Vice President of Enrollment Management & Student Success

California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt) seeks an outstanding

and talented professional to serve the institution as Vice President of Enrollment

Management & Student Success.

Cal Poly Humboldt is experiencing a period of significant change and transformation with the

recent designation as the third polytechnic institution within the California State University

(CSU) system, the nation's largest four-year public university with twenty-three campuses

across California. This transformation enhances the need for student-centered collaboration

and creative promotion of new and revised programs, with the expectation that these

efforts will enhance the student experience, improve student engagement and increase

student success, and as a result, the position will have a significant impact on enrollment,

retention, and graduation rates.

The Cal Poly Humboldt campus population is very diverse, including a broad range of

identities, which this position is committed to serving by continuing to weave the campus

values of equity, diversity & inclusion across the division. Experience leading efforts to

support and develop diversity initiatives, including recruitment and development of

professional staff, is important to succeed in this position. The Vice President must

demonstrate a commitment to diverse student populations, experiences, and values. An

understanding and respect for the indigenous land on which the campus is located is

important as is the ability to partner and collaborate with the thirteen Tribal Nations

headquartered in the area.

The Vice President directly leads all aspects of Enrollment Management and Student

Success, and is charged to organize and assess the Enrollment Management Division. This

position also supervises strategic communications activities pertaining to Enrollment

Management, and is critical to the University as the leader charged with recruiting talented

students to the institution and facilitating efforts to ensure the highest quality student

experience to sustain high levels of student satisfaction, retention, and graduation. The Vice

President for Enrollment Management & Student Success reports to the President of the

University and is expected to work closely with the Provost and the Academic Affairs

Division to enrich the student learning experience both in and outside the classroom.

Collaborative efforts with the Provost, Academic Deans, and faculty are essential to ensure

effective planning results in the University’s enrollment goals being met across all academic

areas of study. The successful candidate for this position will collaborate with colleagues on

campus to reframe the vision and future of the University, including partnering with

University Advancement in community outreach and involvement efforts that facilitate

support for the university and the students we serve.

Cal Poly Humboldt is experiencing increased interest and enrollment growth due to the

recent conversion from a regional university to designation within the California State

University system as the third polytechnic institution in the CSU. The State of California has

invested over $450 million into this campus transformation. As a result, twelve new

academic programs and certificates have been developed and approved; with additional new

programs anticipated in the next few years. Investments will fund new programs, faculty,

and facilities, confirming that the Cal Poly Humboldt campus will experience unprecedented

growth in the scope of programs offered and the number of students served. While the

institution now defines itself as a polytechnic institution, the full scope of academic

programs in natural sciences, liberal arts, social sciences, humanities, arts, education, and

business will be sustained and developed. The opportunity to serve the University in this

time of expected growth and transformation provides a professionally attractive opportunity

for a higher education enrollment management expert, especially given an early and

immediate increase in both admissions applications and commitments to enroll following the

announcement earlier this year of our transformation into a polytechnic university.

The successful candidate must demonstrate experience working with diverse student,

faculty, and administrative populations with the ability to foster collegiality and

collaboration. Evidence of strong organizational, analytical, and reporting/writing skills with

a personal work ethic of accountability are imperative. The ability to engage, motivate, and

innovatively lead others to develop and implement programs to attract and serve a diverse

student community is essential.

All applications, nominations and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate

documents, a CV or resume and a letter of interest addressing the themes in this profile.

WittKieffer is assisting Cal Poly Humboldt in this search. The review of applications has begun and

will remain open until an appointment is made.

Application materials should be submitted using WittKieffer’s candidate portal.

Nominations and inquiries can be directed to:

Shelley Arakawa, J.D. and Patricia Coleman

CalPolyHumboldtVPEMSS@wittkieffer.com

Cal Poly Humboldt is a Title IX/Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without

regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic

information, medical condition, disability, marital status, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected status. Mandated

Reporting: This position may be considered a “mandated reporter” under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is

required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.