Associate Director of Graduate Admission

SUMMARY

Regis College, a private university located 12 miles west of Boston, is well known for its graduate and professional studies offerings across all four schools of Nursing, Health Sciences, Arts & Sciences, and Business & Communication. Over 2/3 of all Regis students are enrolled in either campus-based or fully online doctoral, master’s, and professional studies programs, with approximately 700 new entrants and over 5,000 registrations each year. To support providing access to these continuing education opportunities, the position of Associate Director of Graduate Admission is integral to the enrollment team for our graduate, doctoral, second degree, bachelor completion, and certificate programs. Reporting to the Dean of Graduate Admission, the Associate Director participates in all recruitment/admission activities for these programs with defined goals. Organizes, executes, and assesses on- and off- campus and virtual programs. Oversees the admission review cycle for Regis doctoral, masters, certificate, and bachelor completion programs in all modalities in all four schools. Also responsible for advising Dean on matters such as academic program marketability, institutional marketing strategy, competitive analysis, international student climate, and government regulations with respect to admission.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Oversee and serves as primary recruiter and contact for a select suite of at least 10 graduate, doctoral, bachelor completion, and certificate programs. Reviews all candidate applications and manages completion activities, making appropriate acceptance or denial decisions within current policies. Consults as needed with Admission Committee of Dean/Associate Dean and Program Director/faculty to review and evaluate application credentials and render final admission decisions.

• Responsible for converting high volume of non-matriculated students into applicants and deposited students; requires tact, timing, and tenacity.

• Active participant and contributor on weekly marketing & communications consultant meeting requiring comprehensive knowledge of target audiences, messaging options, and communications tools to help align admissions and marketing, boost ROI, and optimize inbound marketing strategy to generate more & qualified leads.

• Works closely with Associate Director of Graduate Systems & Operations in optimizing a variety of software systems to manage and analyze admission data for trends, predictions, and preparing reports.

• Mentors and directs admissions team members on best practices for utilizing digital communications platforms to create dynamic templates for prospective student, applicant, and newly accepted student outreach. Researches ways to automate and innovate admissions work with the goal of improving yields and reducing manual work for the team.

• Attend education and professional fairs relevant to the recruitment of students; conduct personal interviews; follow up with inquiries; review prospective student and applicant credentials for potential program placement; implements on-and off-campus events. Create post-event surveys to collect useful information regarding presentation/event impact and/or improvement, market trends, program(s) attractiveness, competitor marketing and recruiting intel.

• In tandem with Strategic Partnerships, initiates contact when appropriate and networks with relevant organizations to establish professional connections and opportunities with the goal of increasing enrollment via special customized cohorts and/or programs. Maintains high visibility and builds awareness of Regis at such organizations; establishes and participates in recruitment focused programs to build relationships, promote customized programs, and aid in establishing beneficial partnerships.

• Oversees international applications to all programs; reports on progress of international applicants and works in tandem with Office of Global Connections to ensure seamless processing and transition for international applicants and new admits. Includes approximately 150 international applicants annually. Requires a comprehensive understanding of international student issues and appropriate programs.

• Active participant on international student task force. Lead counselor regarding international student admission and recruitment. Keeps website changes updated with current international requirements, practices, and updates. Approved for international travel as deemed relevant to graduate admissions, i.e., organization/school relationship building, agent meetings/approvals, increasing international student enrollment.

• Provides Dean with progress reports on development of individual goals; impactful contributions to the development of team goals and strategies. Makes recommendations to Dean regarding recruitment strategy to maximize opportunities relating to yield based on experiences while recruiting and interacting with prospective students and organizations.

• Works closely with entire Graduate Enrollment & Affairs team to establish/prioritize outreach efforts and promotional avenues for graduate degree, bachelor completion, second degree, & certificate programs. Provides first-hand feedback from prospective students/inquiries to appropriate internal constituents to guide marketing and promotional efforts.

• Engage effectively and promptly with prospective students by email, phone, and face-to-face communications. Monitor the application process by communicating frequently with applicants regarding the status of applications to programs, while maintaining/including contact with Graduate Program Directors, academic deans, and faculty as needed.

• Collaborates with the Assistant Dean of Graduate Student Services & Engagement to create a smooth transition for newly admitted students into graduate programs; includes encouraging non-matriculated students to apply/complete the application process, initial registration assistance, outreach to ensure background checks/verifications are completed on time, and re-admission of returning students.

• Create, implement, and execute post-admission surveys for programs; report out on findings; conduct follow-up as needed.

• Conducts, reports on, and updates annually and/or as needed competitive analysis regarding assigned graduate programs in relation to tuition, time to complete, program delivery, and recruitment efforts.

• Works closely with students transitioning between program modalities. Oversees term changes, program site changes, and acts as liaise to Graduate Professional Advisors and Center of Student Services for students changing program formats.

• Responsible for regular review of fully online programs in nursing suite including DNP, Post Master’s Certificates, and Master-resulting programs. Includes regular meetings with fully online team and reporting out numbers of applications reviewed, areas/issues for further follow-up, and transfer credit processing. Supports online programs processing via providing training on CRM to internal constituents in terms of application review and CRM views.

• Manages and creates as needed digitized forms for seamless transition for Regis students from one program to the next, i.e., ABSN to MSN. Includes working with Regis IT/Web Master, faculty advisors, and Graduate Program Directors to ensure timely approvals and transition to new program.

• As a senior member of the Graduate Admission staff, responsible for assisting in training new staff. Includes thorough training on institutional polices and protocols, graduate policies and procedures, processing of applications, prospective student outreach, interviewing skills, techniques, and documentation. Provides ongoing direction to graduate admission counselors, graduate assistants, and work study students.

OTHER DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Interacts as needed with internal constituents including faculty, program directors, other admission staff and departments across campus.

• Infuses creativity into work methods and takes initiative with new projects.

• Provides direction as needed to graduate admission counselors, graduate assistants, and work study students.

• Advises the Dean of current trends within the graduate student market.

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• Integral to revision and creation of Graduate Admission digital and print literature/publications, as well as literature for current graduate students.

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• Stays current on wide range of institution policies, school-wide policies, and global educational trends affecting graduate students, admissions, and special programs. Serves as an information resource for the internal community.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

• Assists in delegating assignments, training, and management of student workers.

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• Lead graduate counselor for learning/training regarding new systems, processes, system applications/modules.

SKILLS/EXPERIENCE/TRAINING REQUIRED:

• Bachelor’s degree required, Master’s in Higher Education, Communications or related field strongly preferred. At least five years’ experience with preference for candidates who have experience working with graduate admission and adult students.

• Operational, website editing, and CRM experience strongly preferred.

• Excellent verbal, written communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills.

• Considerable knowledge of Regis’ policies and procedures and a strong commitment to Regis’ goals and mission.

• Considerable knowledge of all graduate programs including admission requirements, licensing requirements, accreditation rules, curricula, and appropriate faculty/staff constituents; expected to cover any program in absence of other graduate admission staff.

• Marketing experience as well as knowledge of higher education administration.

• Ability to follow through consistently and expeditiously on inquiries, requests, and suggestions.

• Ability to resolve problems and to develop relevant alternatives and recommendations.

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing; to establish positive public relations for Regis; to interact effectively with a wide variety of people.

• Ability to form strong coalitions with internal and external constituencies.

• Creativity and resourcefulness in problem solving.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.

• Must be committed to the mission of Regis and demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others.

• Must have valid/current driver’s license.

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Normal office environment, not subject to extreme variations of temperature, noise, odors, etc.

• Position requires travel in automobile and some work outside of normal business hours, including evenings and weekends. 

• Use of computer keyboards requiring eye-hand coordination and finger dexterity.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to do this job. The above is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled as defined under the Americans With Disabilities Act, must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case-by-case basis.

In employment, as in education, Regis College is committed to equal opportunity and affirmative action. Regis does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, ethnic or national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, pregnancy, veteran’s status, membership in uniformed services or any other protected status.