Associate Vice President of Traditional Undergraduate Admissions

University Overview:

MidAmerica Nazarene University (MNU) is a private university with a variety of undergraduate, graduate, and adult education programs, accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. Located in the Kansas City metropolitan area, MNU seeks to educate students to serve with purpose within the educational context of the liberal arts, and a Wesleyan-Holiness theological perspective. MNU has an enrollment of approximately 1500 students with half considered traditional residential students. For more information about MNU, see our website: www.mnu.edu.

Job Summary:

MidAmerica Nazarene University is seeking an innovative and strategic Associate Vice President (AVP) of Traditional Undergraduate Admissions. MNU seeks a leader with a demonstrated track record of revitalizing admissions teams and sustaining strong enrollment growth. The AVP of Traditional Undergraduate Admissions provides strategic leadership for all traditional student recruitment, admissions, and retention efforts at MidAmerica Nazarene University during the new student enrollment cycle. the AVP develops and implements a comprehensive, multi-year enrollment management plan. This plan identifies annual enrollment goals and strategies for both new incoming students, including recruitment events, registration events, and pre-enrollment operations. This is a sales-oriented leadership role. The AVP ensures the admissions teams is equipped and trained to operate as high performing. enrollment professionals, fostering a sales culture focused on prospect engagement, yield strategies, and conversion optimization. As chair of the Registration and Orientation Operations Group (ROOG), the AVP ensures seamless coordination of pre-enrollment experiences. In addition to leading the Office of Admissions -- supervising staff, managing budgets, and overseeing recruitment cycles -- the AVP collaborates closely with Financial Aid to align operations with the overall enrollment plan. Ultimately, this leader drives enrollment growth through data-informed, results-driven tactics while collaborating across all University constituencies.

Reports to: Vice President of Enrollment, Marketing and Communications (VPEMC)

Duties & Responsibilities:

General Duties:

• Design and implement a comprehensive strategic enrollment plan for the Traditional Undergraduate Admissions team, focusing on the details of traditional high school student search, creating and maintaining a comprehensive communication/engagement plan, and event-based recruitment opportunities
• Responsible for achieving enrollment revenue goals, paying special attention to net tuition revenue goals related to traditional-age new incoming and returning students
• Have a clear plan for developing a professional sales performance culture with an emphasis on sales training of admissions professionals. In addition, produce clear key performance indicators within the funnel related to managing inquiries, increasing yield percentages of applications to accepted students and ultimately increasing enrollment headcounts.
• In collaboration with the VPEMC, engage in market research of national, regional and institutional enrollment trends in higher education related to traditional undergraduate enrollment and produce strategic insights to the university that aid in sustaining its mission.
• Strive for positive and collegial public relations with the administration, staff, students, colleagues, the Church of the Nazarene, regional and local church leadership, and community constituents.
• Maintain confidentiality in all areas assigned to this position.

Primary Duties:

• Serve as enrollment management leader for undergraduate, traditional-age students, transfer and international students into traditional programs.
• Develop, implement, and assess ongoing effectiveness of strategic enrollment management plan that seeks to attract and recruit the right students to MNU.
• Ensures that the traditional undergraduate admission strategic enrollment management plan supports the University’s Strategic Plan.
• Responsible for ensuring that all professionals within the traditional undergraduate admissions team provide and maintain high quality support services for all constituent audiences to include prospective students, enrolled students, faculty, staff and other MNU community members.
• Ensure that Policy and Procedure manuals are current and that all catalog and externally released information related to traditional undergraduate admissions is accurate.
• Create and maintain data related to new student recruitment, net tuition revenue, and continuing student enrollments.
• Oversight of all campus-based events pertaining to traditional undergraduate admissions operations.
• Develop and implement systems that ensure a smooth transition to MNU or in the case of enrolled students ensure a smooth transition from one term of enrollment to the next.
• Facilitate training for Enrollment Management professionals in sales performance, organizational leadership and team collaboration.
• Has direct supervision over Director of Nazarene Recruitment, Director of Regional Recruitment and Assistant Director of Traditional Undergraduate Admissions.

Qualifications:

• Acknowledging and actively supporting the mission and vision of MNU is required.
• A bachelor’s degree and five-plus years of progressive enrollment management and/or admissions experience are required.
• A master’s degree is preferred.
• The AVP of Enrollment Management will have demonstrated leadership ability, a proven track record in college recruitment, thorough knowledge of enrollment trends and issues in higher education, and an understanding of financial aid strategies.
• An innovative, strategic approach to recruitment, strong interpersonal and communication skills, and proficiency in technological support systems are vital.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Willingness and ability to work with various constituent groups.
• Ability to review and assess data and to use data to inform decisions.
• Excellent public speaking skills.
• Ability and experience to effectively utilize required technology tools, including Slate CRM.
• Possess a successful work history, supported by references, in a work setting similar to the position for which the candidate is applying.
• Demonstrate the ability to practice confidentiality with sensitive information.

The successful candidate will also be expected to be a person of Christian faith, demonstrate a commitment to the mission of MidAmerica Nazarene University, and show evidence of collaborative servant leadership that is focused on team building.

Application: To apply for this position, attach the following documentation to your application:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• Personal Statement of Faith - see below for details
• Transcript Copies

Questions regarding the application process may be directed to Abigail Harris, HR Generalist, at hr@mnu.edu.

Statement of Faith: MidAmerica Nazarene University is an intentionally Christian Community and desires that all employees in positions of leadership reflect a foundational Christian position in word, attitude and action. While there is no predetermined length or format for the Personal Statement of Faith, the norm is a one or two-page narrative document describing the applicant’s central Christian beliefs, significant formative influences in the applicant’s Christian experience (e.g., religious experiences of conversion or the affirmation of one’s faith, one’s family and/or home life, spiritual aspirations), and ways in which the applicant’s faith is being demonstrated in daily patterns and practices.

MidAmerica is very much interested in reviewing applications from qualified members of traditionally underrepresented groups in America, including women and racial and ethnic minorities. MidAmerica Nazarene University policy prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, sex, religion,* age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, marital status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected class in the recruitment and admission of students, in the hiring process, during employment, and in the operation of all university programs, activities, and services.

*Christian faith and employment at MidAmerica Nazarene University: MidAmerica Nazarene University is an expression of the Church of the Nazarene. It reserves the right to prefer employees on the basis of religion (Title VII, Section 702-703, U.S. Civil Rights Act of 1964). Preferred candidates demonstrate a strong commitment to the Christian faith, active participation in a local church, and a philosophy of Christian higher education consistent with the Wesleyan tradition.