"Academic Data Specialist"

About the University

The University of Tennessee Southern (UT Southern) is a public university established in 2021 through the acquisition of Martin Methodist College, founded in 1870. Located in Pulaski, UT Southern stands as the fourth undergraduate campus in the UT System. It is the only public four-year institution of higher education between Chattanooga and Memphis, and situated along Tennessee’s southern border. The campus is conveniently located about 70 miles south of Nashville and 40 miles north of Huntsville, Alabama. The over 1,000 students enrolled at UT Southern enjoy a private, small-college experience at an affordable, public-university cost. Low student-teacher ratios, high classroom personalization, and the resources of a land-grant university system are among the many advantages students experience. Nearly 30 academic programs are available through the schools of business, education, arts and humanities, mathematics and sciences, nursing, and social sciences. The UT Southern Firehawks, competing in the Southern States Athletic Conference, have 19 nationally competitive athletic teams.

The University of Tennessee Board of Trustees recently approved UT Southern’s inaugural five-year strategic plan: Igniting Excellence. The strategic plan is built on three foundational pillars designed to guide UT Southern through its next phase of growth and development: enhance academic excellence and promote innovation; create transformational student experiences and foster student success; and establish greater connectedness and facilitate campus and community engagement.

The University of Tennessee Southern’s vision is to be the epicenter for education, community leadership, and workforce development in south-central Tennessee and a national model for higher education in rural America.

The mission of the University of Tennessee Southern is to provide an inspiring student-centered and transformative academic experience that empowers our students to excel in their chosen fields, to nurture intellectual inquiry and critical thinking, and to instill a commitment to lifelong learning. With a profound sense of responsibility to our community, we strive to foster engagement and collaboration with all stakeholders to advance effectual change in the region and beyond.

Job Description

The Academic Data Specialist will play a critical role within the Provost’s Office, leveraging their expertise in data analysis, visualization, and reporting to support institutional decision-making and strategic planning. This position involves collecting, organizing, and analyzing academic data to identify trends, provide actionable insights, and ensure data-driven solutions align with the university’s goals.

Key responsibilities include designing and implementing data visualization tools to effectively communicate complex information to diverse stakeholders, preparing detailed reports on academic performance metrics, and collaborating with faculty, staff, and administrators to address institutional needs. The Academic Data Specialist will also ensure the accuracy and integrity of academic data while adhering to best practices in data governance and compliance with relevant policies.

Responsibilities

35%

• Compiles, analyzes, and manages a variety of data through the use of statistical analysis and data interpretation.
• Creates reports and presentations to assist in decision-making processes.
• Synthesizes data from multiple sources.
• Determines the most appropriate way to display data.
• Presents findings to management, researchers, and stakeholders.

20%

• Writes queries to extract and gather data.
• Manages databases.
• Identifies data trends and outliers.
• Identifies errors and discrepancies in data and data collection procedures.
• Audits data.
• Evaluates current and future data needs and implements procedures and best practices to ensure data quality.

35%

• Writes queries to extract and gather data.
• Manages databases.
• Identifies data trends and outliers.
• Identifies errors and discrepancies in data and data collection procedures.
• Audits data.
• Evaluates current and future data needs and implements procedures and best practices to ensure data quality.

10%

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Information Systems, Statistics, Data Science, or a related field.
• Knowledge of advanced research methods, statistical techniques, and quantitative methodology.
• Analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to utilize statistical software.
• Ability to work with diverse audiences.
• Ability to communicate well both orally and in writing.
• Ability to present findings in a logical manner.