Director of Institutional Research

Founded in 1968 to meet the post-secondary and continuing education needs of Cecil County residents, Cecil College has been serving the community and shaping its future for more than 50 years. The College is governed by a Board of Trustees appointed by the governor. The College’s fifth president, Dr. Mary Way Bolt, reports directly to the Board of Trustees.

Cecil College is centrally located in Maryland’s most northeastern county, just one half mile from Interstate 95. It is easily accessible from Philadelphia and Baltimore, as well as from Wilmington, Delaware.

With a diverse student population, Cecil College enrolls approximately 2,500 credit students and 3,400 non-credit students. Cecil offers associate degrees, certificate programs and non-credit classes. Cecil offers a variety of associate degree and certificate programs.

Through its open admissions policy, Cecil College provides learning opportunities for all who have the desire and ability to benefit from its courses and programs, regardless of age, gender, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, disability, or socioeconomic status.

Reporting to the Vice President of Student Services and Enrollment Management, the Director of Institutional Research will design activities to accurately collect, analyze and publish data and information required for compliance with federal and state reports, institutional effectiveness, institutional advancement, enrollment management and retention and all other research and survey initiatives as required.

This position supervises at least one full-time Research Analyst and a part-time IR Assistant. As a supervisor, this position serves as back up support to its direct reports. May serve as a back up to critical IT functions as designated by supervisor and/or designee.

The Office of Institutional Research is the College's central point of contact for data and information. As such the Director of Institutional Research is expected to participate actively in establishing a culture of evidence throughout the Cecil College community. Additionally, the Director of Institutional Research is expected to transform the Office of Institutional Research to improve interaction among Cecil constituents to better articulate data requirements, ensure data integrity, participate in data security standards and establish reporting standards.

Due to the need of interaction with employees, students and college community this position requires in person presence. This position is eligible for telework.

• Establish a research agenda for Cecil College, including: identifying institutional research goals and projects; develop data system that support evaluation, planning, and management decisions, provide standardized reports and profiles; comply with mandatory state and federal reporting requirements; respond to internal and external requests for data, research, and analysis; and organize, conduct, and summarize results of focus groups, informational interviews, and surveys.
• Supervises direct reports which include but may not be limited to: Research Analyst and IR Assistant. Serves as back up to direct reports. May serve as a back up to critical IT functions as designated by supervisor and/or designee.
• Have the necessary skills to extract data. Familiarity with SQL Server Management Studio a plus.
• Continuously improve institutional information systems in partnership with Information Technology and Cecil College constituents.
• Utilize software applications to extract and analyze relevant database structures and to generate reports as required to accomplish research goals and objectives.
• Coordinate, verify and provide required federal and state reports and databases.
• Direct institutional studies and surveys for policy and decision making purposes.
• Participate in college-wide strategic planning process including providing technical assistance to college departments and work groups in the development of strategic plans and program review.
• Provide College leaders with analysis and interpretation of data for the ongoing development of organizational vision and strategic goals.
• Facilitate the design and administration of survey instruments, conducts special studies on issues of significance to the department of academic programs and assists academic departments and academic support units in assessing, reporting and improving the effectiveness of their programs at the institution, program and course level.
• Support the process for economic impact studies.
• Formulate and analyzes student outcomes measures and student performance in conjunction with academic programs department and faculty.
• Collaborate with enrollment management office to analyze data in support of program trends and student demographic enrollment patterns.
• Provide data and research for grant development.
• Coordinate the submission of data for inclusion in the Community College Data Book published by the Maryland Association of Community Colleges.
• Maintain a digital Fact Book that includes data about the College.
• Assists the President, faculty and staff by providing information for speeches, presentations, and College publications.
• Participates in college wide meetings and committees as designated by the supervisor and/or designee.
• Generate data for the Voluntary Framework of Accountability. Use the VFA as a reporting tool as required.
• Participate as a member of the Data Governance Committee.
• Lead the College’s Institutional Research Committee.
• Coordinate and implements the annual institutional reporting calendar.
• Anticipate issues in higher education on a national, state or local level that may have an impact on the college and its effectiveness.
• Plan, design, and implement special projects including but not limited to increasing the effectiveness of marketing, advancing the growth of credit and non-credit programs and special programs.
• Maintain a current knowledge of policies, procedures, and technologies in area of expertise.
• Embrace appropriate technology tools to accomplish job functions; understands and utilizes available technology as communication and data gathering tools.
• Handle all other related duties as assigned.

• Education: Master's degree from an accredited institution in one of the following: education research, organizational development, management, information science, mathematics, or related field.
  • Will consider applicants who are currently enrolled in an accredited master’s degree program; applicants will need to provide proof of progress and are expected to complete a master’s degree within two years of hire.

Experience:

• Five years of experience in operational and strategic planning or designing, planning, coordinating, and implementing research projects.
• Prefer higher education experience, specifically in a community college setting.
• Experience and knowledge of ERP systems and SQL. Use of Jenzabar preferred.
• Experience in and knowledge of local, regional, and national assessment issues.
• Experience using relational database systems.

Skills/Training:

• Demonstrated expertise in the application of statistical/analytical methodologies
• Hands on experience with Sybase (Infomaker), SPSS, SAS, COGNOS or equivalent statistics software and other computer software applications to support research and assessment.
• Ability to train end-users in use of reporting tools and reporting methodology.
• Demonstrated expertise in the use of the Microsoft Office suite.

Proficiencies:

• Ability to function independently.
• Relationship building.
• Obtaining consensus.
• Excellent analytical/data interpretation skills.
• Strong oral, written, interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to present design and prepare research and assessment studies, surveys, and reports and then present results in a customer-friendly manner that enhances usefulness of the information and facilitates follow-up action planning.

For best consideration, please apply by September 6th, 2021.