JOB SUMMARY

Central Washington University is recruiting a Vice President, Student Engagement and Success to join our Student Engagement and Success team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We’re offering a salary, depending on experience, from $160,000 - $218,000 annually plus the awesome CWU benefits.

WHO WE ARE:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students’ Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.
Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You’ll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~10,000 students.
Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for the seventh time in eight years, CWU is a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. RentCafe has also named CWU #13 of the Top 20 Best College Towns in the U.S. in 2025.
Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.
Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjdhOegDa9A

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The VP SES must be a highly relational, transformational and data-informed individual who builds strong partnerships to increase student engagement and success based on best practices and current trends in the field. The incumbent must be a strong communicator, including especially being an active listener; be collaborative both within the division and across divisions; be transparent; lead with empathy, compassion, and care; be student-centered and understand student development; be trusting of employees and always act with integrity.

Education:

• Master’s degree in a related field.

Experience:

• At least eight years of progressive experience in student engagement and success;
• Successful oversight of initiatives to recruit and retain students and oversight of enrollment management to increase recruitment of new students;
• Proven experience in personnel management and development;
• Development of an integrated strategic enrollment and marketing plan;
• Successful experience with integrating student recruitment, retention, persistence, graduation and success;
• Development of programs to recruit and retain students;
• Data-informed decision making and strategic planning;
• Experience adapting recruitment and retention strategies to emerging marketing platforms;
• Experience with accreditation.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Knowledge and understanding of the effectiveness of customer relationship management (CRM) systems in supporting student recruitment and admissions;
• Vision, strategic thinking with a data-informed decision-making mindset;
• Positive, innovative outlook and communication style;
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation / communications skills;
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams and work effectively in an academic environment;
• An exceptional commitment to student and employee recruitment and retention.

OR

• Applicable combination of education and/or experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

• A doctoral degree in a related field.

Experience:

• At least ten years of progressive experience in student engagement and success, including a minimum of five years in a senior level position (Associate Vice President, Vice President);
• Demonstrated experience in building and implementing student success initiatives to increase recruitment and retention of new students;
• Record of transparent and efficient financial and budget management;
• Experience in student-centric admissions operations, including outstanding customer service;
• Experience in effective outreach, enrollment, and retention of non-traditional students.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to support change management: anticipate and/or respond to the changing regulatory, demographic and political imperatives;
• Knowledge of demographic forecasting, and admissions and financial aid regulations;
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across the university in long-range enrollment planning, financial management, communication, recruitment, marketing, and retention;
• Ability to ensure effective and efficient vendor service and evaluation.

COMPETENCIES

• Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines, and work schedules.
• Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives.
• Commitment to Belonging: Values the uniqueness of every individual and fosters an environment where everyone feels respected and empowered to thrive.
  Don’t meet every single requirement? At CWU, we’re committed to creating a welcoming and genuine workplace. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification, we still encourage you to apply. This could be the opportunity you’re looking for!

THE ROLE:

The Vice President for Student Engagement and Success (VP SES) provides leadership for the Division of Student Engagement and Success and is charged with developing, implementing, and fostering an integrated and seamless pipeline of students from recruitment and onboarding through retention, persistence, and graduation. The VP SES will partner closely with the EVP for Academic Affairs on integrating student success into all aspects of academic life, the SVP for Finance and Administration on stewardship and optimization of resources, and the VP for Advancement on transitioning students into a robust alumni network.
Responsibilities include oversight of admissions, financial aid, orientation, student life, student health and wellness, Associated Students of CWU, conduct, campus recreation, career services, veteran services, educational access, student success and other offices. Responsibilities include leadership development, budget oversight, hiring and evaluation.
The VP SES reports to the president and is a member of the university’s Executive Leadership Team, and President’s Budget Advisory Committee. The VP SES supports collaborative and constructive relationships with other departments, including those within Academic Affairs, Advancement, and Finance and Administration, including other offices such as Marketing and Communications. The VP SES serves as a committed and strategic advocate for the recruitment and retention of both students and employees by fostering a supportive workplace that promotes access and opportunity.
All employees are expected to uphold and contribute to CWU’s vision, mission, and values, fostering a culture of student success and institutional excellence. The VP SES directly impacts the vision, mission, and values of Central Washington University by creating and promoting an environment of access and opportunity where students, faculty, and staff feel supported. They engage their employees in meaningful work that fosters strong relationships, stewardship of resources, and the integration of perspectives.