Required:
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BA/BS degree plus 6 years of experience.
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Demonstrated experience in accreditation, academic assessment, institutional research, program review, or a closely related institutional effectiveness function.
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Demonstrated ability to collect, analyze, and communicate institutional data to diverse audiences, including faculty, administrators, and external bodies.
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Capacity to work collaboratively within a shared governance environment.
Preferred:
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Doctorate.
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Direct experience with regional accreditation, specifically HLC processes.
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Experience with retention research, student success analytics, or assessment of high-impact practices.
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Familiarity with the mission and context of public liberal arts education.
The University of Minnesota Morris (UMN Morris) invites applications for the position of Director of Academic Effectiveness. This position provides strategic and operational leadership for the institution's institutional accreditation.
Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean (VCAA), the Director serves as UMN Morris’s Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) to the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and leads the institution’s assessment, institutional research, and program review enterprise. The Director translates institutional data into actionable insight for academic leadership, faculty governance, and strategic planning, and is a key contributor to the campus’s retention and student success strategy through analysis, evidence, and coordination.
The Director provides direct supervision to Institutional Research staff and functional direction to the campus’s Faculty Assessment Fellows. The strongest candidates will have sound judgment, the confidence to present difficult findings candidly, and the ability to work collaboratively with shared governance and units across the university.
Please note, this position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship. This position does not offer a STEM OPT training program.
Responsibilities:
Accreditation Liaison Officer (ALO) Higher Learning Commission (25%)
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Serve as UMN Morris’s primary institutional contact with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), maintaining current knowledge of HLC Criteria for Accreditation, policies, and procedures.
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Coordinate all HLC-related activities, including Assurance Argument preparation, interim reporting, and responses to HLC inquiries or monitoring requirements.
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Serve as the institutional resource and educator for faculty, staff, and administrators on institutional and program specific accreditation requirements, quality assurance processes, and emerging federal regulatory developments with accreditation implications.
Academic Assessment and Program Review (25%)
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Lead and coordinate academic assessment, including the evaluation of course, program, Morris Core learning outcomes, and the assessment of the Morris Core Experiences.
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Provide functional direction to the Faculty Assessment Fellows, coordinating their work on the assessment program. The Fellows’ faculty appointments and personnel matters remain within their home divisions.
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Oversee the academic program review cycle, providing methodological support to programs, coordinating external review processes, and synthesizing findings for academic leadership and faculty governance.
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Maintain and improve assessment infrastructure, including assessment planning tools, documentation systems, and reporting frameworks aligned with HLC expectations.
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Partner with faculty governance and division chairs to embed a culture of evidence-based program improvement across academic units.
3. Institutional Research (25%)
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Provide oversight and strategic direction to the Institutional Research function, ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and accessibility of institutional data used for planning, assessment, accreditation, and external reporting.
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Supervise Institutional Research staff and serve as liaison between IR and Enrollment Management, the Office of the Chancellor, Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and the broader campus community.
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Analyze enrollment, retention, graduation, and student success data to identify trends, equity gaps, and opportunities for academic intervention.
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Work closely with senior-level administrators and others to provide information and analysis that supports administrative decision making, strategic planning, and data relevant to federal and other grant applications.
4. Degree Pathways (15%)
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Develop, maintain, and expand structured degree pathways including 4+1 graduate pathways, 2+2 transfer partnerships, international cohort agreements to broaden student options, and supporting program recruiting efforts.
5. Other Duties As Assigned (10%)
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The position may evolve over time.
Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.
Required application materials: resume and cover letter.
Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.
To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail [email protected] or call (612) 624-8647.
The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.
The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu
Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.
The University of Minnesota Morris (UMN Morris)
The University of Minnesota Morris (UMN Morris) makes its home on a 121-year-old campus on the western edge of the state and is one of the top public liberal arts colleges in the nation. The small, close-knit campus emphasizes faculty/student collaboration in research, study abroad, and community engaged learning. Deeply rooted in the tall grass prairies of Minnesota, the campus also has advanced sustainable, environmentally friendly initiatives that have grown to levels of national leadership and touch nearly all aspects of campus life.
At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.
