Associate Dean of Admissions for Diversity and Access
- Employer
- Elon University
- Location
- North Carolina, United States
- Salary
- Salary Commensurate with experience
- Date posted
- Jul 1, 2021
View more
- Position Type
- Administrative, Student Affairs, Admissions, Enrollment, Retention & Registrar, Minority & Multicultural Affairs
- Employment Level
- Administrative
- Employment Type
- Full Time
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Elon University, the
premier student-centered environment for experiential learning,
seeks a collaborative and knowledgeable Associate Dean of
Admissions for Diversity and Access. The Associate Dean will
embrace Boldly
Elon, the strategic plan for 2030, that will advance the
University as a leading residential institution and will sharply
define Elon’s position as a top-100 national university. Founded in
1889 and located in the college town of Elon, North Carolina, Elon
University has built a reputation as a university like no other, a
school that transformed from a small North Carolina liberal arts
college to become a prestigious
national university with 7,000 students from around the
world.
The Opportunity
The Associate Dean of Admissions for Diversity and
Access will report to the Dean of Undergraduate Admissions and is
responsible for planning, leading, and executing a diversity
recruitment program to meet the university’s enrollment goals.
While the position has a focus on recruitment of Black-identified
students, the role includes attracting qualified students from
diverse backgrounds, as well as developing new geographic
recruitment areas for the university. In addition, the candidate
will provide mentorship and supervisory leadership to the assistant
director of admissions for diversity and access and is also
responsible for admissions counselor responsibilities for a
specific region, territory management, application review and
decision making.
Responsibilities, Duties and
Priorities:
In their responsibilities relating to Diversity
and Access, the chosen candidate will be responsible for the
following duties and priorities:
• Enhance and implement Elon’s five-year diversity
recruitment strategic plans for African American/Black,
Latino/Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American, Alaskan
Native and Multiracial (ALANAM) recruitment to meet university
enrollment goals.
• With the Dean of Undergraduate Admissions and Vice
President for Enrollment Management, set a yearly enrollment
strategy for historically underrepresented students at Elon.
Research inquiry, application and enrollment trends for
historically underrepresented populations; identify and plan travel
in new areas and evaluate success of previous years’ travel.
• Identify and recruit students who are highly
interested in Elon or whose academic and extracurricular profiles
suggest a strong match for engaged learning; determine students
interested in special programs or activities and take necessary
steps to ensure that they receive information.
• Plan a program of travel to significantly increase
the number of visits to high schools with a high percentage of
students of color; schedule and attend in-person college fairs and
face-to-face and virtual high school visits during September
through May.
• Build and foster strong relationships with high
school counselors, independent counselors, Community Based
Organizations (CBOs) and other outreach organizations; consult high
school counselors and students as needed to complete files for
evaluation.
• Maintain planning of college day programs,
individual visits and financial reporting.
• Direct office initiatives to develop staff and
strengthen cultural competencies; meet with staff and students at
least once each semester to provide education, encourage dialogue
and review specific recruitment plans.
• Collaborate with the Associate Director of
Admissions for Campus Visit to ensure ongoing, substantive, and
appropriate training of all University Guides around diversity and
inclusion priorities and to assess the campus visit experience for
students and families from diverse backgrounds.
• Plan and implement a program of communication with
students from diverse
backgrounds and their families with the goal to
increase the number of applications and matriculants; assist with
the development of appropriate publications to meet these
goals.
• Collaborate with University Communications to
ensure all admission publications and websites dedicated to
diversity recruitment are up-to-date, relevant, and innovative.
• Plan and implement special events for prospective
underrepresented students, including Phoenix Fusion Weekend, Game
day, The Black Advance, diversity focused receptions and other
campus recruitment events; host groups of ALANAM students and
individual students on campus.
• Oversee the recruitment and training of an
admissions staff member and a student intern, along with infusing
all members of the admissions staff with energy and focus regarding
diverse populations.
• Serve as the advisor of the Elon Diversity
Ambassadors, a student group created to support university
diversity recruitment efforts.
• Lead and serve as a member of the
Odyssey Program selection committee.
• Serve as primary liaison to partnering offices
across campus, including working in collaboration and support with
the
vice president and associate provost for inclusive
excellence.
In addition, as the Associate Dean of
Admissions, the selected individual will also be responsible
for admissions counselor responsibilities including:
• Recruit from and increase yield in primary and
tertiary travel territories.
• Prepare an independent travel schedule to include
high school visits and college fairs, during a 6-8 week period,
including fall and spring; organize and host information sessions
and yield events in travel territories.
• Advise and counsel students about their college
search while highlighting the benefits of a residential and
academic experience grounded in the liberal arts and that
prioritizes experiential learning.
• Evaluate applications; consult high school
counseling offices and students to complete files for
decisions.
• Access completed files from assigned territory and
complete the initial review of the application.
• Participate in admissions committee meetings to
finalize admitted students from Early Decision, Early Action and
Regular Deadline pools.
• Assist with the implementation of weekend events
including Open House, Rising Phoenix Weekend and Fellows
Weekend.
• Manage a personal expense report online via Elon’s
procurement card site.
• Serve as the Counselor of the Day on a rotating
basis, responsible for fielding and following up on incoming calls
from prospective students, parents and guidance counselors; support
campus visit program by conducting campus interviews/information
sessions with prospective students and their families (including
Saturday rotation).
Qualifications, Abilities and Desired
Characteristics:
It is expected that the Associate Dean of Admissions
for Diversity and Access will have a bachelor's degree (advanced
degree is preferred) as well as three to five years of admission
experience, particularly with a demonstrated ability to recruit
diverse student populations, including African American/Black,
Latino/Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, Native American, Alaskan
Native and Multiracial (ALANAM) populations and other areas of
identified diversity on Elon’s campus.
The successful candidate will also possess the
following abilities and characteristics:
Clear competency of diversity and its values as it
relates to higher education and in organizations.
An understanding of legality as it pertains to
higher education and recruitment.
Ability to manage multiple responsibilities and
meet deadlines.
Outstanding communicator who possesses strong
interpersonal and presentation skills for speaking confidently and
engagingly with prospective students from diverse backgrounds,
their families, campus colleagues, counselors, and alumni.
Ability to meet and work well with the public and
to represent the institution with understanding, professionalism,
confidence, and knowledge.
High level knowledge of national and international
market demographics, demands, and trends to help inform recruitment
strategy.
Proficiency in appropriate software systems
including Microsoft Office, email, and Ellucian Colleague;
experience with Slate is preferred.
An appreciation of Elon and a deep respect for the
University’s mission, as well as the ability to build out and
advance the mission, especially by partnering with others.
Desire to make immediate contributions to an
ambitious, forward thinking and quickly moving culture.
Demonstrated commitment to and success in
recruiting and enrolling students from diverse and underserved
populations.
Ability to mentor, motivate, and inspire peers and
colleagues and be a part of a talented and hardworking
team.
Exude positivity in a professional setting.
An understanding and respect for balancing
professional goals with university resources.
Elon University
Led by Elon’s 9th
president, Connie Ledoux Book, Elon’s rigorous curriculum is
grounded in the arts and sciences and complemented by nationally
accredited professional and graduate programs. The 447 full-time
faculty members teach in more than 60 undergraduate majors, along
with master’s programs in business administration, management,
accounting, education, higher education, interactive media and
physician assistant studies; and doctoral programs in physical
therapy and law. Elon’s four-year graduation rate of 79 percent
ranks #35 among the U.S. News National Universities.
The university includes Elon College, the College of
Arts and Sciences; the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business;
the School of Communications; the School of Education; the School
of Health Sciences; and the School of Law, which is located on a
campus in downtown Greensboro, N.C. Elon’s 6,291 undergraduate and
826 graduate students hail from 46 states and 49 other countries.
About 24 percent are from North Carolina, with strong enrollment
numbers from the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and other states across
the country.
Global engagement is central to Elon’s experience and
the Institute of International Education has ranked Elon #1 in the
nation for study abroad for 15 straight years. Eighty percent
of students have at least one international study experience, often
combined with internships, research or service. In addition, Elon’s
Study USA program includes opportunities to study in Los Angeles,
New York City, Washington, D.C., Hawaii, Alaska and other
locations.
Elon earns top rankings for community service by the
federal government’s Corporation for National and Community
Service, with 88 percent of students participating in
service-learning. In addition, 87 percent of students complete
internships, 58 percent of students hold at least one campus
leadership position, and 22 percent of students work with faculty
mentors on undergraduate research projects.
Inclusive Excellence
at Elon celebrates and values the diverse backgrounds,
cultures, experiences, and perspectives of the Elon
community. Diversity is embraced in the broadest sense and is
the shared responsibility of Elon University members to act
deliberately toward equitable outcomes. Central to Elon’s
mission of transforming mind, body, and spirit, Inclusive
Excellence requires addressing systems in ways that achieve equity
and help individuals thrive.
Elon’s engaging intellectual climate is distinguished
by supportive and collaborative human relationships that promote
personal growth. More than 200 student organizations flourish,
providing a rich array of opportunities to get involved. Student
Professional Development Center counselors work with students to
create personal development plans, resumes and strong networking
skills. The robust Elon Network of employers, alumni and parents
provides connections to internships and career opportunities.
Elon is
ranked among the top-100 National Universities by U.S. News
& World Report, with a #2 ranking for excellence in
undergraduate teaching and #10 for innovation. In addition, Elon is
the leader in the “Focus on Student Success” feature – the only
college or university ranked in the top-20 in all eight categories
of high-impact academic programs. Included are #1 rankings for
study abroad and learning communities and #2 rankings for
first-year experiences, senior capstone and service learning.
Princeton Review ranks Elon the nation’s #1 “Best-Run”
college, with the #1 “Most Popular Study Abroad” program, the
#4 “Most Beautiful Campus” and the #4 “Best Career Services”
program. The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education
ranks Elon
#16 in the nation for student engagement. Poets &
Quants ranks Elon among the nation’s top undergraduate
business, marketing and MBA programs. Kiplinger’s Personal
Finance magazine names Elon one of the nation’s top-30 “best value”
private universities.
Elon’s historic 656-acre campus in central North
Carolina is designated as a botanical garden and includes the
56-acre Elon University Forest, a land preserve and natural area
for scientific research; and the Elon Environmental Center at Loy
Farm, a center for environmental research and sustainability that
includes
a solar farm.
A member of the Colonial Athletics Association,
Elon’s Phoenix athletics program includes 17 intercollegiate men’s
and women’s sports in NCAA Division I (FCS football). In addition,
Elon offers 18 intramural and 21 club sports.
Elon is an academic community that provides a
calibrated balance of challenge and encouragement, helping students
discover the ambition to seek something great and the courage to
achieve it. Elon is a university with a powerful trajectory—ever on
the rise and always striving to achieve higher levels of
excellence.
To learn more about Elon University, go to https://www.elon.edu/.
Location
Elon University is located in the beautifully
historic Alamance
County. The Town of
Elon, with a population of approximately 10,000, is home to a
number of businesses envisioned, developed and run by Elon
University alumni including Pandora’s Pies, The Oak House, The Root and Simply Oak Boutique all of
which are located in Downtown Elon. Downtown Elon is also home to
the first MaGerk’s
Pub in the South and is the second location in North Carolina
for the Mediterranean
Deli & Grocery. The Town of Elon also offers two parks with
walking trails and programming five minutes from campus. Downtown
Elon hosts a variety of events throughout the year open to the
community.
Just ten minutes from campus, the city of Burlington
(population approximately 53,000), features Alamance Crossing, a large
outdoor shopping mall, a variety of restaurants and the beautiful
Lake Mackintosh, an 1100-acre lake with canoeing, paddleboats and
outdoor picnic facilities, just minutes from campus.
The first phase of the Burlington
Greenway and Bikeway was completed in summer of 2020.
Connecting downtown Elon and downtown Burlington, the Greenway
creates a convenient and safe way for bikes and pedestrians to
travel from campus to Burlington, enhancing the quality of life.
Three of the public elementary schools in the county offer Spanish
language immersion programs. With the help of Splash! Language
Immersion, several schools have been established where all
instruction is given in Spanish by native speaking teachers.
Just off the I-40 corridor, Elon’s location provides
access to some of North Carolina’s largest metropolitan areas, as
well as numerous outdoor and leisure activities. A short distance
from Elon are the triad cities of Greensboro, Winston-Salem and
High Point, and to the east Chapel Hill, Durham and Raleigh, the
anchors of the triangle. With populations of 1.6 million and 1.7
million respectively, these areas contain renowned furniture
factories, top golf courses, shopping opportunities and historic
sites, as well as hiking, swimming and skiing opportunities.
To Apply
Napier Executive
Search is assisting Elon University with this search for
Associate Dean of Admissions for Diversity and Access. For more
information or to nominate someone for this position, contact Mary
Napier (mary.napier@napiersearch.com)
or Laura Robinson (lLaura.rRobinson@napiersearch.com) for a
confidential conversation. Interested candidates should submit a
résumé along with a cover letter expressing interest in this
position. Candidates should provide the names and contact
information of at least three professional references; references
will not be contacted without permission. All application materials
should be submitted electronically to Elon@napiersearch.com as soon as
possible. Materials will be reviewed beginning July 26 and the
search will remain open until the position is filled. The
anticipated start date is Fall, 2021.
Elon University is an equal employment
opportunity employer committed to a diverse faculty, staff and
student body and welcomes all applicants.
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