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Vice President for Enrollment Management

CCAD fosters a diverse community that educates students so they can unleash

their creative power to shape culture and commerce.

                                                                        ~CCAD Mission Statement

Columbus College of Art & Design (CCAD) is searching for a strategic and collaborative Vice President for Enrollment Management. Reporting to the President and serving on cabinet, the Vice President for Enrollment Management (VPEM) will lead a dedicated Admissions, Financial Aid, and Student Records team, as well as committed faculty and staff, in meeting CCAD’s overall strategic goals for quality enrollments for both the undergraduate and growing graduate programs. The new vice president will be responsible for enhancing admissions outreach and standards, verifying the effectiveness and integrity of all enrollment practices, measuring and improving retention and completion rates, and ultimately building CCAD’s programs toward capacity and selectivity while maintaining diversity.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The essential duties and responsibilities for the Vice President for Enrollment Management are as follows:


Strategic Enrollment Leadership

●  Share knowledge regarding changing demographics and the highly competitive higher education landscape, lead the campus community in understanding challenges and the impact to the community, and guide the campus community in building effective recruitment and engagement activities.

●  Provide overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of the admissions, financial aid, and student records staff; directly supervise director of admissions, director of admissions operations, and associate vice president for financial aid and student records; manage, train and cross train, support, and mentor all team members, providing professional development and coaching to support their growth and development.

●  Provide the leadership, expertise, and organizational skills required to the meet CCAD’s enrollment goals through the efficacy and reach of a multipronged strategy that includes: 1) Brand recognition and recruitment propensity in the region; 2) Measurable improvements to national awareness and recruitment from outside the region; 3) An international strategy that complements and adds to domestic enrollment; and, 4) Management of initiatives to increase student retention, satisfaction, and completion in partnership with the provost and associate vice president for student affairs.

●  Work to develop enrollment policies and practices that are innovative and consistent with strategic goals and also consider the following: best practice and trends in establishment and management of recruiting policies; enrollment standards that are unambiguous and sustainable; and retention initiatives that serve student need and academic integrity.

 

Outreach and Engagement

 

●  Develop the admissions strategy for recruitment events, such as information sessions, National Portfolio Days, other college fairs, and high school visits, participating as necessary with the possibility of occasional travel.

●  Represent the college at regional and national higher education conferences as appropriate.

●  Engage with internal and external key constituents such as faculty, high school teachers and counselors, summer program participants at the middle and high school level, and CCAD Student Affairs and Academic Affairs leadership on retention initiatives.

●  Seek out and establish new pipelines within the niche market of students interested in the visual arts and design for increased enrollment opportunities and greater name recognition.

●  Collaborate and communicate with college leadership to establish the efficient and coordinated participation of faculty, students, alumni, or other brand ambassadors in recruitment efforts as appropriate.

●  As a member of the President's Cabinet, play a leadership role in cross-college strategic conversations and work and participate in a variety of staff and Board meetings.

 

Financial Acumen

 

●  In partnership with the CFO and President, and with the direct assistance and recommendations from the Associate Vice President of Financial Aid and Student Records, as well as help from outside consultants as needed, develop financial aid policies, procedures, and targets, and work with senior leadership to ensure broad understanding and commitment to issues of net price, merit and need-based aid.

●  Develop and execute financial aid strategies intended to achieve enrollment goals while maximizing the college’s net revenues, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

●  Act as a sound financial manager, capable of managing the department’s budget effectively, and report regularly on the budgets for all recruitment and retention initiatives and detailed ROI on all enrollment campaigns.

 

Communications and Marketing

●  Serve as an excellent communicator in all modes, capable of clearly stating expectations, managing feedback and input, and able to act as the ultimate brand standard for CCAD.

●  Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications department to ensure enrollment’s brand identity and integrity across the institution.

●  Act as a curator who is able to bring people together and empower them to champion the institution by telling the same story from different perspectives.

●  Partner with the campus to ensure timely delivery of all annual print and digital materials and maximize social media and advertising channels to promote the institution in a compelling way that highlights its faculty, students, alumni, etc.

●  Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications department on the branding and messaging of the college website as the primary recruitment vehicle; partner on the creation and execution of the college’s new website in 2023.

 

Analytics and Reporting

●  Utilize data driven strategies to develop and implement a strategic recruitment plan that meets targeted enrollment goals and attracts a talented and diverse student body.

●  Analyze and use data to make decisions in line with CCAD’s strategic goals, and to review and report the effectiveness of those decisions in the following areas: annual enrollment campaign results; regular reporting on the enrollment funnel at all levels; and, regular updates and results of each cycle’s financial aid awarding strategy.

●  Foster a culture of best practices in recommending and utilizing new tools and technology that will improve operations and user experience; appropriately leveraging data through current tools such as PowerCampus, PowerFAIDS, and Slate; and transparently sharing information within the campus community.

 

QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, and CHARACTERISTICS

 

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in leading complex teams using excellent collaboration and communication skills and will have a strong knowledge of best practices and trends in today’s higher education marketplace with an ability to innovate and implement successful strategies within CCAD’s goals and resources.

 

The successful candidate should have a bachelor’s degree, with an advanced degree preferred, and at least ten years of experience in positions of progressively increasing responsibility. Furthermore, experience at a tuition-driven institution and demonstrated ability to work with a team, including other leaders will be preferred. In addition, the Vice President for Enrollment Management should have the following skills and characteristics:

●  Commitment to a diverse student body and a sincere commitment to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community.

●  Ability to inspire, motivate, and coordinate an enrollment team in executing a strategic enrollment plan and reach enrollment goals.

●  Excellent written and oral communication skills; exceptional organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and see projects through to a timely completion.

●  Ability to work responsibly, independently, and collaboratively in a creative environment.

●  An understanding of how to leverage systems and processes related to enrollment.

●  Commitment to the mission of CCAD, with a passion for working and serving students in an art and design community.

●  Experience and comfort with working with financial aid strategy, budget development, and analysis for new and continuing students.

●  Ability to interact effectively with a diverse community of internal and external constituencies demonstrating authenticity, charisma, and accountability.

●  Willingness to implement systems, processes and tactics which reflect best practices in a manner that complements and enhances the culture of CCAD.

 

ABOUT CCAD

Columbus College of Art & Design, founded in 1879 by five women, is one of the oldest and most prestigious art and design colleges in the United States. An independent, accredited, nonprofit college with more than 1,000 students across an array of bachelors and masters programs in visual art and design disciplines, CCAD graduates alumni like Cameron Granger, Mrinali Álvarez Astacio, Dan Scanlon, and Keturah Bobo. As a cultural and educational leader, the college has made a significant impact on the region. And, over time, it has developed a certain way of doing things—The CCAD Way—with an emphasis on Creative Collaboration, Intentional Inclusivity, and Proven Potential. At CCAD, work/life balance isn't just a concept, it is part of a healthy creativity initiative. CCAD is a place for people who think differently, people who refuse to stay within a box, stereotype, line, or any other boundary that restricts self-expression. The community at CCAD knows diversity moves art forward and makes our connected community even stronger.

Identified by its Art Sign which stands 100 feet tall, 101 feet wide, and weighs 24,000 pounds, CCAD is one of the nation's top private art institutions and has been educating elite talent for more than 140 years. The college offers a Master of Fine Arts as well as a Master of Professional Studies in addition to BFAs in: Advertising & Graphic Design, Animation, Comics & Narrative Practice, Fashion Design, Film & Video, Fine Arts, Game Art & Design, Illustration, Industrial Design, Interior Architecture and Design, and Photography. CCAD’s programs help students develop the real-world skills they need to thrive in today's creative economy.

A unique feature of the CCAD curriculum is a foundational program called CORE Studies—classes that ensure students graduate ready to face the world and succeed in their field. CORE provides a breadth of liberal arts requirements and robust interdisciplinary experiences in a broad array of digital applications, traditional and hybrid media, and experimental processes. Designed to complement students’ work within their area of specialization, CORE ensures interdisciplinary collaboration with students from other majors.

Since the inception of the College, CCAD has helped emerging artists and designers harness their talents and create work that will change their lives, and the world, for the better. Its students and alumni are enhancing the world around them, instigating big changes in culture and commerce, and using art and design for social good. CCAD’s approach prepares students for contemporary art and design practice and connects them with businesses and institutions in their fields through opportunities such as professional practice and entrepreneurship curriculum, internships and co-ops, and “real world” class projects sponsored by corporate and community partners.

At CCAD, students have access to tools and people who will help them realize their visions through state-of-the-art facilities and access to talented faculty with industry connections to start, but also an environment where they are supported holistically, with healthy practices at the core of their development. The campus community is small enough for students to build meaningful connections with other students, faculty, and staff outside of their major, but also large enough to attract a diverse student body from around the world.

 

Leadership

Dr. Melanie Corn is the fifth president of Columbus College of Art & Design. Since joining the college in 2016, Dr. Corn has made significant progress on the dual goals of building a national reputation for the college and strengthening CCAD’s role as a leading cultural institution in the region. With a focus on the importance of the creative economy, she has highlighted the critical role CCAD plays in the success of its graduates and the region as a whole. Currently implementing the college’s new strategic plan, The CCAD Way, Dr. Corn makes connecting with students and alumni a priority as well as building partnerships and strengthening relationships in the community. She is a member of the Columbus Partnership and serves on the boards of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design, CBUS Retail, and the Washington Gladden Social Justice Park. Dr. Corn was a 2017 and 2018 finalist for the CEO of the Year award from Columbus CEO and a 2018 recipient of the Progressive Woman award from Smart Business. In 2019 and 2021, she was named one of Columbus Business First’s Power 100: The City’s Most Influential Leaders. Prior to joining CCAD, Dr. Corn served as provost at California College of the Arts. She received degrees in art history from Stanford University and University of California Santa Barbara and a doctorate in higher education management from University of Pennsylvania. After working in art and design education for twenty years, Dr. Corn is a fervent believer in the power of creativity. She loves her job because, as she frequently says, “No one’s mom ever made them go to art school,” meaning, of course, that CCAD students are intentional, hardworking, and passionate about their education.

 

Vision

CCAD aspires to be a nationally recognized leader in art and design education. The work of the college and our alumni will amplify the necessity and importance of creative practices to our collective sense of cultural vibrancy and connectedness, to our economies and communities, and to social justice causes and civic engagement.

 

Strategic Plan

In March 2021 Columbus College of Art & Design launched a new Strategic Plan, The CCAD Way, which charts the course for the college’s future over the next six years. This is the second Strategic Plan launched by Dr. Melanie Corn, CCAD’s President. Included in the plan are eight key objectives, ranging from activating alumni and empowering students to reimagining the college’s campus, which is located in downtown Columbus’ Discovery District. Each of the objectives are supported by numerous strategies, and the college’s progress will be measured by ten key performance indicators. Development of the new Strategic Plan, which was designed by CCAD’s Student Agency, got its start in early 2020 with two student-led ideation sessions that included more than 100 faculty and staff members, students, alumni, trustees, and community partners. Planning was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic but resumed in the summer of 2020. The CCAD Board of Trustees approved the new Strategic Plan on Dec. 8, 2020.

 

DEI: Strategic Plan and Goals

Intentional inclusivity is at the heart of the CCAD experience. It drives what occurs in the classroom and in the community and makes for better artists and designers and, ultimately, better work. In July 2020, the Presidential Commission on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) was formed to help CCAD grow with intention into a more inclusive and equitable institution that fully enacts its Mission and Core Values (Accountability, Inspiration, Positivity, and Respect). CCAD acknowledges that systemic racism and inequality still exist within the college and makes an unwavering commitment towards becoming an educational community that respects and equitably supports students, faculty, staff, and individuals of all backgrounds. CCAD’s Presidential Commission on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion established a DEI Action Plan that will guide the work of addressing inequity and promoting intentionally inclusive communities and practices throughout the college.

For more information about CCAD, see https://www.ccad.edu/.

 

Location

CCAD is in the Discovery District of Downtown Columbus, Ohio, an incredibly vibrant place filled with arts, entertainment, and music amidst a backdrop of open streets, greenspaces, parks, and a dazzling riverfront promenade. In addition to its exceptional parks, boulevards, bikeways, and walking paths, there are plenty of places to eat and drink, things to experience, places to stay and year-round events to enjoy. From the lively bars and restaurants in the Short North to the charming, historic German Village to the many parks and gardens, to Columbus' professional and college sports teams – residents are never left looking for entertainment. The Gallery Hop, which takes place on the first Saturday of every month, is a great way to experience the artistic talent Columbus has to offer. The Short North area is also home to the North Market, a public market with vendors offering diverse local cuisine, fresh produce, gifts and more. In addition, numerous special events and festivals take place throughout the year. Columbus also features parks and museums, including the Center of Science and Industry, the Columbus Museum of Art, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, and the Scioto Mile riverfront park.

Columbus attracts a demographic that is friendly and welcoming. But beyond being friendly, Columbus is truly inclusive. Home to a large LGBTQ+ population with a strong history of activism, Columbus is known for its open-mindedness and welcoming nature. And with 109 languages spoken there, anyone can find a sense of belonging. People from around the world make the metro area their home, giving Columbus a multicultural flair. One of the best parts about Columbus is the relatively low cost of living compared with other large metro areas. Columbus offers a variety of neighborhoods and mini-regions where one might choose to live. The city really has it all, from the most rural suburbs to a growing downtown market for peak urban living. 

Ranked 59th in the U.S. News & World Report's 2020-21 Best Places to Live, Columbus is one of the fastest growing cities in America. As the state capital of Ohio, and a city with a diverse population of over two million people, Columbus is one of the nation’s most vibrant and sophisticated cities, with access to cultural activities, great restaurants, professional sports, shopping, and more.

For more information about Columbus, please visit https://www.experiencecolumbus.com/

 

TO APPLY

Napier Executive Search is assisting Columbus College of Art and Design to identify candidates for the position of Vice President for Enrollment Management. To arrange for a confidential conversation or to nominate a candidate for this position, contact Robin Reynders at robin.reynders@napiersearch.com or Laura Robinson at laura.robinson@napiersearch.com or Mary Napier at mary.napier@napiersearch.com. To apply, please send a resume and a detailed letter of interest, along with at least three professional references by email to CCAD@napiersearch.com. Resumes will be reviewed until the position is filled, but for assurance of best consideration, application materials should be submitted by June 21, 2022. All applications and nominations will be considered confidential.

EEO Statement: As an educational and cultural institution, a culture of equity and inclusion is not an add-on at CCAD, rather it is central to how we define creative excellence and the health of our institution. CCAD believes that a culturally diverse campus is integral to academic excellence, and our student, faculty, staff, and trustee bodies should reflect the diverse world in which we live, with attention to race, ethnicity, religious creed, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and ability. At CCAD, we are determined to foster an environment of inclusion and equity. CCAD is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from individuals who will contribute to its diversity.

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