Thomas Ritchie Email & Phone Number

Glasgow, Gb

Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

Leading the Admissions Team, responsible for 21 members of staff and the implementation, management oversight and review of the University's admissions policies and procedures in accordance with the requirements of external bodies, ensuring the admissions policies and procedures are effective, responsive and fair.Specifically, this involves:-Overall responsibility for ensuring the University reviews and processes applications within agreed timelines and makes sufficient offers to achieve intake targets across each market segment.-To contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of admissions policies in accordance with the requirements of external bodies (e.g. UCAS and UKVI), national policy developments and legislative changes.-Develop, review and implement robust processes and procedures for both centralised and de-centralised admissions decision making at all level of study, maintaining effective working relationships with academic colleagues. This applies to all fee status categories, including managing the significant increase in demand from international markets.-Acting as UCAS primary correspondent, responsible for the UCAS embargo and confirmation period.-Review, administer and oversee published policies for applicants including those relating to contextual admissions, criminal convictions, students with disabilities and the complaints procedure for applicants.-To ensure that potential applicants and key influencers have ready access to advice and information about admissions processes and programmes of study.-Oversight and Primary Destination Point Administrator of the US Federal Aid scheme, responsible for compliance with US Department of Education regulations.-Contributing as part of the International Operations & Student Recruitment Leadership Team to develop and implement departmental plans.

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

I manage a team of Admissions Assistants, with responsibility for overseeing the processing of applications at postgraduate level. I ensure the delivery of a high quality, customer focused and efficient admissions service for all customers, both internal and external.Specifically, this involves:-Managing and supporting all aspects of the admissions process, ensuring all applications are processed in a timely, efficient and transparent manner. Monitoring application turnaround times and planning workload accordingly to ensure an efficient service.-Acting as business expert on all aspects of the application process, providing advice, guidance and training to Admissions Assistants and academic colleagues involved in the selection of applicants;-Providing an excellent level of customer service to all those who access the service and work with team members to continually strive to improve service delivery;-Liaising with the Student Systems & Process Improvements Team regularly to identify system improvements to streamline processes; reviewing offer letters and business processes; and provide input to testing of changes and/or upgrades to the system;-Managing the annual review of selection criteria with academic staff, identifying areas for streamlining and ensuring criteria is transparent and easily understood;-Managing the administration of US Federal Aid to support recruitment and admissions from applicants from the United States of America - this includes the administration of US Federal Aid, VA Benefits, Canadian loans and US private loans throughout the full student journey; ensuring compliance with US federal aid policies through continuous improvement of procedures; organisation and submissions of the annual compliance audit; submission of recertification involving creation of and updating of several policies.

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

I worked primarily in the undergraduate admissions team, with joint responsibility for applications and enquiries made regarding the Business School and School of Computing. I also assisted with postgraduate admissions at peak times.The main duties and responsibilities of the role involve working on all aspects of the admissions process including: processing applications in accordance with agreed procedures, making centralised decisions and referring queries to academics as appropriate (including UCAS and direct applications); providing support and advice to staff, students and applicants/parents by email, phone and face-to-face; providing support to international applicants applying for a Tier 4 visa and issuing CAS letters; contributing to the annual confirmation and clearing operations; maintaining appropriate records of entry requirements; and making sure all applicants have the correct fee status attached to their record by conducting fee status assessments where appropriate.As part of this role I have attended training sessions and seminars with UCAS (Introduction to UCAS), UK NARIC (framework for fees for Scotland HE), IELTS and completed the UK NARIC Understanding International toolkit. Through this role I have also gained significant experience working with SITS database.I have also assisted the UK/EU Student Recruitment and Widening Access teams with some of their events, such as assisting with undergraduate webchats, assisting on Open Days/Applicant Visit Days, attending career events in secondary schools, shadowing a Widening Participation project in a local school and have presented twice at the LEAPS personal statement workshop and LEAPS S6 conference.

Edinburgh, United Kingdom

St Andrews

Welcoming and talking to prospective students and their parents and guests and giving town tours to large groups of visitors on university visiting days. Also involved in some of the widening participation schemes involving both primary and high school children. I have worked on 2 Reach summer schools and a Sutton Trust summer school through this, leading and supervising school pupils aged 15-17 for a residential week.

St Andrews

Working in the University's Admissions Department on a Summer Internship. The internship involved organising and recording interviews with postgraduate research students in order to create videos to be included on the university's website for prospective students to view. Gained useful experience of working as part of an admissions and student recruitment team.

St Andrews

Worked in St Andrews castle serving the visitors by selling them various types of tickets, offering information about the history of the castle and selling merchandise.

Ma (Hons), Management, 2:1

Activities and Societies: Student Ambassadors, Freshers Week Volunteers (Duty Manager)Also studied modules in economics and psychology.

Education record

Activities and Societies: House Captain, Yearbook Committee, Prom Committee7 Highers at grades AAAAABB and 1 Advanced Higher at grade C.