POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness - West Plains
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1126
GRADE 45
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Vice-Chancellor of Academic Affairs
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness - West Plains supervises all institutional research activities which provide information to support institutional planning, policy formulation, and decision making, directs and manages data collection, data analysis, and research activities relative to institutional research and assessment, and directs the compilation of data and manages the submission of required state and federal reports regarding University activities.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A Master's degree is required; a Doctorate is preferred. An equivalent combination of years of experience and education may be considered for substitution of educational requirements.
Experience: A minimum of two years of experience working in higher education is required. Experience working in institutional research, or a related environment, is preferred.
Skills: A functional knowledge of personal computers and mainframe applications for data acquisition and analysis is required. Personal computer knowledge must include the ability to prepare documents, reports, spreadsheets, and databases using a variety of PC programs. Knowledge must include the ability to use SAS or SPSS as a research tool. The ability to write concise analytical reports that are directed to specific readership is required. The ability to interact with many levels of personnel in a congenial, courteous manner is required. An understanding of Banner or similar higher education information systems and Argos or similar enterprise reporting solutions is preferred.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Develops and implements a vision for the Office of Institutional Research directed toward best-in-class institutional research practices.2. Promotes a culture of collaboration between the Office of Institutional Research and all university stakeholders.
3. Leads the building of predictive and prescriptive analytics focused on student recruitment, student success, and retention.
4. Stays current on both commercial and open-source tools and applications relevant to delivering best-in-class data analytics, dashboards, and Visualizations.
5. Ensures the campus’ compliance with all federal and state regulations.
6. Ensures that all state, federal, and Higher Learning Commission reports are submitted in a timely fashion by establishing and maintaining a reports management system.
7. Leads the development, implementation, training, and support of reporting and assessment systems for the Office of Institutional Research (OIR), ensuring alignment with university goals and compliance with external regulations.
8. Collaborates with stakeholders to define reporting requirements, secure approvals, and ensure timely delivery of data and insights.
9. Develops and maintains research-related databases, queries, and program reports to support institutional decision-making, strategic planning, and ad hoc requests.
10. Exercises primary control over program budget, develops budget, and distributes budgeted funds.
11. Provides dashboards and data visualizations to aid in performance monitoring and executive decision-making.
12. Troubleshoots data and reporting issues, conduct root cause analyses, and implement long-term solutions in collaboration with relevant departments.
13. Analyzes and improves processes and workflows related to data collection, reporting, and assessment.
14. Coordinates with Information Technology Services to implement and maintain web-based assessment systems, including user training and documentation.
15. Supports the dissemination of institutional research and assessment data through web and print publications; maintain and update related web pages.
16. Understands and navigates the constraints of current systems, including Banner, to optimize data access and reporting capabilities.
17. Identifies opportunities for technological enhancements to improve efficiency and data accessibility.
18. Stays current with professional trends and best practices through ongoing development, training, and networking.
19. Contributes to the overall success of the Academic Affairs Office by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
SUPERVISION
The Director of Institutional Research and Effectiveness, West Plains supervises full-time and part-time professional and support staff.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED SEPTEMBER 2025
