Frances Williams Oblander, Ed.D., joins South University as the Director of Institutional Research
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Frances Williams Oblander, Ed.D, recently joined South University as the Director of Institutional Research. Oblander brings with her over 20 years of experience in higher education from Indiana University-Purdue University, Owensboro Community College, and, most recently, she served as the Coordinator for Institutional Research and Assessment at Mount Union College in Alliance, Ohio. At Mount Union College she was responsible for all aspects of institutional research including reporting for program review, alumni surveys and assessment.
“Institutional research is vital to South University meeting its commitment to deliver quality programs, and I’m sure that the university will benefit from Dr. Oblander’s experience in both research and assessment,” said O. Joseph Harm, Ph.D., system vice president for academic affairs. “Our desire to continuously improve both how we deliver higher education and how we develop new programs must be measured with relevant data and meaningful assessment tools. Dr. Oblander has the experience to lead this effort.”
As Director of Institutional Research, Oblander will direct a broad range of planning, research, and evaluation processes in support of South University’s academic and administrative efforts. She will coordinate the collection, analysis, and interpretation of selected institutional data; and respond to governmental surveys and other external requests for reporting. A significant function of the role includes the design and implementation of research studies used to support strategic planning, learning outcomes assessment and accreditation.
Oblander coauthored and edited several publications addressing assessment and educational strategies, most notably Assessment in Practice (Banta, Lund, Black, and Oblander. (1995) San Francisco: Jossey-Bass). She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from Colorado State University, a Master of Arts degree in College Student Personnel Administration from Michigan State University, and her Doctorate in Education degree in Higher Education Administration from Indiana University.
About South University
Established in 1899, South University is a private academic institution dedicated to providing educational opportunities for the intellectual, social and professional development of a diverse student population. South University offers educational programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels with campuses located in Columbia, S.C.; Montgomery, Ala.; Richmond, Va., Savannah, Ga.; Tampa and West Palm Beach, Fla.
Further information on South University is available at: www.southuniversity.edu.