Research Associate/Student Success Analyst (2 Positions)

Job Summary

The Research Associate/Student Success Analyst (RA/SSA) will design and implement a wide range of complex evaluations and applied research studies to support enrollment, academic, faculty workload and budget/resource planning as well as strategy development related to student success initiatives. This position will apply appropriate research methodologies using a Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) framework to support the timely execution of analytical projects and delivery of high-quality data products and services related to institutional priorities set forth by senior leadership and the strategic plan. The incumbent will conceptualize, design, implement, and troubleshoot a wide range of complex applied research studies and data-related projects that leverage the university’s data assets to support strategic planning and operational decision making.

This position will gather requirements from collaborating partners to develop solutions that will facilitate and scale access to data products and services that are strategic, secure, systematic, sustainable and scalable to a large, complex university. The incumbent will democratize access to the university’s data assets and infrastructure through products and services that are timely, relevant, and yield actionable insights.

The RA/SSA will examine and analyze practices, programs, and policies across various initiatives related to student success to support institutional research, accreditation, academic planning, assessment, academic scheduling, and planning at the strategic and operational levels. The incumbent will coordinate with relevant offices to support data analyses for enrollment and course planning, faculty workload, CSU Chancellor’s Office Reporting and other assigned projects as well as make recommendations related to data governance guidelines and practices.

The RA/SSA will develop historical and predictive models leveraging the university’s strategic data assets including IRSA’s databases, the Campus Data Warehouse, SAMI Gateway, and other platforms currently in use across the university. The incumbent will develop appropriate validation procedures to ensure the accuracy and utility of institutional data and analyses to foster a campus-wide culture of data-informed decision-making, continuous improvement and innovations in teaching and learning.

The incumbent will serve as a subject matter expert in developing and implementing technology-based solutions and systems (e.g., data infrastructure, systems analysis, testing and validation, etc.) to scale access for the range of audiences that engage with institutional data products and services. The RA/SSA will use effective communication and listening skills and exercise professional discretion in making decisions that align with SJSU policy.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement and contribute to projects using appropriate research methodologies and analytical techniques involving data related to enrollment, student success, course section offerings, faculty workload and program outcomes
• Design and implement a range of complex evaluation and applied research projects including data collection, analysis and the production of reports in different formats (e.g., written summary, Tableau dashboard, infographics, etc.)
• Examine the effectiveness and impact of institutional practices, programs, and policies through the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data related to student success, faculty workload, course offerings, and campus climate
• Develop and implement formative and summative evaluation processes using appropriate methodologies to support planning and decision making at the operational and strategic levels
• Conduct and coordinate research activities of varying complexity that may require analysis of multiple factors from different data sources and the ability to manage data issues in thoughtful, consultative ways
• Develop content and methodological knowledge of common practices in qualitative and quantitative approaches in higher education settings
• Support the ongoing management of data related to enrollment, courses, faculty workload, and student success, and outcomes using various systems and environments (e.g., Peoplesoft, Oracle Database, Google Cloud Platform, Ad Astra, Lightcast, etc.)
• Prepare reports and analyses on student and course enrollment to examine the alignment of course offerings, student needs, faculty workload, and performance metrics (e.g., persistence, retention, graduation rates) distributed across majors, departments, and colleges
• Prepare and maintain timely, relevant, and consequential reports and presentations to facilitate the interpretation and utilization of data by a diverse audience of constituent groups (e.g., students, faculty, staff