Program Assessment Specialist (PAS) monitors the outcomes-based undergraduate and graduate program curriculum of the Systems Design Engineering (SYDE) department by collecting various sources of quantitative and qualitative data, facilitating faculty collaboration, and operating various online database systems for student use. The PAS serves the same functions as the Graduate Attribute Lecturers from other departments and coordinates with the Associate Dean’s office to represent the SYDE department in Faculty-wide accreditation. The PAS prepares the written reports, data and documentation for external evaluations.  This position recommends improvements and changes for advancing curriculum and co-curricular activities including co-op. The PAS advises faculty on obtaining their licensure as a professional engineer. In addition to accreditation responsibilities, this position also oversees program scheduling for all SYDE undergraduate and graduate courses.

Development of graduate attributes and associated assessment

• Represents SYDE at all departmental and faculty level meetings related to outcome-based assessment and accreditation activities. Presents SYDE’s program assessments and activities and brings Faculty information back to department leadership
• Develops and applies tracking methodologies and systems to ensure accreditation compliance
• Maps graduate attributes across the curriculum to Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB) report requirements through analyzing data, including preparing charts and graphs, and maps results
• Mentors faculty on graduate attributes and teaches new faculty how to measure graduate attributes in their courses
• Works with faculty and instructors to identify assessment opportunities and to recommend curriculum changes across multiple courses
• Reviews syllabi and advises faculty on required and outcome-based content for engineering courses. Maintains and updates department-wide standard syllabus content
• Establishes benchmarks and tools to measure performance against accreditation standards in partnership with the Associate Chair, Undergraduate Studies and BME Program Director
• Researches and produces meaningful data and supporting documentation to meet the decision-making needs of the academic unit
• Collects and critically analyzes data on student performance and presents recommendations for program improvement to the Department’s leadership and program committees (graduate and undergraduate)
• Develops and implements a variety of assessments for undergraduate and graduate programs, including student surveys, beginning of term and end of term surveys, analyzes data, ensures quality control, and reports results. This includes independent design and pretesting of survey instruments
• Teams with the graduate office staff to develop and assess components on the co-curricular professional development programs of the graduate programs (seminars, workshops, professional skills courses). Assesses student satisfaction and tracks data on graduate student performance
• Manages program specific resources used to collect information including SharePoint sites and databases
• Conducts statistical analysis of student learning outcomes with accuracy
• Creates new software tools with database and file management software to collect course outlines, samples, and final exams for accreditation from faculty

Coordination of accreditation process

• Manages planning and host responsibilities for external site visits for CEAB and IQAP.  Presents program assessment to visitors for undergraduate program
• Collects and prepares all materials required for CEAB and IQAP submissions (electronic and paper) with the support of the Academic Services Coordinators
• Prepares the accreditation reports (Exhibit 1) for CEAB and IQAP
• Prepares the main report for accreditation (the Questionnaire) and IQAP self-study with the Associate Chair/Director

Scheduling

• Manages undergraduate schedule for up to 7 cohorts per term and graduate schedule taking into considerations class size, location, lecture style, instructor constraints and their multiple teaching tasks
• Acts as the main point of contact with other engineering departments for cross-listed/co-held with courses to ensure minimal conflicts for upper-year offerings
• Liaise with instructors with special requests and notify them of changes
• Create undergraduate exam and mid-term schedules
• Advises and provides solution to course scheduling and exam conflicts
• Liaise with AccessAbility Services regarding special exam arrangements for students dealing with special circumstances
• Independently develops centralized schedule to be input into Registrar’s online scheduling system taking into account all the constraints (ie room availability, class size, conflicts between core courses and electives)
• Schedules alternative locations for hands-on active learning when activities cannot be undertaken in standard classroom

Academic Operations

• Assists and supports faculty on the application process and documenting their engineering experience for their P.Eng. licensure
• Stays aware of P.Eng. licensure requirements and communicates changes to faculty members
• Develops and maintains departmental CEAB Planner, DEN website and TA databases (PHP) including software updates, system backups, data analysis, and program changes
• Presents relevant data to department meetings and department leadership
• Serves on the departmental committees such as the Curriculum Renewal Committee as an active contributor to curriculum reform
• Additional duties as assigned

• Post-secondary education in engineering, or related field
• P.Eng. or EIT designation required, or P.Eng. elligible
• Several years’ experience working in an academic environment, experience with engineering undergraduate and graduate education strongly preferred
• Demonstrated experience with the engineering curriculum, must have an understanding of student needs and commitment to enhancing student experience
• Must process general understanding of outcomes-based assessment, and accreditation requirements for professional programs
• Demonstrated experience performing duties related to data analysis, management, reporting, and application of statistical methods
• Working knowledge of a variety of reporting, data management and visualization tools (e.g., OneDrive, Qualtrics, ADOBE Creative Suite)
• Knowledge of editing SQL databases and PHP coding an asset
• Expert user of Microsoft Suite of products (e.g., Word, Outlook, Excel, Teams, Zoom)
• Expert user of SharePoint and/or electronic file management systems
• Demonstrated database experience and graphical/statistical analysis skills
• Ability to foresee impact of change and determine what adjustments may be necessary
• Must possess thorough knowledge of Faculty of Engineering undergraduate curriculum, and academic requirements
• Experience in making and presenting data-driven decisions in support of student academic success
• Ability to work independently, with minimal direction, and as part of a team
• Aptitude for attention to detail and accuracy
• Ability to think creatively and show initiative to solve problems and improve working procedures
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with key collaborators across campus and to lead faculty groups within the department
• Ability to manage large workload and prioritize competing deadlines
• Demonstrated experience to write academic reports

The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations.

The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion.  As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, Métis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.

Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.

The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at hrhelp@uwaterloo.ca  or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.