About the Episode
About the Episode:
Lesley Mackey, a young professional stepping into a new graduate student recruiter role at Fort Hays State University, chats with the Pulse at the NAGAP Summit in Louisville. Fresh from his first trip to Hawaii, Les shares his journey as a new GEM professional, highlighting the unique challenges and breakthroughs of his new role in graduate recruitment.
Key Takeaways
- Role Exploration: Les discusses the intricacies of stepping into a newly created role in graduate recruitment and the challenges of establishing benchmarks without clear enrollment goals.
- Conference Insights: Insights from NAGAP conference sessions emphasize common challenges faced by small offices in higher education, showcasing varying perceptions of what constitutes a 'small' office.
- Future Aspirations: The conversation dives into future goals and the proactive steps being taken to define and achieve success in graduate recruitment.
A New Role in Graduate Recruitment
Les Mackey shares his experience stepping into the newly created position of Graduate Student Recruiter at Fort Hays State University. When the role was introduced in late 2022, there was no roadmap, no established goals, and no pre-existing graduate enrollment management framework to follow.
While undergraduate admissions at Fort Hays State has been a cornerstone of the university for decades, graduate enrollment had largely been reactive—students found their way into programs without a formalized recruitment strategy. Les describes how this blank slate has given him the autonomy to experiment, innovate, and lay the groundwork for a more structured graduate enrollment system.
Overcoming Ambiguity in Enrollment Goals
One of the biggest challenges Les faces is the lack of specific enrollment goals. While there’s a general desire for growth, no one has defined what success looks like in terms of numbers or percentages.
Despite this ambiguity, Les has seen steady progress. Over the past few semesters, his team has either maintained or increased enrollment, with a notable 90-student increase in spring semester enrollment compared to the previous year. While exact metrics are missing, Les focuses on consistent growth as a key indicator of success.
The Challenges of Graduate Recruitment
Recruiting graduate students differs significantly from undergraduate admissions. Les explains how there’s no equivalent to high schools or college fairs for centralized outreach. Instead, building a pipeline for graduate students requires creativity and targeted strategies.
Les also emphasizes the importance of collaboration across teams and departments to develop a comprehensive graduate enrollment management system. He recognizes that his role is as much about creating systems and processes as it is about achieving immediate recruitment goals.
Learning and Growing as a Young Professional
As a young professional in his first full-time role, Les reflects on the unique challenges and opportunities of being in a newly created position. He credits his graduate assistantship for preparing him to step into this role, but acknowledges that building something from scratch requires continuous learning and adaptability.
One of the highlights of his experience has been the opportunity to shape the future of graduate enrollment at Fort Hays State. Les is proud to be laying the groundwork for what this position—and graduate enrollment management as a whole—will look like in the years to come.
The Value of Professional Conferences
Les highlights how attending conferences like NAGAP has been instrumental in his professional growth. Sessions focused on best practices for small offices, for example, resonated deeply with him and provided reassurance that others are facing similar challenges.
The sense of community and shared learning has been rejuvenating for Les, as he continues to navigate the complexities of his role and connect with peers tackling the same issues in graduate enrollment management.
Words of Advice
Les’s advice for young professionals in higher ed:
- Embrace Autonomy: A new role without a roadmap can be daunting, but it’s also an opportunity to innovate and make a lasting impact.
- Seek Out Community: Attending conferences and connecting with peers is essential for shared learning and feeling less isolated in your challenges.
- Focus on Progress: When clear goals are missing, look for signs of progress, like steady or growing enrollment numbers, to validate your efforts.
- Define the Path for the Future: Even if you’re new to a role, think about how the systems and processes you create can serve your institution long after you’ve moved on.
Connect With Our Host:
Mallory Willsea
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea
About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!
Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Confessions of a Higher Education Social Media Manager.
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
Connect with Us at the Engage Summit: Exciting news — Mallory will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we’d love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI.
Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout.
Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can’t wait to see you there!
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