"Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management"

Description

Governors State University invites qualified candidates to submit their credentials for consideration to fill the position of Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management (VPSAEM). The Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management (VPSAEM) is the senior administrator responsible for providing executive guidance, direction, and policy formation for the Student Affairs and Enrollment Management Division. Reporting to the President, the VPSAEM serves on the President's Cabinet and has the primary leadership role for student affairs and enrollment management. This includes evaluating and implementing a comprehensive strategic enrollment management plan that supports the overall institutional strategic goals and leads to integrated efforts at all academic levels. In addition to international outreach, this position has a direct responsibility for retention, persistence, and completion efforts. This individual oversees 16 departments and is staffed by approximately 125 professional employees, including strategic support of the Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management and the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs/Dean of Students. This position is also responsible for all aspects of the comprehensive student experience outside the classroom, supporting student academic success and engagement. Must work collaboratively with senior administrators, student leaders, faculty, and staff to create a campus environment that contributes positively to foster a student-centered campus culture that supports recruitment, retention, persistence, and graduation.

Essential Responsibilities

25% Strategic Leadership and Planning

• Manage Student Affairs, Enrollment Management, Enrollment Management Technology, Athletics and Fitness
• Develop and implement a comprehensive student affair and enrollment management strategy aligned with GovState's strategic plan and enrollment goals
• Provide leadership for student success initiatives, including retention, persistence, and completion strategies
• Develop and manage budgets for SAEM units, focusing on student success initiatives
• Serve as a key advisor to the President on student-related policies, trends, and emerging issues
• Foster partnerships with faculty, staff, alumni, and community organizations to enhance student engagement and career readiness
• Represent GovState at local, state, and national forums on student affairs and enrollment management
• Oversee the development of staff to ensure growth and performance: annual performance reviews, conferences, training, etc.

25% Enrollment Management

• Fully execute the completion and implementation of the 2027-2032 SEM Plan
  • Work with Institutional Research to develop a report on the Key Performance Indicator
• Oversee all aspects of enrollment management, including Recruitment, Undergraduate Admissions, Graduate Admissions, Financial Aid and Scholarships, Registrar's Office, International Services Office, Latinx Resource Center, and Enrollment Management Technology
• Develop and maintain external relationships, including, but not limited to, prospective students, parents, high school counselors and principals, community college Presidents, Vice Presidents, Deans, Directors, Advising Centers, community organizations, and corporate partnerships
• Collaborate with Academic Affairs to align course scheduling and academic programs with enrollment goals
• Build, lead, and motivate the appropriate teams to meet enrollment goals, including student headcount, credit hours and financial sustainability
• Utilize and manage predictive models, data, and metrics to measure and report enrollment forecasts and budget impact as well as annually assess the return-on-investment for student recruitment and retention initiatives
• Oversee the activity of enrollment management staff to create a culture of strong collaboration across divisions, especially with the Marketing and Communication, Academic Affairs and within the SAEM team

15% Student Affairs Oversight

• Provide a vibrant living and learning environment
• Oversee programs and services that enhance student experience, including the Dean of the Students Office, Counseling and Wellness Center, Student Engagement and Leadership, Housing and Auxiliary Services, Community Standards and Student Advocacy, Disability Services, Academic Resource Center
• Develop programs that support student leadership, retention, and success.
• Work collaboratively with campus partners to create a holistic student experience, addressing academic, social, and personal development.
• Serve as a key resource in managing student concerns, conflict resolution, and crisis response in collaboration with the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs.
• Work with Institutional Engagement and Excellence to support inclusion initiatives that foster a welcoming campus environment for all students.
• Continue to build and further strengthen relationships with faculty and staff in support of out-of-classroom experiences and learning
• Develop, implement, and maintain strategies that preserve the quality of a residential student experience; continue to address experiences for commuters with student engagement.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, local, and university regulations and policies

15% Athletics and Fitness Center

• Oversee compliance with all Federal, State and NAIA regulations
• Oversee all aspects of the University Fitness Center
• Create new athletic master plans for 2027-2032
• Provide a systematic evaluation process to assess staff performance, constant program improvement, student-athlete satisfaction and the coach's handbook (policy manual).
• Create and enforce athletic department policies, reviewing and updating a policy manual once per year in the coach's handbook.
• In concert with the S.I.D., assure accurate recordkeeping for athletes including: sport, years played, years lettered, records, NAIA, conference, district and regional awards
• Conduct a deep assessment regarding the role and employment of athletic scholarships, utilizing systems and strategies that work and appropriately reward without raising the tuition discount variables at GovState. Expectations regarding recruitment strategies, continuing scholarships and character enhancements need to be taken into consideration
• Examine the critical role of all athletes related to campus leadership initiatives, community service, summer sports camps, and campus pride development, while examining the role and policies governing outside funds and fundraising account development and deployment
• Develop and administer the entire athletic budget; develop recruiting budgets and equitable distribution to each program
• Coordinate equipment purchases with appropriate academic units for mutual enhancement of programs
• Develop new sources of revenue via camps, clinics and concession sales and create a solid relationship with conference services to enhance summer camp possibilities

15% Enrollment Management Technology

• Provide functional user support related to frontline support, reports, upgrades and efficiencies
• Lead the evaluation and deployment of SAEM tools and technologies:
  1. Colleague
  2. Slate
  3. Perceptive Content (imaging)
  4. Tableau
  5. Maxient
  6. Webi reports
• Oversee performance, utilization of technology, and ROI.
• Prepare and deliver reports and briefings to the GovState's Board of Trustees, President, President's Cabinet, and other campus leadership bodies on enrollment, retention, and division initiatives.
• Ensure that compliance, risk mitigation, and safety protocols are built-in divisional systems and student-facing processes.

5% Other duties as assigned

Required and Preferred Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

• Master's degree in Administration, Business, or related field.
• Executive-level leadership experience in higher education with responsibility for both enrollment management and student affairs functions.
• Demonstrated success in strategic enrollment planning, enrollment growth, and student success initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of student development, compliance regulations, and best practices in higher education.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.

Desired Education and Experience

• Experience in an Illinois public university setting serving non-traditional and first-generation student populations.
• Understanding of negotiated (union) positions and contract administration.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Problem-Solving/Analysis
• Customer/Client Focus
• Research/Analysis Technology
• Management/Supervision
• Professional Writing and Communication
• Task Management and Organization

Supplemental Information

Please attach the following to your application for consideration:

• Cover letter of interest
• CV or Resume
• Transcripts

Review of candidate materials will continue until this position is filled. For priority consideration complete applications should be submitted by January 4, 2026.