Assessment Associate

Department Information

Engineering a world of possibilities

The Trefny Innovative Instruction Center leads efforts on campus to promote evidence-based, inclusive teaching and learning at Mines through professional development opportunities for faculty, participation in teaching and learning initiatives at the institution, and supporting faculty research on effective teaching and learning. Our team supports efforts across all levels of the university to ensure that curriculum, instruction, and assessment are research-based, aligned, and supportive of all students.

The Assessment Associate will be a core part of the Trefny Center team, supporting efforts across all levels of the university: helping instructors conduct classroom-based research; supporting departments on program-level assessment; and collaborating on university-level assessment projects. This position reports to the Director of the Trefny Center and is a full-time, 12-month appointment. Please note that while fully remote work is not an option with this position, there is the potential for a flexible work schedule that includes a mix of days in the office and days working from home.

The Team

We are a small team that works together closely, and we also have strong relationships with faculty and other administrative units across campus. As a whole, the Mines community is small and tight-knit, and people believe in the work. We find that the faculty who collaborate with us are enthusiastic about working together and excited to partner with teaching and learning experts. This position will have opportunities to lead projects and can make a meaningful impact at Mines.

Our ideal candidate is someone who will approach the work with openness, curiosity, and a growth mindset. We are looking for a collaborator who is willing to speak honestly, listen actively, and reflect critically on both their own contributions and the contributions of others.

For more about the Trefny Center, please visit: https://trefnycenter.mines.edu//

Description of Job

Primary Responsibilities

• Consult with faculty, staff, and academic administrators on program assessment plans, education research design, and implementation of educational improvements.

• Co-chair the University Assessment Committee, providing support for ABET and HLC accreditation efforts and departments' program-level assessment.

• Lead institution-wide student surveys, including survey design and alignment with campus needs; administration and coordination with other campus surveys; informing the visualization and analysis of results; and sharing the findings with relevant stakeholders.

• Create a variety of reports, white papers, and other genre appropriate for a variety of audiences to share results, advise future efforts, and to support the assessment and educational research efforts for continuous improvement efforts in teaching and learning.

• Work closely with Trefny Center colleagues in studying and assessing innovations in teaching and learning at Mines and in educating faculty and staff on assessment and educational research practices.

• Support and collaborate with faculty in designing, implementing, and publishing classroom-based education research projects; research, present, and publish on Trefny Center work and Mines institutional initiatives.

• Serve on institution-level working groups focused on data, assessment, and evaluation related to teaching and learning, as well as related institutional policies and practices.

Salary and Benefits

$75,000 - $86,900 annual salary

Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate's education, training and experience as well as the position's scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees. For this role, that includes:

• Flexible health, vision, and dental care plans

• Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year - including a week-long winter break for entire campus.

• Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution

• Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)

• Free RTD Ecopass

All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the on-campus Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more), equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center, the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (CSEAP), and backup child and elder care. Coming soon is an on-campus daycare center. For more information about benefits at Mines, go to mines.edu/human-resources/benefits.

How to Apply

Applicants must:

• Complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, veteran status)
• Upload a resume or CV
• Upload a cover letter

This advertisement will close July 21, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Applications will not be accepted after that date.

For the full job announcement and to apply, visit jobs.mines.edu or click here.

References will not be contacted until later in the selection process and you will be informed before that contact is made.

Mines welcomes everyone to our team; in your application, please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example - she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc). If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know.

Successful Completion of a Background Investigation is Required for this Position.

Minimum Qualifications, Substitutions, Conditions of Employment & Appeal Rights

Minimum Qualifications

• MA from an accredited university or college in educational psychology, assessment and program evaluation, higher education, engineering education, or a related field.

• Experience designing education research studies and/or assessment plans, collecting data, and conducting appropriate data analysis.

• Experience with the implementation or evaluation of programs in higher education.

• Experience using relevant educational theories and literature to develop research study designs, select data collection instruments, and frame results in the context of previous work.

• Experience in effectively communicating results to a variety of audiences, in a manner that truly informs practice.

• Proven record of managing a productive work schedule including managing multiple projects simultaneously and meeting deadlines.

• Exceptional collaboration and interpersonal skills to become a strong contributor to our team.

Preferred Qualifications

• PhD is preferred from an accredited university or college in educational psychology, social psychology, higher education, engineering education, or a related field.

• Experience supporting faculty in conducting classroom-based research (e.g., Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Teaching as Research), particularly in developing creative approaches to study design and assessment that balance pedagogical needs with methodological rigor.

• Experience defining student learning outcomes and developing aligned assessments.

• Experience working in a Center for Teaching and Learning.

• Experience publishing education research.

• Experience developing human subjects research protocols.

• Tableau; qualitative data analysis skills

Supplemental Information

About Mines & Golden, CO

When the world looks for answers, the world looks to Mines.

Colorado School of Mines is a top-ranked public university solving the grand challenges facing our society, particularly those related to the Earth, energy and the environment. Founded in 1874 with specialties in mining and metallurgy, Mines' scope and mission have continually expanded to meet the needs of industry and society. Today, we are the No. 38 public university in the nation, recognized for our innovation and undergraduate teaching in science, technology engineering and math (U.S. News and World Report, 2023).

Mines graduates are change makers, boundary breakers and problem solvers. Since our earliest days, a Mines education has been and continues to be a transformational opportunity, with one of the strongest returns on investment out there for talented STEM students of all backgrounds.

At the same time, Mines faculty members are pushing their fields in new directions, whether that's manufacturing, space resources, quantum engineering, carbon capture or more. Mines was recently classified as a R1 "Very High Activity" research institution by Carnegie, a notable feat for any university but particularly one of our size.

That size - roughly 7,000 undergraduate and graduate students - also translates to a close-knit campus community, where employees have opportunities to get involved in multiple ways, continued professional learning is valued and everyone can make an impact.

Community Alliance groups bring together employees for professional development, networking, cultural awareness and community involvement, and all Mines employees also have access to the wealth of activities happening every day on campus - nationally-renowned speakers, special events and Mines traditions like Engineering Days, just to name a few.

And don't get us started on our hometown. We are located in the heart of Golden, Colorado --with its charming historic downtown and nearby hiking trails - and in close proximity to all that Denver and the Rocky Mountains have to offer. That includes the sunny, high-altitude climate and outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities that make the Denver area an ideal place to live, work and play.

Are you looking for an inspiring, mission-driven workplace where you can contribute to solving the world's problems and educating the next generation of change makers? Are you an individual who values a diverse and inclusive community, where our different perspectives, experiences and cultures enrich the educational and work experience?

Look to Mines.

Equal Opportunity

Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons.? Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses.

Mines' commitment to nondiscrimination, affirmative action, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve a diverse student body and workforce.

Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequity or concerns for safety.

Colorado's premier engineering and applied science university for 150 years and counting