Program Manager of Admissions

University of Colorado | Denver
Official Title: Academic Services Program Manager
Working Title: Program Manager of Admissions
FTE: Full-time
Salary Range: $63,346 - $70,014
Position #00625191- Requisition #38469

About the University of Colorado - Denver
Millions of moments start at CU Denver, a place where innovation, research, and learning meet in the heart of a global city. We're the state's premier public urban research university with more than 100 in-demand, top ranked bachelors, master's, and doctoral degree programs. We partner with diverse learners-at any stage of their life and career-for transformative educational experiences. Across seven schools and colleges, our leading faculty inspires and works alongside students to solve complex challenges and produce impactful creative work. As part of the state's largest university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $800 million. To learn more about how CU Denver helps learners meet their moment, visit ucdenver.edu.

Job Description
* Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers *
The School of Education & Human Development at the University of Colorado Denver is a statewide and national leader for educational quality, access and equity across the education lifespan, from birth through higher education. For more than 50 years, the school has informed policy and practice to address critical challenges faced by individuals, schools, and communities. We prepare inclusive practitioners, scholars, and leaders dedicated to advancing well-being, opportunity, and lifelong learning in diverse urban, rural, and global settings. Our Inclusive Excellence Plan reflects our efforts to ensure that those we serve have access to an excellent education through inclusive practice and scholarship in a climate that is responsive to their needs.
SEHD students engage in strategically integrated coursework and internships in schools, agencies, and community organizations. The school offers three doctoral programs, an educational specialist degree, 13 master's degrees, two undergraduate degrees, and numerous licenses and certificates. Designed for working professionals and distance learners, programs offer evening, online, and hybrid options to support student success. Community-engaged and global partnerships are the heartbeat of SEHD. Innovative initiatives co-constructed with school districts, community colleges, and service organizations draw upon personnel strengths in education, human well-being, and equity-centered and community-focused research. These partnerships foster and celebrate diverse community voices, relevant student learning opportunities that build careers, positive outcomes for partner institutions, and outstanding research publications cited around the world.
In 2024, SEHD was recognized as the number one graduate online education program in Colorado and among the top graduate education programs in the nation according to U.S. News and World Report.
The School of Education & Human Development's strategic plan reinforces its commitment to academic excellence, inclusive practices, community engagement, and innovation in teaching, research, and service. To read the full statement, click here: https://education.ucdenver.edu/about-us/strategic-plan

Program Manager of Admissions:
What you will do:
The Program Manager of Admissions provides ongoing leadership and oversight of the admissions and application infrastructure in the School of Education and Human Development (SEHD). This position is responsible for the development and implementation of strategies and processes that contribute to the mission of the University, campus, and SEHD. The Program Manager is accountable for creating, implementing, and executing all admissions related policies, procedures, and communication plans within the School of Education & Human Development for all D1, D2 and D3 programs. This includes, but is not limited to, continuous collaboration with other campus departments and constituents in an effort to streamline consistent policies and procedures, train staff and faculty to ensure policies and procedures are enforced, and develop and execute strategies to optimize and retain applicant pools resulting in optimum yield. The position represents the SEHD to prospective and incoming undergraduate and graduate students, coordinates and processes graduate admission applications and documents, replies to application inquiries, and provides timely feedback regarding status of applications. This position must have an in-depth knowledge and understanding all SEHD programs and is a critical component to providing outreach to newly admitted students to ensure enrollment. The Program Manager heavily supports a data-driven Strategic Enrollment Management approach, which is essential to ensuring the SEHD's fiscal health. This position supervises student employees.

* Develops standards, policies, and procedures for processing new student applications and readmits in an accurate and timely manner.
* Serves as liaison between the School and University offices (Admissions, Graduate School, Registrar, International Admissions) to complete the admissions process and solve problems.
* Oversees management of admission files and student records, from started applications to matriculation.
* Builds and updates all applicant queries in Slate so that applications can be processed.
* Collaborates with CU Denver Admissions Office, International Admissions, and Graduate School to ensure that their policies and procedures continue to be met.
* Oversees the implementation of application review by the faculty.
* Ensure admissions information on website is accurate.
* Participate in cooperative and collaborative relationships that help improve the overall efficiency of the admissions process and provide for superior customer service while ensuring effective and professional communications with prospects and applicants.
* Prepare and present application reports related to admissions for internal and external audiences.
* Creates standard operating procedures and develops policies to ensure that staff and student employees are being consistent with each application.
* Collaborates with faculty, ADSSEM, recruitment staff, academic services staff and Deans to determine appropriate extension of admission deadlines and provides all relevant data in an effort to make informed decisions for maximum enrollment.
* Opens and closes applications in Slate accordingly.
* Establishes and implements a consistent communication process to applicants from started applications, to submitted application, to admittance.
* Builds CRM communications for automated messages to applicants and admits to encourage registration and yield.
* Establishes and implements a consistent communication process to faculty reviewing admission files that includes specific deadlines in which decisions need to be returned.
* Regularly and independently makes decisions on updates that need to be made to the online application and updates application as necessary.
* Serves as the decision maker when situations arise where certain aspects of the application may be waived for a particular student.
* Liaison with staff in all programs regarding the admissions cycle and leverage their program expertise in the admissions process.
* Keeps current on all programs' admissions requirements and conditions for admission and matriculation.
* Create, maintain, and manage automated weekly data reporting from Slate for SEHD Deans, faculty, and staff.
* Creates specialized queries for SEM purposes for grad and undergrad programs.
o Additionally, strategically assesses admissions process workflows from a started application through matriculation to optimize enrollments.
* Monitor applications for completion with appropriate prioritization based on multiple deadlines.
* Work with the Program Leaders to ascertain waiver credit for prospective students and to streamline application to reduce barriers to students' applying.
* Active member of the Strategic Enrollment Management team in the SEHD.
* Serves as the primary liaison with University staff who manages technology for admissions and student records.
* Creates policies and procedures to ensure admission processing is consistent and efficient.
* Point person for inner and outer departmental employees soliciting background on historical data, trends, plan codes, etc.
o The point person for the School of Education & Human Development is when requests are made for plan/subplan changes on a student's record, authorizes those changes, and makes them effective.
* Sets and monitors expectations for job performance and office behavior of student employees.
* Orients, trains, and provides ongoing supervision and evaluation for student employees.
* Sets and tracks support staff student employee work schedules and ensures productivity.
* Supplies critical information or data related to reports or required changes in structure or databases utilized in admissions, and other Academic Services processes.
* Provides training or updates on application issues.
* Assesses situations and suggests resolutions to problems.
* Stays abreast of updates to the application system and launches new functionality to improve processing of applications.
* This position is a knowledge base for Slate and CU-SIS functionality and provides up-to-date information on applicants- both current and inactive, for staff, faculty, and Deans.
* Continually evaluates the electronic service-delivery tools that the office uses to serve its various constituents.
* Coordinate the development and leveraging of technical enhancements to these tools.
* This position will have lead responsibility for record changes to applicant records in the student information system.

Qualifications you already possess (Minimum Qualifications)
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.
* Bachelor's degree in education, business, public administration, communications, or in a directly related field from an accredited institution.
* 3+ years of experience working in Admissions and overseeing application processes within higher education setting
* Experience with CRMs and university application systems
* Supervisory experience

Preferred Qualification to possess (Preferred Qualifications)
* Master's degree in student affairs, education, educational technology or a directly related field from an accredited institution
* 5 years of experience working in education providing academic admissions support which includes managing hard copy and electronic student admissions applications and files.
* Experience with PeopleSoft (CU SIS) or other student information system

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
* Must have extensive knowledge of School of Education & Human Development programs, degrees, endorsement, and licenses; undergraduate and graduate admissions process and procedures; Colorado Department of Education licensure/endorsement requirements; University policies and procedures
* Advanced skills in MS Office Suite, CU-SIS, Singularity, Cognos, and Slate
* Ability to make independent decisions, manage a high-volume applicant pool, effectively communicate to applicants, supervise staff and student employees, provides leadership and direction.
* Ability to communicate effectively, both in writing and orally.
* Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees at all levels throughout the institution.
* Outstanding customer service skills.
* Demonstrated commitment and leadership ability to advance diversity and inclusion.

Conditions of Employment
* This position follows a hybrid work structure where employees can work remotely or from the office, as needed, based on demands of specific tasks or personal work preferences. Working from the office is encouraged when working on tasks that require a high degree of collaboration.

Mental, Physical, and/or Environmental Requirements
* The ability to sit for extended periods, stand and walk occasionally, reach with hands and arms, use hands to manipulate a keyboard and mouse, and have good near vision for computer work;often requiring minimal lifting, but may involve bending or reaching to retrieve items from shelves or drawers.
CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.
The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at workplaceengagement@ucdenver.edu .

Employment Sponsorship
Please be advised that this position is not eligible now or in the future for visa sponsorship. Compensation and Benefits
The salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established at $63,346 - $70,014.
The salary of the finalist(s) selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, internal equity, experience, education, specialty and training.
The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.
This position is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado Denver provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.
Benefits: https://www.cu.edu/employee-services/benefits
Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

Application Deadline
Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Preference will be given to complete applications received by December 20th, 2025. Those who do not apply by this date may or may not be considered.

Required Application Materials:
To apply, please visit: http://www.cu.edu/cu-careers and attach:
* A cover letter which specifically addresses the job requirements and outlines qualifications
* A current CV/resume
* List of three references (we will notify you prior to contacting both on and off-list references)

Questions should be directed to Sandy Mondragon - sandy.mondragon@ucdenver.edu

Background Check Policy
The University of Colorado Denver strives to maintain a safe and productive educational, clinical, research and employment environment. All prospective employees and current employees must, therefore, consent to and pass background checks prior to any final appointment/employment.