ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT & STUDENT SUCCESS
The University of Wisconsin System, a premier system of public higher education, educates approximately 161,000 each year and employs 40,000 faculty and staff statewide. The UW System’s combined enrollment headcount exceeds 165,000, and the System confers more than 37,000 degrees each year. The UW System is comprised of 13 four-year universities with 13 two-year branch campuses affiliated with seven of the four-year institutions. Two of the universities (UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee) are doctoral degree-granting institutions and 11 are master’s degree-granting comprehensive institutions. The UW System is governed by a single Board of Regents comprised of 18 members. The UW System head is the President of the System. Together, these institutions are a tremendous academic, cultural, and economic resource for Wisconsin, the nation, and the world.
The Office of Enrollment & Student Success provides support to the Senior Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs, the President of the UW System, and UW System universities in the development of policies and practices that improve the recruitment, retention, and ultimate success for students in the UW System. Of particular importance are efforts to maximize the educational benefits of diversity; maintain inclusive, equitable, and safe institutional environments; and engage institutional enrollment management and student affairs units as vital resources in fostering student success. To achieve these objectives, the Office of Enrollment & Student Success is charged with assisting the Senior Vice President in providing strategic direction and priorities for the UW System that improve enrollment and student success.
Major Responsibilities
Reporting to the Senior Vice President for Academic & Student Affairs, this position is expected to play a vital role in supporting the development of effective strategies to improve the educational pipeline, including recruitment, retention, and completion, provide high quality experiences for UW System students in and out of the classroom, enhance engagement with Wisconsin communities, and build on operational excellence.
The Associate Vice President must foster and maintain an inclusive and effective workplace environment by placing a high value on successful engagement in team dynamics within the Office of Academic & Student Affairs, as well as respect for a broad spectrum of individual backgrounds and experiences. The Associate Vice President will also maintain and leverage contacts and strong partnerships with appropriate national and regional associations, organizations, and higher education policy development entities. The major responsibilities of this position are as follows:
- Provide executive leadership, support, and advocacy to the Office of Enrollment and Student Success, focused particularly on the following areas:
- Strategic Enrollment Management: Outreach and recruitment, dual enrollment and pathways, financial aid, seamless transfer, and residency determination.
- Student Success: Advising and career development, health and well-being, disability and accessibility services, and support for special populations including transfer students, former foster students, and veterans.
- Lead the development of a system culture that focuses on equitable access, inclusion and belonging, holistic student success, and data-informed policy and practices in service to enrollment, retention, and graduation goals.
- Work with UWSA and campus stakeholders to develop, implement, and track a strategic enrollment and student success plan to meet strategic goals for equitable access, retention, and graduation.
- Hold regular meetings for staff within the Office of Enrollment and Student Success to establish excellent communication, initiate and support group processes and facilitate goal-centered accountability.
- Work collaboratively with colleagues from across UW System Administration and serve as a member of the Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs’ leadership team, participating in planning, decision-making, and communication.
- Serve as a liaison to campus and community stakeholder groups including Senior Student Affairs Officers (SSAOs) and Senior Strategic Enrollment Officers (SSEOs).
- Ensure compliance with applicable policies and procedures related to strategic enrollment management and student success.
- Represent the UW System in local, statewide, and national organizations/events, as well as serve on committees/workgroups as appropriate.
- Recruit, train, and supervise professional staff necessary to carry out strategic enrollment and student success strategic initiatives.
- Develop and track annual budgets consistent with Systemwide, division, and office strategic plans.
- Assume accountability for overall budget management for assigned areas and work with budget managers to ensure fiscal responsibility.
- Evaluate direct reports regularly in coordination with the Vice President.
- Effectively manage disciplinary issues in coordination with Human Resources.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the UW System President and UW System Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs.
Minimum Qualifications
To be considered for this position, applicants must have:
- A Master’s degree.
- A minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience working in enrollment and/or student success in higher education.
- Knowledge of issues and national trends related to student recruitment, retention, transfer, and degree completion.
- A record of experience furthering higher education access and student success.
- Successful experiences working with students from underrepresented groups to improve higher education access and success.
Preferred Qualifications
- Doctoral degree.
- Five or more years of experience in a leadership position in enrollment and/or student affairs at an institution of higher education.
- Experience working in a multi-university system
- Demonstrated ability to analyze and interpret policies and data, lead strategic planning, and facilitate change
- An understanding of student needs at a variety of higher education institutions with diverse missions (doctoral, comprehensive, two-year, and online) such as those that comprise the UW System
- Outstanding communication and interpersonal skills
- Proven ability to partner well with colleagues both in and outside of the organization
- Demonstrated success in leading groups of diverse individuals to reach common solutions
- Flexibility and skill in managing during periods of change
- Sound judgment, discretion, tact, and the ability to collaborate easily with senior leaders within higher education, charitable, government, and business sectors.
Conditions of Employment
This position is a full-time, salaried (exempt) limited appointment. Well-qualified candidates can expect a starting annual salary within a range of $130,000 - $177,600 annual, commensurate with the candidate’s education, related experience, and qualifications. UW System employees receive an excellent benefit package. To learn more about the UWSA comprehensive benefit package, you can read our benefit summary guide: Summary - Faculty, Academic Staff & Limited Appointees. Furthermore, the UW System Health & Retirement Contributions Estimator is a tool designed to provide you with total compensation information.
Special Notes
The UW System is required to conduct a criminal background and sexual harassment check for final candidate(s) prior to employment. Please note that successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their eligibility to work in the United States (i.e. a citizen or national of the University States, a lawful permanent resident, a foreign national authorized to work in the United States without the need of employer sponsorship) on or before the effective date of appointment.
Application Instructions
To ensure full consideration, please submit application materials as soon as possible. Applicant screening will begin immediately and be ongoing through February 17, 2023. However, applications may be accepted until the position has been filled.
- Go to the UWSA Applicant Portal to submit your materials online.
- Select the appropriate applicant portal, either External Applicants or Internal Applicants.
- Locate the position you want to apply for and click on the position.
- Follow the onscreen instructions; be sure to upload ALL THREE of the required documents: resume, cover letter, and references as PDF files. Failing to include any of these documents may disqualify your application. Uploading your documents as PDFs is also critical to maintain the formatting of your documents.
- Your cover letter MUST specifically address how your education and experience relate to the position and qualifications. Be sure to emphasize the areas outlined under “Minimum Qualifications.”
- Your reference page should include the names, addresses, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers for three professional references with at least one being from your current supervisor.
- Include a statement of whether you wish to have your application held in confidence or made available to the public upon request. Please note that in the absence of any statement regarding confidentiality, we will assume you do not wish to have your application held in confidence. The UW System will not reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing, except that the identity of the successful candidate will be released. See Stat. sec. 19.36(7).
- Submit your application.
The University of Wisconsin System Administration is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and actively seeks and encourages applications from women, minorities, and person with disabilities.
Questions may be addressed to: Lori Fuller, Senior Human Resources Manager; UW System Human Resources; at lfuller@uwsa.edu or at (608) 263-0847.