Director of Admissions

The University of Minnesota's College of Education and Human Development is searching for a Director of Admissions for the School of Social Work.

This 100% time, 12-month P&A  position develops and consults on admissions and student retention programs for the School of Social Work’s Master of Social Work (MSW), Youth Development Leadership (YDL), Youth Studies, and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs.

The incumbent in this position functions as a subject matter expert and will be responsible for the development of online programs and designing an innovative recruitment strategy targeted toward people from a variety of backgrounds, communities, and identities. The Director of Admissions is the front-line representative of the School to the outside community and to collaborating units within the University, including the University’s Graduate School and the College of Education and Human Development. The incumbent will help support and advance the College’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and its overall goal of becoming a top 20 School of Social Work.

The University of Minnesota encourages a healthy work life balance for employees. CEHD is committed to an excellent employee experience, offering a flexible work environment that meets the needs of students, staff, faculty, and the communities we serve. Flexible work arrangements may include flexibility in schedule and/or work location. Please note that 100% remote work requires approval. All UMN employees are expected to follow applicable public health and safety procedures.

Job Responsibilities:

Admissions Management (40%)

• Oversee the admissions process for MSW, YDL, YOST, and PhD graduate and undergraduate programs. Determine admission criteria for each program and develop an innovative recruitment plan. Develop admissions-related communications and marketing content to ensure effective communication with people from a variety of backgrounds, identities, and abilities. Identify opportunities for continuous improvement related to the admissions and recruitment process. Lead and execute appropriate changes. Chair the MSW Admissions Committee and Scholarship Committees. Assemble committee members and partner to determine recipients of departmental financial aid and admission decisions. Train application reviewers to successfully identify if prerequisites on applicant materials meet program requirements in order to ensure admissions decisions are based on the School’s selection criteria. Serve as point of escalation for questions on applications and admission decisions. Review transcripts of applicants applying for advanced standing in the MSW program and determine applicants who will be required to complete additional coursework. Enlist department staff to assist with various MSW, YDL and PhD program events, including new student orientation. Assign tasks, train, and oversee staff as required.

Recruitment (40%)

• Design a strategic recruitment plan to attract a diverse cohort in alignment with each program’s mission. Research student behavioral trends and use data to influence the recruiting plan accordingly. In consultation with school leadership, develop messaging for prospective students regarding student experiences, admissions requirements, program options, curriculum options and program expectations for graduation, and other pertinent information related to admissions and program completion Build brand awareness and the reputation of the School of Social Work and its education programs to prospective students and the wider community. Visit colleges, human service agencies, and other appropriate organizations and build effective relationships within these organizations. Oversee program nominations for professional diversity scholarships. Review applications to determine the award recipient. Communicate award approval and coordinating the award process. Attend graduate school fairs and human services conferences for recruitment purposes, organize recruitment events, and coordinate a faculty and staff presence at these events.

Data Management (20%)

• Work with the graduate school to build queries that meet the program’s needs for information during the admissions process. Coordinate with Graduate Admissions Office and other University units, as needed and as appropriate, in the management of vital admissions and prospective data systems.

Required Qualifications:

• BA/BS degree plus at least five years of relevant professional experience, or master's degree plus at least three years of relevant professional experience Demonstrated skills to work collaboratively with people at varying levels of an organization Ability to work effectively with people from a variety of communities, backgrounds, and identities, including those from historically marginalized communities.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Degree or course work in Human Services, Social Sciences or a related area. Experience working with students in a higher-education setting Previous work in admissions for an online graduate program or a professional-oriented degree program. Communication and marketing skills, using a wide array of communication tools to effectively reach diverse audiences. Demonstrated ability to independently organize, problem-solve, and follow through on multiple projects. Familiarity with information management, including building queries and reports from databases. Strong attention to detail and good time-management skills.

Department Overview

Founded in 1917 on Dakota homeland, the School of Social Work at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities is part of a public, research-intensive university and one of seven administrative units in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). The School offers several graduate and undergraduate educational programs including: a PhD in Social Work; a Master of Social Work; a Master of Education in Youth Development Leadership; a Bachelor of Science in Youth Studies, and undergraduate minors in Family Violence Prevention, Social Justice, and Youth Studies. Underlying all these multidisciplinary programs is a social justice value base and a commitment to the most vulnerable and marginalized populations in our society. The curricula of our educational programs, and faculty research and engagement, intentionally seek to emphasize and expand anti-racist perspectives, social, economic and racial justice, and decolonization. The School is the home to a variety of labs and centers that actively involve our students, staff, faculty, and community partners, e.g., the Youth Work Learning Lab, the Center for Advanced Studies in Child Welfare, the Center for Practice Transformation, and the Minnesota Child Welfare Training Academy, an innovative partnership with the Minnesota Department of Human Services that is funded by the state legislature to further develop equitable child welfare practices.

College Overview

The College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), the third largest college at the University, contributes to a just and sustainable future through engagement with the local and global communities to enhance human learning and development at all stages of the life span. We know diversity is necessary to do our best work and foster our humanity. That’s why the CEHD community is collectively dedicated to cultivating an inclusive and equitable environment, embracing and celebrating all identities of our students, staff, and faculty. These values are also a moral imperative requiring continuous proactive measures and a firm stance against prejudice, discrimination, and systemic injustice. https://www.cehd.umn.edu/

TO APPLY: visit https://hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/353872