Director of Assessment

Position Summary:
Adams State University is seeking an individual with excellent assessment, analysis, and strategic implementation skills to serve as the Director of Assessment. This position is a full-time, 12-month exempt at-will administrative position with benefits. This position reports to the Asst. Vice President of Academic Affairs with support from the campus-wide assessment committees of Adams State University, and works closely with the Senior Institutional Researcher in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.
Specific Job Duties (Essential Functions and Responsibilities)

Assessment

• Provide guidance and professional development to academic and non-academic departments in the development of efficient and effective assessment strategies in alignment with unit-specific strategic plans.
• Develop, organize, and implement comprehensive outcomes, assessment plans, and processes to measure and improve student learning in support of the institutional mission:
  
  • Update and maintain the institutional Assessment of Student Learning Plan; and,
  • Facilitate the development of strategies for "closing the loop,"
• Organize and maintain the university's archive of assessment data and documentation for use in quality improvement (e.g., academic units' annual assessment reports at the undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, and program level).
• Guide and mentor faculty and staff to develop measurable program goals, learning outcomes and appropriate assessment strategies.
• Coordinate with academic programs/departments and faculty committees, to develop and implement annual assessment aligned to institutional and program learning outcomes, which lead to continuous improvement
• Oversee annual academic assessment processes:
  
  • Coordinate and develop processes for review by faculty committees and administration.
  • Co-chair Student Learning Assessment Committee (SLAC) with one faculty member.
  • Coordinate annual assessment with the Student Learning Assessment Committee (SLAC), General Education Coordinating Committee (GECC), and Graduate Council.
  • Develop institution-wide academic assessment reports based on assessment committees' feedback.
• Work with academic schools, departments, and programs, and Academic Affairs to satisfy the increasing demands for accountability from accreditors, federal and state agencies, and other external constituencies:
• Oversee 5-Year Program Review process, including:
  
  • training and support for academic programs;
  • identification and coordination of external reviewers; and,
  • coordination of post-review debrief and reflection.
• Prepare summative analysis of assessment data for each 5-year program review
• Collaborate with the Senior Institutional Researcher in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness to identify improved processes for reporting, data organization structure, and data transparency utilized in assessment.
• Oversee the General Education assessment process, including coordination with the GECC and training for departments on developing appropriate assessments for specific courses and Student Learning Outcomes.
• Provide professional development and training activities to assist faculty and staff to implement effective assessment strategies into their curricula:
  
  • Promote the understanding, articulation and documentation of student learning outcomes.
  • Assist academic units in enhancing their assessment and evaluation competencies.
• Coordinate with the Academic Instructional Technology Center to maximize the use of Blackboard Outcomes for assessment processes and tracking.
• Collaborate with the Senior Institutional Researcher in the Office of Institutional Effectiveness to deliver, store data, and analyze institutional surveys.
• Disseminate assessment report and survey findings to the campus community.

Accreditation

• Serve as the Primary Assurance System Coordinator and Primary Filing Coordinator for the institutional accreditation process through the Higher Learning Commission:
  
  • Coordinate systematic collection and submission of institutional materials for evaluation
  • Develop naming conventions for accreditation evidence
• Chair the appropriate HLC Criterion Committee with a faculty co-chair.
• Assist the Accreditation Liaison Officer with coordinating the accreditation process.
• Organize and maintain the University's archive of assessment data and collection of evidence for HLC and accreditation compliance.
• Provide support and guidance for disciplinary accreditation efforts.

Other Administrative Duties

• Management of the course evaluation system in partnership with support from the campus-wide assessment committees and the Faculty Senate.
• Perform other related duties as assigned to ensure department success.

Qualifications:

Minimum qualifications:

• Master's degree in educational assessment, leadership, statistics, or related field.
• Experience and interest in assessment of student learning.
• Possess strong knowledge of types and purposes of assessment and how to effectively analyze and use assessment data.
• Understanding of trends in higher education and assessment.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to collaborate with diverse internal and external constituencies.
• Ability to consider multiple, varying perspectives, to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, to remain poised under all circumstances, and to interact effectively with people in a positive manner that engenders confidence and trust.
• Ability to recognize, understand, and articulate the distinct needs and possible challenges of people whose identity, culture intersection, and perspectives shape their lived experiences in order to provide them effective and intentional support.
• Ability to treat others with respect, civility, and courtesy and to work honestly, effectively, and collegially with employees, students, and the community. This includes the ability to use appropriate conflict management skills to effectively manage disagreements that might arise or to bring the disagreement to management for assistance in productive resolution when the situation requires.

Preferred qualifications:

• College teaching experience.
• Familiarity with the AAC&U LEAP Value rubrics.
• Experience with accreditation processes, and knowledge of the Higher Learning Commission's Criteria for Accreditation.
• Experience and understanding of best practices in assessment of learning.
• Demonstrated ability to think strategically and analytically.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, work independently, organize and prioritize multiple projects, set and meet deadlines.
• Ability to perform above primary duties.

Salary and Benefits:

The salary range for this position is $74,856-85,152. In addition to salary, Adams State University offers a competitive benefits program including medical, dental, vision, disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, and retirement savings plans. For detailed benefits information please visit our Human Resources Benefits Page.

How to Apply:

All interested candidates must submit application materials electronically through Adams State University's Workday application portal.

No other format of application material will be accepted.

Required Application Materials:

• Current resume
• Letter of interest addressing experience with, and knowledge of job duties
• Unofficial or official transcripts from all post-secondary education institutions attended (official transcripts required upon hiring).
• Names, email addresses, and phone numbers of three (3) professional references.

Please direct inquiries to: Dr. Nick Saenz, search committee chair: cnsaenz@adams.edu.

Application Review:

Review of complete applications will begin as applications are received until the position is filled. Applications received by the close of business on June 2, 2025 will be given priority.

Adams State University is committed to building and expanding the talent of its professional staff and actively seeks qualified applicants who bring unique perspectives, experiences, skills, and attributes that can augment the perspectives of our current faculty and staff and can contribute to serving and preparing our students to engage and thrive in their learning, leadership, and service.

We strive to create a more representative workforce that mirrors the people who study, work, and lead our institution and welcome applications from candidates from all walks of life, especially members of communities who fall within state and federally protected classes such as: women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, veterans, and people with disabilities.

We value qualified candidates, with varied language skills, who have a record of successful experience with varied communities and student populations, and who have a deep understanding of and commitment to the unique geographical and historical characteristics of the place we are situated in and the intersecting perspectives that define our university being a low-income, first-generation, and Hispanic-serving, rural anchor university. Therefore, we seek individuals committed to intentionally supporting students and colleagues who possess these characteristics through their teaching, service, and scholarship.

The successful candidate will join a campus that is dedicated to inclusive excellence and acknowledges Adams State's purpose to foster the educational goals of its students and the well-being of the surrounding community.

Additional information about the university and the academic mission may be found at www.adams.edu/academics/

Disclosures:

In compliance with the Immigration Control Act of 1968 candidates for positions must provide proof of eligibility to work before an offer of employment can be made final.

Adams State University is committed to providing a safe and secure environment for its students, faculty, staff and visitors, and to protecting its funds, property and other assets. Well-informed hiring decisions contribute to this effort. Therefore, Adams State University has adopted a policy on background screening for its prospective, continuing, and returning employees as well as students in certain circumstances. Offers of employment will be contingent upon the completion of an acceptable background check. The information received in response to a background check will be treated as confidential to the extent provided for by law.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and Part 106 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including in admission and employment. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and CFR 106 to Adams State University (ASU) may be directed to ASU's Office of Equal Opportunity, Director Ana Guevara, and/or to the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights of the Department of Education. Support resources for sexual misconduct, ASU's sexual misconduct policies, contact information for the Adams State University's Office of Equal Opportunity & Title IX, as well as a detailed procedure for filing a grievance due to discrimination on the basis of sex may be found online at https://www.adams.edu/administration/oeo/reporting-sexual-harassment/. These procedures also describe the University's response to reports and/or complaints of sex discrimination or sexual harassment.

Adams State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Applications are sought from all qualified persons regardless of race, color, sex, disability, and, as covered by law, veteran status. In addition, University policies prohibit discrimination on the basis of religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sexual orientation including transgender status and gender expression, marital status, and parental status.