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Program Assessment Specialist

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University of Waterloo

15d ago

  • Job
    Full-time
    Senior Level
  • Consulting
    Education & Teaching
  • Waterloo

AI generated summary

  • You need a relevant degree, P.Eng. or EIT, experience in academic environments, knowledge of outcomes-based assessment, data analysis skills, and strong interpersonal abilities.
  • You will develop and assess graduate attributes, ensure accreditation compliance, analyze data, mentor faculty, manage course scheduling, and support program improvement initiatives.

Requirements

  • Post-secondary education in engineering, or related field
  • P.Eng. or EIT designation required, or P.Eng. eligible
  • Several years’ experience working in an academic environment, experience with engineering undergraduate and graduate education strongly preferred
  • Demonstrated experience with the engineering curriculum, must have an understanding of student needs and commitment to enhancing student experience
  • Must possess general understanding of outcomes-based assessment, and accreditation requirements for professional programs
  • Demonstrated experience performing duties related to data analysis, management, reporting, and application of statistical methods
  • Working knowledge of a variety of reporting, data management and visualization tools (e.g., OneDrive, Qualtrics, ADOBE Creative Suite)
  • Knowledge of editing SQL databases and PHP coding an asset
  • Expert user of Microsoft Suite of products (e.g., Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams, Zoom)
  • Expert user of SharePoint and/or electronic file management systems
  • Demonstrated database experience and graphical/statistical analysis skills
  • Ability to foresee impact of change and determine what adjustments may be necessary
  • Must possess thorough knowledge of Faculty of Engineering undergraduate curriculum, and academic requirements
  • Experience in making and presenting data-driven decisions in support of student academic success
  • Ability to work independently, with minimal direction, and as part of a team
  • Aptitude for attention to detail and accuracy
  • Ability to think creatively and show initiative to solve problems and improve working procedures
  • Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with key collaborators across campus and to lead faculty groups within the department
  • Ability to manage large workload and prioritize competing deadlines
  • Demonstrated experience to write academic reports

Responsibilities

  • Development of graduate attributes and associated assessment
  • Represents SYDE at all departmental and faculty level meetings related to outcome-based assessment and accreditation activities. Presents SYDE’s program assessments and activities and brings Faculty information back to department leadership
  • Develops and applies tracking methodologies and systems to ensure accreditation compliance
  • Maps graduate attributes across the curriculum to Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) report requirements through analyzing data, including preparing charts and graphs, and maps results
  • Mentors faculty on graduate attributes and teaches new faculty how to measure graduate attributes in their courses
  • Works with faculty and instructors to identify assessment opportunities and to recommend curriculum changes across multiple courses
  • Reviews syllabi and advises faculty on required and outcome-based content for engineering courses. Maintains and updates department-wide standard syllabus content
  • Establishes benchmarks and tools to measure performance against accreditation standards in partnership with the Associate Chair, Undergraduate Studies and BME Program Director
  • Researches and produces meaningful data and supporting documentation to meet the decision-making needs of the academic unit
  • Collects and critically analyzes data on student performance and presents recommendations for program improvement to the Department’s leadership and program committees (graduate and undergraduate)
  • Develops and implements a variety of assessments for undergraduate and graduate programs, including student surveys, beginning of term and end of term surveys, analyzes data, ensures quality control, and reports results. This includes independent design and pretesting of survey instruments
  • Teams with the graduate office staff to develop and assess components on the co-curricular professional development programs of the graduate programs (seminars, workshops, professional skills courses). Assesses student satisfaction and tracks data on graduate student performance
  • Manages program specific resources used to collect information including SharePoint sites and databases
  • Conducts statistical analysis of student learning outcomes with accuracy
  • Creates new software tools with database and file management software to collect course outlines, samples, and final exams for accreditation from faculty
  • Manages planning and host responsibilities for external site visits for CEAB and IQAP. Presents program assessment to visitors for undergraduate program
  • Collects and prepares all materials required for CEAB and IQAP submissions (electronic and paper) with the support of the Academic Services Coordinators
  • Prepares the accreditation reports (Exhibit 1) for CEAB and IQAP
  • Prepares the main report for accreditation (the Questionnaire) and IQAP self-study with the Associate Chair/Director
  • Manages undergraduate schedule for up to 7 cohorts per term and graduate schedule taking into considerations class size, location, lecture style, instructor constraints and their multiple teaching tasks
  • Acts as the main point of contact with other engineering departments for cross-listed/co-held with courses to ensure minimal conflicts for upper-year offerings
  • Liaise with instructors with special requests and notify them of changes
  • Create undergraduate exam and mid-term schedules
  • Advises and provides solution to course scheduling and exam conflicts
  • Liaise with AccessAbility Services regarding special exam arrangements for students dealing with special circumstances
  • Independently develops centralized schedule to be input into Registrar’s online scheduling system taking into account all the constraints (ie room availability, class size, conflicts between core courses and electives)
  • Schedules alternative locations for hands-on active learning when activities cannot be undertaken in standard classroom
  • Assists and supports faculty on the application process and documenting their engineering experience for their P.Eng. licensure
  • Stays aware of P.Eng. licensure requirements and communicates changes to faculty members
  • Develops and maintains departmental CEAB Planner, DEN website and TA databases (PHP) including software updates, system backups, data analysis, and program changes
  • Presents relevant data to department meetings and department leadership
  • Serves on the departmental committees such as the Curriculum Renewal Committee as an active contributor to curriculum reform
  • Additional duties as assigned

FAQs

What qualifications are required for the Program Assessment Specialist position?

The required qualifications include post-secondary education in engineering or a related field, P.Eng. or EIT designation (or P.Eng. eligible), several years of experience in an academic environment (preferably in engineering education), and a demonstrated understanding of outcomes-based assessment and accreditation requirements.

What specific responsibilities does the Program Assessment Specialist have regarding accreditation?

The Program Assessment Specialist manages planning and hosting responsibilities for external site visits for the CEAB and IQAP, prepares accreditation reports and materials, and coordinates with faculty to ensure compliance with accreditation standards.

What types of data does the Program Assessment Specialist collect and analyze?

The Program Assessment Specialist collects various sources of quantitative and qualitative data, including student performance, feedback from surveys, and curriculum assessments, in order to make recommendations for program improvements and to support accreditation processes.

How does the Program Assessment Specialist support faculty in terms of curriculum development?

The Program Assessment Specialist works with faculty to identify assessment opportunities, recommends curriculum changes across multiple courses, reviews syllabi for required content, and mentors faculty on measuring graduate attributes in their courses.

What tools and software does the Program Assessment Specialist use for data management and analysis?

The Program Assessment Specialist is expected to have working knowledge of tools such as OneDrive, Qualtrics, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Suite (including Word, Excel, and Teams), and should have experience with SQL databases and PHP coding.

Is previous experience in academic advising or curriculum management preferred for this role?

Yes, several years of experience working in an academic environment, specifically related to engineering undergraduate and graduate education, is strongly preferred for the Program Assessment Specialist position.

What kind of support is provided for faculty licensure applications?

The Program Assessment Specialist assists and supports faculty in the application process for their P.Eng. licensure by documenting their engineering experience, staying informed about licensure requirements, and communicating any updates.

Does the University of Waterloo support equity and diversity in the recruitment process?

Yes, the University of Waterloo values diverse and intersectional identities and is committed to equity, anti-racism, and inclusion in its hiring practices. The university encourages applications from historically disadvantaged and marginalized groups.

What are the scheduling responsibilities of the Program Assessment Specialist?

The Program Assessment Specialist manages the scheduling for undergraduate and graduate courses, including creating exam and mid-term schedules, resolving course conflicts, and coordinating with other engineering departments to minimize schedule conflicts.

Is this position open to applicants from outside Canada?

The position is open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.

University of Waterloo

Education
Industry
5001-10,000
Employees

Mission & Purpose

University of Waterloo is a leader in innovation that drives economic and social prosperity for Canada and the world. We are home to a renowned talent pipeline, game-changing research and technology, and unmatched entrepreneurial culture, that together create solutions to tackle today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. Our greatest impact happens together. A strategic integration of research and teaching excellence, the world’s largest co-operative education program, entrepreneurship-intensive programs, and creator-owned IP, has resulted in extensive industry collaboration, the generation of thousands of commercial and social enterprises, and a dynamic learning experience for more than 41,000 undergraduate and graduate students.