National Campus/OIE
P.O. Box 159
Kolonia, Pohnpei FM 96941

Classification: The Director of Institutional Effectiveness is a staff position, reporting to the Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Quality Assurance (VPIEQA), ALO. This Institutional Effectiveness and Quality Assurance (IEQA) position advances the department’s and the College of Micronesia-FSM’s mission and culture of evidence and inquiry by providing accurate, timely, and reliable data analyses and information management for college administrators and faculty. This work will be accomplished by conducting and critiquing innovative institutional research studies; by the development and maintenance of research information systems and reporting tools, and by responding to information requests from internal and external entities. This position will also help facilitate effective information-related communication and collaboration among the college’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness (OIE), Information Technology Office (ITO), Department for Enrollment Management and Student Services (EMSS), Department for Instructional Affairs (IA), and Department for Administrative Services (AS).

Supporting College Processes, Planning, and Assessment Needs

• Oversees the operations of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness (OIE) including the office budget, reports, annual assessment, program review, and the supervision and evaluation of office staff.
• Leads the construction of an annual institutional research plan.
• Leads the designing and conducting of research that supports decision-making related to the college’s mission, planning, and budget processes. This may include the following: accreditation; enrollment forecasts; evaluation of institutional effectiveness; classroom learning assessment; student success; retention; community characteristics; program development; projects; marketing; policies; state and federal reporting; and other related areas.
• Leads the development of benchmark data for the college and its peer and aspirational institutions. This may include identifying baseline data for key indicators with on-going processes for monitoring, analyzing, and reporting results. This may also include internal assessments such as program reviews and student learning outcomes (SLO) studies and external assessment tools such as CCSSE, National Community College Benchmark Project (NCCBP), and course placement testing instruments;
• Assist in developing and administering surveys, compiling survey results, and preparing survey and study reports.
• Appropriately disseminate data and information to a variety of college users. This includes semesterly updating the academic Program Data Sheets (PDSs).
• Ensures the office is fulfilling data requests in a timely manner.
• Conducts research using a variety of methods including data mining, surveys, environmental scanning, and statistical analyses.
• Analyzes data to identify trends that impact student, staff, and faculty retention.
• Supports the institution’s IPEDS Keyholder by managing data collection and survey completion well in advance of survey lock dates.

Databases, Queries, and Reporting Systems

• Leads the design and maintenance of a local, institutional research data warehouse and/or data mart.
• Collaborates with information technology (IT) team members and others (such as third party vendors) to develop, deploy, and maintain web-based reporting systems and dashboards, utilizing business intelligence tools. These reporting projects may require the integration of data from numerous data systems as well as information that has yet to be collected into a digital form.
• Performs database queries, using both legacy and new technologies.
• Develops reporting solutions that are both automated and sustainable (i.e., well-documented and easy to maintain).
• Implements automated tools that collect, aggregate, and disseminate data and metrics to various groups within the organization and outside the college.
• Develops and maintains documentation of all dynamic institutional research reporting to ensure frequently requested data remains current and readily available.
• Understands and assesses data quality in college databases and appropriately reports data entry errors and discrepancies.
• Leads development and maintenance of an Office of Institutional Effectiveness website with access to data and analyses.
• Leads efforts to make historical and current data available to the college community.

Working with External Agencies

• Ensures the Office of Institutional Effectiveness is accurately, and expeditiously responding to requests from governmental agencies, such as the US Department of Education (IPEDS and Gainful Employment reporting); accreditation agencies; and the FSM government (such as Compact Reporting and questions from the National Department of Education).

General Office Functions

• Communicates effectively and works both independently, and as part of a team, to analyze and interpret data and leads office efforts to fulfill routine and ad hoc IR data requests in a timely manner.
• Performs assigned duties in a manner consistent with standards, mission, goals, board policies, and administrative procedures of the College of Micronesia-FSM.
• Understands and accepts the role to be played as a partner in an educational enterprise serving the best interests of the students.
• Models professional decorum and mutual respect in all personal interactions as guided by the COM-FSM Core Values and principles of best practice and the Association for Institutional Research (AIR) Code of Ethics and Professional Practice.
• Performs other duties as assigned, such as (but not limited to):
• Basic proofreading of documents and website information in accordance with the COM-FSM Publications Manual and Accreditation Standard I.C.
• Regularly attending meetings.
• Service on the Management Team, and other committees, as assigned.
• Undertaking professional development activities to remain innovative in higher education.
• Maintaining records and files.
• Preparing materials for use at meetings and presentations.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES (MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS)

• Bachelor’s Degree from a US-accredited institution (or equivalent) in mathematics, statistics, data management, database development, computer science, research methods, quantitative analysis, educational evaluation, or other research/assessment oriented discipline.
• Minimum of two years of training and/or experience in research and/or assessment.
• Experience in analyzing/evaluating data and compiling and presenting reports and studies.

• Solid understanding of how data are stored, archived, aggregated, and analyzed, with knowledge of relational databases, data warehouse methodologies, data modeling, and analytics.
• Knowledge of relational databases and electronic assessment and survey tools.
• Ability to be self-directed in formulating analytical summaries, findings and recommendations for action and further study.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical data, financial reports, and legal documents.
• Exceptional analytical skills and the ability to translate raw data into information and knowledge through the use of intuitive graphic displays (data visualizations) and reports.
• Experience with quantitative and qualitative research/evaluation methodology and techniques including basic statistics and report writing.
• Ability to effectively participate and collaborate with others within the IR and IT teams, as well is with end-users; detail-oriented self-starter.
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills, both written and oral.
• Ability to effectively deal with ambiguity and changing project requirements, and to be flexible and responsive in working relationships.
• Acceptance of the responsibility to promote the welfare and best interests of students at all times.
• A demonstrable understanding and acceptance of the mission, values, goals, objectives, board policies, and administrative procedures of COM-FSM.
• The ability to perform assigned duties in a manner consistent with applicable laws, regulations, and goals of the college.
• Demonstrate sensitivity to and ability to work effectively with the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff, including those with disabilities; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Ability to respond to common inquiries from faculty, administrators, and regulatory agencies.
• A high degree of proficiency in data manipulation and analysis using Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and Access.
• Ability to use organizational skills that enable performance of duties in a timely fashion with attention to detail.
• Ability to manage financial resources effectively.

PREFERRED COMPETENCIES (DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS)

• Master’s degree from a US-accredited institution (or equivalent) in mathematics, statistics, data management, database development, computer science, research methods, quantitative analysis, educational evaluation, or other research/assessment oriented discipline.

• Minimum two years of experience in assessment, data analysis, or research design and implementation in an institution of higher learning or an applied, organizational, or institutional research related field.
• Three years of experience conducting research analyses for an institution, preferably in an educational setting.
• Basic programming skills in Visual Basic, SQL, or another comparable language.
• Experience working with large relational databases, data warehouses, and/or data marts.
• Working knowledge of data mining tools and multivariate analytical techniques.
• Experience with administrative computing systems in support of functions common to institutions of higher education (e.g., admissions, registration, financial aid, transcripts, etc.).

• Demonstrated experience working with faculty, staff, and administrators on planning, program outcomes, and institutional effectiveness activities.
• Knowledge of relational databases and electronic assessment and survey tools.
• Experience working with end-users to develop data visualizations, dashboards and reports, and using analytics tools and systems.
• Previous leadership experience in higher education program review and assessment of student programs and academic support services.
• Working knowledge of statistical software (such as R, SPSS, SAS, or Minitab).
• Knowledge of assessment of student learning outcomes.

Applications are available at the College of Micronesia–FSM Human Resources Office, state campus sites or the college’s website at www.comfsm.fm.

Interested candidates must submit the following documents:

1. A letter of interest addressing how the candidate’s professional qualification and experience match the minimum essential requirements of the position (not to exceed 3 pages);
2. COM-FSM application form (http://www.comfsm.fm/jobs/HRdocs/employment08.pdf ); 
3. A current resume which includes personal email address and cellular phone number;
4. Copies of college transcripts for all degrees earned;
5. A minimum of three professional reference letters; and
6. Police clearance.

Documents are to be submitted electronically to hro@comfsm.fm (preferably as PDF attachments) or mailed to:

                                                Human Resources Office
College of Micronesia-FSM
P. O. Box 159
Pohnpei  FM  96941

 (U.S Postal Service domestic rates apply in the Federated States of Micronesia.)