Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success

Divine Mercy University•Sterling, VA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

Divine Mercy University invites applications and nominations for the position of Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success (VPIESS). This senior leadership role represents a significant opportunity for a visionary, mission-driven administrator to shape the academic support infrastructure, student success ecosystem, and institutional effectiveness culture of a dynamic, growing Catholic university. Reporting directly to the Provost and serving as a member of the President's Cabinet and Executive Leadership Team, the VPIESS occupies a position of significant institutional influence. The successful candidate will ensure that every Divine Mercy University student has access to the academic resources, support services, and institutional structures necessary to succeed — advancing the University's mission at the highest level.

Requirements

Earned doctorate from a regionally accredited institution.
Significant senior-level leadership experience in higher education administration.
Demonstrated expertise in institutional effectiveness, assessment, and accreditation (e.g., SACSCOC).
Proven experience leading academic support services and student success initiatives.
Strong understanding of graduate and professional education, including online and global program delivery.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and collaborative leadership skills.

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting specialized program accreditation processes, including APA and CACREP.
Demonstrated commitment to Catholic higher education and the mission of faith-integrated professional formation.

Responsibilities

Lead a culture of continuous improvement and evidence-based decision-making across the University.
Oversee institutional effectiveness processes, including student learning outcomes assessment, program review, and institutional research.
Coordinate and support institutional accreditation activities (e.g., SACSCOC, state and federal compliance) in collaboration with academic leadership.
Support compliance and reporting for specialized accreditation bodies (e.g., APA, CACREP) in partnership with academic units.
Ensure institutional data integrity and effective use of outcomes data to inform planning and strategic resource allocation.
Provide strategic leadership for institution-wide student success initiatives focused on retention, persistence, progression, and degree completion.
Develop and monitor student success metrics and dashboards aligned with institutional goals and accreditation expectations.
Promote equitable access to academic resources and support services across online and in-person learning environments.
Champion a holistic approach to student formation integrating academic achievement, personal development, and mission-informed support.
Provide executive oversight and coordination of key academic support and student success units, ensuring collaborative, mission-aligned operation: Academic Cabinet, Center for Student Success, Library Services, Registrar's Office.
Collaborate closely with the Provost, Deans, and Program Directors to align student success initiatives with academic programs and learning outcomes.
Partner with faculty and academic leadership to leverage assessment data to strengthen teaching, curriculum, and student learning.
Ensure that all student success and institutional effectiveness efforts reflect and advance DMU's Catholic-Christian identity and commitment to forming servant leaders.
Foster strong cross-functional collaboration across online and in-person campus environments to enhance the overall student experience.