Associate Vice President of Enrollment at Goucher College

A top-100 national liberal arts college known for offering a transformational education that delivers graduates who can solve complex problems within a diverse, global community.

            -Goucher College Vision Statement

Goucher College, an innovative liberal arts college that prepares students with a broad, humane perspective for a life of inquiry, creativity, and critical and analytical thinking is seeking a collaborative, energetic and forward-thinking leader for its inaugural Associate Vice President of Enrollment. Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment Management, the AVP oversees a team of 15 talented professionals with three direct reports. The AVP will provide leadership for the development and implementation of comprehensive enrollment plans for first year domestic, international, transfer and graduate students for the College. As a member of the vice president’s senior leadership team, the AVP will partner with the Associate Vice President for Student Success and the Director of Student Financial Services to ensure Goucher continues to enroll and retain a dynamic, globally minded, diverse student body.

THE OPPORTUNITY
The inaugural AVP will create, develop, and implement effective and innovative strategies, policies and procedures related to the recruitment of Goucher’s undergraduate and graduate students. They will assemble and chair a team to create data-driven, strategic, student centered, and personalized annual enrollment plans that feature ambitious recruitment and yield initiatives. Working closely and collaboratively with key stakeholders internally and externally, the AVP will be a community builder who will strengthen and deepen the relationships and reach of the College. The essential responsibilities for the AVP are as follows:

• In close collaboration with the Vice President of Marketing and Communications, the AVP identifies market segments and creates nuanced marketing strategies with a focus on brand building, innovation, and best practice; guides the development of recruitment and marketing materials; monitors the performance of strategic recruitment and integrated marketing plans and responds as necessary.
• Partners closely with campus colleagues – including the Provost, Vice President of Student Affairs and Athletic Director – to capture institutional assets and ensure alignment between the student experience and marketing messaging.
• Fosters a strong working relationship with the personnel in Student Financial Services to further improve the communication with prospective students regarding costs, financial aid, and the value of a Goucher education; participates in the establishment of annual tuition and fee rates and the creation of annual financial aid leveraging strategies that produce net revenue goals.
• In coordination with the Offices of Institutional Technology and Institutional Effectiveness, provides leadership and direction in the development and expansion of technology, data analytics and data visualization to support data-driven decision making; manages third party partnerships; oversees the creation and generation of reports to document and guide the recruitment plan and to inform the campus community and Board regarding enrollment-related data.
• Participates in initiatives to enhance diversity among the student body, providing an equitable and welcoming environment.
• Liaises with internal and external constituencies including the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, alumni, high school counselors, transfer counselors at community colleges, and prospective students and families; represents the College in a speaking capacity at on and off-campus student, parent/family, and counselor programs.
• Participates in professional admissions associations both regionally and nationally. Remains current with issues pertaining to the field through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses.
• Provides an ethical leadership model in recruiting students with a focus on retention and long-term success. Sets clear and concise expectation for recruitment staff.
• Facilitates a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with a variety of cultures and
• Oversees the training, cross-training, and professional development opportunities to ensure that staff can be successful.
• Serves as an advocate, resource, and mentor to inspire, support and retain strong individuals, and capitalize on the skills and abilities within the undergraduate and graduate teams.
• In partnership with graduate academic programs, develops short- and long-term recruitment strategies and initiatives informed by ideas and feedback from graduate program directors, input from institutional partner and market data.

SKILLS and CHARACTERISTICS
The successful candidate should possess at least 10 years of progressive experience working in college admissions and/or within enrollment management or higher education, with at least five years of leadership experience. Candidates should have experience in the development and implementation of comprehensive college or university enrollment management plans with evidence of effectiveness in marketing, recruitment, and data-driven strategic plans, with the ability to organize administrative units to maximize achievement of recruiting and enrollment goals.

A bachelor’s degree is required and an advanced degree is strongly preferred.

In addition, the selected candidate will show evidence of the following:

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills with the ability to communicate clearly and compellingly in both individual and group settings
• Ability to serve as a strong advocate, promoting the strenths and qualities of Goucher
• Strong project and resource management abilities
• Strength in statistical research and analytical capacity; strong data acumen and the ability to use data to understand issues and develop effective strategies
• Even keeled and positive temperament with impeccable integrity, appropriate transparency, excellent judgment
• Ability to develop and communicate a compelling vision and execute actionable cutting edge, and creative actions toward that vision
• An active commitment to advancing diversity, inclusivity, and belonging
• Demonstrated ability to provide a thoughtful, positive, and inspirational leadership approach that develops and motivates a talented and successful team toward a common goal through collaborative and inclusive practices
• Exceptional work ethic; excellent organizational and delegation skills to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and handle highly confidential information
• Deep commitment to collaboration and collegiality; demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, yet independently with internal and external constituencies
• Exceptional organizational, and management skills; highly self-motivated critical thinker with advanced problem-solving abilities and creativity
• Practical application of recruitment and review technology and data applications,
• Commitment to and embodiment of the highest standards of professionalism and quality; high standards for accuracy and attention to detail
• Proven ability to work with diverse constituencies with the ability to serve as an ambassador for the University; ability to engage effectively with prospective students and families, current students and families, high school counselors, faculty, staff, alumni, and external audiences on behalf of the College
• Advanced level familiarity with web-based admissions and marketing tools. Excellent skills in terms of database management and analytical skills are required including experience with Microsoft Office; experience with PowerCampus and Slate is preferred

GOUCHER COLLEGE
Goucher College is a small, private, residential liberal arts institution in Towson, Maryland, serving approximately 1,100 undergraduate and 900 graduate and post-baccalaureate students from across the United States and 34 countries around the world. Goucher’s scenic 287-acre campus is conveniently situated in the Baltimore suburbs, approximately one hour by train from both Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, and two and a half hours from New York City. Goucher’s long standing commitment to social justice, innovation, and global education is the foundation of its distinctive liberal arts education that prepares students within a broad, humane perspective for a life of inquiry, creativity, and critical and analytical thinking.

Since its founding in 1885, Goucher has been firmly committed to providing access to and excellence in liberal arts and sciences education. Originally named the Woman's College of Baltimore City, Goucher was founded by a group of influential Methodists led by the Rev. John Franklin Goucher, who, with his wife Mary Fisher Goucher, deeded the land for the College’s original campus in downtown Baltimore. The College, which offered women the then-rare opportunity to pursue a comprehensive and rigorous college degree, was renamed after Rev. Goucher in 1910 and relocated its campus to its current location in 1954. Goucher has been coeducational since 1986.

LEADERSHIP
On July 1, 2019, Kent Devereaux was announced as Goucher College’s 12th president. A seasoned senior executive with experience in both the non-profit arts and for-profit technology sectors, President Devereaux has worked in higher education for 35 years at five different college, serving as a faculty member, department chair, dean, and President. Previously he was also Senior Vice President, Dean of Curriculum at Kaplan University, as well as Senior Vice President of Editorial and Product Development at Encyclopedia Britannica, where he was instrumental in transforming the venerable educational publisher from a print to online business in the late 1990s. Since arriving at Goucher, President Devereaux has been successful at recruiting a highly qualified and diverse leadership team, leveraging Goucher’s reputation for innovation, social justice, and global learning to build a cabinet motivated to help the College reflect those values in everything it does.

STRATEGIC PLAN 2021-2025 — CULTIVATING GLOBAL CHANGEMAKERS

Planning for the future is essential. In thoughtful yet decisive ways, the Goucher College Strategic Plan 2021–2025 acknowledges, anticipates, and integrates the needs and aspirations of the entire community. The plan is a bold step into the next historical chapter of this storied institution’s legacy. Concentrating on Goucher’s programs, people, and resources, the strategic plan articulates what the institution will be working toward throughout the next five years. Key elements of the plan include enhancing student success, expanding global education, emphasizing inclusivity, and ensuring a solid financial position. The strategic plan is guided by the College’s community principles of respect, inclusion, communication, service and social justice, and responsibility. Using the lens of Goucher’s mission and vision, the strategic plan sets forth an ambitious and aligned agenda for students, community, and the institution to continue to thrive for future generations.

ACADEMICS
Relationships are at the heart of the Goucher experience. Over its long history, Goucher has built a strong, innovative tradition of liberal arts education that offers five distinct advantages:

National reputation—One of the select Colleges That Change Lives, Goucher is also listed as a top institution by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report.

Top-tier academics—Goucher offers more than 40 programs, a 10-to-1 student-faculty ratio, and opportunities for high-level undergraduate research.

Welcoming community—Goucher’s campus welcomes all;

Global perspective—100% of Goucher undergraduates travel internationally before graduating, acquiring employer-sought skills, such as adaptability and cross-cultural awareness.

Excellent outcomes—Goucher students master the skillset employers demand: 96% of recent graduates are employed or in graduate/professional school within one year.

Goucher offers undergraduate students a distinctive experience known as the Goucher Edge, which includes:

• The Commons: An innovative core curriculum focused on solving complex problems, including social and environmental injustices
• Academic Major: 32 programs, each with a capstone experience or project
• Global Experience: A universal study abroad experience at no additional cost, a key component of a global education
• Internship Accelerator: Four years of scaffolded career-relevant experiences
• Student Success Team: An individualized team that supports students and guides their self-discovery through their time on campus

A striking highlight of Goucher’s unique liberal arts curriculum is the fact that all undergraduates must study abroad at least once before graduation, making the College one of the first in the nation to establish such a bold commitment to global education. Goucher’s coursework reflects the core values of a liberal arts education: proficiency in English composition and another language and solid foundations in history, abstract reasoning, scientific discovery and experimentation, problem solving, social structures, and environmental sustainability.

Finally, since 1990, the College has added several graduate programs and now offers master’s degrees in education, teaching, historic preservation, arts administration, cultural sustainability, and nonfiction, plus a post-baccalaureate premedical program. Three new programs are coming soon with the first two Environmental Sustainability and Management and Digital Communications slated to launch this fall. Designed to align with life experiences, values, and passion, Goucher’s graduate programs add another lens to the way students view their life, career, and community, and will facilitate deep connections with those around them. Through Goucher’s hybrid and online learning options, students can earn a graduate or professional degree in a format that fits a student’s learning style, life, and goals.

STUDENT LIFE
Goucher offers more than 60 student-run clubs, well established opportunities for community-based learning and leadership, and a wide-ranging internship program. Twenty percent of Goucher’s students compete in the Landmark Conference in 20 NCAA Division III sports, national equestrian events, and intramural sports.

Goucher strives to educate the whole student and promotes a broad education over narrow career training. This gives graduates a wide range of personal and professional options and increased ability to take advantage of new opportunities in developing fields—and even the capability to change careers. Goucher students master a breadth of knowledge, including the communication, critical thinking, and quantitative reasoning skills that U.S. employers overwhelmingly say they want job candidates to have.

MISSION
Goucher College provides an innovative liberal arts education that prepares students with a broad, humane perspective for a life of inquiry, creativity, and critical and analytical thinking.

VISION
A top-100 national liberal arts college known for offering a transformational education that delivers graduates who can solve complex problems within a diverse, global community.

COMMUNITY PRINCIPLES
While working, studying, and traveling on behalf of Goucher, we recognize that we represent the Goucher community, and we will conduct ourselves in a manner that reflects the following community principles.

Respect: We will treat everyone within our community with respect and learn from our differences. When conflicts arise, we will work together to come up with mutually beneficial resolutions. We also commit to respect and protect the environment on our campus and in the world.

Inclusion: We will acknowledge and embrace the unique gifts and differences of our community members. Furthermore, we seek to include those who may feel excluded.

Communication: We will communicate with the intent to listen and learn from others while placing a premium on maintaining a safe space for those involved. We will create opportunities for dialogue so that a variety of voices can be heard.

Service and Social Justice: We value active participation in bettering the Goucher community as well as those communities beyond the College where we live, work, and serve. In addition, we seek to understand the issues of privilege and oppression that exist in these communities.

Responsibility: We understand that we are accountable for our own actions, opinions, and beliefs, and for ensuring that our actions are conducive to the safety and well-being of others.

IDEALS
The College’s principal objectives are to help each student master significant areas of knowledge and skills while developing an appreciation for individual and cultural diversity, a sense of social responsibility, and a system of personal and professional ethics. Goucher believes these goals are best achieved in an environment that responds to students both as individuals and as members of multiple groups. Accordingly, education at Goucher is based on an expanding sense of community—a community where discourse is valued and practiced, students attend small classes and interact closely with faculty and one another, and students can participate in and lead extracurricular programs. In undertaking this mission, Goucher recognizes the centrality of four curricular and extracurricular themes:

1. Scholarship and academic excellence in traditional disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences/mathematics, and the arts.
2. An interdisciplinary approach to important areas that cross or transcend the boundaries of traditional disciplines, including world peace, the environment, and the nature of knowledge.
3. An international outlook extending liberal arts education beyond Western cultures to encompass the perspectives and achievements of other members of the world community.
4. Commitment to experiential learning on- and off-campus as well as abroad, requiring students to apply and extend what has been learned in the classroom.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION & JUSTICE
Goucher College has intentionally prioritized a focus on diversity and inclusion in its recently completed strategic plan. It is imperative as an institution to embrace inclusion, social and racial equity, a culture of respect, and accessibility, in who the community includes, how it acts, in what they teach, and in how they prepare our students for life.

Goucher College Diversity Statement
We at Goucher College are dedicated to social justice, diversity, and multiculturalism as fundamental components of our mission and ethos. We champion an inclusive community, embrace and respect different perspectives, and value diversity in all its forms and intersections, including ability, age, culture, ethnicity, gender identity and expression, nationality, race, religious and spiritual belief, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status. Understanding that power, privilege, and other forces of inequality play a role in shaping our individual and collective experiences and identities, we are committed to productive dialogue and meaningful action in addressing our differences. We approach this ongoing work with courage, integrity, care, and respect.

For more about Goucher, go to https://www.goucher.edu/

LOCATION
Baltimore County is a great place to live, work, and play. With nationally recognized public schools, 20 colleges in the region to provide a skilled workforce, abundant recreational opportunities, and tight-knit communities, Baltimore County has something for everyone. Located in Maryland’s geographic center, Baltimore County surrounds the city of Baltimore, which was split off as an independent city in 1851. The county is the largest jurisdiction in the metropolitan area, with a population of more than 800,000. Baltimore County and its county seat, Towson, form a diverse business community located centrally along I-95 and the East Coast market. With 612 square miles of land and a deep-water port, Baltimore County has the third-largest land area, the third-largest population, and the second-highest number of jobs in Maryland. The county consistently receives AAA bond ratings from Moody’s Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s. Less than 1% of all jurisdictions in the nation receive the highest rating from all agencies. Baltimore County is just a short drive from Baltimore City’s famed Inner Harbor as well as Washington, D.C.

Towson and Baltimore County and city: www.goucher.edu/explore/location

Baltimore County Government: https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov

Baltimore County Tourism & Promotion: https://www.enjoybaltimorecounty.com

Visit Baltimore: https://baltimore.org

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The range of compensation for the position is expected to be between $125,000 and $146,750. To learn about Goucher College’s outstanding benefits, see the website: https://www.goucher.edu/human-resources/benefits

 

TO APPLY
Goucher College is partnering with NES on this search. To arrange for a confidential conversation or to nominate someone for this position, please contact Suzi Nam (suzi.nam@nessearches.com), Laura Robinson (laura.robinson@nessearches.com) or Mary Napier (mary.napier@nessearches.com). To apply, send 1) a resume, 2) a detailed letter of interest regarding your interest in the position of Associate Vice President of Enrollment at Goucher College, and 3) contact information for three professional references by email to: goucher@nessearches.com. For best consideration, submit materials by March 8, 2023; the search will remain open until the position is filled. The expected start date will be in the summer of 2023. All applications and nominations will be considered confidential, and notice will be given before references are contacted.

Goucher College is an Equal Opportunity Employer