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Assistant Dean, Admissions

Employer
Swarthmore College
Location
Pennsylvania, United States
Salary
Salary Not Specified
Date posted
Dec 7, 2022


Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

The Swarthmore Office of Admissions is a mission-driven, close-knit team that manages a highly selective, holistic, and student-centered admissions process. Admissions deans seek out intellectually curious and enthusiastic learners from around the world who will contribute to building community and bridges across difference during their time at Swarthmore. The Admissions Office works particularly hard to reach underserved and traditionally underrepresented students by developing innovative outreach campaigns, forming relationships with counselors and advisors, K-12 and higher education, and work every day to break down barriers to attract the brightest, most accomplished, and most diverse class for Swarthmore College.

The opportunity:

Assistant Deans of Admissions at Swarthmore manage a domestic (and sometimes, international) territory, consisting of prospective students and their high schools, community-based organizations, independent college consultants, families and other advisors. Counselors recruit, admit, and enroll students, alongside other admissions professionals, by promoting the College at high school visits, college fairs, college access organization meetings, and on-campus and off-campus recruiting events. They travel on behalf of the College, recruit students virtually, plan yield events, and collaborate with faculty, staff, and current students at Swarthmore. They read student applications, make decisions in concert with other team members, and participate in the Admissions Committee as a voting member. Deans also contribute to a number of other initiatives, such as communications, tour guide management, data analysis, selection, recruitment, and access/diversity programming.

Essential Responsibilities

On-Campus and Online Recruitment
  • Interviews prospective applicants one-on-one in order to assess the student’s match for Swarthmore’s program and to answer specific questions.
  • Conducts hour-long group information sessions in order to provide an overview of the College and answer specific questions.
  • Conducts question-and-answer sessions with prospective students, family members, and counselors.
  • Participates in open houses and spring yield events, managing logistical and programmatic tasks as directed.
  • Attends online college fairs, group travel programs, and hosts special topic workshops.
Application Review
  • As part of a rotating team, reads, evaluates, and rates applications for admission submitted by prospective first-year students from a regional territory in order to assess the students’ match for Swarthmore’s program.
  • As part of a rotating team, reads, evaluates, and rates applications for admission submitted by prospective transfer students in order to assess the students’ match for Swarthmore’s program.
  • As part of a rotating team, reads, evaluates, and rates applications for Discover Swarthmore, the College’s prospective student fly-in program.
  • Gathers research and helps the training team support and guide admissions readers to read applications holistically and contextually.
  • Participates in the admissions committee discussions of applicants. May chair an admissions committee in a limited capacity and under the direction of a senior admissions leader.
Travel & Outreach
  • Takes primary responsibility in counseling prospective students and high school counselors from a regional territory of the U.S. or internationally in order to provide information about the College (e.g., how to apply to college; the selectivity and requirements of Swarthmore). Responds to questions submitted by phone, personal visit, and e-mail. Develops a strategy using quantitative and qualitative data to visit schools and college access organizations that meets the mission and values of Swarthmore.
  • Travels four to six weeks during the fall (physically and/or virtually), and additional travel in the spring and summer, to meet prospective students and high school counselors. Is fully responsible for gathering relevant recruitment materials, coordinating schedules for visiting high schools (four to five individual visits per day), meeting with college access organizations, and staffing a Swarthmore table at college fairs (some of which are held on evenings or weekends). Makes all travel arrangements with an assigned administrative assistant and ensures good stewardship of College resources.
  • Visits secondary schools, community-based organizations, and community colleges in order to promote college access and recruit students.
  • Conducts outreach programs or workshops for communities in regional territory that may have previously untapped sources of potential students in order to increase the geographic, economic, and cultural diversity of the Swarthmore student body.
  • Leverages Slate CRM to develop email campaigns to communicate with prospective students in an assigned territory, or who meet designated criteria. Drafting, designing, revising, editing, and deploying emails to target audiences is essential.
  • Advises website coordinator of necessary updates for project areas and helps to draft and confirm language for website and social media.
  • Updates and maintains electronic records of high school visits, college fairs, and other travel-related programs, including evaluation and assessment of such visits.
Project Management
  • Oversees intermediate level programs and projects within the office as assigned. Specific projects may be related to international admissions, technology support, college access and recruitment, alumni volunteers, selection, communications and social media/web presence, student workers, or other office needs. Responsibilities will include developing, organizing, implementing, leading, and assessing various programs and projects.
  • Coordinates independently and in conjunction and collaboration with other admissions deans virtual and on-campus visit experiences, including daily information sessions, college access organization group visits, campus tours, international group visits, and special presentations.
  • Assists in the management of large yield programs, both virtually and on-campus, including Swatlight and Swatstruck and panels, sessions, and student meetings. May manage specific projects and duties related to yield initiatives.
  • May supervise student workers, such as tour guides, bloggers, or clerical student worker staff.
Who you are:

The Assistant Dean needs to be a strong collaborator, communicator, and evaluator. The Assistant Dean will build relationships with key constituents, including high school students; work both independently on projects and on teams to fulfill the recruitment, selection, and enrollment mission of the College; manage junior level programs and projects as assigned; travel and manage a physical territory; and leverage technology to manage a high volume, highly selective admissions process.

In addition, the Assistant Dean must be:
  • Skilled in dealing with people, using tact and diplomacy, and the ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality. Strong customer service skills including articulating the value of higher education.
  • Effectively speak in public to small and large audiences.
  • Write clearly and persuasively.
  • Travel locally, out-of-state, and, if required, internationally.
What you bring:
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Two or more years of admissions, college counseling, or related experience
  • Public speaking experience
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and Google Suite
  • Work beyond standard business hours, including evenings and weekends, in order to complete projects or meet heavy demand.
  • Valid driver’s license
  • Must be able to operate a computer, answer the phone, and interview prospective students.
  • Must be able to move boxes weighing up to 50 pounds for travel or campus programs.
  • Must be able to operate a motor vehicle in order to meet travel expectations.
Preferred Qualifications:
    • Bachelor of Arts degree, preferably strong liberal arts
    • Graduate degree
    • Knowledge of Slate CRM
    • Strong technology background
    • Fluency in written and oral communication in a second language
    • Experience or interest working in international admissions
What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus. And you will join a team of passionate, creative, and supportive people who work hard and have fun supporting the College community.

If you are excited about this role, we want to hear from you!

Review the Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook , we offer benefit plans starting at $0 per month! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

Swarthmore Benefits Flyer

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

For full consideration, submit applications with pay expectations including resume and cover letter by January 3, 2023.

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.

Advertised: Dec 07 2022 Eastern Standard Time
Applications close:

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