Department: Office of the Provost

Web Announcement:

Executive Director

The George Mason University Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning invites highly qualified candidates to apply for the position of Executive Director of Institutional Effectiveness. George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason's academic and culturally inclusive environment.

About the Position:

The Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning (OIEP) is seeking an Executive Director to provide senior leadership and direction for assessment and effectiveness of institutional initiatives. The incumbent will drive improvement, monitor and assess:

• the peer review process for academic programs;
• academic student learning outcomes both within programs and as delivered within general education in the Mason Core curriculum;
• the enhancement and engagement of the student experience in co-curricular activities;
• the assessment of administrative effectiveness for administrative units;
• Mason Korea institutional effectiveness processes; and
• university survey research initiatives.

The position will prepare reports to multiple audiences both internal (senior administration and leadership) and external (the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges [SACSCOC], State Council of Higher Education for Virginia [SCHEV]) to Mason and evaluate and ensure the functionality of systems used in the assessment processes. Along with the Associate Provost for Institutional Effectiveness and Planning, the Executive Director also provides general direction for university improvement initiatives including the Quality Enhancement Plan as required by SACSCOC.

Responsibilities:

Reporting to the Associate Provost of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning, the Executive Director will provide oversight of the day-to day operations and functions of the following areas.

• Annual cycle of peer academic program review;
• Program-defined and measured student learning outcomes and assessment;
• Administrative unit outcomes and assessment;
• General education (Mason Core) outcomes and assessment; and
• University-wide survey research initiatives of faculty, staff and students.

In addition, the Executive Director will collaborate with the Director of Assessment and Planning for University Life to integrate the co-curricular student experience with the elements identified above to create a broader institutional assessment process, identifying opportunities to weave a comprehensive assessment framework across units, functions and foci.

In order to do so, the Executive Director will:

• Recruit, supervise, and evaluate staff, including personnel at the director and associate director levels;
• Lead the office in finding efficiencies in the areas noted above, exploring new opportunities to refine processes and build successful cohesive frameworks that can be applied in multiple environments;
• Engage in strategic planning and initiatives geared towards long-term emerging issues in institutional effectiveness;
• Engage, and encourage staff to engage, in professional development opportunities;
• Establish and implement assessment policies and best practices that strengthen quality, promote improvement and support the mission of the university;
• Develop and integrate efficient processes to support institutional effectiveness needs, tasks, and reporting;
• Prepare, present, and disseminate institutional assessment and effectiveness findings to senior management, faculty and other institutional stakeholders;
• Provide expertise, support and training to the university community in all matters related to APR and cyclical assessment activities;
• Assist faculty, leadership and staff in the development of student learning outcomes, administrative goals, assessment tools, methods of measurement, and achievement targets for academic programs and administrative units;
• Provide assessment leadership to committees, groups and offices responsible for the accomplishment and measurement of institutional initiatives;
• Direct and lead the Academic Program Review (APR) process and ensures that the work is completed as outlined in the program review calendar;
• Provide the strategic vision for the APR process based on best practices as well as emerging trends;
• Operationalize the use of data, reports, and assessment results for decision making, strategic planning, and continuous improvement in the APR process;
• Lead efforts to develop, implement and sustain an institutional effectiveness plan in collaboration with senior leadership, faculty and staff at the Mason Korea campus;
• Provide strategic leadership in survey administration processes, including survey development, design, sampling, data collection, data analysis, reporting, and results dissemination;
• Identify new surveys based on emerging needs, while strategically aligning, updating or discontinuing ineffective surveys and research studies;
• Provide general supervision of the institution's assessment management system;
• Actively collaborate with the Associate Provosts for Undergraduate Education, Graduate Education, Faculty Development, and Academic Initiatives and Services and to ensure alignment of assessment actions with intuitional priorities.
• Serve as chair of the Mason Assessment Council and work with campus administrators, faculty committees and other individuals in leadership roles to promote assessment policies, practices and activities;
• Partner with OIEP staff to ensure that the University is in compliance with the state, federal and other assessment and accreditation related bodies.
  
  

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree;
• Substantial, demonstrated experience in institutional assessment activities;
• Previous supervisory experience;
• Ability to understand and respond to the rapidly changing higher education environment within the context of changing data and information needs;
• Demonstrated ability to forecast and act upon emerging trends in higher education landscape and advise the senior leadership in strategic direction for institutional effectiveness areas;
• Demonstrated success in working positively and productively with a variety of institutional stakeholders in order to accomplish institutional goals and advance the mission of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness and Planning;
• Proven track record of supporting a work environment that is inclusive of individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds;
• Experience working with confidential data and making evidence-based decisions required to meet accreditation requirements, including experience with integrated assessment management systems and using data for analysis and assessment;
• Experience advising academic and administrative units on program and unit outcomes assessment methodology and practice;
• Expertise in developing and presenting workshops and training on assessment-related topics;
• Experience providing written and oral reports on assessment plans, strategies and results;
• Proficiency with quantitative and qualitative research methods with competence in statistical analysis packages, such as SPSS or SAS (preferred);
• Work with staff at all levels, and prioritize and manage multiple projects and deadlines.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Doctoral degree;
• Previous teaching experience.
  
  

Salary: Commensurate with education and experience.

Location: Fairfax, VA

Mason Ad Statement:

Great Careers Begin at Mason!

George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in both academics and research. Mason holds a top U.S. News and World Report “Up and Coming” spot for national universities and is recognized for its global appeal and excellence in higher education.

Mason is currently the largest and most diverse university in Virginia with students and faculty from all 50 states and over 135 countries studying in over 200 degree programs at campuses in Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William, as well as at learning locations across the commonwealth. Rooted in Mason’s diversity is a campus culture that is both rewarding and exciting, work that is meaningful, and opportunities to both collaborate and create.

If you are interested in joining the Mason family take a look at our current opportunities and catch some Mason spirit at jobs.gmu.edu/!

George Mason University, Where Innovation is Tradition.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

For full consideration, applicants must apply to position number FA484Z at https://jobs.gmu.edu/; complete and submit the online application; upload a cover letter, resume, and a list of three professional references with contact information.

Equity Statement:

George Mason University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, committed to promoting inclusion and equity in its community. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or veteran status, or any characteristic protected by law.