Tara Kent, Ph.D.

Enrollment Management

• Lead impactful outreach to re-engage withdrawn students, enhancing retention for all campuses, to include the online programs.
• Collaborate with Admissions for exceptional Accepted Students Day experiences.
• Actively support DEI initiatives, work closely with Accessibility for student accommodations.

Operations

• Oversee day-to-day registration office operations, managing 4-person Registrar team.
• Stay informed of industry trends through regular conference attendance.
• Support professional growth of team through continuous development initiatives.

Policies

• Serve as Vice Chair of Academic Council, playing a pivotal role in shaping policies/initiatives.
• Ensure accurate and up-to-date academic catalog information in Coursedog.

Process Improvement

• Spearhead optimization initiatives, reducing registration time by 65-79%.
• Drive 8% enrollment retention improvement by decreasing the number of missing student responses.

Contribute as an active member of

Enrollment Management

• Proactively analyzed and presented data insights, facilitating informed decision-making.
• Actively contributed to search committees, leveraging expertise to enrich the academic community.
• Served as SEVIS Designated School Official, maintaining compliance and facilitating international student services.

Operations

• Played a pivotal role in the Data Restructuring Project, analyzing and testing data during the Banner 8 to 9 transition.
• Led training initiatives on the ARGOS reporting system, empowering executives, directors, faculty, and staff.

Policies

• Worked closely with the university registrar to develop and refine policies and procedures.
• Conducted reviews, proposed strategic adjustments, and communicated changes to stakeholders.
• Fostered collaboration to contribute to a cohesive framework supporting the university's mission.

Process Improvement

• Initiated a comprehensive training manual for Ferkauf, fostering standardized practices.
• Innovatively crafted job aids to streamline operations and equip staff with essential tools.
• Contributed to significant improvements in process efficiency and effectiveness.

Enrollment Management

• Meticulously executed degree audits for ~2K students, ensuring graduation requirement compliance and conferring degrees with precision.

Operations

• Oversaw seamless processing of transcript requests and degree verifications, prioritizing accuracy, confidentiality, and efficient service.

Policies

• Served as primary liaison between students, deans, and departments, communicating graduation statuses, addressing deficiencies, and confirming requirement fulfillment while maintaining transparency.

Process Improvement

• Directed administration of course evaluations, orchestrating timely distribution to students and facilitating faculty completion to foster feedback and continuous improvement.

Enrollment Management

• Orchestrated a comprehensive approach to resolving student records and financial issues, employing 360-feedback via phone, email, and in-person to prioritize and address concerns.
• Provided leadership in enrollment services counseling, overseeing aid packaging, payment plans, tuition remission, institutional aid, and federal aid administration.

Operations

• Collaborated closely with department managers to guarantee seamless, top-tier front-line services focused on students' financial and registrar concerns.
• Directed and oversaw an 18-member team, ensuring strategic alignment with executive objectives.

Policies

• Played a pivotal role on the student appeals committee, meticulously assessing and ruling on waiver/override requests based on documented hardships.

Process Improvement

• Collaborated with leadership to develop comprehensive Bursar's office procedures, implementing protocols to safeguard against theft and ensure transaction integrity.
• Contributed to enrollment services cross-training initiatives for staff and representatives from other student services, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Enrollment Management

• Provided timely, accurate reports to senior leadership on enrollment, retention, and graduation for IPEDS, NSC, and NSLDS, facilitating informed decision-making.
• Certified eligibility for TAP and veterans' loans, demonstrating commitment to student financial success and regulatory compliance.

Operations

• Orchestrated development and maintenance of the department budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with organizational goals

Policies

• Delivered comprehensive FERPA training to faculty, staff, and student workers, promoting compliance and safeguarding student confidentiality.

Process Improvement

• Facilitated orientations for international students on OPT, offering guidance on employment authorization processes.
• Actively participated in new student orientation, fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Enrollment Management

• Conducted research and analysis on student retention and re-entry, contributing to institutional improvement initiatives.
• Evaluated transfer credits, collaborated with department chairs, and assisted students with registration to support student success.

Operations

• Oversaw maintenance of student records, transcript processing, and enrollment verifications, ensuring accuracy and policy compliance.

Policies

• Coordinated with financial aid to ensure adherence to federal guidelines regarding student withdrawals and leaves of absence.

Process Improvement

Provided administrative support to the dean, including academic advisement and monitoring of grade inflation data for dean's reports, enhancing efficiency and accuracy of academic processes