POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Assessment and Accreditation Consultant
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 2421
GRADE 45
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Director of Assessment
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Assessment and Accreditation Consultant works with the Director of Assessment in leading faculty, departments, colleges, administrative units, student government, and the University in oversight of student learning outcomes and assessment to improve student learning for a cycle of continuous improvement and in maintaining accreditation for the university and individual programs in all colleges. Under the direction of the Director of Assessment, this position assesses learning outcomes and student engagement by working in a consultative role with faculty and administrators to develop assessment plans, design processes, and prepare reports of continuous improvement of curriculum and accreditation of the university, new programs, and currently accredited programs. The Consultant uses and interprets qualitative and quantitative information gathered using internal and external assessments. This position develops, manages, and oversees University efforts to assess student learning outcomes, such as, but not limited to both original and nationally available survey tools, the Quality Initiative Project, supporting faculty and departments with assessment, reporting, and utilizing data on student learning within majors, programs, colleges, and administrative units. This includes assisting with data accessibility, analysis, and quality assurance to improve decision-making in university assessment. This role provides leadership to engage faculty in initiating and supporting communities of practice in assessment and student learning, to participate in national initiatives as appropriate, and to support and develop programs that utilize and support assessment for improvement at Missouri State University. The Consultant examines data with an emphasis on the success of the university’s long-range plan and its public affairs mission.
The Consultant also manages the university’s ten-year accreditation cycle with the Higher Learning Commission, assists university programs and departments with their accrediting bodies. This position communicates effectively and works collaboratively with university faculty and administration to ensure accreditation success, as well as creating processes and systems of accreditation that focus on continuous improvement at the university.
Uses, assesses, and provides feedback to administration on the utility of campus software tools.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Bachelor’s degree is required. An equivalent combination of years of experience and education may be considered for substitution of educational requirements.
Experience: At least three to five years of work experience in project management in an educational setting, teaching, or similar activities is required. Experience in data collection, management, and analysis is required. Experience in implementation of current assessment practices in teaching and learning or implementation of data-based change is preferred. Experience in the development of training materials and activities, especially related to outcomes assessment or assessment for improvement, is preferred.
Skills: Knowledge of assessment practices is required. Technical writing and business communication skills are required. The ability to use the Office 365 suite of tools, including Forms, Teams, and Sharepoint is required. The ability to use additional campus Learning Management Software, databases, report-generators, and other software (SPSS, Watermark, and Qualtrics) or the ability to learn is essential. Attention to detail, strong organizational skills, excellent communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical information in verbal, written, and graphic forms to individuals of varying backgrounds are required. The ability to reason analytically, demonstrated success in managing multiple short- and long-term projects, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team are required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required. The ability to use data management and analysis software is preferred.
Other: Occasional out-of-town travel may be required to engage in professional development. The scope of the job may require some evening and weekend work to complete projects and to participate in workshops, seminars, training, and professional development.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Assists the Director of Assessment in establishing, managing, and coordinating comprehensive data gathering and sharing systems to improve the quality of instruction and student learning. Presents data to university administrators and the Board of Governors to inform high-level decisions, and promotes data literacy by presenting relevant data and its use in achieving long-term university goals to academic and student affairs offices.2. Analyzes a variety of internal data sources in conjunction with faculty and staff, such as, but not limited to, departmental assessments, exams, portfolios, surveys, employment information, and external data sources, such as, but not limited, to the Beginning College Survey of Student Engagement (BCSSE) and the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) and disseminates the information among the instructional community, staff, administrators, and other University constituents with a goal of improving student learning.
3. Communicates the purpose and importance of student outcomes assessment and academic program evaluation as supporting the continual and systematic improvement of instruction and student outcomes.
4. Supports departments and colleges in the development or transformation of assessment plans and processes to streamline and support quality improvement using empirically based decision-making.
5. Works with faculty and various University departments, such as, but not limited to, Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services, Citizenship and Service Learning (CASL), Student Success, First Year Programs, and public affairs staff to develop assessment projects and programs in order to provide data and analysis that can subsequently be used to improve courses, learning environments, student success, and public affairs programs.
6. Supports faculty and staff to develop pathways to publish and meet research requirements through assessment of student learning.
7. Organizes and coordinates professional development programming for assessment of student learning.
8. Assists the Director of Assessment in working with administrators, the Assessment Council, departments, colleges, and other University constituents to determine assessment and reporting needs as well as to integrate assessment and evaluation efforts across campus with accreditation processes.
9. Maintains assessment and research-related databases as required and participates in professional organizations, conferences, and workshops to keep informed of current ideas, research, and practices in the field.
10. Contributes to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
11. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses required by the Director of Assessment.
12. Manages hiring and training of support staff and manages Office of Assessment budget.
13. Supports the overall effectiveness of the unit by performing all other duties as assigned by the Director of Assessment.
SUPERVISION
The Assessment Research Consultant is supervised by the Director of Assessment and provides regular, but limited, supervision, training or directing the work assignments of a small numbers of graduate students, as well as part-time, or temporary workers,.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED MAY 2023