PRACTICAL COLLABORATION Fine-tuning Your Graduate Admissions Process PRESENTERS Janet Shandley and Sena Andah SEATTLE UNIVERSITY & SAINT JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY

PRACTICAL COLLABORATION Fine-tuning Your Graduate Admissions Process AGENDA Introductions Context Challenges Strategies Outcomes HIGHLIGHTS Defining “practical collaboration” Engaging non-admissions staff in the process Assessing the processing needs of academic departments Conducting an admissions review process V. Preparing Service Level Agreements (SLAs) Discussing “best practices”

Saint Joseph’s University OVERVIEW  Modified, centralized recruiting and processing  Decentralized admissions process 53 graduate study areas; 2,770 graduate students  Staff of 4 professionals & 3-6 student workers per semester

Seattle University OVERVIEW  Centralized processing  Decentralized recruiting 27 graduate programs Over 1880 graduate students Staff of 4 professionals & 2 shared positions Enrollment Services Operations

PRACTICAL COLLABORATION What Is Practical Collaboration? Invested parties working together to achieve specific university goals in an intentional, respectful and mutually-accountable manner.

PRACTICAL COLLABORATION CHALLENGES  UNVERSITY STRATEGIC PLANNING  KEY “PLAYERS” & NEEDS  DOCUMENTATION & PRIOR PRACTICE  EXCEPTIONS & ACCOMMODATIONS  ACCOUNTABILITY ************************************

PRACTICAL COLLABORATION STRATEGIES DEVELOP AN ASSESSMENT TOOL  Sponsorship  Audience  Data Collection MINING EXPERTISE  Front line people  Data processors  Counselors & advisors DISCUSSION & COMPROMISE  Informed discussions  Common goals  De-mystify process  Identify training needs SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS  Documents from template  Individual program meetings

PRACTICAL COLLABORATION Review Sample 1

PRACTICAL COLLABORATION Review Sample 2

PRACTICAL COLLABORATION SLA Sample 1

PRACTICAL COLLABORATION SLA Sample 2

PRACTICAL COLLABORATION OUTCOMES CLARIFY ROLES REVIEW TIMELINES & GOALS CONFIRM REPORTING NEEDS EXAMINE PROCESSING COMMIT TO COMMUNICATION

PRACTICAL COLLABORATION OUTCOMES ADMISSIONS REVIEW REPORT  Distribution  Recommendations SERVICE LEVEL AGREEMENTS  Annual Review  Training Resource

PRACTICAL COLLABORATION BEST PRACTICES REFERENCE AN ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO GRADUATE ADMISSIONS Council of Graduate Schools & NAGAP DISCUSSION Is it possible to establish a best practices standard?

PRACTICAL COLLABORATION CONTACT US JANET SHANDLEY Director of Graduate Admission Seattle University 206.296.5904 / JANSHAN@seattleu.edu SENA ANDAH Assistant Director of Graduate Admissions Saint Joseph’s University 610.660.1108 / sowereko@sju.edu