Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing

Hiram College invites applications, expressions of interest, and nominations of candidates in its search for the next Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing (VPEMM). The next Vice President will be a relationship-driven and results-oriented leader who will continue the development of an integrated Enrollment and Marketing division to increase enrollment numbers, grow net revenues, and enhance the College’s brand regionally and nationally.

About the College

Hiram College, located in rural Northeast Ohio but less than an hour from Cleveland, Akron, and Youngstown, provides students of all backgrounds an attainable private education that teaches the 21st-century skills needed to understand, shape, and mend the worlds they inhabit today, and those they will help lead tomorrow. The College equips all students with the tools necessary to embrace active learning in the classroom and beyond, with student-faculty collaboration at its forefront.

Hiram is one of only ten percent of U.S. colleges and universities to be awarded a chapter of the prestigious honor society, Phi Beta Kappa. The College is a designated institution within “Colleges That Change Lives” and “Colleges of Distinction.” Hiram is recognized regularly by The Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report, and Washington Monthly for its academic excellence, superb teaching, value, spirit of innovation, and commitment to social mobility.

The College is known for its distinctive Hiram Plan, through which students complete 12 weeks of traditional coursework, take a week-long break, and finish their academic semester with three weeks of intensive study in a single class. Hiram takes yet another thoughtful approach to higher education through Hiram Connect, linking coursework, internships, study-away explorations, and hands-on learning opportunities. The process encourages students to reflect upon their academic experiences and helps them to determine what they want to do professionally and who they want to be personally.

In all, Hiram offers 33 undergraduate majors, 38 minors, two dual-degree programs, six pre-professional programs, an online undergraduate program - Online@Hiram, a master’s degree program in interdisciplinary studies, and a Weekend College program.

Outside of its beautiful central campus, Hiram lays claim to two field stations as additional laboratories for student learning. Located fewer than three miles from campus, the College’s James H. Barrow Biological Field Station provides students with a 550-acre research and educational facility that not only enhances the science and environmental studies programs, but also delivers enrichment and inspiration for students in all majors. A variety of outreach programs are also offered, in addition to approximately five miles of hiking trails. Hiram College also has a rustic camp called the Northwoods Field Station, located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Students and alumni can visit Northwoods to reflect on the beauty of Hiawatha National Forest and Cherry Lake or to conduct research and take courses.

From Zambia to New Zealand, Hiram College also coordinates several study abroad programs each year. Led by Hiram faculty, the study abroad academic curriculum is team-taught and covers multiple areas of study. Students examine topics such as national identity, art and culture, business and the economy, and climate change while immersing themselves in a new culture.

The College’s Tech and Trek mobile education program equips all students with an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, and keyboard bundle. The campus-wide Apple mobile education program was the first of its kind offered by a four-year college or university in Ohio. As a result, Hiram was named an Apple Distinguished School for 2019-2022 for the leadership and educational excellence it has demonstrated in using technology to enhance teaching and learning.
Hiram has nearly 70 registered student clubs and organizations spanning interests in academics, Greek life, music, politics and activism, publications and communications, faith, service, and recreation. The College also offers 18 varsity sports, 17 of which compete in the North Coast Athletic Conference and NCAA Division III.

History

Founded in 1850, Hiram College is a liberal arts college with a proud heritage of educational innovation and excellence. Hiram was established in the mid-nineteenth century as a preparatory institution of high grade called the Western Reserve Eclectic Institute. The Institute was founded by the Disciples of Christ and located in Hiram, Ohio, because the founders believed this area of the Western Reserve to be “healthful and free of distractions.” Since the College’s first days, it has been nonsectarian and coeducational, and throughout its existence, it has sustained this egalitarian tradition of educating men and women from diverse backgrounds. The institute’s original charter was authorized by the state legislature on March 1, 1850, and modified in 1867 to recognize the institution’s new collegiate rank when it became Hiram College.

Mission Statement

The mission of Hiram College is to foster intellectual excellence and social responsibility, enabling our students to thrive in their chosen careers, flourish in life, and face the urgent challenges of the times.

Statement of Core Values

Core values are the essential enduring tenets that guide the Hiram College community. They set forth what we believe and define how we should conduct our affairs. At the heart of these values is the student.

Community
• We are a community that fosters mentoring relationships and shared responsibility for learning.
• We are committed to the well-being of each member of the community.
• We value the distinctive contributions of every person in the learning environment.

Learning
• We believe in the interrelationship of knowledge exemplified in the liberal arts.
• We demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the pursuit of learning and quality scholarship.
• We value superior teaching and comprehensive mentoring.
• We are committed to supporting the continuous personal and professional growth of community members.
• We foster an environment that encourages open inquiry.

Responsibility
• We recognize that the well-being and governance of the community are a shared responsibility among community members.
• We believe that community members are accountable for their actions and should be held to high standards.
• We embrace our responsibility to the larger community beyond the boundaries of Hiram College and encourage learning through service.

Diversity
• We respect the dignity of each individual.
• We are an inclusive community that welcomes people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and points of view.
• We recognize the value of diversity in our educational program.
• We seek to foster a supportive environment in which community members will be challenged to explore knowledge, values, and ethics from varied perspectives.
• We celebrate freedom of thought and freedom of choice.

Innovation
• We honor our tradition in the liberal arts and its profound relevance to society.
• We are eager to explore new issues and practices and integrate them into our academic vision.
• We encourage individual initiative, creativity, and talent.

The Division of Enrollment Management and Marketing

The Division of Enrollment Management and Marketing houses Marketing, Enrollment Services, Financial Aid, and Recruiting & Admissions. These teams are tasked with coordinating, implementing, and evaluating the College’s strategic recruitment initiatives.

The Position: Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing

The Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing is responsible for the leadership, strategic direction, and management of traditional and non-traditional undergraduate admissions, graduate admissions, and transfer initiatives as well as the Department of College Relations. Additionally, this position, collaboratively with the Dean of the College/Chief Academic Officer, is responsible for the leadership and management of the student recruitment portion of graduate programs and community college partnerships across Northeast Ohio and Eastern Pennsylvania. The VPEMM will work closely with the Vice President for Academic Affairs and the Executive Director of Adult and Online Programs to develop and market new online and graduate programs. The VPEMM will also work closely with the CFO on enrollment forecasting and financial aid modeling. This cabinet-level position acts as an advisor to the President, college officers, and the Board of Trustees in all enrollment management matters. As a member of a strong executive team, the VPEMM will be expected to participate in all cabinet-level decisions about the College.

The VPEMM serves as the chief admissions strategist for the College. The VPEMM also supervises the department of Strategic Marketing, which handles marketing and external public relations. In total, the Vice President oversees a staff of approximately 25. Direct reports to this Vice President include the Director and Associate Directors of Admissions (2), the Associate Director for Enrollment Strategies, the Director of Strategic Marketing and Media Relations, and the Director of Financial Aid.

Opportunities and Challenges for the Next Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing

Develop and execute enrollment strategy
The Vice President will develop and lead the execution of a comprehensive and long-range but flexible strategic enrollment plan for the College that will effectively integrate best practices in recruitment and marketing efforts to continue strong branding efforts at the College, increasing enrollment of traditional students while identifying new opportunities to recruit adult, online, and graduate students. The plan will support the College’s overall mission and goals, inclusive of building new markets and focusing on the entire student life cycle. Serving as a valued partner with units across the College in support of recruitment, retention, and student success efforts will be critical. Of particular importance will be the implementation of critical technology resources in cooperation with IT and other campus units. The VPEMM will serve as an expert resource to senior administration and the larger community on trends and challenges facing both recruitment and persistence of both traditional and non-traditional students and will engage the full Hiram community in enrollment efforts. The Vice President will monitor the changing higher education landscape to ensure the College proactively prepares for and pivots as necessary to move the institution forward.

Provide engaged leadership
The VPEMM will be a thoughtful leader able to identify team strengths and areas for growth in the furthering of a high-functioning division. The Vice President will listen carefully and offer transparent and engaged communication to advance the team in achieving the larger goals of the institution. As the higher education environment continues to shift, the VPEMM will offer open and stable leadership that can manage change and assess and realign resources and operations as necessary to lead the College into the future.

Optimize the skills and resources of the team
The VPEMM will foster a culture of professional development, cultivating the talents of divisional staff members, building on their expertise, and encouraging their growth. An approachable and highly skilled people manager, the Vice President will continue to foster an atmosphere of collaboration and collegiality across the division and with all other units on campus, championing the work of enrollment management and marketing as a shared institutional responsibility and one in which all take pride. The Vice President will be a strong voice for the division in Hiram’s long-range planning efforts.

Create and lead a data-dependent model
The VPEMM will establish a data-dependent enrollment model able to predict future trends and identify both challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. The Vice President will lead the division in optimizing the capabilities of CRM tools that are already in place, ensuring the College engages with prospective students in the most effective way, personalizing the experience, and meeting students where they are on their educational path. The VPEMM will encourage the sharing of data and information across the Enrollment Division and the broader College and clearly communicate how the data can inform and achieve enrollment goals. All enrollment strategies will be driven by consistent, robust data and thorough analysis of all available information.

Promote a consistent and persuasive message across the College
Working closely with senior leadership and faculty, the Vice President will continue to craft the College’s message and related branding elements to further expand the institution’s reach. The Vice President will connect with a variety of audiences – including prospective students and families, local and national organizations, faculty, staff, students, and alumni – on campus and online through a variety of media platforms. The VPEMM will craft and share a compelling narrative about the distinctive and leading-edge set of educational experiences offered by the College.

Desired Qualifications and Characteristics

The next Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing will be an innovative and energetic leader who will advance the enrollment management and marketing functions and develop sound strategies to move the institution forward. The Vice President will demonstrate a commitment to higher education and be able to articulate the value of a Hiram College education to a wide and varied audience.

Reporting to the President and serving as a valued member of senior administration, the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing will serve as the principal steward of the College’s enrollment and marketing initiatives. The next VPEMM will be required to have an earned bachelor’s degree, and an advanced degree is preferred.

The ideal candidate will possess:
• an understanding of the mission, challenges, and opportunities of serving a private, tuition-dependent college or university;
• a working knowledge of all areas to be supervised;
• substantial experience with contemporary enrollment management practices, higher education market trends, and competitor assessment;
• a demonstrated commitment to supporting an equitable, inclusive, and diverse working environment;
• the ability to understand and advance the integration of marketing with enrollment management, with a strong understanding of best practices in the use of social media and digital marketing;
• familiarity with traditional, non-traditional, and graduate student recruitment;
• the capacity to be analytical, data-informed, and results-oriented;
• the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions;
• demonstrated strong leadership and managerial capacities;
• strong relationship building skills for effective advocacy of the unit and the College;
• a proven ability to collaborate with a wide cross-section of senior administrators, faculty, alumni, staff, trustees, and students;
• progressive levels of leadership in enrollment management or a related field;
• demonstrated experience leading a successful enrollment marketing program that utilizes direct mailings, internet and media communications, social media outreach and metrics, the leveraging of financial aid packaging, and enrollment software;
• the ability to advocate for resources, with a focus on demonstrable return on investment; and
• excellent communication and listening skills with public speaking prowess.

Nominations and Applications

Review of candidates will begin immediately. For best consideration, please send all confidential nominations, inquiries, and expressions of interest to:

Julie E. Tea, Managing Director
Brian Bustin, Senior Associate
Storbeck Search
484-263-5534
hiramvpemm@storbecksearch.com

Hiram College is an equal opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity!