Definition: What is Higher Education Administration

Colleges and universities are rapidly adapting to the everyday changes in higher education in order to create new strategy that will revolutionize the industry for the coming generation. Schools rely on theirtheir team of administrative professionals to deliver creative, forward-thinking programs and policies that guarantee the long-term success of their institution in order to satisfy the demands of today's students.

What is Higher Education Administration?

Higher education administration is a distinct profession within the considerably broader field of administration and management. It is diverse and results-oriented.  Higher education administration involves the coordination of various academic programs, departments, and activities for higher education institutions.

Higher education administration (HEA) is a career path for professionals who are passionate about creating flourishing, prosperous communities at the college and university level. 

The management and coordinating of the projects and initiatives that keep institutions running are part of this large occupational field. HEA professionals are employed by administrative offices in every division of a school, including admissions, student life, financial aid, and even within specific departments.

Jobs in Higher Education Administration

For those who are interested in working in higher education, a graduate degree in higher education administration opens the door to a wide range of professional prospects. You can choose a career path that fits your particular skill set and works with a broad, linked network of experts that share your enthusiasm, depending on your area of interest.

9 jobs in higher education administration are listed below:

Instructional Coordinator

An instructional coordinator manages an institution's curriculum and teaching standards. The creation of instructional materials, planning and carrying out teacher training, and assessing the success of the curriculum are all responsibilities. To make the necessary changes, instructional coordinators must be able to gather information, analyze it, and report their results to teachers and administrators. The majority of instructional coordinators are employed by state or local governments, colleges and universities, professional schools, and primary and secondary school systems.

Median annual salary — $66,000

Residence Life Coordinator

Residence life coordinators are responsible for a variety of tasks related to residential life on a college or university’s campus. 

These responsibilities include conducting routine inspections of all student housing facilities, keeping track of every students’ check-in and check-out, and offering assistance in emergency situations. Usually given accommodations on campus, residence life coordinators collaborate with the admissions office to anticipate housing needs and work with housekeeping staff to help keep facilities clean. 

Additionally, in order to foster a sense of community among students, they create and manage a wide variety of social and educational programs.

Average annual salary — $40,000

Postsecondary Education Administrator

Administrators of postsecondary education manage and carry out the institution's student services and academic activities. Their responsibilities could vary because they might work in admissions or the registrar's office. 

Administrators at admissions offices evaluate college applications, interview prospective students, and make admissions decisions. Education administrators and their employees maintain institutional records, enroll students in classes, check that they are completing academic standards, and register them for classes in registrars' offices. 

Provosts are those who assist college presidents in creating academic policy, take part in decisions about faculty appointments and tenure, and manage budgets. Postsecondary education administrators can also progress to become provosts.

Median annual salary — $95,000

Professor and Associate Dean of Research

For professionals who become a professor and associate deans of research, responsibilities include managing and overseeing funded research initiatives at an institution. 

This person helps academic members to fulfill their research goals by assisting in the coordination of research papers, maintaining research funds, and submitting training grant applications. They collaborate across schools and departments. In addition to managing awards programs, some associate deans of research also handle grants for faculty and student travel, modest equipment grants, and new research.

Average annual salary — $117,000

Postsecondary Teacher

Postsecondary teachers, often known as professors or faculty, guide students in a range of academic disciplines after high school. Professors are grouped into departments in colleges and universities that focus on particular degree fields. They may teach one or more courses there. In larger institutions, they might spend their time instructing, carrying out experiments or doing research. After that, they will publish original findings, seek funding to finance their research, or manage graduate teaching assistants who are assisting professors in the classroom.

Median annual salary — $80,000

Dean of Student Affairs

The dean of student affairs directs all operations pertaining to student services and campus life. Moreover, they have a responsibility for developing strategic initiatives for student affairs. A dean of student affairs is in charge of acting as a point of contact between college officials and student organizations, providing information to students, and attending to their needs. In a larger university, there can be several deans of students, each with a particular area of expertise. Programs run by the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs may include campus-wide community-building activities or orientation sessions for new students.

Median annual salary— $102,000

Director of Admissions

A director of admissions collaborates with candidates as well as other experts in the recruitment and admissions fields. The academic records, extracurricular activities, test scores, and personal recommendations of applicants who want to enter their institution are all considered at the postsecondary level. 

They manage all aspects of the hiring process, including the organization and management of recruitment fairs, campus visits, student interviews, and other admissions activities. Additional responsibilities include overseeing admissions representatives and collaborating with other school executives to create admissions standards and testing procedures.

Mean annual salary — $111,000

Chief Enrollment Management Officer

The chief enrollment management officer manages and directs the entire enrollment procedure at a facility by a chief enrollment management officer. They usually provide strategic control for admissions, financial assistance, the registrar's office, and enrollment management and report directly to the president of a college or university. Furthering academic programs at a school, improving marketing and communications messages, spotting emerging markets, assisting with student development initiatives, and forecasting short- and long-term enrollment and tuition revenue are all possible responsibilities.

Median annual salary — $134,000

Now you get updated about higher education administration!

By pursuing a graduate degree in Higher Education Administration, you will be at the forefront of educational change to help make a tangible difference in the lives of others.

Need some tips? We’re here to help

Not only giving you a lot of information about many industries, OfficeHelps also brings to you amazing tips and cleaning services. 

What to look for in hiring a cleaning service or maintaining services for your education facilities, why don’t you take professional care with interesting, refreshing space ideas? 

In case you need to refresh your living space, at OfficeHelps.com, we provide you with affordable and reliable cleaning services and a lot of helpful tips. Feel free to contact us today! Our experienced cleaning experts are waiting for you!