With so many individuals and departments that aid with new and existing site development, it’s important to develop a thorough understanding of who does what. In this section, we’ve outlined the various teams and their roles, from enrollment support to site-specific staff, to help you navigate who might serve as the best point of contact for specific needs.
Site Initiation
Vice President, SEU Ministry Network
Leads discussions on site partnerships, development, and strategic vision.
Dean, Chief Operations Officer
Oversees operational logistics and site readiness for successful onboarding and provides solutions for elevated issues.
Site Development
Operations Manager
Facilitates the transition from conceptualizing a new site to putting it into action. Supports decisions on site offerings and operational execution.
Director of Academic & Extension Operations
Guides the setup of academic offerings and extension programs, ensuring alignment with SEU standards and mission.
Network Enrollment Coordinator
Serves as the primary point of contact for general questions and support throughout the student experience at your site. They facilitate the transition from onboarding to daily operations and guide students through the admissions process. They provide ongoing communication and assistance to both students and site staff, helping address any needs or concerns as they arise.
Academic Advising
Provides individual academic guidance to students, helping them choose courses, track progress toward degree completion, and resolve any academic concerns.
Site Financial Aid
Assists students with understanding financial aid options, including scholarships, loans, and grants.
Registrar
Handles all transfer credit evaluations, transcript requests, and graduation requirements.
Region Leader
Works with multiple sites within a designated region to ensure alignment in educational offerings, community engagement, and regional goals.
Site Director
Oversees the operations, academic integrity, and student engagement at the site. Acts as the key contact between the site and the broader SEU network staff.
PROSPECT: A potential student in the target audience that may take interest in your program. These could be students that match your demographic targets, purchased names, or potential referrals.
INQUIRY: A prospective student who has connected with you to find out more information. The goal of any inquiry is to convert them to an applicant.
APPLIED: A prospective student who has submitted an application but still needs to complete the admission process.
ACCEPTED: An applicant who has completed the application process and has been accepted.
CONFIRMED: An accepted student who has submitted the enrollment confirmation form.
FIRE READY: A student who is enrolled in classes, financially clear, and has submitted their final official transcripts. The student is now ready for the upcoming semester!
Submit Application: Submit the initial application online and choose the desired site and semester.
Submit Application Requirements: Once the online application is submitted, the application status link will be sent to the student which includes the application requirements. For most students, this will be high school and/or college transcripts.
Ready for Review: After all requirements are submitted, the application will be ready for a network enrollment coordinator to review! The student will receive an admission decision within 3-5 days of completing their application.
Acceptance: After the application has been reviewed and an acceptance decision has been made, the acceptance email is sent to the student, as well as the designated site staff, along with their enrollment confirmation form.
Confirmation: Upon completion and submission of the enrollment confirmation form, the student gains access to their One Login, SEU email account, and other SEU platforms.
Each site will have a customizable site profile that details their unique qualities, degree programs, site fees, practicum tracks, available amenities, student life, and student services. It will also show site contact information, Google Maps location, and local favorites.
While we may not consider ourselves traditional salespeople, an important part of our role involves elements of sales—particularly when it comes to recruiting students for our sites. At its core, recruiting is about connecting people with the right opportunity, and in our case, that opportunity is the educational programs offered through partnering churches and/or organizations.
This “sales” element isn’t about pushing or pressuring; it’s about building trust, offering solutions, and helping individuals make informed choices that align with their goals and values. By doing so, we can foster lasting relationships that benefit both the students and the local church.
Recruiters must be experts on their product, target customers, industry, and brand value. Strong preparation builds credibility, while lack of knowledge can weaken it. Research shows only 13% of buyers feel recruiting reps understand their needs To truly understand customers, you must first know your product, in this case, your site!
Application:
You want to make sure that you begin with an approach that will help you engage the students/families and make them feel a part of the process. It is important to make a good first impression! Ask questions & listen actively. Genuine engagement happens when you give others space to speak.
There are six Cs of the sales approach—confidence, credibility, contact, communication, customization, and collaboration— these help you make a good first impression.
Application
Here you will ask a number of questions designed to gather facts about the customer, uncover their feelings, problems, or motivations, and determine what their potential concerns are so that you can provide them with a solution.
Application: Approach and Discovery
Make sure that your presentation is rooted in fact and that it is both effective and efficient. This is where you highlight what makes your site experience unique compared to other colleges and how it can provide the solution they’re seeking without over-promising or over-selling.
Most people will not invest their time or money without at least asking some questions or providing some ‘objections’ to the presentation.
Make sure that you answer any objections calmly and politely. To handle objections effectively, anticipate common concerns and prepare thoughtful responses in advance. Practicing your presentation with a colleague or friend can help you refine your approach and build confidence.
4 Tips for Overcoming Objections
Listen to the Objection: Let the student express their objection without interruption. Every concern is valid, and listening carefully can reveal valuable insights. If in person, be mindful of body language – negative reactions can discourage further conversation.
Get Clarification: Most objections aren’t stated outright. Ask probing questions to uncover the true hesitation. If a student says the school is “too far,” dig deeper – why is distance a concern? Addressing the real issue keeps the conversation productive.
Acknowledge & Inform: Validate the objection before offering new information. Many concerns stem from misinformation or perception. Thank them for their question, then offer factual information that clarifies misconceptions without simply telling them what they want to hear.
Solve the Problem: View objections as opportunities to provide solutions. Use your knowledge of the student, intuition, and logic to present a solution that truly addresses their concern.
Your closing words with the student/families should be impactful and show them you are providing a solution to their problem(s). Deliver your closing words with confidence, not arrogance, ensuring they address any remaining doubts or concerns in the student’s mind
In the case of student recruitment, our version of closing the deal is guiding the student to take the next step in the admissions process.
If you are unable to “close the deal” at that moment, it is very important that you set a follow-up date and provide them with your contact information for a follow-up to close.
Application:
The Right Way to Close… Is to Ask
Some reasons we don’t ask…
The secret to closing is…..There is none.
SEU Outbound Communication: We encourage all sites to familiarize themselves with our Network Communication Flow, a proven framework designed to effectively engage students at every stage of the enrollment process. This structured communication is sent directly from SEU to students at key milestones, ensuring they receive timely and relevant information to guide them from the initial application to enrollment. While this is not a requirement, understanding this flow allows sites to align their support with the messaging students are already receiving.
Partner Site Outbound Communication:. Site staff are encouraged to create their own communication plans that provide any additional information specific to your site.
During visits to church services or youth groups, representatives may speak to large groups or small classrooms. Being prepared with promotional giveaways and engaging students with prize drawings or food is highly encouraged. These visits allow for causal interactions and relationship-building with students and staff. If possible, bring a video, a current student, or visual aid to assist in the presentation.
During school visits, representatives present to small student groups, typically during class. The presentation should include a video, a brief introduction, and details on programs, student life, and spiritual growth, followed by a Q&A. Representatives should engage students in casual conversation, encouraging them to complete an application or inquiry form. Offering food and beverages can boost attendance and engagement, but must be approved by school faculty.
Meeting students over coffee or lunch provides an opportunity for personalized engagement and discussion. This personal connection can help guide students through the application process and increase their interest.
Your home field is your most valuable market, offering numerous opportunities to connect with potential students and their families. You can engage through opportunities such as Sunday announcements, church lobby interactions, youth camps, and young adult services to promote your site. Marketing to those you’ve already built relationships with makes it easier to recruit for your site.
We recommend that all sites host campus visits. Site visits fall into two categories: personal/daily visits and event days. Personal visits provide prospective students with a tailored experience, including campus tours, meetings with staff, and shadowing opportunities, typically lasting 1-3 hours. These visits can offer a more intimate way for students to learn about your site.
Event Days are event days that operate differently than a personal/daily visit. Rather than a few hours on campus, these visit types are meant to draw in bigger crowds of prospective students and provide a more in-depth overview of what life is like as a student at your site. These events typically include:
These events are typically offered once or twice a year, and can provide some great experience to involve your current students in the event day.
For additional ideas/questions for event days, please contact your site’s enrollment coordinator
Leads are prospective students who have expressed interest in SEU and your site, but haven’t applied yet. When growing in enrollment, lead outreach is essential for guiding prospective students through the decision-making process.
Leads are typically generated through a combination of marketing strategies and outreach efforts designed to attract prospective students and their families to your site. Below we have included some strategies to help you generate more leads.
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Below is a breakdown of tuition. Program costs are subject to change based on the number of credits enrolled per semester and site fee determined by site.
Please note that federal financial aid is also available to students.
Standard Tuition: $8,136
charged at $339/credit hour for 30 credit hours with practicum scholarship applied
Average Site Fee: $2,500
determined by site
General Student Fee: $600
charged at a rate of $300/semester
Total Annual Cost: $11,236
Tuition payment process: Students will make tuition payments directly to SEU. At the end of each semester, SEU reimburses the site fee to the site.
Your site will have a dedicated academic advisor to assist with course selection, degree planning, and transfer credit inquiries. They will be available for virtual support via email and video calls, providing personalized guidance to help students stay on track for graduation. Additionally, they can offer academic success strategies, career planning advice, and connections to tutoring or other student resources.
The practicum experience is a hands-on, in-person ministry component that varies by site but typically requires students to complete weekly in-person hours, providing practical training and real-world ministry experience.
Student life provides opportunities for students to build community beyond the classroom. By charging a site fee, you can reinvest funds into activities and resources that foster meaningful connections and enhance the overall student experience. Here are a few examples of events and activities you can offer:
Many sites host a weekly chapel service to provide students with a dedicated time for worship, prayer, fellowship and spiritual growth.
Requiring students to attend a regular study hall is a great way to support students academically and ensure they’re performing well in classes while also fostering community.
A regular Bible study can provide students a space to dive deeper into Scripture and engage in meaningful discussions with opportunities for mentorship and guidance with site staff.
Retreats can be a great way for students to take time off of classes and get to know one another in a separate setting. For Example, SEU Seacoast does a fall retreat in either a beach town or a cabin in the mountains. In the Spring, many sites carpool to Lakeland, FL, to attend SEU Conference.
These events can be beneficial, especially for incoming students. When planning a welcome week, or orientation schedule, it’s important to ensure that your itinerary has an even balance of essential information, as well as community-building activities.
This is a great way to promote physical and mental well-being, foster social connections, and create a sense of community. (ex. gym partnerships, intramurals, run clubs, etc.)
Allows for students to serve together locally and globally.
Encouraging staff members to engage in mentorship opportunities, such as 1:1’s, Bible studies, etc. can help the students grow, and connect with the church partner, beyond the site staff.
