Director of Assessment

The successful candidate will work collaboratively with faculty, staff, and administrators to cultivate a thriving culture of continuous improvement and evidence-informed decision making.

2. The Opportunity

The Director of Assessment will lead institutional efforts to develop meaningful student learning outcomes, implement consistent assessment processes, analyze assessment findings, and facilitate the use of assessment results to improve student learning, academic quality, and the student experience across the University. This position offers an opportunity to shape a comprehensive institutional assessment framework that promotes consistency while respecting disciplinary differences within academic affairs and the diversity of administrative offices across campus.

Working closely with faculty, department chairs, school directors, deans, institutional research, and accreditation leadership, the Director will help move assessment beyond compliance by building practical, sustainable processes that support evidence-informed improvement. The Director will also provide professional development, consultation, resources, and constructive feedback that strengthen assessment practices while reducing unnecessary administrative burden.

3. About the University

Located just an hour from Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland, Shepherd University serves as an economic and cultural hub for the region. The Eastern Panhandle is one of the fastest-growing parts of West Virginia, offering opportunities for outdoor recreation, a vibrant arts community, and small-town charm.

Established in 1871, Shepherd University is a comprehensive public university, grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, offering a wide spectrum of academic programs to undergraduate and graduate students. Shepherd is committed to student success by providing 21st-century skills and experiential learning opportunities that prepare students for lifelong learning and success in their chosen pursuits across disciplines.

Shepherd attracts students from across the Mountain State and the broader Mid-Atlantic region by offering affordable tuition, small class sizes, and an ideal location. The University provides direct pathways to careers in government, public policy, education, the arts, healthcare, business, and nonprofit sectors, thanks to its proximity to Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Maryland. The

University will open a new state-of-the-art dining hall and multipurpose building in Fall 2026, part of a campus expansion and refresh project funded by a $30 million investment from the state of West Virginia. For more information on the region, visit https://www.shepherd.edu/faculty-affairs/future-faculty.

4. Primary Responsibilities

The Director of Assessment provides strategic leadership for student assessment and continuous improvement across the University. The following is a summation of the position’s most essential responsibilities:

· Collaborates with faculty, department chairs, school directors, and deans to develop meaningful student learning outcomes that align with institutional and disciplinary expectations.

· Leads the development and implementation of a comprehensive institutional assessment framework that promotes consistency while respecting disciplinary differences within academic affairs and the diversity of administrative offices across campus.

· Guides academic programs and administrative offices through the complete assessment cycle, including identifying outcomes, selecting assessment measures, collecting evidence, analyzing results, implementing improvements, and evaluating the effectiveness of those improvements.

· Promotes a culture of continuous improvement by emphasizing the use of assessment findings ("closing the loop") to strengthen student learning, curriculum, pedagogy, and academic support services.

· Designs and delivers professional development workshops, training sessions, and individual consultations on assessment best practices.

· Reviews annual assessment reports and provides constructive feedback to academic programs to improve assessment quality and effectiveness.

· Develops assessment resources, templates, guides, and other tools that support faculty and staff engagement and reduce unnecessary administrative burden.

· Supports academic program review by integrating assessment evidence into program evaluation and continuous improvement processes.

· Partners with Institutional Research to identify and utilize institutional data that informs assessment and student success initiatives.

· Collaborates with accreditation leadership by providing evidence of student learning assessment and continuous improvement efforts for institutional and specialized accreditation activities.

· Maintains awareness of national best practices, emerging trends, and professional standards related to assessment, institutional effectiveness, and student learning.

5. Required Qualifications

· Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution (doctorate preferred).

· Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in higher education involving academic assessment, as well as experience in institutional accreditation, faculty development, curriculum administration, or related areas.

· Demonstrated knowledge of student learning assessment methodologies and continuous improvement practices in higher education and successful experience in this area.

· Significant experience designing and implementing assessment plans at the program, college, or institutional level.

· Excellent written, verbal, analytical, and presentation skills.

· Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships with faculty, staff, and administrators.

· Experience using assessment data to inform planning, decision making, and program improvement.

6. Preferred Qualifications

· Earned doctorate from a regionally accredited institution.

· Experience leading assessment initiatives at a public university.

· Knowledge of Higher Learning Commission expectations regarding assessment and institutional effectiveness.

· Experience facilitating faculty workshops and professional development.

· Familiarity with assessment management software and data visualization tools.

· Demonstrated success building an institutional culture focused on evidence-based improvement.

· Experience supporting academic program review and curriculum development.

7. Salary Range and Benefits

The anticipated salary range for this position is $72,000 to $82,000 and will be commensurate with the successful candidate’s qualifications.

Shepherd University offers generous employee benefits, including:

· 401(a) retirement savings with 6% contribution match.

· Eligibility to continue health insurance post-retirement.

· Tuition waivers for employees and their dependents.

8. How to Apply or Nominate

To apply for this position, please visit https://jobs-shepherd.peopleadmin.com. Applications must include a letter of interest, a curriculum vitae, a leadership philosophy (maximum three pages), and five names of professional references with email addresses and telephone numbers. Nominations and confidential inquiries may be sent to Ms. Tammy Gill, director of human resources/CHRO, at tgill@shepherd.edu. To be guaranteed consideration, candidates must submit their application materials by September 22, 2026.

Shepherd University is an equal opportunity institution. The University neither affiliates knowingly with, nor grants recognition to, any individual, group or organization having policies that discriminate. Individuals from traditionally underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.