Best Jobs in Higher Education Administration

Best Jobs in Higher Education AdministrationBest Jobs in Higher Education AdministrationHave you considered working on a college campus? Jobs in higher education administration have much to offer, and there are many different types of positions available. Most campuses offer a picturesque park-like atmosphere with attractive architecture and lots of green space. College campuses are also cultural and recreational centers with theater and the arts, as well as fitness centers and athletic teams. Many colleges offer campus-based childcare facilities to kooperation workers with families. Colleges typically offer generous benefit packages including healthcare, retirement plans, tuition waiver or assistance, liberal vacation and sick time, and disability coverage. The chart below illustrates the salary ranges in the field of higher education administration. Educational Requirements Entry-level jobs in higher education administration typically require a bachelors degree, while senior positions often require a masters degree or Ph.D. Employment Outlook The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment of postsecondary education administrators is projected to grow 10% from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. Jobs in Higher Education Administration Here are some career categories that offer opportunities to have a productive career in higher education, with an overview of the jobs and the average salary for each department. 1. Academic Advising Academic advising staff counsels students about course selection, academic majors, strategies for resolving academic problems, note taking, test taking, and relationships with faculty. Department Responsibilities Manage and assist in the planning, implementation, assessment, and improvement of the departments programs and services.Coordinate group advising sessions for continuing students and at new student orientations.Analyze retention information and develop programs to enhance retentio n.Advise athletes on academic progress requirements and assist international students. JobsAcademic advisor, academic coach, student support coordinator, assistant director, associate director, director, student success coach, and pre-law advisor. Salary Salaries in the academic advising office ranged from $45,702 for an academic advisor to $96,679 for a chief academic advising officer,according to the 2017-18 Professionals in Higher Education Salary Survey conducted by The College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) and reported by HigherEdJobs. 2. Admissions/Enrollment Management The admissions department orchestrates the recruitment of students to the college. Department Responsibilities Conduct tours, organize and staff admissions events.Interview candidates, read and evaluate applications, and compile statistics.Develop recruitment strategies to land the right students, train and supervise staff, and develop digital and paper materials promotin g the institution. JobsJob titles range from admissions counselor/representative and assistant director at the entry-level, to associate director, director, and vice president at more senior levels. SalaryAverage salaries in admissions ranged from $40,334 for admissions counselors to $209,415 for chief enrollment officers,according to the 2017-18 Professionals in Higher Education Salary Survey. 3. Development/Advancement The development office orchestrates the fundraising efforts of a college. Department Responsibilities Cultivate relationships with alumni, parents, corporate sponsors, and other philanthropists. Assess the interests of fundraising targets and communicate information about related college programs and initiatives.Collect and analyze career and financial information about potential donors to prioritize outreach efforts.Feed stories of alumni to communications staff to incorporate their accomplishments with college publications.Develop fundraising strategies and provid e input to upper administration about donor priorities for institutional goals. JobsDirector of advancement, leadership gift officer, director of annual giving, campaign manager, associate director of advancement, donor relations coordinator, director of advancement services, prospect researcher, planned giving officer, and development assistant. SalarySalaries in advancement ranged from $51,672 for a sports information officer, $55,692 for an editor and $124,799 for a chief marketing administrator,according to the2017-18 Professionals in Higher Education Salary Survey. 4. Business and Financial Services Offices within geschftliches miteinander and financial services oversee the business functions of the college, set policies regarding financial transactions, maintain financial records, and ensure compliance with financial regulations. Department Responsibilities Identify preferred vendors for goods and services and negotiate contracts.Prepare for audits and respond to findings.Gen erate reports and maintain systems so that departments at the college can monitor the status of financial resources.Design and implement a process for departments to formulate budget requests.Manage finances and the investment of donations and other income streams. JobsTreasurer, accountant, controller, accounting technician, purchasing director, assistant director, associate director, budget analyst, accounts payable specialist, cashier, payroll assistant, accounting assistant, and accounts receivable supervisor. SalarySalaries in the business and finance division ranged from $51,108 for an accountant to $70,003 for a purchasing manager to $193,860 for a chief business officer,according to the2017-18 Professionals in Higher Education Salary Survey. 5. Career Services The career office at colleges oversees the career development of students and alumni. Department Responsibilities Develop internship, recruiting, and job opportunities for students. Organize career information panels a nd programs to educate students about opportunities. Recruit alumni and parents to participate innetworking events for students and alumniin career transition.Develop and deliver workshops on resume development, interviewing, networking, and job search strategies.Assess interests, skills, and values and identify relevant career options.Conductmock interviews, review resumes and cover letters, and coach students and alumni about job search techniques. JobsCareer counselor, assistant director, associate director, recruiting coordinator, alumni counselor, assistant director for employer relations, and director of career development. SalarySalaries in college career services ranged from $48,358 for a career counselor to $100,497 for chief career development officers,according to the2017-18 Professionals in Higher Education Salary Survey. 6. College Marketing/Communications The departments within college communications create and coordinate messaging about the college and its achievemen ts to the media, alumni, parents, government entities, foundations, and the general public. Department Responsibilities Develop content for the colleges website, magazine, catalog, and other publications.Coordinate publicity events and find placement for stories with media outlets.Create themes for publications and writers, and interview and profile key campus contributors and alumni.Devise strategies for promoting the college. JobsDirector of communications, media relations director, editor, writer, webmaster, director of marketing, manager of public relations, designer, manager of publications, and associate director of digital communications. SalarySalaries in college marketing/communications ranged from $47,728 for entry-level gift officers to $180,000 for chief advancement officers,according to the2017-18 Professionals in Higher Education Salary Survey. 7. Computer and Information Technology Offices within the computer and information technology division oversee the purchase an d maintenance of computer equipment/software and service the digital needs of the college community. Department Responsibilities Communicate with campus users regarding their needs for technology and designs systems to help departments operate more efficiently.Develop training sessions and workshops to teach employees to use desktop and enterprise computing resources.Resolve problems with existing software and hardware.Evaluate emerging trends in computer technology, and recommend future resource configurations to campus executives. JobsProgrammer analyst, database administrator, network security analyst, systems administrator, network architect, web developer, applications developer, and service desk assistant. SalarySalaries in computer and information technology ranged from $60,947 for a programmer analyst to $75,840 for a database administrator to $252,794 for a chief IT officer, according to the2017-18 Professionals in Higher Education Salary Survey. 8. Financial Aid The financ ial aid office staff advises students regarding options for funding their education. Department Responsibilities Manage and allocate financial aid resources based on assessments of the eligibility of applicants.Generate statistical reports on student aid.Collaborate with admissions to present informational sessions for prospective students.Develop policies and procedures for processing applications for aid.Supervise and coordinate award processing and packaging for all forms of student aid, including grants, loans, scholarships, and other awards.Reports on compliance to state and federal agencies overseeing the allocation of student aid. JobsFinancial aid advisor, assistant director, associate director, director, financial aid officer, financial aid counselor, and financial aid assistant. SalarySalaries in the financial aid office ranged from $42,840 for a financial aid counselor to $120,825 for a chief financial aid officer,according to the2017-18 Professionals in Higher Education Salary Survey. 9. Human Resources The menschenwrdig resources (HR) office at a college oversees recruitment of staff, development of training programs, benefits administration, HR information systems, compensation policies, employee/labor relations, and diversity/inclusion compliance. Department Responsibilities Set employment policies and create an employee handbook.Assess the needs of employees and develop programs to address developmental and institutional priorities.Create strategies for attracting candidates and screen applications.Research options to optimize resources for employee benefits.Mediate conflicts between employees and develop programs to enhance employee morale. JobsHR assistant, recruiting assistant, benefits assistant, benefits manager, recruiter, associate director for human resources, vice president for human resources, director of diversity and inclusion, training and development manager, and human resource information systems analyst. SalarySalaries in colle ge human resources ranged from $44,183 for an HR coordinator to $200,592 for chief human resource officers according to the2017-18 Professionals in Higher Education Salary Survey. 10. Registrar The Registrars office reviews and analyzes the registration process. Department Responsibilities Develop schedules of academic offerings in cooperation with academic departments.Evaluate and modify systems for maintaining academic records and safeguard the security of data about students.Provide documentation and advice to students regarding their formal progress toward graduation requirements.Verify that students have met the requirements for graduation.Update academic advisors on curriculum changes.Create and distribute reports to decision makers regarding enrollment. JobsRegistrars assistant, assistant registrar, associate registrar, registration assistant, registrar, transfer credit evaluator, and records technician. SalarySalaries in the registrars office ranged from $49,347 for an assis tant registrar, $61,688 for an associate registrar to $123,960 for chief registrar and records officers,according to the2017-18 Professionals in Higher Education Salary Survey. Tips for Landing a Job in Higher Education Most jobs in higher education require at least a bachelors degree. This means that potential candidatesalreadyhave a relationshipatthe college theyveattendedso leveragethat bypositioning yourself early. If youre considering career options as a graduate, there are many ways you can tap your college connections. Start while youre a student.Undergraduates can pursue internships, assistantships, student employment, and volunteer roles on campus while completing their degree to cultivate a background in the field. Set up informational meetings. Because students and alumni are valued stakeholders, campus professionals will typically take on the role of advisor and berater to students or graduates who have an interest in working in higher education. Approach professiona ls in departments youre interested in and politely request an informational consultation to learn what it takes to work in the field. Ask for suggestions about what you can do as a student or graduate to gain some experience within their department. Use the same strategy at other colleges.When searching for jobs, use the same informational interviewing technique at other institutions to gain an audience with professionals in departments of interest. These sessions will help you showcase your interpersonal and communication skills, which are so critical in higher education. Connect on LinkedIn.Most professionals in higher education are members of LinkedIn.Develop a complete LinkedIn profileand reach out to alumni and members of relevant professional groups for information and suggestions. Job search online.The best job sites for finding openings in higher education areHigherEdJobs, theChronicle of Higher Education,LinkedIn, andIndeed. The first two sites enable you to search by categ ories of administrative positions. Use keywords like admissions or development when searching for listings on LinkedIn orIndeed.