ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ADMISSIONS - School of Art

Description

SUMMARY

Reporting to the Director of Admissions, the Assistant Director of Admissions acts as the primary liaison
between CalArts and prospective students and families. In collaboration with the Director, Program
Directors, Faculty, Deans, and Communications, the Assistant Director recruits and guides admitted
students through to matriculation, providing support and ongoing communication to prospective students
and families throughout the application, review, and admission processes. Externally, the Assistant
Director represents the Institute generally as well as the Office of Admissions and their designated School
via information sessions, office hours, college fairs, high school events, visual and performing arts
classes, audition and portfolio events, CalArts-hosted events, and other recruitment activities. Internally,
the Assistant Director communicates and collaborates with other offices across campus regarding student
needs, and provides cross-training on programs and practices of their assigned school to their
Admissions colleagues. It is critical that the Assistant Director maintain comprehensive knowledge of
contemporary art and culture and terminology, both generally and as it relates specifically to the assigned
school, and that they cultivate a holistic comprehension of the various schools' mission statements,
programs, curricula and artistic vision and how these mesh with CalArts as an Institute.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS (including but not limited to)

Student Counseling:
● Advise a diverse domestic and international pool of prospective students on CalArts’ academic
programs and campus experience, application, and portfolio and/or audition processes through
regular communication with applicants, families, and counselors, including personalized check-ins
with candidates throughout the application process
● Provide feedback and recommended resources to prospective students, rejected applicants, and
other applicants on their application materials, and assess their fit with CalArts programs
● Provide general counseling and information to prospective students regarding financial aid
resources, connecting students with Financial Aid staff for additional support
● Respond to individual student concerns regarding a breadth of unique needs and circumstances
requiring a high level of discretion, and connect students to appropriate resources

Recruitment:

● Prepare yearly recruitment strategy plan in collaboration with the Director, Deans, Program
Directors, and upper administration to address enrollment needs, based on data and industry
trends; seek out new and relevant methods of connecting with prospective students
● Maintain and strengthen existing relationships for student pipelines, and identify new recruitment
pathways with the potential to yield high caliber applicants from around the world 

● Travel extensively for up to several weeks at a time, representing all programs for recruitment,
including management of personal travel arrangements and expenses reports; as needed, plan
travel for faculty or alumnx representatives

Marketing and Communications:

● In collaboration with Director, develop targeted advertising strategy for all programs within the
assigned school and help to manage the advertising budget; cultivate and maintain relationships
with relevant cultural and media outlets to promote CalArts offerings and events
● Create content to promote program-specific events of interest to prospective students and the
broader arts communities, championing new initiatives and highlighting unique strengths
● Work with School and Enrollment Management leadership to refine admissions marketing
materials, and manage creative work by CalArts' design office and freelancers to ensure projects
are delivered on time
● Support school social media presence and generate engaging email campaigns which share
pertinent information about the institute, and upcoming recruitment events

Event Planning and Participation:

● Represent and discuss all aspects of CalArts at a wide range of local and national recruitment
events; conduct regular information sessions on and off-campus, and online, including on-
campus tours as needed
● In collaboration with the Director of Admissions, plan and facilitate a range of on and off campus
events, including hiring and training student and alumnx event staff, and collaborating with
Communications to ensure appropriate media coverage

Review Coordination:

● Work with Review Coordinator and Enrollment Management Operations team to ensure accurate
and timely processing of submitted applications and portfolios/auditions, to manage faculty
portfolio