reasonable by the Office of the Provost.

Benefits

• Robust Health Coverage: Choose from three offered medical plans, plus dental and vision.
• Financial Security: Enjoy University-paid life/AD&D insurance and long-term disability, with options for short-term disability and supplemental coverage for you and your family (including accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity plans). Flexible spending accounts are also available.
• Exceptional Retirement: Start saving immediately with our 403(b) Retirement Plan. You will get 100% immediate vesting, a University gift contribution, and a generous match up to 5% of your deferrals.
• Time Off & Flexibility: Take advantage of 18 paid holidays each year and the possibility of flexible or hybrid work options for many roles.
• Invest in Your Future: Enjoy tuition remission benefits for yourself and your dependents.
• On-Campus Wellness: Benefit-eligible employees on our main campus receive free access to our Medical & Counseling Center.
• Employee Meal Plan: This plan provides convenient, flexible dining options on campus at a reduced cost.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees