Vice President for Enrollment Management

The University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford, Connecticut invites applications and nominations for the position of Vice President for Enrollment Management, a key position that will guide the University’s recruitment strategies and activities during a time of visionary leadership, institutional growth, and increased enrollment. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1932 (as Saint Joseph College), and steeped in nearly a century of tradition and excellence, the University of Saint Joseph blends professional education with the sciences and humanities to prepare students for lives and careers that meet social and workforce needs. Minutes from Connecticut’s capital city and surrounded by corporate, medical, and cultural resources, USJ students live and learn on a quintessential New England campus, meld classroom learning with pre-professional experience, and compete on NCAA Division III conference championship teams. Students seeking an undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral degree will find a place to shine at our small university with big outcomes. 

In recent years, USJ has experienced rapid growth and innovation. Undergraduate enrollment continues to grow year over year, with a record number of residential students. Strategic program expansion has fueled this growth, including the launch of new undergraduate programs in Computer Science and Engineering Science, as well as innovative accelerated dual-degree pathways. The University has also strengthened partnerships with area Catholic and Independent high schools through concurrent enrollment programs, providing students with early access to college coursework. Academic excellence remains a hallmark, with a 100% NCLEX pass rate for both traditional and accelerated nursing programs and a six-year streak of 100% PANCE pass rates for the M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies program. Additionally, high-quality online and on-campus master’s and doctoral programs further enhance the institution’s reputation and appeal to a robust student body.

The Position

The Vice President for Enrollment Management (VPEM) will report to the President and serve as a member of the President’s cabinet. As a partner in the University’s strategic planning and implementation, the VPEM will provide inspirational leadership and strategic oversight to the areas of Undergraduate and Graduate Admissions, Student Financial Services and the Office of Marketing and Communications.

Qualifications

The position requires a leader with a proven track record of enrollment success and the ability to effectively merge traditional and evolving enrollment strategies in order to both recruit and retain qualified students. The ideal candidate will be entrepreneurial and collaborative, with substantial experience in admissions, enrollment management, financial aid, and marketing.

Other qualifications and characteristics include

• Master’s degree or higher with 8 years or more of progressively-responsible experience in higher education admissions, enrollment strategies, communications, market research, financial aid, and student information systems
• Success in recruiting and retaining a dynamic student body
• Ability to engage other members of the campus community, including faculty, coaches, and alumni in recruitment efforts
• In-depth knowledge of enrollment trends, data analytics, and digital and traditional recruitment practices
• Ability to shape strategic direction and analyze effectiveness
• Strong understanding of financial aid policies and strategies
• Ability to think creatively and engage a creative team
• Overall understanding of marketing including brand awareness, inbound/outbound marketing techniques, print and web effectiveness

Major opportunities for the next VPEM include

• Developing an emerging Enrollment Management division, which builds on current programs in admissions and financial aid
• Providing leadership to assist in bridging traditional recruitment approaches with best practices and current demands to enroll new, transfer, and continuing education students; balancing the financial needs of students with institutional resources
• Enhancing the recruitment efforts for both graduate and professional programs, traditional and non-traditional students; matching enrollment goals to program strengths and institutional capacities
• Expanding the geographical recruitment of students (domestic and international)
• Working collaboratively with academic leadership, student services, and athletics, to identify strengths in all areas that will attract and retain students
• Producing a communication flow (with the Office of Marketing and Communications) that articulates institutional strengths including the undergraduate and graduate program, and professional programs, and positions USJ in a highly competitive higher education marketplace
• Collaborating in the development of a system to coordinate the delivery of enrollment management services to all students

The Search Committee will begin review of applications for the Vice President for Enrollment Management immediately and continue until an appointment is made. To ensure full consideration, applications should be received by March 28, 2025.

Interested candidates should submit the following:

• A cover letter that addresses the opportunities and qualifications outlined above
• A current resume or CV
• Contact information for three professional references