The University of Puget Sound, a selective, residential national liberal arts college in the heart of the Pacific Northwest seeks a forward-thinking, results-oriented vice president for enrollment to provide inspiration and leadership in enrollment planning, student recruitment, admission, and financial aid. The vice president will be a key contributor in shaping and communicating consistent messages about the college as part of a coordinated institution-wide marketing and branding initiative. He or she will also work closely with the president and other members of Puget Sound’s senior staff to provide leadership for the institution as a whole. The vice president reports to the president and oversees a staff of 32 in admissions and student financial services. To see a detailed position profile, visit http://lahtisearch.com/openings/university-of-puget-sound [5].
The College: Over the past 30 years, the University of Puget Sound has deliberately refocused its mission as a national liberal arts college, becoming more selective in its admission process, and drawing an increasing number of students from out of state (about 80 percent). It is one of only five nationally ranked independent undergraduate liberal arts colleges in the Pacific Northwest, along with Whitman, Willamette, Lewis & Clark and Reed, and one of just five independent colleges in the Pacific Northwest granted a charter by Phi Beta Kappa. The college’s 2,600 students come from 50 states and 11 countries; they represent a wide variety of socioeconomic, ethnic and political backgrounds, and are passionate about academic inquiry, social justice, global citizenship, outdoor adventure, the arts, scientific research, athletics, and sustainable living. An 11-to-1 student-faculty ratio provides Puget Sound students with personal attention from faculty who have a strong commitment to teaching and offer 1,200 courses each year in more than 40 traditional and interdisciplinary fields, including graduate programs in occupational and physical therapy and in education. New programs added in the past five years include: global development studies; biochemistry; molecular and cellular biology; neuroscience; and Asian languages and cultures. Regarding athletics, Puget Sound offers more varsity sports (11 men’s and 12 women’s teams) than any other NCAA Division III school in the Northwest Conference.
The market value of Puget Sound’s endowment is approximately $250 million and a $125 million comprehensive campaign is currently underway. The college’s 97-acre Tudor-Gothic campus, named one of the nation’s most beautiful by The Princeton Review, has seen extensive changes with major renovations and new buildings added in recent years. For more information, visit www.pugetsound.edu [6], featuring links to Puget Sound’s core values statement, the strategic plan, the campus master plan, the diversity strategic plan, speeches by President Ron Thomas, student-written blogs, and more.
Tacoma, Washington: The college is located in a vibrant historic neighborhood adjacent to Tacoma’s urban center, which is just 32 miles south of Seattle. Tacoma is a diverse, international community of approximately 200,000 residents, the second largest city in the Puget Sound region and the third largest in the state. Tacoma has become known for its art and cultural scene and was recently named one of the nation’s Most Livable Communities. It is situated near the shores of Commencement Bay, with the Cascade Mountain Range to the east and the Olympic Mountains to the west. The pedestrian-friendly city offers vintage boutiques, independent bookstores, art museums (including works by world-famous glass artist Dale Chihuly, who attended Puget Sound), restaurants, and the ubiquitous coffee shops that define the region.
The Opportunity: The new Vice President for Enrollment will be following a long-serving vice president whose leadership resulted in, among other things, a dramatic increase in applications--from 4,700 to 7,200--over the past five years. The new Vice President will have a chance to build on that success by blending smart and energetic teams from admissions and student financial services with new ideas and perspectives. As an institution-wide leader, the Vice President will be expected to engage the college community in thoughtful and strategic discussion regarding enrollment issues, especially related to attracting an increasingly talented and diverse class while strategically deploying financial aid resources. Another significant aspect of this position will include working collaboratively with colleagues across campus in shaping the new brand strategy, which will coincide with the launch of Puget Sound’s 125th anniversary celebration in 2012-13.
Qualifications: Candidates for this position should have exceptional communication skills, innovative ideas, and a record of success in shaping the academic profile of entering classes. Experience in the areas of marketing, financial aid, and recruitment technology is expected, as is knowledge of today’s students. An advanced degree is preferred. The college seeks candidates with strong analytical skills, creativity, skill in team-building and mentoring, an appreciation for the liberal arts, and a commitment to diversity in all forms. The ideal candidate must also have the ability to become a strategic partner with a capable leadership team, establish strong relationships with internal and external constituencies, embrace and promote change, and appreciate an ambitious and inspiring environment with a living strategic plan.
To Apply: Lahti Search Consultants (www.lahtisearch.com [7]) is assisting the University of Puget Sound with this search. Resumes will be reviewed immediately and will continue until the position is filled. If you wish to have a confidential conversation about this opportunity, please contact Terry Lahti (terry@lahtisearch.com [8]) or Mary Napier (mary.napier@lahtisearch.com [9]).
Nominations, inquiries, and applications (including a resume and letter of interest) may be submitted, in confidence, to: pugetsound@lahtisearch.com [10].
The detailed position profile can be seen here: http://lahtisearch.com/openings/university-of-puget-sound [5].
Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. Please view the University Diversity Statement at http://www.pugetsound.edu/about/diversity-at-puget-sound/university-dive... [11]