Advancement, Enrollment, Finance and the Head of School Collaborating Effectively for Success

A collaborative partnership between the director of enrollment management, the director of development, the CFO and the Head of School is vital to ensuring a school’s long-term success. How do these school leaders go about leveraging their collective knowledge and financial expertise? Four independent school leaders will share their tips for forming strong professional and personal relationships and how they use these relationships to help the school achieve its enrollment and revenue goals.

Panelists:

• Kevin Barry, Director of Advancement, Friends Academy (NY)
• Paul Stellato, Head of School, Friends Academy (NY)
• Taisha Thompson, Director of Enrollment Management & Financial Aid, Friends Academy (NY)
• Ann Marie Tidona, CPA , Director of Finance, Operations & Strategic Projects, Friends Academy (NY)

Learning Objectives: Participants will understand how a strategic and collaborative relationship between the director of enrollment, director of advancement, CFO and Head of School plays an important role in aligning an institution’s goals and objectives with admissions, retention, financial aid, philanthropy and fiscal policies.

CPE Field of Study: 
CPE Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Program Level: Basic
Prerequisites: None
Advanced Preparation: None
Recommended CPE Credits: 1.0

In the competitive landscape of Canadian independent schools, institutions are increasingly leveraging financial aid strategies to enhance their financial health and achieve enrollment objectives. This presentation explores the strategic use of financial aid in optimizing net tuition revenue and effectively targeting student enrollment.

Speaker:

• Jillian Lamothe, Deputy Head, Finance and Operations, St John's Ravenscourt School (MB)

In the "Talking to Strangers" session, inspired by the book by Malcolm Gladwell we will explore the common pitfalls of misjudging and misunderstanding financial aid applications, a realm we navigate daily. Delving into key concepts such as truth default, transparency, and coupling, we aim to equip you with tools for making more informed decisions regarding financial aid. Additionally, we will dissect our Venn diagram approach to awarding aid, incorporating three pivotal components: Family lifestyle, School Mission, and Application. By synergizing these elements, a holistic methodology emerges for the fair distribution of aid. Leveraging insights gained through interactions with applicants not only enhances the effectiveness of financial aid decisions but also bears the potential to alleviate budgetary pressures.

Speaker:

• Steven Casey, Director of Affordability, Punahou School (HI)

Learning Objective: Participants will learn how to ensure the financial aid process augments the school financial position and brings in mission appropriate students.

CPE Field of Study: Finance
CPE Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Program Level: Basic
Prerequisites: None
Advanced Preparation: None
Recommended CPE Credits: 1.0
 

Independent schools face financial aid challenges due to diverse family situations, such as dual households from divorce, separation, or different living arrangements. These complexities create administrative hurdles and require ensuring compliance with school policy and sensitivity to all families' needs. How can schools manage a fair, transparent, and consistent financial aid program for dual households and across all applicants? This presentation will discuss best practices and formal processes, including considering both households' financial contributions and circumstances, implementing a non-custodial parent or guardian waiver protocol, and strategies for handling uncooperative households when they are unwilling to provide financial information.

Speaker:

• Anita Harper, Chief Operating Officer, Mission Enrollment

Learning Objective: Participants will learn how to manage a fair, transparent, and consistent financial aid program for diverse family situations, specifically dual households. They will gain knowledge about best practices for considering both households' financial contributions, implementing non-custodial parent waiver protocols, and strategies for dealing with uncooperative households when both parents or guardians are to submit their own applications and documentation.

CPE Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
CPE Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Program Level: Basic
Prerequisites: None
Advanced Preparation: None
Recommended CPE Credits: 1.0
 

Our tuition assistance program is bespoke for each family's financial situation. Our committee evaluates a family's fiscal picture based on our school policies, enrollment management goals, and available budget.  We conduct a comprehensive review of every new family seeking tuition assistance, with a focus on long-term planning to support the student's education through to graduation.

We are excited to share some best practices that have contributed to our school's success. Since 2011, we have grown our enrollment by 45% while maintaining consistent levels of tuition assistance awarded each year. These strategies have been instrumental in supporting our school’s mission and ensuring access to quality education for many talented students every year.

Speaker:

• Julie Cameron, Director of Enrolment Management and Admissions, Ridley College (ON)

Learning Objectives: Participants will practice to ensure a consistent level of tuition assistance year over year which also allows for enrollment growth.

CPE Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
CPE Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Program Level: Basic
Prerequisites: None
Advanced Preparation: None
Recommended CPE Credits: 1.0
 

The presentation will focus on a data based approach to predicting future enrollment for the school's operating budget based on historical trends in data.   It will also cover a data based approach to tuition assistance and the school's discount rate, as well as intentionally developing a budget operating contingency based on potential fluctuations in enrollment.  

Speaker:    

• Adam Wojtelwicz, Chief Financial Officer, Trinity Valley School  (TX)

Learning Objective: To budget enrollment based on historical trends, use the discount rate to develop the financial aid budget, allocate aid using a data based approach, and build in an operating contingency to manage enrollment fluctuations.    

CPE Field of Study:Finance 
CPE Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Program Level: Basic
Prerequisites: None
Advanced Preparation: None
Recommended CPE Credits: 1.0
 

This session will address the challenges and successes of supporting students who receive aid at each stages of their career.  We will discuss the unique challenges of supporting financial aid students from around the world and the importance of equity and access at each stage.  As a smaller school we will share entrepreneurial programs that have been developed over that past 10 years and reflect upon how the inclusion student voice in each part of the process. We will highlight the importance of the partnership between Admissions, Finance, and the DEI Office to move the school and student experience forward.            

Speakers:

• Gwen Pojasek, Chief Financial Officer, Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School (MA)
• Nikki Turpin, Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School (MA)
• Kathryn Saunders, Director of Enrollment Management, Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School (MA)

Learning Objective: Participants will learn the importance of transparency of the support students will receive throughout their independent school career and will leave with creative ideas they can implement at their schools.

CPE Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge
CPE Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Program Level: Basic
Prerequisites: None
Advanced Preparation: None
Recommended CPE Credits: 1.0
 

Meet the Dallas Family

Moderator:

Amy deBorst
Director of Financial Aid
Greenhill School (TX)
 

Meet the Bailey Family

Moderator:

James Eberhart
Director of Financial Aid & Associate Director of Admission
Chadwick Schools (CA)
 

Meet the Segal Family

Moderator:

Mac McCallum
Director of Admissions and Financial Aid
Pace Academy (GA)
 

Meet the Dewey Family

Moderator:

Susie Horan
Senior Associate Director of Admission 
Canterbury School (CT)