Director of Accreditation and Assessment

The University of Texas at Austin•Austin, UT

17h•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Accreditation and Assessment oversees institutional effectiveness, including unit and student learning outcomes assessment. The Director serves as the primary campus contact and designated accreditation liaison for The Commission, coordinates campus engagement with specialized accreditors, and leads academic program, unit, and general education assessment. The role is responsible for ensuring and documenting the university’s compliance with accreditation requirements and advancing continuous improvement by helping ensure assessment evidence is used to improve academic programs and administrative units. The Director advises leadership on accreditation implications of institutional and academic changes and follows approved university decision and submission processes. The position reports to the Associate Vice Provost for Academic Effectiveness. The Director leads institutional accreditation planning, reporting, documentation, committee coordination, reviewer visits, compliance procedures, and communications. The role also provides leadership for assessment and administrative reviews; manages assessment systems, evidence, training, and reporting; coordinates with campus offices and data owners; and evaluates and manages accreditation and assessment platforms and tools. The Director maintains processes for identifying and evaluating substantive changes, coordinates required submissions and approvals, and works with academic and administrative partners on accreditation implications for programs, delivery methods, locations, agreements, closures, and teach-out plans. The role maintains an inventory of specialized accreditations and review cycles and supports applicable UT System and Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board reporting. The Director supervises assigned staff, manages priorities and resources, evaluates performance, identifies staffing and technology needs, advises university leaders, and represents the office on assigned committees and external professional groups. Other related duties may be assigned. The position is based at UT Main Campus and work is performed in a typical office environment. The role requires eligibility to work in the United States full-time for any employer without sponsorship. Salary is $120,000 or more, depending on qualifications.

Requirements

Master’s degree in higher education, educational research, assessment and evaluation, public administration, or a related field.
At least five years of progressively responsible experience in higher education accreditation, assessment, institutional effectiveness, or closely related work, including leadership of complex projects involving multiple units.
Demonstrated experience preparing accreditation narratives or reports and organizing supporting evidence.
Thorough working knowledge of The Commission’s Principles of Accreditation, reporting processes, and substantive change requirements.
Experience developing or reviewing assessment plans, analyzing qualitative and quantitative evidence, and helping faculty or staff use findings to improve programs or services.
Demonstrated project management skills.
Ability to write, edit, and format professional documents; meet deadlines; manage multiple complex priorities; and work independently and as part of a team.
Detail-oriented.
Ability to work effectively with faculty, senior leaders, and external agencies; exercise sound judgment; and handle confidential information appropriately.
Must be eligible to work in the United States on a full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship.
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

Doctorate in a relevant field.
Experience at a large research university.
Leadership of an institutional reaffirmation or interim reporting cycle.
Institutional accreditation liaison experience.
Supervisory experience.
Experience with assessment management systems, including vendor management and campus launch.
Experience with Texas public higher education processes.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary campus resource and designated liaison for The Commission’s accreditation requirements, policies, procedures, and reporting.
Lead university-wide planning, coordination, and documentation for reaffirmation, fifth-year interim review, annual reporting, substantive change processes, and other accreditation reporting.
Draft, review, and edit accreditation narratives, reports, and institutional documentation.
Develop and implement internal procedures with campus partners to support continued compliance with accreditation expectations.
Maintain an accreditation calendar and organized evidence repository.
Monitor accreditation requirement changes and advise leadership on implications for policy, process, planning, and operations.
Coordinate accreditation committees, reviewer visits, follow-up activities, and communications of requirements to campus units.
Route institutional commitments and official submissions through authorized university leadership.
Lead academic program assessment, unit assessment, and administrative reviews.
Oversee implementation and management of an integrated assessment system for educational programs and academic, student support, and administrative units within the assigned institutional scope.
Work with faculty, deans, unit leaders, and university partners to maintain reliable evidence, strengthen assessment practices, and prepare timely institutional reports.
Manage assessment data systems, including implementation, evidence collection, access, and user support.
Analyze and communicate assessment findings for planning and improvement.
Provide faculty and staff training on assessment design, curriculum mapping, rubrics, data analysis, and system use.
Coordinate evidence retention with technology and records partners.
Lead evaluation, selection, and vendor management of accreditation and assessment platforms and tools; plan and manage campus launch, training, and ongoing support with technology and procurement offices.
Partner with the Office of Curriculum and Academic Administration on core curriculum assessment, institutional expectations, evidence quality, and accreditation reporting.
Coordinate with Institutional Research and other data owners to obtain validated data and avoid duplicate reporting.
Maintain a process to identify and evaluate potential substantive changes affecting accreditation.
Coordinate required notifications, prospectuses, supporting evidence, deadlines, and approval tracking before implementation when applicable.
Partner with academic and administrative units to evaluate accreditation implications of new or modified programs, delivery methods, instructional locations, academic agreements, and program closures.
Collaborate with the Director of CAA on changes affecting both state authorization and accreditation.
Coordinate accreditation review of teach-out plans and agreements with responsible colleges and schools, CAA, and legal counsel.
Track external review status and communicate implementation conditions to responsible units.
Advise on institutional requirements, maintain an inventory of specialized and programmatic accreditations and review cycles, and coordinate with specialized accreditation leads.
Support applicable UT System and THECB assessment and accreditation reporting with the offices responsible for submissions.
Supervise assigned staff, establish priorities, manage assigned resources, and evaluate performance.
Identify staffing and technology needs and maintain procedures that support continuity of operations.
Advise the Associate Vice Provost for Academic Effectiveness and other leaders on accreditation and assessment policies, priorities, and updates; communicate risks and recommend practical solutions.
Represent the office on assigned committees and external professional groups.
Perform other related duties as assigned in support of accreditation, assessment, and institutional effectiveness.