By Autumn Walden, Editor, AACRAO Connect, Content Strategy Manager, AACRAO
The industry pressures of financial tightening, policy upheaval, and heightened expectations for enrollment, retention, and workforce alignment are valid concerns for our higher education community. Yet our community benefits from our collaborative nature, which builds relationships and careers through shared expertise and practical tools. Strategic Enrollment Management and the people who champion and implement the work of aligning mission and margin also unite academic affairs, student affairs, and financial priorities that guide institutions forward.
As we move into 2026, AACRAO has renewed its agreement with Bethel University regarding its Strategic Enrollment Management Endorsement Program—a self-paced, competency-based recognition for enrollment professionals. Through a capstone project and demonstration of core SEM knowledge, participants earn formal acknowledgment of their ability to lead strategic enrollment initiatives.
“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Bethel University as they value our educational training and endorsement,” said Melanie Gottlieb, Executive Director of AACRAO. The demand for skilled, future-ready enrollment professionals continues to grow, emphasizing the value of relevant, high-quality, credentialed pathways that align with workforce needs.
Benefits of the Agreement
Under this renewed agreement, professionals who have earned the SEM Endorsement will have one course waived (two to four credits) toward the completion of the Doctor of Education: Leadership in Higher Education degree at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota.
In addition, AACRAO members with a SEM Endorsement accepted into the Bethel University Ed.D. program will also now receive a scholarship that will cover up to $400 of tuition per term for a maximum of $1,200 per academic year.
“I’m grateful for the generosity of Bethel University in offering a multi-term scholarship for our SEM Endorsement graduates, as they recognize that cost can be a barrier to the pursuit of advanced degrees,” said Dr. Christopher W. Tremblay, Director of the SEM-EP.
This expanded benefit arrives at a pivotal time, as higher education faces increased destabilization and scrutiny while actively preparing learners for a competitive workforce and a dynamic global economy. Leaders who can interpret data and design pathways for learning mobility are increasingly essential across campuses. This renewed SEM-EP/Bethel University agreement ushers in a new generation of leaders like Tricia Pothour, Ed.D., Assistant Dean of Enrollment Management at the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business. Dr. Pothour is a 2020 SEM-EP graduate and scholar who recently defended her dissertation and is now the first SEM-EP graduate to apply her AACRAO credits towards completing a doctoral degree at Bethel University.
“The SEM-EP experience and those I met through the program and field visits provided me the confidence to pursue a doctoral degree,” shared Dr. Pothour in a recent interview. “Personally, this achievement is meaningful as a way for me to lead by example that learning never stops, challenges are worth embracing, and the hard things are achievable.”
The SEM-EP has also seen significant momentum in the past year and continues to expand its influence. AACRAO welcomed a new cohort of evaluators and celebrated a record 12 program presenters at the 35th Annual AACRAO Conference for SEM, providing participants a platform for thought leadership and applied research. As institutions face a future that demands agility, innovation, and deep enrollment expertise, this AACRAO-enhanced pathway provides practitioners with a powerful new advantage. With a respected credential, a supportive evaluator network, and scholarship-backed access to doctoral study, professionals are positioned to lead with confidence.
Wondering if this is your time to start? You can apply any day of the year and start the program any day of the year, as this is not a cohort-based program. Start whenever you are ready to commit to the experience. Find out more about SEM-EP today.
share