Director of Accreditation and Assessment, College of Health Science

Pepperdine University invites applications for the position of Director of Accreditation and Assessment for the newly established College of Health Science. Approved by the University Board of Regents in February 2025, the CHS will encompass schools of Nursing and Speech-Language Pathology, launching degree programs including Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Entry Level Master’s, Clinical Nurse Leader, and Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology in August 2025. Additionally, a School of Physician Assistant Studies is scheduled to offer a Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant Studies in August 2027, with plans for further expansion into Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and other healthcare disciplines.

Reporting directly to the Dean of the CHS, the director will lead accreditation and assessment  initiatives, overseeing the daily operations of the Office of Accreditation and Assessment. This role will involve collaboration with deans and directors of academic programs to ensure programmatic accreditation and alignment with the University’s Office of Institutional Effectiveness for comprehensive assessment activities.

Key Responsibilities:

The director will be responsible for a broad range of activities essential to the success of the Office of Accreditation and Assessment and the CHS. Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

• Collaborating with schools/programs, directors/committees, and faculty/staff to support student learning, clinical program evaluation, specialized accreditation and compliance efforts, assessment processes, and course/program evaluation, and program enhancement across the CHS.
• Overseeing the daily operations of the Office of Accreditation and Assessment.
• Coordinating the collection and analysis of annual and cyclical data related to assessment, accreditation, and continuous quality improvement across all CHS degree programs.
• Preparing reports and presentations that synthesize assessment findings.
• Developing surveys and instruments to gather data pertinent to student success, program effectiveness, learning outcomes, and accreditation standards.
• Continuously seeking improvements in the assessment process including college structures and processes, data collection, reporting, and the utilization of assessment tools to assist college planning and decision-making.
• Managing all assessment/accreditation software and data analysis/reporting systems.
• Supervising staff, including graduate assistants and student workers.
• Assisting and training CHS personnel in utilizing university data systems and analysis software.
• Serving on college and university committees as appointed.
• Completing projects as assigned by the CHS Dean or their designee(s).
• Demonstrating prudent financial management of the Office of Accreditation and Assessment.
• Promoting a culture of assessment and compliance throughout the college, and ensuring compliance with all applicable university policies, procedures, and federal, state, and local regulations.
• Performing other duties as assigned. 

In executing these responsibilities, the director will exemplify a commitment to communication, transparency, and humility, fostering a professional and collegial community within the CHS dedicated to integrating Christian faith and learning in the development of highly qualified graduates.

The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job.

Skills and Qualifications

Required:

• A graduate degree in a relevant field (e.g., data science, data analytics, curriculum or instructional design, applied mathematics, statistics).
• A minimum of three years of progressively responsible experience in higher education assessment, particularly in educational outcomes or program assessment.
• Exceptional proficiency in collecting, analyzing, and presenting data to inform evidence-
  based decisions and recommendations.
• Demonstrated success using statistical analysis tools (e.g., R, SPSS), survey platforms (e.g., Qualtrics), Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and other relevant technologies/tools to advancement assessment and accreditation initiatives.
• Evidence of successful collaboration and engagement with senior leadership, administrators, faculty, staff, and students.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, complemented by a robust work ethic.
• The ability to make both independent and collaborative decisions.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.
• A commitment to the highest moral, ethical, and academic standards.

Preferred:

• An active and enduring Christian faith, along with a sincere commitment to advancing Pepperdine University’s Christian mission.
• Prior experience leading or supporting the assessment of healthcare programs.
• Five or more years of experience in higher education assessment.
• Knowledge and experience performing specialized accreditation for academic healthcare programs.
• Prior successful experience leading multiple, high-stake projects simultaneously.

Qualified individuals should be able to articulate a strong commitment to diversity, and have the ability to work effectively with individuals from different backgrounds.

Review of candidates will commence immediately and continue until the position is filled. The anticipated employment start date is February 1, 2025.

Please submit all application materials at the position’s job application portal. In addition to completing the required University application, please include the following with the application.

• A letter of application
• A curriculum vitae
• Transcripts of all graduate work (Unofficial copies are acceptable for the application; however, official transcripts may be required for selected applicants.)
• In the application, be certain to include the names, email address, and telephone number for three individuals to serve as a reference

Offers of employment are contingent upon successful completion of a criminal, education, and employment screening. The University conducts such screenings in compliance with applicable laws and with the objectives of evaluating risk and supporting a safe environment for students, faculty, staff, and guests; safeguarding key University assets including people, property, information, and the University’s reputation; and providing comprehensive job-related information to University leaders to enable them to make prudent hiring decisions. Qualified individuals with criminal histories will be considered for employment in compliance with applicable laws, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.

This is a Regular, Exempt, 40 hour per week position.

Expected Pay Range: $85,000 - $101,000 per year 

The above pay range reflects what Pepperdine University reasonably expects to pay for this position at time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant factors such as work experience, market conditions, education/training, and skill level. In addition to base pay, Pepperdine offers a robust and highly competitive benefits package.

The BSN and ELM nursing programs at Pepperdine University are pending approval by the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN) and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) Senior College & University Commission (WSCUC).

The Master of Science (MS) education program in speech-language pathology (distance education) at Pepperdine University is an Applicant for Candidacy by the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, 2200 Research Boulevard, #310, Rockville, MD 20850, 800-498-2071 or 301-296-5700.

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Michael Feltner
Founding Dean, College of Health Science
Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263

Pepperdine is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.