Accreditation Communications Specialist, Office of Academic Program Review, Assessment, and Accreditation - Vanderbilt University

Vanderbilt University is seeking an Accreditation Communications Specialist in the Office of Academic Program Review, Assessment, and Accreditation (OAPRAA) in the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professional Education (OFAPE). Under the leadership of Provost Raver, OFAPE is leading bold new initiatives and strengthening existing programs. This member of the OAPRAA team reports to its director and collaborates with all OFAPE units as needed.



The Accreditation Communications Specialist plays a critical role in ensuring that the University operates in accordance with U.S. Department of Education standards for institutions of higher education by maintaining Vanderbilt's accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). The Accreditation Communications Specialist collaborates with stakeholders across the institution to develop clear, concise, timely, and accurate compliance documentation, reports and policies. This position is responsible for researching, interpreting, and communicating changes in complex technical regulation requirements to campus stakeholders and creating or maintaining processes supporting accreditation, and in generating timely and accurate compliance filings. Additionally, the work of this position is critical to OAPRAA's implementation, management, and communication supporting internal academic program review and assessment processes.



OAPRAA is responsible for insuring timely and accurate institutional compliance reporting externally to Vanderbilt's institutional accreditor, SACSCOC; managing the process for Proposals to Create or Change Academic Programs; driving periodic external reviews of academic units; and for compiling student learning outcomes assessment across all academic programs at the University. OAPRAA monitors changes in federal accreditation requirements and serves as the hub for expertise in institutional compliance for Vanderbilt.



The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professional Education (OFAPE) in the Office of the Provost is led by the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professional Education (VP). OFAPE exists to support and champion Vanderbilt faculty at every stage of their career and to promote and advise professional academic programs. Vanderbilt University has over 4,000 full-time faculty across ten schools and colleges. OFAPE includes the Institute for the Advancement of Higher Education, the Office of Faculty Appointments, the Office of Faculty Development and OAPRAA. The OFAPE leadership team includes six directors and three associate provosts.



This position is open to candidates authorized to work in the U.S. A resume and cover letter are required to be considered for the position.



Duties and Responsibilities



Accreditation Communications:





+ Serve as key writer and editor of institutional accreditation compliance documents, which involves:



+ Calling for, managing, tracking, and editing contributions to extensive compliance report and ensuring a consistent written voice across the full document.



+ Evaluating evidence documentation provided by stakeholders to support narrative cases for compliance in accreditation documents.



+ Collaborating with academic and non-academic units across the institution to



+ gather necessary narratives and evidence documents,



+ generate additional narrative text to strengthen case for compliance as needed, and



+ ensure that data, information, and evidence documents in the full compliance documentation are internally consistent.









+ Support Director as accreditation subject-matter expert for campus constituents, which involves:



+ Interpreting and translating complex technical information through written briefs for, and presentations to, campus constituencies in clear language tailored to diverse academic and other campus audiences.



+ Supporting Director in communicating regulatory changes to internal units and supporting implementation through revisions to internal materials and external communications.



+ Collaborating closely and independently with diverse campus stakeholders to provide written and verbal guidance and support to departments and individuals seeking clarification on accreditation-related matters.






+ Collaborate with subject matter experts and stakeholders to ensure accuracy and relevance of external accreditation and internal program review and assessment documents (editing as necessary).



+ Communicate independently and effectively with academic units to support the program approval and review process, support faculty in this work, and create periodic status reports.





Accreditation Training and Support:





+ Function as key contributor in the sustained and long-term process of engagement with units across a complex and high functioning institution to ensure ongoing awareness of accreditation and other external compliance regulations, including creating plans for closing gaps that may be identified in ongoing compliance readiness.



+ Collect, analyze, and interpret data from various sources to evaluate ongoing accreditation-related activity, program review and approval processes, and unit outcomes assessment for the purpose of scheduling, developing, and delivering adaptive and solutions-oriented trainings or awareness initiatives for administrators, faculty, and staff.



+ Ensure external and internal accreditation and program review reports are accurate, complete, and submitted within specified deadlines.



+ Stay informed about emerging accreditation and higher education trends, best practices, and industry standards.



+ Further assist as necessary with planning for and documenting enterprise-wide accreditation, and program review and assessment activities.





Supervisory Relationships:



This position does not have supervisory responsibility. It reports administratively and functionally to the Director of OAPRAA. Occasional supervision of consultants, student workers, or interns may be assigned as appropriate.



Qualifications





+ A master's degree from an accredited institution of higher education is required. An advanced degree (J.D., M. B. A., or Ph. D.) from an accredited institution of higher education is preferred.



+ Superior verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to articulate and present tailored information to various and diverse audiences is required (writing samples and/or a presentation may be requested).



+ At least 3 years of documented experience with technical compliance writing is required, preferably the writing and preparation of higher education accreditation documents.



+ Evidence of effective interpersonal skills and working with multiple diverse constituencies in a confident and supportive manner is required.



+ An ability to think strategically to manage multiple projects/initiatives with changing priorities and strict deadlines in a rapidly changing environment is required.



+ An ability to work independently, adapt to a dynamic environment, and contribute to change management strategies is required.



+ Evidence of exceptional professional judgment and decision-making skills is required.



+ Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information is required.



+ Demonstrated knowledge of current issues and challenges in institutional accreditation in higher education accreditation is preferred.





Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion



At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.



Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.



Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.


Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education. Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.