higher education careers
TRANSCRIPT
Higher Education Careers from
Recruitment to Retention
Emily Burns . Lynette Mattson . Ashley Sunyog . Nicholas Tomaskovic . Betsy Van Buskirk
HiEd 490
Fall, 2015
Pennsylvania State University
Research Questions
1. How do different careers in higher education help in the enrollment
management/student success funnel?
2. What common themes will emerge among careers relating to
enrollment management/student retention fields?
3. How do professionals in higher education measure student success?
Recruitment to Retention
Common Professions in Enrollment Management
Admissions & Enrollment
Counselor, Assistant/Associate Director of Admissions, Director of Admissions, Chief
Admissions Officer, Dean of Admissions, Chief Enrollment Management Officer, Vice
President of Enrollment, Registrar
Student Affairs
Dean of Students, Dean of Retention, Dean of International Students, Student Life
Coordinator, Director of Academic Advising, Director of Residence Life, Residence Life
Coordinator
Career Competencies
Degree Requirements
•Entry Level- Bachelor’s Degree
•Mid-Level- Master’s Degree
•Upper-Level- Doctorate Degree
Experience
•Relative Experience
•Graduateships/ Internships
•Recommendations
Professional Competencies
• Exemplary communication skills
• Knowledge of higher education policies &
issues both legal and ethical
• Diverse knowledge of students
• Dedication to service excellence
• Critical thinking skills
• Organizational skills
• Proficient technology skills
Salary
Source: https://www.higheredjobs.com/salary/
POSITION SALARY(all institution type average)
ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR $37,558
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT
ADMISSIONS$57, 691
CHIEF ADMISSIONS OFFICER $90,000
CHIEF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT OFFICER $140,000
CHIEF REGISTRAR/ RECORDS OFFICER $81,229
DEAN OF STUDENTS $95,442
ACADEMIC ADVISOR $42,880
CHIEF CAMPUS ACADEMIC ADVISOR
ADMINISTRATOR$71,004
CHIEF STUDENT AFFAIRS/LIFE OFFICER $137,484
STUDENT SERVICES COORDINATOR $34,580
RESIDENCE LIFE COORDINATOR $45,462
Benefits
Standard vs. Fringe: Type of institution, compensation package
Common Fringe Benefits: Health insurance, Retirement (Pension/ 403B), Life
insurance, Leave days, Educational benefits, Housing, Dental, Vision, Dependent
care
Negotiation/ Perks
Professional Organizations
• National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) • American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) • College and University Public Relations and Associated Professionals (CUPRAP) • American Marketing Association (AMA) • National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) • The Student Affairs Collective (SAC) • National Association of Student Personnel Administration (NASPA) • American College Personnel Administration (ACPA)
Our Findings
Commonalities in skills required for various position types
throughout the funnel:
•exemplary communication skills
(with various population types)
•problem-solving skills
•ability to work collaboratively with others
•multitasking and time management skills
•ability to be adaptable
•proactivity
•a passion for the work • intrinsically motivated “Success [in this field] comes from being intrinsically rather than
extrinsically motivated and is derived from an inner motivation…that comes
from working with students and seeing them be successful.” -Dr. Gary Lawler, Chancellor of Penn State Hazleton
Our Findings
Institutional adaptability • Mentorship
• Institutional literature
• Embracing and embodying the school’s
mission
Defining student success within the realm of the career
• Recruiting a student
• Advising a student
• Ensuring graduation
“You have to get a sense of the
institution. What is that institution’s
way of doing things, saying things,
presenting things? Once you master
that, you’re okay.” - Carolyn Buxton, Interim Dean of Students, The
College of Wooster
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