In order to build the university the world needs now, we draw inspiration from our namesake and reflect upon our history to chart a visionary course for the future of Roger Williams University.
- Vision, Roger Williams University
Roger Williams University announces a search for a Dean of Graduate Admission. Reporting to the Vice President of Enrollment Management, the Dean of Graduate Admission is responsible for developing and leading a strategic recruitment and enrollment strategy for all graduate programs. The Dean will build and cultivate collaborative relationships both on and off-campus, address barriers to enrollment, and provide expertise on the marketplace and the needs of today's graduate students. Serving as a contributing member of the Enrollment Management Division, and working closely with the Office of the Provost, Deans, Program Directors, and University Marketing, the Dean collaborates on targeted enrollment plans for on-campus, online, and hybrid programs, while supporting new graduate program development. The Dean will be responsible for collaboratively setting enrollment and net tuition revenue goals, as well as managing the graduate programs’ scholarship strategy. The Dean will join a team of dedicated professionals and educators within the Roger Williams University community in advancing a strategic initiative to expand graduate programs and increase graduate enrollments.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The essential duties and responsibilities for the Dean of Graduate Admission include the following:
Development and Implementation of Graduate Recruitment Plans
- Create comprehensive marketing, recruitment, and admission plans for each graduate program that target appropriate markets with multi-channel outreach tactics and differentiated messaging to ensure enrollment goals are met.
- Develop and execute engaging multi-channel communication plans that clearly articulate the benefits of each program to create and maintain a relationship with the student from the point of expressed interest through enrollment.
- Continue to develop and utilize best practices with regard to graduate student recruitment practices and graduate student needs to inform decision making, as well as contribute to the development of new graduate programs.
- Coordinate outreach and recruitment efforts throughout the U.S. and abroad, including face-to-face meetings, virtual events and formal presentations.
- Travel for recruitment includes, but is not limited to, visiting colleges and universities, attending graduate and career fairs, working with alumni and faculty to facilitate recruitment efforts and making formal presentations to students, employers, and nonprofit organizations.
- Evaluate the strategic use of scholarships in enrollment and retention, develop a scholarship program which reflects the strategic goals, lead the scholarship allocation and selection process in a manner that shapes the incoming class in alignment with strategic goals.
- Develop and lead efforts (often in collaboration with the program directors/deans, Center for Career and Professional Development and/or Advising Office) to promote graduate programs, including accelerated pathways, to current undergraduate students on the Bristol and Providence campuses.
- Oversee the graduate admission campus visit program and develop and oversee the execution of a diverse offering of in-person and virtual events that support recruitment and yield efforts.
Strategic Partnerships and Collaboration
- Support the implementation of new graduate programs at the institution by working with the Provost, Associate Provost, Deans, Program Directors, and others to establish successful, marketable programs.
- Provide leadership, guidance, and coaching to graduate programs to assist them in assessing competitor programs, market conditions, and matters impacting recruitment.
- Partner with Undergraduate Admission, the School of Law, and University College (UC) on efforts to create synergies in recruitment and optimize educational pathway opportunities across all levels at RWU.
- Work with University Advancement to seek external funding in support of student scholarship, alternative delivery methods, and program expansion or refinement.
- In collaboration with the University Marketing Division, innovate and implement program marketing and outreach strategies.
- Partner internally to address barriers to student enrollment in delivery methods, practices, and policies.
- Serve as a positive champion and leadership voice for graduate education at RWU.
Trends Assessment
- Recognize and interpret the ever-changing trends in student interest and behavior as they relate to projections on individual degree value, outcomes, employment opportunities, and expected return on investment by degree.
- Use tools (such as the Gray Associates Database) for research, assessment, and analysis of market conditions and opportunities to support program development, and to update and revise recruitment strategies when appropriate.
- Provide market knowledge and reports to each program regarding feedback on pricing, competitor programs strengths and enrollments, and assessment of trends and benchmarking.
Admission Operations and Technology
- Design, create, and implement CRM strategies designed to communicate, build relationships with students and key influencers, and improve business processes and outcomes throughout all funnel stages.
- Establish processing, communication and acceptance policies to reflect best practices, meet federal guidelines, enhance the ease with which students engage in each process, and foster the collection of relevant data for analysis, tracking, benchmarking and decision making.
- Regularly evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, and equity of programs and processes to assess impact on conversion and yield metrics to ensure alignment with strategic goals.
- Oversee centralized graduate admission operations, including the processing of applications, application review, admission decisions, and notification for all graduate programs.
- Oversee the internal processes for current undergraduate students continuing into the graduate "+" programs (accelerated graduate programs).
Department Management
- Manage the Graduate Admission team, including an Assistant Director of Graduate Admission and an operations staff member.
- Establish a nimble team environment with staff who feel valued, communicate easily with each other and are supported in their development as professionals.
- Evaluate the return on investment of individual efforts to assure financial and staff resources are efficiently and thoughtfully allocated.
- Manage departmental budget including tracking, reporting, and authorizing expenditures.
- Recruit personnel, interview and recommend appointment of departmental hires.
- Review and enforce all union contracts that pertain to staff.
- Maintain a strong campus presence, nurturing relationships with Deans and Faculty offering graduate/adult programs and courses.
- Positively contribute to the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts across the University.
- Provide administrative, professional, or project support as assigned by the Vice President of Enrollment Management.
- Serve on University committees, working groups, and task forces as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND CHARACTERISTICS
The successful candidate must have a bachelor’s degree, preferably in a student services, marketing or a related field, and at least five to eight years of progressively responsible experience in admission and higher education. An advanced degree in a relevant discipline and prior leadership experience in admission are preferred qualifications. In addition, the Dean should demonstrate the following qualifications, skills and abilities:
- A seasoned graduate enrollment professional with experience partnering across divisions and functional units in the exploration of ideas, a shared approach to problem solving, and the successful design and launch of new programs.
- Knowledge of enrollment management theory, current trends, and best practices, as well as the capacity to understand the complex issues facing higher education, especially at the graduate level.
- Experienced in the nuanced marketing of graduate programs and certificates with success in identifying and reaching program specific populations.
- Highly adept at utilizing and analyzing data with a strong capacity to articulate and illustrate its meaning and impact.
- An understanding of the impact of delivery modalities on student’s interest in graduate programs.
- Strong interpersonal skills, emotional intelligence, intercultural competency, and customer service orientation with the ability to convey and obtain information from a variety of audiences such as students, parents, alumni, staff, and external stakeholders.
- A team player with an institutional view of problem solving, information sharing, collaboration, and success.
- Creative thinker, strategic planner, and advocate, with the ability to flourish in a high-growth, fast-paced, professional and entrepreneurial environment.
- Community builder that will embed themselves into the fabric of the University.
- Excellent time management skills, ability to prioritize multiple projects, meet deadlines and adept at shifting skills to accommodate changing priorities with strong delegation skills.
- Ability to work with flexibility, collegiality, and humor.
- Proven ability to function independently with a minimum of supervision and take the lead in projects as appropriate.
- Ability to travel 30-40% of the time.
COMPENSATION, BENEFITS, AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
The expected compensation range for this position is based on the skills and experience of the selected candidate; contact the NES search consultants to discuss the expected range of compensation. In this important leadership role housed on the Bristol campus, the successful candidate will lead a high performing team in a hybrid work environment and will have an active on-campus presence. Roger Williams offers a competitive benefits package. Detailed information regarding benefits for this position may be found here: RWU Benefits.
ROGER WILLIAMS UNIVERSITY
At Roger Williams University, students are prepared to be thinkers and doers ready to solve challenging problems with innovative solutions. RWU offers over 45 majors and robust offerings of graduate and professional programs across eight schools of study including Rhode Island's only law school. With small classrooms and a focus on undergraduate and graduate research and community engagement, a Roger Williams education blends the strength of liberal arts and professional studies, providing all students with the depth and breadth of interdisciplinary thinking and well-rounded knowledge necessary to succeed in our interconnected, global world. RWU is committed to strengthening society through engaged scholarship so that students graduate with the ability to think critically and apply the practical skills that today's employers demand.
Graduate Programs
Backed by more than 50 years of academic rigor and an outstanding reputation as one of the area's top colleges, Roger Williams University offers ten master’s degrees, several dual degree programs, and ten certificate programs enrolling over 300 graduate students. Accredited graduate programs are housed in the Mario J. Gabelli School of Business, the Feinstein School of Humanities, Arts, and Education, the Feinstein School of Social and Natural Sciences, the Cummings School of Architecture, the School of Engineering, Computing and Construction Management, and the School of Justice Studies. Additional graduate level programs are offered by University College and the School of Law. Small classes taught by experienced faculty members lead to a personalized educational experience, which is at the heart of an RWU education. Students may choose to pursue their education through a full-time, in-class program or through part-time and online courses.
Strategic Action Plan
In 2021, following an inclusive planning process, Roger Williams University launched its Excellence by Design strategic plan framework which aligns the community’s efforts in providing what the world needs from a modern, comprehensive university. Five strategic priorities emerged from the Strategic Action Plan. These provide a guiding framework for the years ahead for collective, divisional, and individual initiatives across the university. They include seeking ongoing opportunities to engage with the RWU community, the greater community and industry partners; refining efforts toward that goal continually; seeking new solutions; and using integration of institutional efforts and academic planning as an ongoing and iterative culture of planning.
A recent addition and result of the strategic action plan is the master’s degree in real estate, launched in 2022. The interdisciplinary degree and graduate certificate were designed to meet both the needs of both students and employers. The strategic action plan calls for the expansion of graduate enrollments, increased university-wide support for graduate student life, support, and well-being, and the development of additional graduate degrees and certificates. The newly formed Graduate Operations Team was established to coordinate the comprehensive approach and support all facets of the graduate student experience and the University’s goal to double graduate enrollments over a five year period. To learn more about RWU’s action plan visit https://www.rwu.edu/who-we-are/strategic-action-plan.
Location
Roger Williams University has two campuses that provide students with diverse learning experiences and opportunities. RWU’s main campus is located in Bristol, Rhode Island, a historic town home to the nation's oldest Fourth of July parade. The campus sits on a sprawling 143 acres overlooking Mount Hope Bay and is minutes from downtown Bristol – home to restaurants, ice cream shops, boutiques and antique shops, the East Bay Bike Path, and Colt State Park. Bristol is just a half hour drive from both Providence and Newport, Rhode Island's beach capital, a 60-minute drive from Boston. Bristol is ranked among the Best Small Towns in America, the Safest Cities in America, and among the Most Interesting U.S. Destinations. The Bristol campus is home to a vibrant campus community and houses eight of the nine professional schools & colleges offering undergraduate and graduate programs.
A short ride north from the main campus in Bristol is the Providence campus, located in the heart of downtown Providence, Rhode Island's capital city. The Providence campus is home to University College and its thirty-plus academic programs as well as the Experiential Campus for the School of Law. The Providence campus also plays host to the MBA, Leadership, and Master of Public Administration programs, and provides all RWU students with access to a vibrant hub of businesses and community partnerships for a wide variety of hands-on experiences and internships. The Providence location is equipped with modern classrooms, smart-board technology, and has several lounges for study and relaxation. Through partnerships with a multitude of community organizations, nonprofits, public school districts, and federal, state and local governments, the Providence Campus is a key component in fulfilling the university’s commitment to community. Providence is dubbed the Creative Capital, and the city is home to amazing restaurants, concerts, festivals and the internationally-acclaimed WaterFire. Consistently rated as one of America’s favorite food cities by Travel +Leisure magazine, Providence is filled with great shops and a thriving music scene.
TO APPLY
NES, a higher education search firm specializing in enrollment management searches, is assisting Roger Williams University in their search for a Dean of Graduate Admission. To arrange for a confidential conversation or to nominate someone for this position, please contact Suzi Nam (suzi.nam@nessearches.com), Catherine Capolupo (catherine.capolupo@nessearches.com), or Mary Napier (mary.napier@nessearches.com). To apply, send 1) a resume, 2) a detailed letter describing both your interest in the Dean of Graduate Admission position at Roger Williams University and how you would be able to contribute to RWU’s diversity, inclusivity, and equity goals, and 3) contact information for five professional references by email to: rwu@nessearches.com. For best consideration, submit materials by December 13, 2023; the search will remain open until the position is filled. The expected start date will be in the spring of 2024. All applications and nominations will be considered confidential, and notice will be given before references are contacted.
Roger Williams University seeks to recruit and support a broadly diverse community of faculty and staff. We value diversity, equity and inclusion and respect for all races, genders, identities, and abilities. RWU is committed to creating a thriving community that encourages lifelong learning, professional development, and academic innovation. To learn more about Roger Williams University's commitment and support of diversity and inclusion, please visit https://www.rwu.edu/who-we-are/diversity-equity-inclusion. Roger Williams University is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. Applicants that require accommodation in the job application process may contact 1-401-254-3028 for assistance.