Senior Director of Institutional Research

Description

The Senior Director of Institutional Research (IR) serves as the College’s chief steward of data, analytics, and evidence-based decision-making and acts as the institution’s primary campus coordinator for Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditation. Reporting to the Vice President for Academic Affairs, the Senior Director leads the collection, analysis, interpretation, and communication of institutional data to support academic quality, student success, strategic planning, accreditation, and regulatory compliance.

In addition, the Senior Director serves as the College’s primary academic liaison for our online course offerings, Stephens College’s online program partner, and provides coordination and oversight for study away programs, ensuring alignment with institutional goals, academic quality standards, and regulatory expectations.

This role plays a critical leadership function in building a culture of transparency, inquiry, and continuous improvement across the institution. The Senior Director partners closely with Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management, Finance, Student Life, and senior leadership to ensure institutional decisions are informed by accurate, timely, and clearly communicated data.

Key Responsibilities:

Institutional Research & Analytics

• Lead the design, execution, and dissemination of institutional research studies related to student success, retention, completion, learning outcomes, faculty workload, and academic program effectiveness.
• Develop and maintain institutional dashboards, scorecards, and key performance indicators (KPIs) aligned with strategic priorities and accreditation standards.
• Translate complex data into clear, actionable insights for faculty, staff, senior leadership, and governing boards.

Academic Affairs & Student Success Support

• Serve as a strategic partner to the Vice President for Academic Affairs in supporting academic planning, program review, assessment, and continuous improvement.
• Provide data analysis to support curriculum development, academic efficiency, instructional modality decisions, and faculty planning.
• Collaborate with academic leaders to align assessment of student learning outcomes with institutional effectiveness measures.

  Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Accreditation Leadership

• Serve as the College’s official HLC Accreditation Liaison / Campus Coordinator, acting as the primary point of contact between Stephens College and the Higher Learning Commission.
• Lead planning, coordination, and execution of all HLC accreditation activities, including assurance reviews, comprehensive evaluations, interim monitoring, substantive change requests, and annual institutional updates.
• Coordinate the development, organization, and submission of HLC self-study materials, evidence files, and institutional narratives aligned with HLC Criteria for Accreditation.
• Convene and guide campus accreditation working groups to ensure institutional alignment with HLC standards.
• Maintain institutional readiness for accreditation through ongoing monitoring, documentation, and integration of accreditation expectations into regular institutional processes.
• Provide training and guidance to faculty and staff regarding accreditation requirements and continuous improvement practices.

• Serve as the primary institutional liaison between Stephens College and our online course providers.
• Coordinate cross-campus communication among online course providers, Academic Affairs, faculty, students, and administrative offices regarding program development, course delivery, and student support.
• Monitor academic quality and performance metrics for our online course offerings, including enrollment, retention, and student outcomes.
• Collaborate with academic leadership and staff for our online course offerings and providers on program assessment, reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure that online programs supported through the partnership align with institutional standards, accreditation expectations, and strategic priorities.
• Support reporting and evaluation of partnership outcomes for senior leadership.

Accreditation, Compliance & External Reporting

• Lead institutional data reporting for accreditation, state, federal, and regulatory requirements (e.g., IPEDS and other mandated reports).
• Ensure consistency and alignment across accreditation, compliance, and institutional effectiveness reporting.
• Monitor emerging regulatory or accreditation requirements and advise leadership on institutional implications.