Job Description
The Director of Institutional Effectiveness & Assessment
provides leadership for the University’s assessment practices,
accreditation readiness, and culture of continuous improvement,
with a focus on advancing student success, retention, completion,
and measurable outcomes across the institution. While academic
assessment remains the central responsibility of the role, the
Director also supports administrative and co-curricular assessment
and strategic planning efforts to ensure institutional
effectiveness extends beyond the classroom.
Reporting to the Associate Provost for Academic Affairs, the
Director partners closely with the Director of Institutional
Research and campus leadership to align assessment and
effectiveness efforts with strategic priorities, accreditation
expectations, and institutional performance goals. The Director
serves as the University’s primary resource on assessment
methodology, documentation standards, and improvement processes,
helping translate evidence into action that strengthens academic
quality, operational effectiveness, and student achievement. The
Director plays a central role in coordinating institutional
effectiveness and assessment functions within Academic Affairs,
ensuring alignment between academic quality, compliance
expectations, and institutional improvement efforts.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Provides leadership and expertise on assessment-related
policies, practices, and continuous improvement initiatives,
including closing-the-loop documentation, across academic and
administrative units;
Consults with Schools, Departments, and administrative offices
on the development, refinement, and assessment of student learning
outcomes and program-level outcomes;
Directs the academic program review process in collaboration
with academic leadership;
Provides leadership and coordination for accreditation
standards related to assessment and institutional planning,
contributing to the development, documentation, and review of
required reports, including decennial, interim, and substantive
change materials, in collaboration with the SACSCOC Liaison and
campus stakeholders;
Provides consultation and leadership support to academic
programs pursuing or maintaining programmatic accreditation,
offering guidance on assessment design, documentation, and
continuous improvement alignment;
Serves as consultant to the General Education Committee in the
development and assessment of student learning outcomes for the
core curriculum;
Represents Institutional Effectiveness and Assessment on
university committees, task forces, and strategic initiatives as
requested, contributing assessment-informed perspectives to
institutional decision-making;
In partnership with the Director of Institutional Research,
provides leadership and oversight for institutional survey
administration processes, including survey design, sampling, data
collection coordination, results dissemination, and reporting;
In partnership with the Director of Institutional Research,
contributes to the development, refinement, and communication of
internal and external reports, key performance indicators, and
effectiveness dashboards that support accreditation, planning, and
institutional transparency;
Designs and delivers training and professional development
initiatives that strengthen assessment literacy, documentation
quality, and continuous improvement practices across academic and
administrative units;
Contributes to evaluation and implementation of assessment or
compliance software systems as needed;
Supports alignment between assessment findings, strategic
planning, and institutional improvement efforts;
Other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, and WORK ENVIRONMENT
- Master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
required; terminal degree preferred in education, assessment,
higher education leadership, or related field;
- Experience in academic assessment, accreditation, or
institutional effectiveness required; experience in higher
education preferred;
- Demonstrated ability to advise academic and administrative
units on outcomes assessment methodology and practice;
- Experience preparing written accreditation documentation and
institutional reports;
- Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative assessment
methods;
- Strong written and oral communication skills;
- Ability to provide training and facilitate collaborative
assessment conversations across campus;
- Ability to manage multiple projects and reporting cycles
simultaneously;
- Commitment to continuous improvement, compliance integrity, and
academic excellence.
SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES
Core Competencies
Assessment Methodology, Practices, and Leadership; Academic Program
Review; Accreditation Processes; Student Learning Outcomes;
Continuous Improvement; Strategic Alignment; Communication;
Collaboration; Organizational Effectiveness; Professional
Judgment.
Required Professional Skills
Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment Methods; Program
Evaluation; Survey Design and Administration; Outcomes-Based
Assessment; Accreditation Documentation; Facilitation and Training;
Policy Interpretation.
Preferred
Experience with assessment management or compliance software
systems; familiarity with regional accreditation standards and
reporting frameworks.
Competitive Benefits:
- Retirement matching
- Tuition remission
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Short term/long term disability
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Paid sick leave
- 17 paid holidays
- Wellness opportunities
- On-campus health center
Gardner-Webb University is a Christian university committed to
helping individuals become more in faith, learning, and service.
Located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, GWU offers the benefits
of a close-knit community with easy access to Charlotte, Asheville,
and the greater Greenville-Spartanburg region. Founded in 1905 and
rooted in the Baptist tradition, the University now serves
approximately 3,000 students across more than 80 undergraduate and
graduate programs. As a Carnegie Doctoral/Professional institution,
Gardner-Webb is dedicated to academic excellence, leadership
development, and meaningful service to others.
Our community reflects a shared commitment to One Webb, creating an
environment where people support one another, pursue their purpose,
and work together to make a lasting impact. GWU attracts students
from across the nation and around the world and competes in NCAA
Division I athletics with 22 teams and more than 500
student-athletes.
