AACRAO's Strategic Enrollment Management Endorsement Program (SEM-EP) provides a well-defined, self-paced professional development program and career advancement track for enrollment professionals. SEM-EP is designed to promote industry competency and expertise in the field of strategic enrollment management and to provide a respected vehicle to officially deliver an approved curriculum from leading enrollment professionals. One of the first program graduates, Rob Garrett, Managing Director, Student Support , Brigham Young University -- Idaho, recounted his experience in a recent interview.
Why did you decide to participate in the SEM-EP Program?
When I read about the program, it seemed compelling and relevant to some of the scenarios we were facing at the university. I thought it would help us see things through different perspectives and offer varying approaches.
Have you been able to implement what you have learned in the SEM-EP program at your institution?
Yes, absolutely. The curriculum of the Essentials of SEM course was very relevant to us at BYU-Idaho: the discussions in the class and discussions we had internally outside of the SEM-EP process were extremely helpful. For my final project one of my goals was to champion SEM ideas on my campus and I have been able to do so through opportunities that involved policy decisions, structural decisions, and to present to the university at various all-employee meetings. I did not use the words "strategic enrollment management", but relayed throughout the presentation principles I learned from SEM-EP. Since embarking on the SEM-EP program, I have been able to see challenges through a different lens: What is best for the university? How do we align ourselves to understand university mission and goals? So the answer is yes, from a tactical perspective and in terms of everyday operations in our office.
What was your favorite component of the program?
My favorite component was the site visits. I enjoyed getting to see the nuts and bolts of other campus operations. You are able to meet new people and gather their perspectives. You get to know their process, but at the same time bounce ideas off of them regarding challenges you are looking at your own institution. I think some valuable professional connections were made, that I will keep throughout my career moving forward.
How did you like incorporating the SEM Conference into the curriculum?
I think it is a great idea since it combined theory with practical application of SEM-EP. My colleagues and I attended the SEM Conference and agreed it was one of the best higher education conferences that we had attended.
What does an endorsement from AACRAO mean to you?
For me AACRAO really is the premier association for enrollment content and relevance. SEM ideas and principles stem from AACRAO. I know enrollment is not in the AACRAO title, but there is an unstated association between the enrollment profession and AACRAO. There is a great deal of credibility when receiving a professional endorsement or certification from AACRAO.
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AACRAO will feature a SEM-EP Panel session at the 2015 Annual Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. The session will take place on Monday, April 13th at 8:00am. Joe F. Head, SEM-EP Special Advisor will be available at the AACRAO Annual Meeting in Baltimore to answer specific questions regarding the endorsement program. Head’s expertise focuses on the development of enrollment management strategies for traditional, non-traditional and graduate markets. As Dean and Assistant Vice President, Emeritus, for Enrollment Services at Kennesaw State University, he managed three department heads in Admissions, Registrar and Financial Aid offices. While at KSU he assisted in more than 85 terms (quarter and semester) of continued enrollment growth which has made KSU the 3rd largest university in the state of Georgia.
For more information about the program, please visit the SEM-EP website.