Associate Director of Academic and Regulatory Affairs

The Education Secretariat is committed to equity and valuing the unique and diverse characteristics and experiences of every member of its workforce. We encourage an authentic workplace where colleagues show up as their full selves, where collaboration, innovation, and connections are key to realizing our mission that all children, youth, and families thrive socially, academically, and economically. We seek teammates who are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive work environment, where everyone is valued and engaged.

We encourage you to apply and identify your strengths in these areas.

The Massachusetts Public Higher Education System

The Massachusetts System of Public Higher Education ("System") enrolls approximately 260,000 students in credit-bearing programs annually. The System consists of 15 community colleges, 9 state universities, and 5 University of Massachusetts ("UMass") campuses. The Board of Higher Education (BHE) has coordination and oversight responsibilities for the entire System, and the BHE, together with each respective Board of Trustees, expects all students, faculty, and staff to be held to exacting standards in the performance of their roles and responsibilities.

The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education ("Board" or "BHE") is the Commonwealth's higher education authority with coordinating and regulatory responsibility for all public and private higher education institutions operating in the Commonwealth that are authorized to grant degrees. The BHE is staffed by the Department of Higher Education (DHE), which is run by a Commissioner who serves as the executive and administrative head of the department.

Together, the BHE and DHE are the leading voice and advocate for postsecondary education in the Commonwealth.

In addition, the BHE and DHE's authority includes administering state financial aid and federal grant programs; managing and responding to consumer complaints; conducting financial assessments of institutions; managing employee relations and benefits for public higher education employees; managing collective bargaining contracts with state university and community colleges employees; and approving degree-granting authority for all public and most private higher education institutions operating within the Commonwealth.

Currently, there are 80 private institutions of higher education operating in the Commonwealth and authorized to grant degrees.

The BHE is staffed by its executive agency, the Department of Higher Education (DHE), which is run by Commissioner Ortega. The Department of Higher Education is committed to the Values of Equity, Accountability, Community, Empowerment, Intentionality, and Teamwork, and seeks applicants who value the full diversity of Massachusetts students and who share a sensitivity to and understanding of the academic, socio-economic, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds of the populations served.

We employ a hybrid hoteling work model with a fixed weekly team day schedule.

Position Overview

The BHE is the Commonwealth's state higher education authority with regulatory authority, in varying degrees, over all twenty-nine (29) public and eighty (80) independent institutions of higher education (IHEs) located in the Commonwealth and authorized to grant degrees. Working through DHE staff, the BHE is responsible for, among other things, the degree-granting program approval process in the Commonwealth to ensure that prospective students and other interested parties are assured that authorized institutions and the programs they offer meet minimal levels of quality and provide appropriate learning environments for all students.

In addition, the BHE is required by statute and regulation to annually assess the financial information of independent institutions of higher education for the purpose of identifying and monitoring institutions at risk of imminent closure, and mitigating the impacts of closures on students, their families, faculty, staff, and the community.

Reporting to the Senior Associate Commissioner of Regulatory and Veterans Affairs, the Associate Director will work in the key areas of program approval, consumer protection, and regulatory affairs. The Associate Director will also work closely with members of the Academic Affairs and Student Success divisional leadership team to advance BHE strategic priorities.

Responsibilities/Essential Job Functions

Degree and Program Approval

* Facilitate academic program quality through the review of new degree proposals made by institutions of higher education ("IHEs") institutions of higher education ("IHE") in the public, independent, and out-of-state sectors, including working with Board staff, chief academic officers and faculty to facilitate proposal preparation, assessing applications for new programs, developing Visiting (external review) Committees, communicating with institutions and Visiting Committees, and preparing summary reports and motions for the Board.

* Manage administrative aspects of the review…