Vice President for Enrollment Management

Art Institute of Chicago•Chicago, IL

22h•$250,000 - $270,000

About The Position

For more than 150 years, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) has been a leader in educating the world’s most influential artists, designers and scholars. Located in downtown Chicago with a fine arts graduate program consistently ranking among the top four graduate fine arts programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report, SAIC provides an interdisciplinary approach to art and design as well as world-class resources, including the Art Institute of Chicago Museum, on-campus galleries and state-of-the-art facilities. SAIC’s undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students have the freedom to take risks and create the bold ideas that transform Chicago and the world—as seen through notable alumni and faculty such as Michelle Grabner, David Sedaris, Elizabeth Murray, Richard Hunt, Georgia O’Keeffe, Cynthia Rowley, Nick Cave, and LeRoy Neiman. Position Summary Reporting to the provost, the Vice President of Enrollment Management provides strategic leadership for student recruitment, admissions, and financial aid. With guidance from the president and provost, the VP is responsible for developing and executing a strategic, date-informed enrollment management plan with clear goals and aligned financial aid strategies. A collaborative and institutionally minded partner, the VP works closely with Marketing and Communications on prospective student outreach, with Student Affairs and the Office of Advancement in support of recruitment and retention, and with the Finance Office to align enrollment goals and aid strategies. As a member of the President's Cabinet, the VP is a senior leader at SAIC, responsible for building creative and diverse cohorts of undergraduate, graduate, and continuing studies students. The VP plays a critical role in advancing the school’s financial sustainability, overseeing tuition revenue forecasting and ensuring that enrollment and aid strategies support SAIC’s net tuition revenue goals. The VP champions a data-informed culture within the division and across campus, working with a team to use analytics and predictive modeling to drive strategy and inform decision-making. In all aspects of the role, the VP ensures that enrollment and financial aid efforts align with SAIC’s mission of access and artistic excellence. The VP oversees the executive directors of Admissions and Student Financial Services.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; Masters or terminal degree preferred
10+ years of leadership experience in higher education with demonstrated success as a senior leader in enrollment management.
Demonstrated success in the field of enrollment management, particularly in the areas of recruitment, enrollment projections, and financial aid leveraging
Advanced analytical, evaluative, and critical thinking skills, and proven success in making data-driven decisions that advance the mission of enrollment management
Detailed knowledge of state and federal financial aid regulations
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, ensuring effective communication to a wide range of stakeholders on complex issues, both verbally and in writing
Demonstrated tact, diplomacy and honesty
Evidence of calm and effective decision making under pressure
A track record of working productively and collaboratively with a range of diverse stakeholders
Evidence of decision making that reflects an investment in diversity, equity, and inclusion
Strong leadership and management skills
Demonstrated facility with budgeting
Evidence of sound judgement and a commitment to ethical decision making
Ability to perform basic job functions both electronically and in-person
Sitting and/or standing required
Significant travel
Ability to work evenings and nights

Nice To Haves

Experience with colleges of art and design a plus.

Responsibilities

Implement recruitment strategies to meet enrollment goals, forecast trends, and adjust as needed to meet targets for student quality, diversity, and retention
Lead efforts to create and sustain a data-informed culture across the division, using real-time dashboards, predictive modeling, and market research to support decision-making in admissions and financial aid
Develop and monitor tuition revenue forecasts in collaboration with the Finance Office, and align recruitment and aid strategies to meet net revenue targets
Ensure financial aid is leveraged strategically to support access, student success, and revenue objectives—balancing affordability with institutional sustainability and long-term enrollment health.
Partner with the VP of Marketing and Communications to build marketing strategies that help raise awareness around SAIC, and help to achieve the institution’s enrollment goals
Supervise the executive directors of Student Financial Services and Admissions, ensuring that they are advancing institutional goals and working collaboratively with units across the school
Develop and monitor tuition revenue forecasts in collaboration with the Finance Office, and align recruitment and aid strategies to meet net revenue targets
Manage the enrollment management budget in adherence with all SAIC policies, set its budgetary priorities, and participate in the institution’s biennial budget process
Ensure enrollment and financial aid efforts reflect SAIC’s mission of access, artistic innovation, and academic excellence, cultivating student cohorts with strong creative potential across all programs
Work with the VP of Student Affairs to advance the institution’s retention and graduations efforts
Engage in continual assessment and improvement of the systems and services provided to prospective students to promote their seamless transition from applicants to matriculated students
Ensure a student-centered approach within the offices of Admissions and Student Financial Services
Lead compliance oversight within Enrollment Management
Work closely with Computer Resource and Information Technology to ensure student admissions, financial aid and records systems and processes advance our enrollment and financial aid objectives
Ensure the maintenance of accurate and complete data and use data to analyze, interpret patterns and drive decision-making
Participate in campus-wide strategic planning as well as long-range planning within enrollment management
Represent enrollment management to both internal and external audiences and serve as the main liaison to the Board of Governors on admission matters
Supervise, manage, and advance the professional development of senior leaders within enrollment management
Stay abreast of best practices within the field of enrollment management and ensure that our recruitment and aid strategies meet the goals set by the president and provost
Ensure that enrollment and financial aid policies and practices comply with all federal and state regulations pertaining to non-discrimination, access, and financial aid administration
Knowledge of and experience in overseeing enrollment technologies and CRMs
Perform all other duties as assigned