Associate Director of Admissions

Bemidji State University (BSU) invites applicants to join our team as the Associate Director of Admissions.  BSU’s vision is to educate people to lead inspired lives. BSU’s vision is to educate people to lead inspired lives. To accomplish BSU’s vision, the University prioritizes creating a culture in which diversity is embraced and all people are safe, welcome, and validated.  Centered between the three largest Tribal nations in Minnesota – Leech Lake, Red Lake, and White Earth – BSU also prioritizes increasing engagement with American Indian communities to become a destination university.

Enrolling more than 5,000 students, BSU offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and nine graduate degrees encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the Minnesota State system of colleges and universities and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. BSU’s Shared Fundamental Values include civic engagement and leadership, international and multicultural understanding, belief in the power of the liberal arts, and environmental stewardship. BSU is located amid the lakes and forests of northern Minnesota and occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji.  BSU balances rigorous academia with the opportunity to enjoy a fun, robust, outdoor culture.  The proximity to the lake and the surrounding north woods allows easy access to an assortment of recreation.

The Associate Director of Admissions provides leadership and support in the development and implementation of the undergraduate recruitment plan, oversees key recruitment strategies, and assists the Executive Director of Admissions in the administration of the Office of Admissions. The Associate Director of Admissions is responsible for targeted recruitment initiatives, developing, supervising, and training an admissions staff and coordinating recruitment travel and events. This individual will repeatedly be asking the questions of what else can we do, how could we do that better for the students we serve, and does that directly impact equitable enrollment strategy? The Associate Director of Admissions collaborates with the Assistant Director of Admissions-Marketing Specialist and CRM Analyst/Developer to manage communication planning and oversee client relationship management strategies across multiple platforms, including print, digital, and social media campaigns. The Associate Director of Admissions assists the Executive Director of Admissions in developing plans and initiatives to recruit a diverse student population. The Associate Director co-chairs the Admission Review Committee and develops and maintains relationships between both campus and external stakeholders with the Office of Admissions.

Responsibilities of the Associate Director of Admissions include:

• Providing direction and oversight for Admissions Recruitment Operations. (50%)
  • Contributes to the successful accomplishment of the University’s enrollment objectives by working with the Executive Director of Admissions to develop and implement a comprehensive student recruitment plan for undergraduate students which includes, but is not limited to, the following components: development of a diverse inquiry pool through the use of student search services, outreach (college fairs, high school and community college visits), high school and community college relations, use of the web and emerging technologies, campus visit programs, publications, intentional outreach and correspondence. The Associate Director works with the CRM Analyst/Developer, Institutional Research & Effectiveness and Information Technology Services to ensure necessary data is available to provide assessment and feedback.
  • Provides support to the recruitment and enrollment plan by coordinating fall and spring travel, including managing registrations and payments, communications for college day/night programs, professional admission organization memberships, campus-based (in collaboration with the Assistant Director of Admissions-Visit Programs) and regional events, and managing a school database for planning high school visits.
  • Co-chairs the Admissions Review Committee for students that do not meet automatic admission criteria while maintaining open lines of communication with school counselors and the public on issues related to policies and procedures for admission to BSU.
  • In collaboration with the Executive Director of Admissions, Assistant Director of Admissions-Marketing Specialist and CRM Analyst/Developer, contributes creatively to the development and implementation of a communication plan for targeted populations including print, digital, web and social media platforms via various recruitment tools, including the CRM.
  • Oversees recruitment territory management and yield activities by monitoring strategies and utilizing tools such as the University’s student information system and CRM, and other resources to research, compile data, and produce reports on progress toward meeting enrollment goals.
  • Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses, and attending training and/or courses required by the Executive Director of Admissions and/or Vice President of Enrollment Management.
• Overseeing and directing the scholarship award process. (20%)
  • Determine award criteria in collaboration with Executive Director of Admissions, the Office of Financial Aid and the University Foundation. The Associate Director is responsible for the review of scholarship award criteria and making suggestions for changes.
  • Responsible for awarding Foundation Scholarships assigned to the Office of Admissions aimed at first- year students.
  • The Associate Director will maintain the process to communicate scholarship decisions to recipients and other university personnel.
• Supervising recruitment staff. (20%)
  • Provides support for recruitment efforts by developing, supervising, training, and evaluating an admissions staff for continuous improvement.  This includes building bridges to multiple academic and success areas on campus to be knowledgeable as to link or create connections for our prospective students to specific humans on campus.
  • Facilitates a work environment that actively seeks and encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
• Other duties as assigned. (10%)

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Master’s degree plus three years of advanced professional experience in Admissions or Bachelor’s degree plus four years of advanced professional experience in Admissions.
• A proven track record for making data driven decisions to support achievement of enrollment goals is required.
• A working knowledge of database systems utilized by institutions of higher learning is required.
• Demonstrated ability in team building, proactive leadership, supervision, management, selection, performance evaluation, conflict resolution, problem solving, within the context of a college or university admissions office is required.
• Demonstrated experience working with students and/or colleagues from multicultural and diverse backgrounds, including underserved, underrepresented and marginalized populations.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Master’s degree.
• Experience utilizing innovative technology such as a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solution.
• Experience related to equitable and intentional recruitment of underrepresented student populations from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.
• A demonstrated commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism.

Apply online:    https://bemidjistate.peopleadmin.com/

A complete application will include the following attachments:

• Cover letter, which addresses the required qualifications and your specific interest in working at BSU. Resume / Curriculum Vitae.

Inquiries about the position:

Carola Thorson, Vice President for Enrollment Management

218-755-2063

Carola.thorson@bemidjistate.edu

If you have general questions about this posting or submitting an application, contact Melanie Pakonen at melanie.pakonen@bemidjistate.edu

UNIVERSITY / COMMUNITY

WHY BEMIDJI:

Bemidji State University is nestled among the pines along the shores of Lake Bemidji, just blocks from a thriving downtown community. In this Northwoods setting, students, staff, and faculty have a variety of activities at their fingertips. Possessing all the charm and character of a college town, Bemidji remains a tight-knit community of good neighbors and engaged citizens who always come out to cheer for the Beavers. While the city of Bemidji — named after the Ojibwe Chief Shaynowishkung (nicknamed Bemidji) — is home to a diverse population of more than 15,000 people, it serves a regional population of more than 100,000.

Though quaint and historic, the city offers the urban conveniences upon which college students rely. Bemidji State is conveniently located minutes away from affordable restaurants, cozy coffee shops, grocery stores, city parks and more. Small, locally owned shops and art sculptures line the streets of downtown Bemidji, while national chains can be found in and around the Bemidji area, including an uptown selection of department stores and restaurants. students at Bemidji State University have the opportunity to experience a dynamic local culture and history. Bemidji also sits at the center of the legends of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. The famous statues of Paul and Babe greet students as they drive in from the south along Lake Bemidji.

The thriving downtown community presents ample opportunities for engagement off-campus. Among other things, there are fine-dining restaurants, cafes, and a natural foods co-op in downtown Bemidji. The historic Paul Bunyan Playhouse has a calendar of classic shows; restaurants and lounges offer weekly live music performances; the First Friday Art Walk provides a tour of new monthly art exhibits; and annual events such as the Loop the Lake Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, the Blue Ox Marathon, Bemidji Winterfest, and The Minnesota Finlandia bring the community together.

For those who love the outdoors, there are wooded, multi-use trail systems within minutes of campus and community parks with walking trails, playgrounds and a skate park. Lake Bemidji State Park and its miles of navigable trails is located directly across the lake from BSU, and the Buena Vista Ski Area — just 12 miles north of campus — offers downhill skiing and BSU-sponsored student transportation in the winter months. Further, the Mississippi River Headwaters is a mere 45 minutes from Bemidji.

For further information, visit our website at: http://www.bemidjistate.edu

Review a "special report on how this former lumber town has rebuilt itself as a high-speed, regional center of enterprise" at Bemidji 2.0

Other Resources:

• Visit Bemidji – https://www.visitbemidji.com/
• 218 Relocate / Greater Bemidji – https://www.218relocate.com/
• Bemidji Area Chamber of Commerce – https://www.bemidji.org/ 
• Explore Minnesota – https://www.exploreminnesota.com/article/top-things-to-do-bemidji