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Lake Michigan College, a comprehensive community college located on the shores of southern Lake Michigan, invites inquiries, applications and nominations for the position of Director of Institutional Research.

About Lake Michigan College

Lake Michigan College (LMC) is a dynamic institution offering over 100 degree and certificate programs to approximately 7,000 students on its three campuses and Technology Center. Its annual operating budget is approximately $32M. Revenue received from grants totals $19.2M, or 36 percent of all revenue sources. Recently named one of the country’s 50 fastest-growing community colleges within its size range, LMC is an Achieving the Dream school and has a strong performance record in the success of new students enrolled in the program. The College is a welcoming community whose members are strongly committed to recruiting a diverse faculty, staff and student population.

LMC’s district is recognized for its many beaches, nationally acclaimed golf courses, and a flourishing wine industry. It also provides a wide range of cultural, educational and professional opportunities for families. Downtown Chicago is within a 90 minute drive, and The University of Notre Dame and Western Michigan University are within 45 minutes.

About the Position

Reporting to the President, the Director of Institutional Research provides vision, leadership and direction for the College’s institutional research activities, particularly those associated with student success and institutional effectiveness. The Director will provide support and analysis for the President on all major College initiatives. In collaboration with senior staff, the Director frames research projects, directs data gathering, analyzes complex data sets, and collaborates with stakeholders to reach data-informed decisions and create action plans for quality improvement. In this role, the Director serves as the prime source of institutional data for the President’s Staff and Board of Trustees in monitoring the College’s overall health and progress. In fulfilling this role, the Director collaborates with faculty and staff to establish and monitor key institutional indicators and increase institutional capacity for data collection and analysis in all departments. In all such activities the Director will oversee and ensure fulfillment of the College’s reporting requirements with federal, state, accrediting, and granting agencies.

Additionally, the Director serves as the point of contact for requests from external sources for institutional reports, provides data support for the strategic planning process, and assists in enrollment forecasting and feasibility studies for new programs. The Director also provides direct support to the assessment of student learning outcomes and to the measurement of constituent satisfaction with College programs and services.

Specific responsibilities include:

• Lead a team of key stakeholders in defining and reviewing institutional research priorities
• Direct and/or conduct qualitative and quantitative studies in support of institutional planning and operations
• Develop and administer institutional databases relating to academic and support programs and functions, in coordination with the Information Technologies Department and other appropriate departments and programs
• Chair the College’s Internal Review Board for research requests
• Provide research support in the development of College grant proposals.

Successful Candidates

The successful candidate must possess at least three years of institutional planning and research experience in higher education. He or she will be recognized within the higher education community as an outstanding strategic thinker and planner with exceptional skills and experience in research design, strategic planning and assessment of institutional effectiveness. The successful candidate must possess a thorough familiarity with and proven capacity to manipulate large data sets as well as expertise in designing and producing data-based institutional reports. Also required are demonstrated high-level skills in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis as well as experience with student outcome models, and statistical techniques. Proficiency in a broad array of software programs including statistical packages, along with excellent verbal, written and organization skills are essential. Familiarity with the Banner information system is highly preferred. Evidence of a collaborative work style and the ability to work collegially and effectively in a team environment is a must for the successful applicant. A Master’s degree is required; a doctorate is preferred.

How To Apply

Interested individuals should send a letter describing their interest in and qualifications for the position, a résumé, and contact information including email addresses for five references. The packet should be sent electronically (Microsoft Word attachments preferred) to Bill Spelman at Leadership@wspelman.com . The subject line in the email should be DIRLMC. Documents that must be mailed should be sent to William Spelman Executive Search, Stony Point Landing, 667 Midship Circle, Webster, NY 14580. Confidential inquiries will be received at 603.978.0316. Confidentiality will be maintained, and references will not be contacted without prior knowledge or approval of the candidate. For full consideration, all materials should be received by July 15, 2011. The process will continue until the position is filled.

Lake Michigan College is an equal opportunity institution, affording enrollment employment and services without distinction on the basis of age, color, height, weight, creed, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion or gender.