Accreditation Director
About the Job
The Accreditation Director serves as the subject-matter expert for Minnesota’s legislated regulations governing teacher preparation programs and the full spectrum of accreditation requirements for these programs at UMD. This role provides guidance including risk mitigation and implications of program design to advise decision making and strategic planning to the Dean, Associate Dean, Department Head of Education, Program Coordinators, Licensure Officer, and Field Placement Officer. The Accreditation Director is a key player in ensuring the department’s compliance with state and federal standards, driving continuous improvement initiatives, and supporting the success of teacher preparation programs. The Director manages the Accreditation, Licensure, & Field Experience (ALFE) Office and supervises the ALFE staff.
Job Duties
Accreditation 43%
- Interprets Minnesota’s legislated rules and implications for programs in: teacher preparation design and improvement, faculty qualifications, clinical experiences, assessment plans, and designated school partnerships
- Provides expertise, recommendations, guidance and support, interpreting and applying Minnesota’s legislated rules for teacher preparation programs at UMD for the unit (college) and programs
- Determines and develops methods for documenting evidence of compliance for Minnesota’s legislated rules for teacher preparation programs at UMD for the unit (college) and programs
- Project manager for re-accreditation self-study report and accreditation site visits
- Guides the composition and editing of the Unit Continuous Improvement Report to meet re-accreditation requirements
- Lead administrator for assessment and clinical experience software (Student Learning and Licensure), ensuring effective usage and compliance with accreditation standards
- Facilitates training and provides ongoing support for assessment and clinical experience software for faculty, staff, cooperating teachers and students
- Led the collection and organization of accreditation data and evidence to support and ensure successful ongoing accreditation
- Develops and manages federal and state reporting processes to maintain compliance and ensure timely, accurate submissions
- Lead manager of web content relevant to accreditation, as required by regulatory bodies
Compliance Assurance 21%
- Anticipates changes in teacher preparation requirements, assessing their impact on department operations and formulating strategies for successful implementation
- Assists departmental and college leadership to develop and implement corrective action plans for resolution of compliance risks
- Determines internal schedule for accreditation related activities to ensure that all targets are met throughout the academic year and accreditation cycle
- Delivers guidance pertaining to the mitigation of compliance vulnerabilities
- Updates faculty on relevant compliance related topics, policies, or procedures
- Evaluates compliance changes, necessary data analysis and participates in state-level workgroups and serves as a primary source of compliance information
- Tracks the progress of compliance efforts
- Implements improvements in communication, monitoring, or enforcement of compliance standards, in collaboration with the Department of Education
- Develops, initiates, and maintains all national and state reporting
- Attends state and national conferences related to education compliance
Software Management 21%
- Management of assessment and clinical experience software and support for faculty, staff, cooperating teachers and students in their use of software
- Evaluates state requirements and faculty/user feedback to design a product that meets the needs of faculty and evidence for state reporting requirements
- Unit Administrator of Student Learning and Licensure (SLL)
- Built SLL to support data collection for state accreditation and federal compliance
- Trains and supports university faculty, staff, cooperating teachers and students in their functional access to SLL
- Designs instructional materials to facilitate SLL learning
- Manages and processes assessment data within SLL
- Collects user feedback and implements product improvements
Supervision 15%
- Operational functions related to accreditation, licensure, and program compliance
- Oversees day-to-day workflow
- Sets clear performance expectations and priorities, provides ongoing feedback, and conducts performance evaluations to promote employee growth and achievement
- Supports professional development, fosters a collaborative work environment, and promotes a culture of continuous improvement
- Facilitates collaboration across programs and personnel to achieve compliance objectives, maintain accurate reporting, meet accreditation deadlines, and drive continuous improvement initiatives
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- BA/BS plus at least five years of relevant experience, or master’s degree plus at least 3 years of experience
- Committed to serving diverse students in an inclusive environment
Preferred Qualifications
- Demonstrated record of serving diverse students in an inclusive environment
- Familiarity with PELSB standards for licensure
- Familiarity with national education accreditation standards
- Experience working in program accreditation and licensure
- Experience providing faculty support
- Strong communication skills
- Familiarity with a variety of data management systems
- Ability to analyze and synthesize data and create reports as needed, for multiple audiences
- Prior experience managing or supervising a team of employees
- Graduate-level study or degree in a related field
- Supervisory experience
Pay and Benefits
Pay Range: $64,000 per year - $68,000 per year; depending on education/qualifications/experience
Time Appointment: 100% Appointment
Position Type: Faculty and P&A Staff
How To Apply
Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will have the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume or CV.
About University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Duluth (UMD) consistently ranks among the top Midwestern, regional universities in U.S. News and World Report's "America's Best Colleges" issue.
Overlooking Lake Superior, UMD provides an alternative to both large research and small liberal arts environments and attracts students looking for a personalized learning experience on a medium-sized campus of a major university. A firm liberal arts foundation anchors a variety of traditional degree programs, as well as professional and graduate students that draw on UMD's many research institutes and labs.