Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness and Student Success

Reporting directly to the Provost and serving as a member of the President's Cabinet & Executive Leadership Team, the VPIESS occupies a position of significant institutional influence. The successful candidate will ensure that every DMU student has access to the academic resources, support services, and institutional structures necessary to succeed — advancing the University's mission at the highest level.

1. Institutional Effectiveness & Accreditation Support

• Lead and sustain a culture of continuous improvement & evidence-based decision-making across the University.
• Oversee institutional effectiveness processes, including assessment of student learning outcomes, program review & and institutional research functions.
• Coordinate & support institutional accreditation activities (e.g., SACSCOC, state and federal compliance), working collaboratively with academic leadership and program directors.
• Support compliance and reporting needs related to specialized program accreditation (e.g., APA, CACREP) in collaboration with academic units.
• Ensure institutional data integrity and effective use of outcomes data to inform planning, resource allocation, and strategic initiatives.

2. Student Success Strategy & Outcomes

• Provide strategic leadership for institution-wide student success initiatives focused on retention, persistence, progression, and degree completion.
• Develop and monitor student success metrics and dashboards aligned with institutional goals and accreditation expectations.
• Promote equitable access to academic resources and support services across online and in-person learning environments.
• Champion a holistic approach to student formation that integrates academic achievement, personal development, and mission-informed support.

3. Academic & Student Support Services

Provide executive oversight and coordination of academic support and student success units to ensure these units function collaboratively, efficiently, and in alignment with institutional assessment, accreditation, and student success priorities.  Specific areas of oversight include:

Academic Cabinet
The Academic Cabinet consists of directors or designated representatives from academic programs, student success, and administrative units across the University.

• Convenes quarterly to strengthen cross-unit communication and coordination
• Promotes consistency in academic and student success policies
• Guides the development of a shared formation model that advances dignity, equality, and solidarity across academic programs and student learning experiences

Center for Student Success

• Academic advising, tutoring, academic coaching, and retention initiatives
• Early alert systems and student progress monitoring to support timely intervention and persistence

Library Services

• Oversight of digital and physical information resources
• Research support, information literacy instruction, and access to academic resources

Registrar’s Office

• Stewardship of academic records, registration processes, degree audits, and enrollment data integrity
• Implementation of policies related to academic progression, persistence, and degree completion

4. Collaboration & Mission Integration

• Collaborate closely with the Provost, Deans & Program Directors to align student success initiatives with academic programs and learning outcomes.
• Partner with faculty and academic leadership to use assessment data to strengthen teaching, curriculum, and student learning.
• Ensure that student success and institutional effectiveness efforts reflect and support Divine Mercy University’s Catholic Christian identity and commitment to forming servant leaders.
• Foster strong collaboration across online and in-person campus environments to enhance the overall student experience.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Earned doctorate from a regionally accredited institution.
• Significant senior-level leadership experience in higher education administration.
• Demonstrated expertise in institutional effectiveness, assessment, and accreditation (e.g., SACSCOC).
• Proven experience leading academic support services and student success initiatives.
• Strong understanding of graduate and professional education, including online and global program delivery.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and collaborative leadership skills.

Preferred:

• Experience supporting specialized program accreditation processes, including APA and CACREP.
• Demonstrated commitment to Catholic higher education and the mission of faith-integrated professional formation.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strategic leadership grounded in institutional mission and stewardship.
• Deep expertise in assessment, accreditation, and continuous improvement practices.
• Student-centered philosophy applied to academic support and institutional planning.
• Commitment to integrating Catholic-Christian values into student success & institutional effectiveness work.
• Capacity to lead diverse teams & foster collaboration across academic and administrative units.

ROLE DISTINCTION

The VPIESS does not serve as the chief academic officer, but works in close partnership with the Provost and the Academic Cabinet. This role focuses on outcomes, assessment, student support infrastructure, and institutional effectiveness — ensuring that academic excellence is sustained through strong systems, data-informed decision-making, and mission-aligned student services.

HOW TO APPLY

DMU invites applications and nominations for this position. Candidates are encouraged to submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, and the names and contact information of three professional references. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.  

Based on the Catholic identity and mission of DMU, we only employ persons who demonstrate openness and respect for the Roman Catholic Church and its institutions and who have a sincere interest in advancing DMU’s mission within the Church.  

NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT:   Committed to the teaching of Vatican Council II that every type of discrimination, whether social or cultural, whether based on sex, race, color, social condition, language or religion, is to be overcome and eradicated as contrary to God's intent (Gaudium et Spes, 29), DMU encourages applications from people of all ages, races, ethnicities, nationalities, women, men, veterans and those with disabilities.