Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment

Eastern CT State University•Willimantic, CT

14d•Onsite

About The Position

The Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment (VP for SSE) will manage the University's Division of Student Success and Enrollment to contribute to the effective achievement of the University's academic mission. The VP for SSE is responsible for providing visionary leadership and strategic direction for all aspects of student enrollment and contributing to the success of all students, from recruitment through graduation. The VP for SSE, is a dynamic and strategic leader responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing comprehensive strategies to attract, enroll, retain, and graduate a diverse and evolving student body. This role integrates enrollment management and student success initiatives, fostering an environment where all students can thrive. The VP for SSE serves as a champion for students and works collaboratively with all divisions of the University to deepen the student-centered approach across institutional operations. This position reports directly to the University President and directs the activities of Admissions, Academic Success Center, Financial Aid, the Registrar, Opportunity Programs, and Institutional Research. Examples of Duties: The following examples of duties illustrate the general range of tasks assigned to the position but are not intended to define the limits of required duties. Other essential duties may be assigned consistent with the general scope of the position.

Requirements

The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker, a collaborative problem solver, and an advocate for inclusive excellence.
They are expected to have excellent oral and written communication skills along with strong Information technology literacy skills such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams etc.)
Demonstrated success in developing and implementing strategic enrollment management plans that drive measurable results.
Proven track-record in fostering continuous improvement, creativity, and innovation across areas within the SSE portfolio.
Knowledge of best practices in higher education that can inform university strategy broadly and within the division specifically.
Deep understanding of student success initiatives and best practices that promote equity, retention, and completion.
Experience overseeing financial aid, admissions, and student support programs.
Proven leadership in fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire trust and confidence across the university community.
Advanced degree in a relevant discipline and at least ten years of progressively responsible leadership experience in enrollment management or student success within higher education.
Commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Vision:
Develop and implement a comprehensive, data-informed Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) plan that aligns with the institution's mission, vision, and strategic goals.
Provide executive leadership, direction, and oversight for all units within the Student Success and Enrollment division, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, proactivity, and continuous improvement.
Serve as a key advisor to the President and other senior leaders on matters related to enrollment trends, student demographics, and retention strategies that support the overall student experience.
Lead institutional efforts to align learning and support strategies with the institution's mission to provide high-quality, accessible education.
Partner with academic affairs, student affairs, and other divisions of the University to develop and implement programs that enhance student learning, retention, and graduation rates.
Enrollment Management:
Oversee the strategic planning, implementation, and assessment of all enrollment management functions, including:
Admissions: Develop and manage admissions processes, recruitment strategies, and marketing initiatives to attract a diverse and qualified applicant pool. Collaborate with the Graduate Division when needed.
Financial Aid: Provide strategic oversight for financial aid packaging, scholarships, and financial literacy programs to ensure accessibility and affordability.
Registrar: Oversee student records, registration, academic calendars, and degree audits.
Institutional Research: Harness the power of institutional and external data in support of retention, progression, and completion while ensuring that IR continues to serve the entire campus and responds to relevant external entities.
Develop compelling marketing and communications strategies that resonate with prospective students and families.
Utilize predictive analytics and market research to identify enrollment opportunities, inform decision-making, and optimize recruitment efforts.
In collaboration with the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, foster strong relationships with K-12 schools, community colleges, and other external partners to build recruitment pipelines and facilitate seamless transfer processes.
Student Success & Retention:
Provide leadership on retention, persistence, and completion by establishing a shared, integrated vision that builds on Eastern’s many existing programmatic and cultural strengths. This includes, but is not limited to:
Academic Advising and Tutoring: Ensure that comprehensive academic advising and tutoring programs support students in their academic pathways and respond to students where they are.
First-Year/Second-Year Experience: Develop and implement programs designed to support new students in their transition and integration into the campus community.
Opportunity Programs: Offer support and resources to students from underserved and diverse backgrounds, including those who are academically underprepared, under-resourced, first-generation, and undocumented.
Develop and implement strategies to improve student outcomes, increase retention rates, and enhance graduation success.
Administration & Operations:
Manage the overall budget for the Student Success and Enrollment division, ensuring fiscal responsibility and effective resource allocation.
Supervise, mentor, and evaluate a dedicated team of student success and enrollment management professionals.
Commitment to enhancing a culture of student-readiness.
Implement technology-based solutions to enhance student success, streamline processes, and improve data tracking and analysis.
Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and regularly assess the effectiveness of programs and services, using data to inform continuous improvement.
Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and institutional regulations related to student enrollment and financial aid.
Collaboration & Communication:
Foster strong collaborative relationships with executive leaders, academic deans, faculty, staff, alumni, and other stakeholders across the institution to advance shared goals.
Represent the institution at relevant professional organizations, conferences, and system level meetings.

Benefits

paid personal, vacation and sick leave accruals
medical, dental, and prescription plans
group life insurance
retirement
retiree health care
tuition waiver for employee and eligible dependents at any of the Connecticut State Universities (Central, Eastern, Southern or Western) as well as an array of voluntary and supplemental benefits such as Deferred Retirement Contribution plans, Dependent Care Assistance and Medical Flexible spending accounts
long and short term disability insurance plans

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