SS Pro 4-Admissions - Military Veterans

Position Overview

The NXT GEN Teach Apprenticeship program seeks to address long-standing state needs, position the University of Minnesota as a ready partner for school districts statewide seeking to access state funding for teacher preparation, and create new tuition generating pathways, all while creating a model that may be applied to other areas of teacher licensure in the future.

The recruiter is responsible for working collaboratively with district partners, the Design Committee, the Advisory Committee, ED and UMN Campuses system wide (Duluth, Crookston, Morris and Twin Cities) to implement recruitment strategies to increase diversity of candidates wanting to become teachers at our partner districts. The recruiter will work hand-in-hand with the Advisor and Navigator to support each partnering campus (Duluth, Morris, and Twin Cities) in this work.

The recruiter will be responsible for supporting candidates in the application and admissions phase, as well as connecting them with the program advisor to ensure they are clear about program expectations, credits needed, and all the requirements to be a successful apprentice. The recruiter will also be in charge of following, documenting, and communicating all grant and scholarship opportunities that may support the success of candidates. This position actively supports and advances the University's commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion

The recruiter is responsible for all aspects of the admissions process for the apprentices with the goal of increasing enrollment in the special education department. They will provide strategic leadership for departmental admissions processes and ensure a streamlined, structured, and efficient system is in place. They will analyze current admissions policies and implement new policies to enhance accessibility and reduce barriers for applicants. They will manage and coordinate strategic planning for new student recruitment, including developing a multi-year recruitment cycle and student communications plans. They will create and manage an internal data system for special education admissions.

The salary range for this position is $60,000 - $70,000 annually. Final salary offers are dependent on the candidate's experience, skills, and internal equity within the department.

The University of Minnesota encourages a healthy work life balance for employees. CEHD is committed to an excellent employee experience, offering a flexible work environment that meets the needs of students, staff, faculty, and the communities we serve. This position is hybrid, with travel to UMNTC, UMD, UMR, UMC, and UMM required 25% time.

Job Responsibilities

Strategic Recruitment (30%)

• Design a strategic recruitment plan NXT GEN Teach to attract a diverse cohort in alignment with each program's mission. Research student behavioral trends and use data to influence the recruiting plan accordingly. Implement and analyze current recruitment strategies to determine their effectiveness and identify areas for improvement based on data.
• Develop a multi-faceted recruitment approach by leveraging non-traditional strategies and implementing direct admissions pipelines to drive enrollment into Special Education programs.
• Collaborate with education departments across the UMN systems to establish program partnerships to recruit candidates early in their professional careers and ensure a seamless transition into NXT GEN Teach programs.
• Develop comprehensive communications plans tailored to resonate with diverse demographics of our partnering districts including undergraduate students, working professionals, international students, and more.
• Collaborate with the strategic marketing and communications team, Director of NXT GEN Teach, and program leads to ensure alignment and effectiveness of recruitment efforts. Develop messaging for prospective students regarding student experiences, admissions requirements, program options, curriculum options and program expectations for graduation, and other pertinent information related to admissions and program completion.
• Build brand awareness and the reputation of CEHD and its education programs to prospective students and the wider community. Visit colleges, human service agencies, and other appropriate organizations and build effective relationships within these organizations. Coordinate NXT GEN Teach participation in recruitment events and organize and implement recruitment events as needed.

Admissions Strategy (30%)

• Work with system campuses to establish and implement an admissions strategy to align with organizational goals and higher education best practices. Collect and analyze data to increase efficiency and drive admissions strategy.
• Develop and coordinate the departmental admissions process for all NXT GEN Teach candidates ensuring consistency and efficiency. Create materials and steps to streamline the admissions process, facilitating the timely review of applications.
• Develop a scholarship review process for NXT GEN Teach candidates and determine best practices for awarding scholarships to incoming students.
• Oversee the review of applications and make final decisions on applicants in consultation with the Director of NXT GEN Teach.
• Develop a transition process for incoming transfer students to ensure a smooth transition from prospective to current student.

Educational Funding Specialist (25%)

• Stay abreast of all funding opportunities; grants, scholarships, financial aid, etc. that are available to those seeking special education teaching licensure. Investigate potential tuition supports via state, district and national funding opportunities.
• Work with partnering districts to educate and advocate current and future funding opportunities.
• Educate, advertise and support potential candidates in attaining funding opportunities that will directly impact tuition costs prior during and after programming.
• Work with each candidate individually to create an individualized plan to attain a reduced tuition plan during program enrollment. Meet regularly with potential candidates to clarify their funding package.
• Track data on candidates financial experiences to interrupt barriers and celebrate successes with the goal of improving the entire experience for all program participants.

Admissions Data Management (10%)

• Develop and manage an internal admissions data system for NXT GEN Teach, ensuring accurate tracking of all applicants across programs and collecting relevant data. Utilize collected data to create a comprehensive data dashboard for visibility within NXT GEN Teach, providing real-time insights into recruitment, admissions trends, and the incoming classes.
• Maintain the internal data system to build out multiple years of data specific to departmental operations, enabling long-term planning and strategic decision-making within NXT GEN Teach.
• Generate reports on admissions data to share with leadership and CEHD leadership, facilitating informed decision-making.
• Present on admissions data to various stakeholders, including departmental leadership, program fellows, faculty, staff, NXT GEN Teach advisory board, and other relevant parties

Admissions Policy and Implementation (5%)

• Lead admissions policy review, creation, and implementation. Analyze current admissions policies and make determinations on whether they introduce barriers to potential applicants.
• Create and propose new admissions policies with diversity and inclusion in mind to make our programs more accessible.
• Coordinate any policy changes that need to be made by ensuring stakeholders are updated as well as relevant materials such as marketing materials and TLI website.

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS degree plus five (5) years of relevant professional experience, or a Master's degree with three (3) years of related professional experience
• Previous experience working in student services, admissions, or educational programs
• Demonstrated commitment to advocating for an inclusive environment for all backgrounds and identities

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree or course work in Special Education or a related area
• Ability to develop and deliver recruitment efforts in ways that effectively account for a variety of diverse backgrounds, communities, identities, and abilities
• Experience working with students in a higher-education setting
• Communication and marketing skills, using a wide array of communication tools to effectively reach diverse audiences
• Demonstrated ability to independently organize, problem-solve, and follow through on multiple projects
• Familiarity with information management, including building queries and reports from databases
• Strong attention to detail and good time-management skills