Institutional Planning and Research seeks an experienced data analyst who can conduct strategic analyses and program evaluations to support the office of the Provost. The Senior Research Analyst has primary responsibility for evaluating and assessing student academic progress, retention and graduation rates, and student outcomes. In addition, this position will help assess the impact of a broad range of university initiatives for both undergraduate and graduate education.

The Senior Research Analyst will develop university-wide datasets, design research, create and test survey instruments, conduct focus groups, analyze data, interpret results, develop charts and visualizations, and prepare written reports and presentations.

He or she will report to the Associate Provost for Institutional Planning and Research, and is expected to work closely with the deans in each college, academic programs, advising, student affairs, and other staff in the Provost Office to design, coordinate, and conduct independent studies and assessments. The Senior Research Analyst will also collaborate with analysts at peer universities and participate in national studies designed to increase college access and degree completion.

To carry out this work, the Senior Research Analyst will work closely with other staff in Institutional Planning and Research to develop, support, maintain and analyze institutional databases including student enrollment and degree census files, longitudinal survey and career placement data, state performance metrics, course evaluations, course management data, and learning assessment. He or she will also use and contribute to national and peer datasets, including the National Student Loan Clearinghouse, the Consortium for Student Retention Data Exchange, and the Association of Public Land Grant Universities (APLU) that provide external benchmarks.

Provide analytic services and research including (1) studies on student academic progress, retention and graduation, and student outcomes; (2) regular reports on graduation cohorts by college and demographic groups; (3) key indicators of student progress; (4) studies of students who do not complete their degree; (5) benchmarks on degree completion at peer institutions; and (6) other studies as requested.

Develop and implement evaluations of the impact of university initiatives designed to increase degree completion and shorten time to degree for both undergraduate and graduate students. Prepare guidelines, reference materials, and protocols for implementation of the evaluation studies, including but not limited to, processes such as pilot testing, sampling, data collection, data coding, and data storage. Exercise oversight of the implementation of evaluation tools and strategies used in studies, providing training and guidance to staff as necessary to assure that effective evaluations are conducted.

Develop instruments, tools, and strategies for collecting data needed to identify factors that influence student academic progress and degree completion, including but not limited to questionnaires, tests, focus groups, interview protocols, assessments, and use of existing institutional, peer, and national data. Align research studies with definitions and standards required by the Florida Board of Governors and the Federal Department of Education. Determine the reliability and validity of any instruments or protocols that are used.

Organize, analyze, interpret, synthesize and summarize data from a variety of local, peer, and national sources. These may include data from legacy and current student operational systems, academic program plans, learning assessment, student surveys, student placement and earnings data, and information about students who leave the university. Produce oral and written reports based on these data that are methodologically sound and meet the guidelines and requirements of the university, state and federal governments, and other external agencies such as SACS.

5% Other related duties as assigned by Institutional Planning and Research

Advertised: 24 Jun 2024 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: 08 Jul 2024 Eastern Daylight Time