Purdue University Northwest (PNW) invites applications and nominations for the Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs position. As the chief enrollment and student affairs officer, the vice chancellor provides leadership, vision and coordination for a comprehensive enrollment and student support strategy that is consistent with the goals, mission, and resources of Purdue University Northwest.
The Position
Reporting to the chancellor, the vice chancellor advises the chancellor and university leadership on matters pertaining to the attraction, retention, and student success within the university’s enrollment. The vice chancellor is responsible for meeting comprehensive enrollment goals and maintaining a favorable student experience.
The vice chancellor has 130- full-time staff across a broad range of offices and programs, including: admissions (new student orientation and testing services), financial aid and scholarships, reporting and operational intelligence, welcome centers, the registrar’s office, housing and residential education.
Student affairs responsibilities are important within the vice chancellor’s portfolio. They include the office of the dean of students, student support & advocacy and student conduct, student life and activities, student organization & leadership development, student government, counseling center, disabilities center, TRIO/EOP programs (which include the Ronald E. McNair Baccalaureate Program, Student Support Services, Upward Bound, Educational Talent Search, College Bound, and 21st Century Scholars Program), and the office of veterans services.
The vice chancellor ensures divisional compliance with institutional mission, vision, and values; utilizes ongoing assessment plans and data to create, enhance, and modify strategies, initiatives and programming to meet enrollment goals and to fit the needs of the student body; engages in a strategic planning process that supports an environment of leadership, teamwork, and professional responsibility; maintains effective lines of communication within the division and externally; and serves as a strong advocate for the needs of students.
In recent years, the EMSA division has been engaged in a number of important improvements, including the development of a new counseling center and the implementation of the CRM, Slate. PNW’s new website will go live in February 2020. First-time freshman enrollment at PNW for Fall 2019 is up 4 percent compared to Fall 2018 and has increased steadily over the past three years. PNW’s Westville Campus saw a 17 percent increase in new student enrollment. The Class of 2023 consists of 98 percent full-time students, the highest percentage of the last six years.
Nearly 11 percent of first-time students attending classes on campus are non-residents, a jump of 17 percent from last year. The increase is due largely to a reduced tuition rate for new domestic, out-of-state students.
PNW also attracts a diverse student population from a broader geographic area. Hispanic students represent 24 percent of this year’s first-time, full-time students. The freshman class as a whole is comprised of 41 percent minority and international students.
Purdue University Northwest
Purdue Northwest is an academically autonomous, student-centered university located in northwest Indiana, just southeast of Chicago. As a regional comprehensive university within the Purdue University system, PNW fosters a vibrant academic community for its more than 10,000 students through high quality and engaging undergraduate and graduate education. Offering nearly 70 academic programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels, PNW’s colleges, schools and centers are distinguished through prestigious accreditations, national recognitions and competitive rankings. The university is widely respected for its faculty’s dedication to student success through experiential learning and collaborative research across its two culturally diverse campuses in Hammond and Westville, Indiana. PNW offers 13 varsity athletic teams and competes in NCAA Division II athletics.
PNW was formed by the unification of the former Purdue Calumet and Purdue North Central in 2016. Academic programs are offered within five colleges, plus an Honors College, with operations on two campuses located 35 miles apart in Hammond and Westville. The university is nearing the completion of a five-year strategic plan. PNW is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
The university’s mission – in the land grant tradition of learning, discovery, and engagement – is to provide high quality undergraduate and graduate education to students of Northwest Indiana and beyond. PNW seeks to create a welcoming environment that promotes critical inquiry through experiential learning, faculty scholarship, civic engagement, and community partnerships.
US News & World Report ranks PNW 52nd nationally among the Best Engineering Programs, of engineering schools whose highest degree is a bachelor’s or master’s degree. PNW’s undergraduate business program has also been rated as one of the top programs among those accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB).
Leadership
As Chancellor of Purdue University Northwest, Thomas L. Keon’s leadership centers on positioning the university as a key player in Northwest Indiana’s economic development, educational advancement, environmental sustainability and cultural enhancement. An accountant by training and a supporter of civic engagement and the arts by design, Dr. Keon seeks to equip students with the training for successful careers as well as a deep appreciation for the responsibilities of citizenship.
Dr. Keon became Chancellor of Purdue University Northwest on July 1, 2016 after the unification of Purdue University Calumet and Purdue University North Central was finalized. Dr. Keon had served as Chancellor of Purdue Calumet since 2011. Prior to coming to Purdue Calumet, Dr. Keon spent 14 years as Dean of the College of Business Administration at the University of Central Florida (1997-2011) where he was responsible for all personnel, including 150 full-time faculty members, budgets up to $31 million, 9,100 students, and academic programs at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels at a university of more than 55,000 students.
In the coming years, Dr. Keon’s priorities include establishing Purdue Northwest as a leading metropolitan university, expanding academic programs into fields that include health and other biological sciences, enhancing PNW’s growing athletic department, and fully engaging the university’s resources in the economic development of northwest Indiana. Dr. Keon is deeply committed to PNW’s global engagement, foreign student population, and the university’s international partnerships and affiliations.
Qualifications
A Master’s degree is required; doctoral degree preferred.
Demonstrated experience creating, implementing, and assessing strategies to recruit, enroll, retain, engage and develop students.
A demonstrated track record of success and expertise in enrollment management.
Experience in student affairs and evidence of a student-centered approach to decision making.
The ability to lead a large and diverse team within the division and effectively manage University resources.
The ability to use data appropriately to inform decision-making and strategy.
Knowledge of best practices in enrollment management and in student affairs.
An understanding of the changing landscape of higher education and the ability to shape a vision for how PNW can continue to positively impact the students and community it serves.
Demonstrated experience in using technology to implement best practices in enrollment management and to improve student retention, engagement and success.
Experience with change management as related to continuously improving business processes.
Excellent written and verbal communications skills, strong data and technology skills, integrity, ability to motivate staff and to foster collaboration across diverse groups of constituents.
Excellent interpersonal, management, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
A high degree of understanding of the complex facets of enrollment, including recruitment, strategic awarding of financial aid and merit based scholarships, student and family communication strategies, retention and course and academic planning.
Demonstrated commitment to understanding and embracing Purdue Northwest University’s mission and commitment to supporting success for underrepresented students.
The ideal candidate will also have experience working at a complex, public university, be forward thinking, and able to anticipate and effectively respond to all matters that influence enrollment management, retention and student success.
Application and Nomination
Review of candidates will begin January 6, 2020 and continue until the position is filled. Priority consideration will be given to those who apply early. Interested candidates should apply for this position online via the Williams & Company website at: www.williamscompany.net. Requested application materials include a letter of interest and a current resume. Confidential inquiries and/or nominations may be directed to Martha H. Smiles at: Martha@williamscompany.net or (802) 497-0151.
To learn more about Purdue University Northwest, please visit: www.pnw.edu
Purdue University Northwest is an EEO/AA employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.