Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Management

Massachusetts College of Art and Design

Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Management

Academic Career & Executive Search is pleased to assist Massachusetts College of Art and Design in its search for Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Management.

For full consideration, please apply by Friday, January 17, 2025.

This is a remarkable opportunity to lead in shaping the future during a vibrant period of growth and accomplishment at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt). The new Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Management (Vice President) joins MassArt at a time of robust enrollment, with a strong leadership team, a revitalized branding initiative as well as the introduction of a refreshed strategic plan. Under the guidance of an inspiring President, MassArt continues on its trajectory of transformative growth while remaining steadfast in its mission to cultivate artists, designers, educators, and makers from diverse backgrounds who shape communities, economies, and cultures for the common good. MassArt is the nation’s only independent public college of art and design with over 2,000 undergraduate, graduate and continuing education students.

Reporting directly to the President, the next Vice President assumes a critical role as a member of the President’s core leadership team. The successful candidate will be a highly accomplished visionary and innovative leader who will serve as MassArt’s chief advocate and strategist on matters related to students, student success and enrollment strategy. This position will lead efforts to build a campus culture focused on access and success for every student, regardless of where they come from and where they are going, and will be responsible for developing, leading, and supporting institutional initiatives in undergraduate and graduate programs.

The Vice President will be the prime driver in creating a culture of student success. With a student-centered approach, the Vice President will lead the division, integrating enrollment as an essential first step in student life/experience, as well as enhancing operational quality and effectiveness. The Vice President will also be responsible for fostering an atmosphere in which equity and inclusion for all prevail. The division facilitates student access to college services, contributes to student learning, and supports the holistic development of MassArt students.

This position reports to the President and will oversee all departments and units within Student Development and Enrollment Management, including Admissions, Housing and Residence Life, Counseling, Academic Resource Center, Student Engagement, Community Health and Well Being and Career Development. Supported by experienced senior leaders, including the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students and the Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Management, the Vice President will provide direct supervision of the Associate Vice President and Dean of Students and the Dean of Admissions and Enrollment Management as well as the Director of Student Engagement and the Associate Dean Academic Resources Center.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Provide strategic leadership and direction to the College in all facets of the institutional initiatives related to enrollment management, ensuring that all programs and initiatives are integrated and effective in advancing the overall mission, culture, values, and goals of the institution as featured in the Strategic Partnership Plan.
2. Create and maintain an atmosphere that promotes the cultural, social, and professional development of students while enhancing the academic environment.
3. Direct and oversee the establishment, development, and enhancement of departmental operations and services to internal and external constituencies.
4. Work collaboratively with key stakeholders campus-wide to develop, implement, and communicate a comprehensive strategic enrollment management and student engagement plan including associated initiatives and activities, policies and procedures, and standards and measures at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
5. Develop recruitment and admission initiatives responsive to the College’s aspirational values regarding educational excellence and access while reinforcing a campus culture in which students of diverse identities, abilities, cultural heritages, and lived experiences experience belonging while ensuring that all admissions operations are conducted in accordance with state and federal regulations and procedures.
6. Create public awareness of, and interest in, the College toward the goal of extending its positive image. Foster strong relationships with key institutions, individuals, community colleges, and stakeholders to enhance the College’s impact.
7. Oversee the collection and analytics of data and interpret statistical reports for use by the College, Department of Higher Education, and other educational agencies.
8. Establish and maintain a strong, effective partnership with Board members to foster a culture of collaboration and consultation. Prepare materials for the Board of Trustees.
9. Work to implement technology solutions and data driven approaches in higher education that positively impact enrollment and engagement in partnership with Information Technology.
10. Provide vision, leadership, and strategic direction for Student Success as well as promote initiatives that enable the delivery of effective and quality service to students.
11. Ensure that all policies and procedures that govern the division are up to date, reflect best and wise practices, are shared and understood by students, families, faculty and staff, are fairly enforced, and reviewed regularly.
12. Oversee the development and or advancement of a system for the administration of student conduct (with requisite standards) including the management of students living in residence hall facilities and in certain situations off-campus.
13. Oversee the planning and development of new student orientation programs, thereby facilitating students’ transitions as new members of the College’s vibrant community.
14. Oversee the continued development and implementation of the coordination of a records system for the division of student affairs, providing output to various campus constituents as needed.
15. Develop various print and digital materials and strategies to support Student Success and Enrollment Management in partnership with Marketing and Communication.
16. Collaborate with administrators across their respective areas to allocate resources thoughtfully, strategically, and transparently, with a laser focus on enhancing resources that support student success and enrollment initiatives.
17. Serve as a member of the Emergency Management Team.
18. Serve as an advisor, steward, and spokesperson for the President’s relevant initiatives.
19. Develop and implement policies and procedures related to student affairs, ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
20. Lead and develop efforts that demonstrably influence student engagement, retention, and success by partnering with campus constituents to cultivate a culture where students can learn, grow, and achieve goals.
21. Develop budget and oversee fiscal management and strategic planning to ensure effective and efficient use of resources and financial sustainability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Master’s degree.
2. Substantial and progressive higher education leadership in enrollment management with demonstrated success, and substantial oversight experience of student affairs and functions.
3. A demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion including demonstrable experience in supporting a diverse student population and fostering a multicultural environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

1. Related terminal degree.
2. Experience working within a state system of higher education.
3. Bilingual language proficiency.
4. Priority will be given to candidates who have ten years of successful experience and leadership in higher education administration including budgetary responsibilities, supervision and evaluation of personnel, strategic planning, enrollment management, student affairs programming development, and shared governance.
5. A thorough understanding of the complexities of higher education and associated regulatory agencies.
6. Demonstrated success in developing and implementing strong partnerships and educational delivery models within higher education.
7. Innovative application of current and emerging technologies in support of student recruitment, enrollment, engagement, and retention.
8. A proven record of enhancing the quality of life for students in and out of the classroom by working creatively and effectively with students.
9. Demonstrated ability to successfully apply theories of student development, student engagement, student success and career development.
10. Proven ability to develop strategic plans that enhance the revenue generation to the College.
11. A record of dynamic, collaborative, proactive, visionary and ethical leadership.
12. Excellent intercultural, communication, management, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

About the Institution

Founded in 1873, Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), is the nation’s first and only independent, free-standing public college of art and design. MassArt is an inclusive community of thinkers, doers, makers, educators, innovators, and leaders striving to shape the future through art and design. They’ve spent 150 years demonstrating the truly amazing things that happen when a world-class art and design education is an option for every deserving student. Located in Boston’s hub of arts and culture along the Avenue of the Arts, MassArt enrolls 1,700+ students and offers a comprehensive range of undergraduate and graduate degrees in 18 disciplines, as well as continuing education and youth programs.

MassArt prepares artists, designers, and educators from diverse backgrounds to shape communities, economies, and cultures for the common good. MassArt provides state-of-the-art facilities and studios housed in nine buildings along Huntington Avenue in the Fenway neighborhood of Boston, close to the Museum of Fine Arts and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The college offers twenty-two areas of concentration in fine arts, design and art education, and awards one undergraduate degree, the Bachelor of Fine Arts, and graduate degrees including the Master of Fine Arts, the Master of Art in Teaching, Master of Education, Master of Design Innovation, and the Master of Architecture. The college also offers certificate programs in Communication Design, Fashion Design, Furniture Design, and Interior Design.

The College is NECHE (New England Commission of Higher Education) accredited and a member of AICAD (Association of Independent College of Art and Design), as well as the Colleges of Fenway, a collaboration of five neighboring Boston-based colleges in the Fenway area representing more than 12,000 undergraduate students (16.2% of total Boston undergraduate population attending 4-year colleges, 700+ full time faculty, and 2300-course offerings), and the ProArts Consortium (six institutions of higher education dedicated to the visual and performing arts).

Living in the Area

With a population of nearly 700,000, Boston often feels like a small town with the perks of city life. It is a cosmopolitan city offering cultural diversity, a rich culinary and arts scene, and proximity to world-class schools, employers and health care. It is on the cutting edge of medicine and technology but traditional in its love of sports and the city’s deep history. With a modern, attractive, and completely walkable downtown, Boston is dotted with Revolutionary period historic sites along the Freedom Trail and preserved old streetscapes mixed in with modern commercial office buildings. The scenic Charles River offers endless opportunities for outdoor activities.

Arts and culture amenities in downtown Boston and the entire surrounding area are exceptional, and most, like the Boston Pops and the Museum of Fine Arts, are well known beyond the city limits.

The surrounding suburbs offer an excellent alternative to city living with access to a well-used commuter rail system. Each neighborhood has its own town center that is functional, accessible by the rail system, and filled with local businesses.

Education, at all levels, is outstanding in Boston and the surrounding areas. Public schools are nationally recognized and are a driver for people moving to the area. Additionally, the entire Boston Metro area is centrally located near everything Massachusetts and the Northeast has to offer – skiing in New Hampshire, beaches in Cape Cod, and trips to New York City are all only 2 to 3 hours away.

To Apply

For full consideration, please apply by Friday, January 17, 2025.

To be viewed by the search firm, you must apply directly at: https://acesrch.applicantstack.com/x/detail/a21esjy1ip04

Please apply through the application link and do not email applications.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received and should include a cover letter and curriculum vita. Ideally cover letters should not exceed two pages. All applications are treated confidentially.

The hiring range for this position is: $220,000-$230,000. Salary will be commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Inquiries, referrals, and nominations are also treated confidentially.

Inquiries and questions: Please send to MassArtVPSSEM@acesrch.com.

Nominations and referrals: Please send the nominee’s name, title, and contact information if available to nominations@acesrch.com.

Institution’s EEO Statement

MassArt provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, disability, military status, genetic information, pregnancy or a pregnancy-related condition, or membership in any other legally protected class. MassArt complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the college operates. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.

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