Program Evaluation Specialist

How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Summary

Department Summary

Michigan Housing is an actively engaged unit within Student Life Auxiliary Services within the Division of Student Life. M Housing serves approximately 11,500 students; 9,100 undergraduate and 2,400 graduate and professional students and their families. Although first-year students are not required to live on campus; historically 96-98% of all new first-year students choose to live on. Currently, the M Housing portfolio consists of 19 residential facilities that include traditional residence halls, apartments, and other living options located in communities on north and central campuses in Ann Arbor. In partnership with Michigan Dining, there are 9 dining halls and 9 retail operations embedded within the residence halls that serve approximately 4 million meals per year. In Fall 2024, M Housing will partner with other units and departments within Student Life to support the residential experience for approximately 20 U-M students on the Marygrove campus, located in Detroit. In Fall 2026, 5 new residence halls housing 2,300 undergraduate students and a new 822-seat dining facility will open to continue M Housing's strong tradition of providing affordable housing options and services for U-M students. In addition to supporting the academic mission of the University, M Housing creates and sustains diverse learning-centered residential communities that ultimately enhance the residential experience and serve as a guide for their work in support of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA).

Job Summary

The Program Evaluation Specialist coordinates and conducts assessment, evaluation and research (AER) activities to improve Michigan Housing services and environments where residents and staff live and work.

The Program Evaluation Specialist works with departmental leadership to provide data collection, data analysis and project support to evaluate and advance priorities that align with divisional and departmental core work outcomes. The position includes responsibilities for analysis of institutional data and new data collected via qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-method protocols. Foci will range from benchmarking; resident and stakeholder satisfaction; program, process, and performance evaluation; traffic studies, needs assessments, learning outcomes assessment, and resource effectiveness.

This position reports to the Associate Director for Communication, Assessment, and Support, with a dotted line to the Director of Michigan Housing.

Responsibilities*

80% Research, Evaluation and Assessment

• Develop and implement assessments of the resident experience as well as departmental programs and services.
• Measure, analyze, summarize, and interpret departmental assessment activities via divisional outcomes including community-building, student intervention/support/ advocacy, and social justice education/intercultural development.
• Analyze, summarize, interpret and present departmental assessment activities that align with Student Life core work outcomes and M Housing initiatives and goals.
• Compile research and assessment reports that align with University, Division and departmental missions and goals.
• Organize data collection, compile and share appropriate data throughout the institution, other institutions and multi-site studies for benchmarking data including Association of College and University Housing Officers - International (ACUHO-I)'s Campus Housing Index.
• Integrate data from multiple assessment sources to provide a unified picture of progress toward fulfilling the department's strategic plans and learning outcome goals.
• Recommend appropriate steps to continually improve the effectiveness of departmental assessment efforts.
• Provide support to unit directors and other employees in helping to conceptualize, design, collect, measure, analyze, and present assessment results.
• Develop and author assessment analyses, reports, and executive summaries and assessment/evaluation components of documents and reports.
• Provide department staff, as appropriate, with analyses of collected data to guide and inform current and future practice.
• Assist in the development of an assessment agenda and timeline that enables Michigan Housing to proactively and intentionally generate data that supports our institutional role and goals.
• Ensure all analyses and data storage practices comply with legal standards and meet University policies, guidelines, and ethical standards.
• Identify future areas of inquiry to benefit the department.
• Collaborate with the Student Life Research Office on assessment, evaluation, and research projects.
• Ensure M Housing efforts align with divisional mission and outcomes work.
  
  
  

10% Policy and Trend analyses

• Conduct searches for trends that may affect Michigan Housing operations in different spheres, including institutional, federal, state and local policies, rules and regulations.
• Conduct SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) analyses to determine where improvements need to be made, based on identified trends.
  
  
  

10% Administrative Responsibilities

• Other duties and special projects as assigned.
  
  
  

Behavioral Expectations

• Skill in developing and sustaining collaborative and culturally inclusive relationships
• Commitment to equity-minded and anti-racist research frameworks and methods and the ability to articulate these frameworks and methods
• Understanding, appreciation of, and strong personal commitment to the issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion
  
  
  

Required Qualifications*

• Master's degree in Higher Education, College Student Personnel, Educational Administration, or a related field
• Minimum four (4) years of assessment, research, or evaluation experience in a higher education setting
• Knowledge of, or certification in, quantitative tools (e.g., SPSS, SAS), qualitative tools (e.g., NVivo), and Data Visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Google Data Studio)
• Experience developing and operationalizing qualitative and quantitative protocols
• Experience in instrument/protocol development and methodologies
• Thorough knowledge of statistical methods, terms, and analyses
• Excellent editing, proofreading, writing, and communication skills
  
  
  

Additional Information

Working conditions

• Occasional evenings and weekends during peak business operations, such as but not limited to Fall Move-in at the end of August.
  
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Position requires working with a computer for the majority of the day, with frequent phone calls.
• Routinely moves items weighing under 20 pounds.
  
  
  

Selected candidates whose start date is after 4/1/2024 or before 8/31/2024 will not be eligible for the university FY 24-25 salary/merit plan unless otherwise notified.

This role may have reporting obligations under Title IX and Clery.

Authorization to work in the U.S. is a precondition of employment and applicants for this position will not be sponsored for work visas.

Salary may vary depending on qualifications, experience, and education of the selected candidate.

#studentlife

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.