Accreditation & Continuous Improvement Coordinator

Accreditation and Continuous Improvement Coordinator

Alabama State University’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Strategic Initiatives, and Transformation invites applications for the position of Accreditation and Continuous Improvement Coordinator. The successful candidate will coordinate University-wide accreditation activities, including institutional and programmatic accreditation, and support the institutionalization and sustainability of First-Year Experience initiatives.

The Coordinator will collaborate with academic and administrative units, accredited programs, and other institutional stakeholders to establish, monitor, and maintain processes that promote continuous compliance, institutional effectiveness, and evidence-based improvement. The position will support the University’s compliance with the requirements of the Commission on Colleges and Universities (The Commission) and applicable programmatic accrediting agencies. The Coordinator will report directly to the Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness, Strategic Initiatives, and Transformation.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Coordinate the University’s reaffirmation of accreditation and ongoing compliance with the Commission on Colleges and Universities (The Commission) Principles of Accreditation.
• Monitor and interpret accreditation standards, policies, procedures, and regulatory updates issued by The Commission, the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE), and other applicable regulatory and accrediting agencies to identify institutional compliance requirements.
• Coordinate the development, review, and submission of institutional accreditation reports, compliance certifications, monitoring reports, and other required submissions, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and adherence to established deadlines.
• Coordinate the collection, verification, analysis, organization, and maintenance of institutional data, documentation, and supporting evidence to demonstrate compliance with accreditation standards and regulatory requirements.
• Provide technical assistance to academic and administrative units in interpreting accreditation standards, developing compliance narratives, identifying supporting evidence, and documenting institutional practices.
• Coordinate the review, submission, and monitoring of substantive change requests in accordance with applicable accreditation policies, procedures, and notification or approval requirements.
• Assist academic departments and administrative units with developing, reviewing, and submitting prospectuses and supporting documentation for new academic programs, program modifications, and other substantive changes requiring institutional, state, or accreditation review.
• Maintain a centralized system for tracking accreditation requirements, substantive change requests, prospectus submissions, approvals, reporting obligations, compliance milestones, and submission deadlines.
• Coordinate institutional effectiveness and assessment processes, including assessment plans, measurable outcomes, performance indicators, assessment methods, and reporting activities across academic and administrative units.
• Support the administration and effective use of institutional accreditation and assessment management systems, including Watermark Planning & Accreditation, to facilitate documentation, evidence management, reporting, and compliance monitoring.
• Coordinate the institutionalization, assessment, and sustainability of First-Year Experience initiatives, using assessment findings to inform ongoing implementation, student success strategies, and continuous improvement.
• Coordinate accreditation and institutional effectiveness projects assigned by the Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness, Strategic Initiatives, and Transformation, establishing project plans, priorities, responsibilities, timelines, and deliverables.
• Identify and coordinate committees, working groups, and institutional stakeholders responsible for accreditation and assessment activities; monitor progress and facilitate the timely completion of assigned responsibilities.
• Provide training, workshops, consultation, and technical guidance to faculty, staff, administrators, and other relevant personnel on accreditation standards, compliance procedures, substantive change, prospectus development, assessment practices, and reporting requirements.
• Serve as a resource to academic program coordinators, faculty, and administrators on program evaluation, course and student learning outcomes assessment, accreditation documentation, and evidence-based program improvement.
• Coordinate communication and dissemination of accreditation policies, regulatory updates, compliance expectations, project milestones, and institutional progress reports to University leadership and relevant stakeholders.
• Collaborate with academic and administrative units to ensure the accuracy, reliability, consistency, and timely submission of institutional information used for accreditation, assessment, strategic planning, and regulatory reporting.
• Support academic programs in preparing and submitting specialized accreditation, program evaluation, college-level, and state reports required by applicable accrediting and regulatory bodies, including CAEP, ALSDE, ASHA, CSWE, and CACREP.
• Analyze institutional data, assessment results, and research findings to identify performance trends, evaluate outcomes, and develop evidence-based recommendations that strengthen student and candidate success, program effectiveness, and institutional performance.
• Promote a culture of evidence-based decision-making, shared accountability, and continuous improvement by aligning accreditation and assessment activities with the University’s strategic priorities, institutional goals, and student success initiatives.
• Develop, implement, and maintain standardized procedures, templates, reporting protocols, compliance documentation practices, and evidence repositories to improve the efficiency, consistency, and sustainability of accreditation and assessment activities.
• Monitor institutional compliance with applicable state authorization, program approval, and reporting requirements; coordinate with appropriate University units to address identified obligations and support timely regulatory submissions.
• Identify potential compliance gaps, documentation deficiencies, and reporting risks; communicate findings to appropriate University leadership and coordinate follow-up actions to address deficiencies and strengthen institutional readiness.
• Maintain current knowledge of accreditation standards, regulatory requirements, institutional effectiveness practices, assessment methodologies, and emerging approaches to continuous improvement through professional development and relevant training.
• Perform other duties as required by the Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness, Strategic Initiatives, and Transformation.

Minimum Qualifications

A Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Higher Education, or a related field, and at least seven years of progressively responsible administrative experience are required. Candidates must demonstrate leadership and management experience in an academic setting, including oversight of administrative operations and collaboration across multiple divisions or organizational levels within the university community. Knowledge of higher education compliance and regulatory requirements, institutional and programmatic accreditation standards, and applicable governmental regulations is required. The successful candidate must possess the ability to work independently, establish priorities, and manage long-term projects from initiation through completion.

Demonstrated experience leading collaborative initiatives, achieving measurable outcomes, and building effective working relationships to secure the cooperation and support of faculty, staff, and administrators at all levels of the University is essential. Candidates must also demonstrate strong organizational, analytical, communication, and project management skills, including the ability to coordinate multiple concurrent projects, meet established deadlines, exercise sound judgment, and develop practical solutions to institutional challenges.

EEOC STATEMENT:It is the policy of Alabama State University to provide equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:Consistent with its obligations under the law, the University will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job. Federal law requires identity and employment eligibility verification on Form I-9 within three (3) business days of employment. All positions require the passing of a background check and some the passing of a drug screen