Associate Dean of Admission and Director of Access

Job no: 492830

Work type: Staff Full Time - Full Year

Location: Lewiston, ME

Categories: Admission & Student Financial Services

Title: Associate Dean of Admission and Director of Access

Position Purpose:

The Associate Dean of Admission & Director of Access serves as a member of the Admission team to recruit and enroll an academically talented and diverse class of students. The position will provide the strategic vision for all recruitment and yield efforts that focus on providing equity and access to students of color, first-generation-to-college, low-income, LGBTQ+, rural, military veterans, and non-traditional students. The Director of Access will assist in developing and managing a comprehensive recruitment and communication plan to expand access and increase applications from targeted cohorts.

At Bates, we are guided by our mission to "engage the transformative power of our differences, cultivating intellectual discovery and informed civic action." There are many partners throughout the college working to advance the Bates mission by promoting and implementing programs that increase access, foster a pluralistic community, and promote equitable outcomes. This role would have the opportunity to meet regularly with this team of colleagues, convened by the Office of Equity and Inclusion, to share best practices and support one another in the work to advance equity and inclusion at Bates.

Job Duties:

Manage geographic territories as assigned; coordinate 4 to 6 weeks of travel per year; develop an annual plan and evaluate effectiveness of each activity; recommend improvements and changes in strategy as appropriate.
Represent Bates at high school visits, college fairs, and other off- and on-campus recruiting events.
Lead on-campus information sessions; counsel families through admission and financial aid process; engage with key constituents such as alumni, current students, and high school counselors.
Respond to concerns or inquiries from prospective students, parents, college/guidance counselors, coaches, alumni/ae, and other constituents.
Work in pairs or as part of a team to evaluate first-year and transfer applications.
Contribute to the overall positive morale of the office and work with colleagues within Admission and across the College for the overall benefit of Bates.
Senior Leadership Team (SLT): Serve on committee to advise the VP/Dean and Director of Admission on the general direction of the office; SLT is responsible for implementing decisions from the VP/Dean and Director as well as elevating issues as they arise while providing possible
solutions; able to troubleshoot and take action as needed in emergencies; SLT are principal judges of risk management because they have detailed knowledge of their teams and the office's capabilities; SLT sets the tone and leads by example.
Director of Access: Assist the office and the college in remaining true to its mission statement and its commitment to building a vibrant and inclusive community on campus by recruiting students with diverse backgrounds; provide the strategic vision for all recruitment and yield
efforts that focus on providing equity and access to students of color, first-generation-to-college, low-income, LGBTQ+, rural, military veterans, and non-traditional students; assist in developing and managing a comprehensive recruitment and communication strategy to expand access and increase applications from targeted cohorts; ensure that all members of the Admission team are engaged with office's access efforts; guide and support Admission Counselor in coordinating Prologue to Bates and yield fly-in programs; provide admission committee with data and updates on diversity efforts; act as liaison with access organizations such as the Coalition for Access and the American Talent Initiative; attend NECBAC and other professional development conferences related to equity and access.
Supervisor: provide staff with autonomy and empower them to own and manage their work, yet provide strategic guidance and be a thought partner as needed; foster culture and practice of managing and reporting up; coach and provide direct feedback; provide professional
development opportunities either in the office, on campus, or off campus; share pertinent information from leadership team meetings; meet weekly whenever possible; approve vacation and personal time requests as well as time sheets.
Events Team: Serve on committee that organizes and plans all on-campus eventsSummer Open Houses (2), Fall Open House, Prologue to Bates (fall fly-in program), Bates Beginnings for admitted students (particularly the fly-in portion), Maine Day/Junior Open House, and the
Colby-Bates-Bowdoin Counselor Tour.
Bates Beginnings Fly-In Program: Support the Admission Counselor who manages this program and assist in selecting a cohort of admitted students to bring to campus for the admitted student programs.
Coalition Application: Serve as the office liaison to the Coalition; attend Coalition conferences and/or participate in membership webinars or conference calls to stay abreast of any changes or new policies; think creatively and strategically about how to leverage the Coalition platform as a way to provide access and raise awareness about the college admission process.
Community Based Organization Relations: Help the team in developing relationships with CBOs; assist Operations team in updating CBO contact info in Slate; identify CBOs in each territory for deans and counselors to visit during fall travel season; review official partnerships with CBOs annually.
Veterans Recruitment: Develop strategic recruitment, selection, and yield plans for veteran students; serve as the liaison to Service2School; explore more partnership with other organizations that support veterans.
Rural Recruitment: Develop strategic recruitment, selection, and yield plans for students from rural areas; explore partnerships with organizations that support rural students.
Other duties as assigned by Director of Admission and/or Dean of Admission and Financial Aid.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education

Bachelor's Degree required
Valid driver's license required.

Experience

At least 5-7 years of experience in admission or in a student/customer service, academic, and/or non-profit setting are preferred but not required.
Familiarity with the academic environment and higher education, preferably the liberal arts.
Given the increasingly diverse pool of prospective students, the ability to communicate in other languages is preferred but not required.

Skills and Knowledge

Commitment to equity and inclusion, and serving the needs of a culturally and educationally diverse community.
Excellent communication (written, verbal, and presentation) skills. Experience in digital/video media is a plus, but not required.
Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
Ability to work independently and handle multiple priorities with minimal supervision.
Impeccable organizational (time, task, project management) skills and ability to coordinate resources and staff within the college community.
Strong interpersonal skills (a sense of humor is a plus) with ability to develop and maintain
collegial relationships. Must approach work with collaboration and nimbleness.
Genuine curiosity about the world, particularly higher education and issues of access, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Proficiency in basic computer applications (e.g., Google Suite, Microsoft Office).
Basic data management system and/or CRM proficiency (e.g. Slate) is preferred, but not required.
Willingness and ability to learn additional technology applications and systems as needed.
Ability and willingness to travel (by air, bus, car, or train) domestically for four to six weeks, concentrated in the fall and spring.
Ability and willingness to work weekends, evenings and other non-traditional schedules.
Personal commitment to excellence and the mission of a selective liberal arts college.

Benefits:

Bates College offers competitive salaries, excellent benefits (health, dental, sick leave, 24 days of vacation, 2 personal days, 13 paid holidays, dependent care subsidy, free parking, access to library and athletic facilities & more), and a supportive, collegial environment in a drug and smoke-free workplace.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Bates College is committed to the principle of equal opportunity and providing an educational and work environment free from discrimination. The college prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status and other legally protected statuses in the recruitment and admission of its students, in the administration of its education policies and programs, or in the recruitment of its faculty and staff. Bates College adheres to all applicable state and federal equal opportunity laws and regulations. All college faculty, staff, students, contractors, visitors, and volunteers are responsible for understanding and complying with the Non-Discrimination Policy.

Inquiries concerning the college's policies, compliance with applicable laws, statutes, and regulations (such as Title VII, Title IX, and ADA/Section 504), and complaints may be directed to Gwen Lexow, Title IX Officer, 207-786-6445 or via email at glexow@bates.edu.

About Bates:

Bates is internationally recognized as a leading liberal arts college, attracting 2,000 students from across the U.S. and around the world.

Since 1855, Bates has been dedicated to educating the whole person through creative and rigorous scholarship in a collaborative residential community. Committed to opportunity and excellence, Bates has always admitted students without regard to gender, race, religion, or national origin.

Cultivating intellectual discovery and informed civic action, Bates prepares leaders sustained by a love of learning and zeal for responsible stewardship of the wider world. Bates engages the forces - intellectual trends, demographic changes, and technology - that are transforming higher education and the world into which our students graduate.

Bates has highly competitive admissions, graduates over 90 percent of its entering students, and more than half of its alumni earn graduate degrees. Bates employs 200 faculty members and 550 staff.

The college is proud of deep roots in the Lewiston/Auburn community, Maine's second-largest urban area with a population of approximately 65,000. Bates is located on a beautiful, 133-acre, traditional New England campus in Lewiston, an emerging city with an entrepreneurial climate, a lively arts scene, and a dynamic business community. Bates is 35 miles north of Portland, 140 miles north of Boston, and 350 miles north of New York City.

Advertised: Apr 02 2024 Eastern Daylight Time

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