Community Outreach Coordinator for Enrollment Management and Admissions

This role is pivotal in enhancing our community engagement efforts, building strong relationships with local organizations, and driving enrollment through strategic outreach initiatives. The candidate will have a background in philanthropy, a passion for community engagement, and the ability to effectively integrate these skills to make a significant impact on the university’s enrollment goals by fostering connections within the community and showcasing the value of a WMU education.

• Community Outreach:
• Develop and Implement Outreach Plan: Create and execute a comprehensive community-based outreach plan targeting key regions including Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Battle Creek, Muskegon, and Benton Harbor. This plan should detail specific strategies and goals for each region to enhance WMU’s visibility and engagement. Stage Two plans will include outreach to Denver, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Minneapolis, Chicago and San Antonio.
• Build and Maintain Relationships: Establish and maintain strong relationships with community organizations, representing WMU at community events and ensuring our presence is impactful and consistent. This includes attending meetings, networking events, and other community gatherings.
• Liaison with Organizations: Act as the primary liaison between WMU and community-based organizations, including homeschool groups. Foster partnerships that support enrollment goals, facilitating collaboration on events and initiatives that promote WMU.
• Campus Engagement:
• Collaboration with Departments: Collaborate with campus departments to integrate admissions representation at key events. Work closely with faculty, staff, and student organizations to enhance visibility and engagement with prospective students.
• Event Participation: Actively participate in campus events, representing the admissions department and ensuring prospective students and their families receive a warm and informative welcome. This includes open houses, campus tours, and special events.
• School Outreach:
• Outreach Programs for Schools: Create and execute outreach programs for local schools, including organizing bus trips to WMU and arranging school day activities that introduce prospective students to WMU. The programs should provide students with a firsthand experience of campus life and the benefits of a WMU education.
• Alumni Ambassador Program: Develop and manage an alumni ambassador program to leverage the influence of WMU graduates in community engagement and recruitment efforts. Train and support alumni ambassadors to effectively represent WMU in their communities.
• Targeted Outreach Initiatives: Design and implement targeted outreach initiatives for specific regions, including potential recruitment efforts locally and nationally where we are undertaking community outreach. These initiatives should address the unique needs and interests of students in these areas and establish Western Michigan as a prominent partner.
• Territory Management: Oversee and serve a recruitment territory, ensuring strategic recruitment efforts are aligned with enrollment goals. Develop and maintain a calendar of recruitment activities, events, and travel.

Minimum qualifications based upon job documentation and industry best practices. Any current employees not meeting these qualifications will be grandfathered until they move to a different job.

• Bachelor's degree in related field required.

• Two years' relevant experience required.

Work is generally performed in a well-lit, temperature-controlled indoor environment with occasional exposure to the outdoors or any number of elements.

Revised: 2024-09-13