North Central College Looking for First Year Admission Counselor Full Time

Posting Number: S000756

Position Summary

To establish and maintain contact with prospective North Central College freshmen in assigned territories by phone, written/electronic correspondence and in person, in order to provide information about the College, including financial aid available on an individual basis, to counsel and advise prospective freshmen and their parents, and to assist those interested in the application process. To achieve or exceed territorial goals with regard to the number of qualified freshmen who enroll at North Central College and to assist them in making a smooth transition to college life.

The position is responsible for creating and executing a comprehensive recruitment outreach plan designed to enrich the campus community by attracting and enrolling a diverse student body. As a member of the campus community for North Central College, it is essential to support and foster a diverse, inclusive and civil community of outstanding faculty, staff and students.

Description of Key Responsibilities

1. Interact with people in assigned territories, primarily high school juniors and seniors, who may be qualified and interested in becoming North Central College freshmen. Sources for contacts include responses to search mailings and advertisements, referrals from alumni and others, personal contacts made at high school visits and college fairs, inquiries from individuals, web inquiries and other sources. Ensure that contact is established and, where appropriate, maintained with these people by personally phoning and corresponding by mail and e-mail with them and/or seeing that assigned student workers accomplish this task, and by meeting with them personally in a variety of settings (see below).

2. Provide information about the College; counsel and advise students and their parents in order to assist them in making a college choice as well as, where appropriate, guiding them through the processes of applying for admission and for financial aid. Encourage qualified students to participate in orientation programs. Maintain records of contacts made and results thereof.

3. Primarily during the fall season, visit high schools in assigned territories in order to meet personally with as many prospective students as possible. Make arrangements in advance with high school personnel and ensure that information announcing the visits are sent to the schools and that identified prospective students at the schools are notified of the impending visit. Meet with high school guidance counselors in order to keep them informed of North Central College’s activities and programs.

4. Support commitment to increasing diversity in student population by developing and implementing strategies and programs, which will assist in increasing the number of visits to campus, applications and the matriculation rate of diverse populations.

5. Represent the College at college fairs held in assigned territories. Provide interested persons with information, including literature, about the College.

6. Encourage interested prospective students to visit the campus, either individually or during scheduled visit days, including overnight stays. Make arrangements for and, where appropriate, participate in interviews, tours, class visits, meetings with coaches and other faculty members, meals, residence hall accommodations and other activities.

7. Assist the director of admission in making decisions as to which applicants will be accepted for admission. When appropriate, suggest ways in which the process of recruiting freshmen might be made more effective.

8. Assist with the planning and conducting of admission-related events such as visit days, high school counselor visit days, athletic or academic specialty visit days and freshman orientation.

9. Provide information about the College; counsel and advise students and their parents in order to assist them in making a college choice as well as, where appropriate, guiding them through the processes of applying for admission and for financial aid. Encourage qualified students to participate in the College’s orientation programs. Maintain records of contacts made and results thereof.

10. Efficiently manage a territory by analyzing data to determine which schools, fairs, and students to strategically target, and which territorial strategies will be most effective in each market to support goal attainment.

11. Aggressively and proactively monitoring and adjusting progress toward individual goals in an effort to assure the team goal.

12. Perform other duties as assigned.

OTHER KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Support the College’s mission, vision and values, and contribute to the advancement of the College’s Strategic Plan.
2. Demonstrate a strong commitment to continuous quality improvement.
3. Demonstrate civil and inclusive behavior when interacting with staff, faculty, students and visitors to the College. Promote a flexible, collaborative and inclusive work and living environment and engage in educational opportunities to increase awareness and understanding of diversity and inclusion.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Ability to consistently demonstrate outstanding interpersonal skills in dealing with persons both internal and external to the College. Ability to work effectively as a member of a small staff where teamwork and cooperation are the rule.

2. Ability to effectively counsel and advise prospective freshmen and their parents regarding numerous aspects of the College. Ability to exercise the proper balance of persistence and patience as individually appropriate to each contact.

3. Ability to quickly grasp knowledge of the College organization and operation, both administratively and academically, especially regarding admission-related activities such as financial aid. Up-to-date knowledge of developments in higher education in general and at schools with which North Central College traditionally competes for new students in particular.

4. Ability to deal with several tasks and work with a large number of individuals concurrently, often without direct supervision. This requires a person who is well organized, detail oriented, flexible and able to effectively prioritize tasks.

5. Ability to communicate in the English language, both orally and in writing, in a manner consistent with high professional standards, including contributing to the development of high quality communications which reflect positively on the College.

6. Ability to effectively select and supervise student workers, including training, scheduling, monitoring and evaluating.

7. Ability to apply mathematical skills necessary for compiling, summarizing and analyzing data and to prepare reports which are accurate, thorough yet concise, and professionally formatted.

8. Familiarity with Colleague or similar customer relationship management system, Microsoft Power Point, Excel, Word, Web research and electronic communication.

Distinguishing Characteristics

More than perhaps any other factor, the degree to which a college attracts and retains good students determines the success or failure of that institution. The individual in this position is a key player in this activity and has a profound effect on its success.

In addition to possessing extensive knowledge of North Central College policies and programs, both administrative and academic, admission counselors must be able to consistently demonstrate outstanding interpersonal skills, particularly in regard to relating to members of this particular age group as well as to the parents of prospective students. This is particularly important as counselors are usually the first persons representing the College with whom prospective students and their parents come in contact, and the image of the College that they project may be the basis for decisions to pursue or not to pursue the application and enrollment process. It is essential that counselors have a genuine interest in and concern for the people they serve. Admission counselors are the primary contacts with high school guidance counselors, Community Based Organizations (CBO’s), and non-profit organizations; impressions made here can have a powerful effect on the success of the College’s recruiting efforts.

The counselors are privy to personal and confidential information such as test scores and family financial data, and must exercise appropriate discretion in respect of privacy.

The nature of this position is such that a considerable amount of evening and weekend work is necessary. Also, travel requirements may at times result in a counselor being away from home for as long as a week at a time.

Education/Training

A baccalaureate degree is required.

Experience

One to three years of admission experience is preferred. Knowledge of North Central College programs, policies and procedures preferred. Microsoft Power Point, Excel, Word, web research and electronic communication skills are strongly desired.

Licenses or Certifications

A valid driver’s license and acceptable driving record is required.

Is This a Temporary Position?: No

Employment Conditions

An offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion of the College’s background screening process.

If you are hired, in accordance with College policy and the State of Illinois Executive Order 2021-20 “and subsequent continuations”, we will require you to provide proof that you have received the COVID-19 vaccine or have a valid religious or medical reason not to be vaccinated. Those who remain unvaccinated must participate in weekly COVID-19 testing as a condition of employment.

For more information about the College’s vaccine expectation along with other helpful information regarding the College’s current health and safety protocols-go to covid.northcentralcollege.edu/health

Number of Vacancies: 1

EEO Statement

North Central College is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to increasing the diversity of our workforce. NCC provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. If you need reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please notify the Office of Human Resources. Determinations for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Open Until Filled: No

Special Instructions to Applicant

Applicants who would enrich the diversity of the campus community are strongly encouraged to apply.

Additional Information

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