Job Description: Under the direction of the Vice Provost for Student Affairs, the Director of Student Affairs Assessment, Research and Retention will be charged with developing a culture of evidence of student learning and development by conducting systematic research and assessment of Student Affairs programs and services at the Division level and providing hands-on assistance with unit level assessment. This person will provide leadership, coordination, and technical expertise for program evaluation, outcomes assessment, and research efforts within the division of Student Affairs. In collaboration with the Office of Planning he/she will assist Student Affairs departments in strategic planning to improve educational programming and service delivery in the division, and to enhance the quality and outcomes of student out-of-class experiences in Student Affairs areas of responsibility. The Director supports institutional effectiveness and assessment efforts; and in consultation with Institutional Planning, Assessment and Research (IPAR), disseminates information about student trends to interested members of the university community.

Duties and responsibilities include assisting in increasing the Division of Student Affairs effectiveness by systematically gathering, analyzing, interpreting, reporting and using assessment information. This includes, but is not limited to, the following: Conduct research and assessment at the Division level; Assist in developing Division-wide objectives and outcomes; Compile research and assessment reports that align with University and Division mission and goals; Assist in policy development and decision-making by providing systematic and quality research and assessment information; Use results and outcomes to help departments and the Division to plan strategically for short-term and long-term future; Analyze, interpret, and disseminate available data from professional literature, national data banks, institutional effectiveness research, and other student-related studies in order to help Student Affairs and other university departments focus on the implications for institutional policies and programming; Write grants for the Division and individual units in the Division to secure funding for assessment efforts; Provide annual report related to assessment for the Division; Catalog and disseminate research and assessment information being collected in the Division of Student Affairs, including writing reports and making information available to various constituencies, including IPAR; Participate in committees, task forces, and special programming efforts as appropriate; Coordinate the Student Affairs Assessment Taskforce

Provide assistance to departments in the Division of Student Affairs in conducting systematic assessment of their programs and services. Examples include, but are not limited to providing assistance with the following steps in the assessment process: Write appropriate objectives and outcomes; Create, modify, update assessment plans; Select, developing or adapting tools; Assist in planning and decision making based on results; Assist Student Affairs departments to conduct evaluation, including planning, data gathering, data analysis, and report preparation; Provide leadership for oversight of professional development activities for Student Affairs staff to enhance their planning, research and assessment skills (i.e. assessment training sessions, workshops, etc.)


Minimum Qualifications: Masters degree in research and evaluation, college student personnel, or related area required; doctorate preferred.

Required five (5) years of full time experience in institutional research, educational evaluation, or related field

Knowledge of research design (quantitative and qualitative) required.

Proficiency in the use of statistical analyses and packages (i.e. SAS, SPSS, etc.)

Highly developed written and oral communications skills (including presentations and briefings) required.

Knowledge of theory and practice related to college student development preferred, including familiarity with professional standards such as The Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS), International Association of Counseling Services (IACS), and American College Health Association (ACHA).

Full time work experience in Student Affairs preferred.

Familiar with accreditation standards and processes, such as the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) preferred.


Special Instructions to Applicants: Please submit a cover letter, resume/curriculum vitae and three letters of reference online.

Date Initial Screening Begins: 04-12-2010

Job Close Date: Open Until Filled


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