Higher Education Careers from

Recruitment to Retention

Emily Burns . Lynette Mattson . Ashley Sunyog . Nicholas Tomaskovic . Betsy Van Buskirk

HiEd 490

Fall, 2015

Pennsylvania State University

Research Questions

1. How do different careers in higher education help in the enrollment

management/student success funnel?

2. What common themes will emerge among careers relating to

enrollment management/student retention fields?

3. How do professionals in higher education measure student success?

Recruitment to Retention

Common Professions in Enrollment Management

Admissions & Enrollment

Counselor, Assistant/Associate Director of Admissions, Director of Admissions, Chief

Admissions Officer, Dean of Admissions, Chief Enrollment Management Officer, Vice

President of Enrollment, Registrar

Student Affairs

Dean of Students, Dean of Retention, Dean of International Students, Student Life

Coordinator, Director of Academic Advising, Director of Residence Life, Residence Life

Coordinator

Career Competencies

Degree Requirements

•Entry Level- Bachelor’s Degree

•Mid-Level- Master’s Degree

•Upper-Level- Doctorate Degree

Experience

•Relative Experience

•Graduateships/ Internships

•Recommendations

Professional Competencies

• Exemplary communication skills

• Knowledge of higher education policies &

issues both legal and ethical

• Diverse knowledge of students

• Dedication to service excellence

• Critical thinking skills

• Organizational skills

• Proficient technology skills

Salary

Source: https://www.higheredjobs.com/salary/

POSITION SALARY(all institution type average)

ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR $37,558

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF STUDENT

ADMISSIONS$57, 691

CHIEF ADMISSIONS OFFICER $90,000

CHIEF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT OFFICER $140,000

CHIEF REGISTRAR/ RECORDS OFFICER $81,229

DEAN OF STUDENTS $95,442

ACADEMIC ADVISOR $42,880

CHIEF CAMPUS ACADEMIC ADVISOR

ADMINISTRATOR$71,004

CHIEF STUDENT AFFAIRS/LIFE OFFICER $137,484

STUDENT SERVICES COORDINATOR $34,580

RESIDENCE LIFE COORDINATOR $45,462

Benefits

Standard vs. Fringe: Type of institution, compensation package

Common Fringe Benefits: Health insurance, Retirement (Pension/ 403B), Life

insurance, Leave days, Educational benefits, Housing, Dental, Vision, Dependent

care

Negotiation/ Perks

Professional Organizations

• National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) • American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) • College and University Public Relations and Associated Professionals (CUPRAP) • American Marketing Association (AMA) • National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) • The Student Affairs Collective (SAC) • National Association of Student Personnel Administration (NASPA) • American College Personnel Administration (ACPA)

Our Findings

Commonalities in skills required for various position types

throughout the funnel:

•exemplary communication skills

(with various population types)

•problem-solving skills

•ability to work collaboratively with others

•multitasking and time management skills

•ability to be adaptable

•proactivity

•a passion for the work • intrinsically motivated “Success [in this field] comes from being intrinsically rather than

extrinsically motivated and is derived from an inner motivation…that comes

from working with students and seeing them be successful.” -Dr. Gary Lawler, Chancellor of Penn State Hazleton

Our Findings

Institutional adaptability • Mentorship

• Institutional literature

• Embracing and embodying the school’s

mission

Defining student success within the realm of the career

• Recruiting a student

• Advising a student

• Ensuring graduation

“You have to get a sense of the

institution. What is that institution’s

way of doing things, saying things,

presenting things? Once you master

that, you’re okay.” - Carolyn Buxton, Interim Dean of Students, The

College of Wooster

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https://www.higheredjobs.com/salary/

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