Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management, Admissions

Appalachian State University’s division of Enrollment Management seeks a talented, energetic, and innovative professional to join its leadership team as Associate Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management and chief admissions officer. The leader will further App State’s excellent record of innovation, student enrollment success and high graduation rates. The ideal candidate will be a team player who contributes broadly to the university’s success while performing critical roles in the Enrollment Management Division and leading the university’s new student enrollment efforts. This role provides inspiring and forward-looking leadership to support the university’s strategic mission The AVC will be asked to provide service excellence to the many stakeholders who care about and support App State’s enrollment success. Success of the position will come through leading people, leveraging the latest technology, providing collaborative leadership and gaining market advantage. The Associate Vice Chancellor will work very closely with and serve under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management.

The ideal candidate will be a team player who can thrive in a matrix management environment. That environment is one where talented leaders within the enrollment division and beyond collaborate to optimize enrollment in Boone, Hickory and Online. This professional will join a team that demonstrates daily dedication to the success of App State. The AVC will bring broad leadership for enrollment optimization and will be the chief leader for new student enrollment.

The AVC’s reach for making a positive impact is substantial. The AVC has the uncommon opportunity in American universities these day to lead the growth of a newly opened location. The Hickory campus has great promise for the state of North Carolina and the AVC will be instrumental to making a mark on that campus’ success. The AVC is responsible for a staff of more than 40 as well as more than 60 graduate and undergraduates. The AVC will oversee new student recruitment plans, business operations and staff. New student enrollment plans will strengthen the opportunities for new enrollments in Boone, Hickory and Online at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Proven success with online program management, student recruitment and market development will be a plus for applicants interested in this exciting position. The position will oversee the development of best-of-class campus visits programming for App State’s more than 20,000 campus tour visitors each year. The AVC will lead and develop App State’s talented team of graduate and undergraduate admissions professionals. The AVC will develop targeted, data-rich recruitment plans that reach throughout the state of North Carolina, across America and throughout the world. The AVC will develop tactics and strategies for gaining new markets and for maintaining strength in existing ones. The AVC will perform in ways that demonstrate the dynamic and contemporary performance of a leading enrollment officer.

Services Provided:

Enrollment Management is committed to leading the university to enrollment success. The AVC will provide broad leadership to the division while new student enrollment will be the role’s primary focus. Working in collaboration with others, the services provided by the AVC include:

• Advancing the mission of Appalachian State University by serving as a campus leader and resource to the faculty, administration and staff while guiding the creation and implementation of effective enrollment policies and practices
• Developing best-of-class systems that are advanced, effective and operationally efficient
• Interpreting and implementing Federal, State, and Appalachian State policy with regard to access to college, UNC performance metrics, enrollment systems, partnerships and student admissions
• Communicating with campus stakeholders regarding matters of importance, planning and project development
• Promoting student-focused processes and procedures. Lowering hurdles and removing barriers to access, admission and business operations.
  Collaborating with campus committees such as information technology committees, Enrollment Planning Council, Admissions Committee and others whenever necessary
• Serving as data and business owner for various technology systems and data sets
• Demonstrating the highest commitment to outstanding customer services
• Producing data, dashboards, analyses, reports and presentations that optimize decision-making and success. Sharing market information regularly with the Vice Chancellor and the Enrollment Management leadership team
• Proposing priorities with budgetary acumen and executing responsibilities within the allocated resources
• Maintaining and developing extensive programming for student interest generation, lead generation, application generation and enrollment yield
• Developing marketing plans to increase non-traditional enrollments, especially for online and degree completion students
• Developing and executing a data-rich enrollment plan for App State’s growing campus in Hickory
• Developing creative affordability program ideas, strong financial aid leveraging recommendations, and compelling affordability marketing campaigns
• Developing persuasive print collateral that boosts App State’s reputation and enrollments
• Recruiting and retaining talented staff and building positive morale
• Working in collaborative spirit with campus partners and demonstrating a team attitude at all times
• Regularly exhibiting positivity and encouragement

Organizational and Principle Work Relationships:

• Service leadership in the Division of Enrollment Management will be alongside a group of highly talented and committed leaders on the Vice Chancellor’s leadership team
• Lead the Admissions operations, both in strategic directions and its daily operations
• Serve on and lead various campus committees such as Enrollment Planning Council, Associate Deans, etc.
• Hire, train, and retain a qualified staff of approximately 40 full-time employees. Provide professional development opportunities and encourage teamwork
• Directly supervise senior staff and administrative assistant
• The role has many functional relationships in which advisory and collaborative working relationships are required, such as: Academic Affairs administration, associate deans, department chairs and others. The AVC will be in communication with department college and school administrators and their assistants regarding student enrollment plans and programs
• Hickory staff and faculty, and especially the Enrollment Management staff stationed at Hickory
• Graduate School. The AVC will collaborate closely with graduate program directors, dean of the graduate school, graduate student and admissions employees.
• Institutional Research, Assessment and Planning (IRAP). The AVC will work closely with IRAP staff to prepare reports and analyze enrollment data on an ongoing basis
• Student Affairs, business services, et al. The AVC will work with the many constituents with whom student services and data are essential
• New student onboarding. The AVC will work closely with Housing, Orientation, Advising and others to optimize yield of admitted student by operating compelling, contemporary and clear new student onboarding processes and programs
• CRM. The AVC will leverage CRM and work closely with the team of professionals who are substantially strengthening this critical enrollment system

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Master’s degree
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills are essential, including initiating and maintaining internal and external relationships
• Highly developed analytical, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Excellent written, oral, and public speaking skills
• Results-oriented leader with the ability to analyze data, make recommendations, and collaborate inter-departmentally
• Collaborative team player
• Minimum of 10 years of leadership experience in higher education positions related to student enrollment, marketing, recruitment and online programs
• Demonstrated experience developing successful new student enrollment tactics, plans, partnerships, and marketing strategies
• Five years of experience serving on cross-functional teams that heavily influenced and managed enrollment success
• Five years of experience leveraging CRM, preferably Technolutions/Slate
• Skill and comfort working with various communities, religions, languages, and cultural backgrounds
• Demonstrated ability to manage people, including the operation and development of recruitment staff working in various locations across the country
• Knowledge of and eagerness to develop international student recruitment plans
• In-depth knowledge of demographic, competitor, and other external factors that must be considered when developing successful enrollment plans

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Earned doctorate
• Working knowledge of one or more languages other than English
• Evidence of commitment to the variety of student enrollment markets including ages, languages, and various demographics, especially reflected in the rural, western region of North Carolina
• Demonstrated ability to lead and empower staff
• Empathetic and compassionate ability to work with students, families, and the community
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to explain complex concepts, ideas, and issues to a broad range of campus constituents
• Excellent analytical skills in identifying problems, devising solutions, and resolving complex operational issues efficiently
• Familiarity with and commitment to best practices and standards
• Familiarity with CRM Slate and complex student information systems