Graduate Admissions Specialist

Shenandoah University’s Office of Admissions is accepting applications for a Graduate Admissions Specialist. This is a full-time benefited position located on our main campus in Winchester, Virginia.

As a key member in all activities necessary to enroll graduate students in the university, the Graduate Admissions Specialist provides expert customer service to prospective graduate students, faculty, and staff by creating and maintaining accurate records for applicants and academic departments throughout the application and enrollment process. The Admissions Specialist will be the “go-to-person” when students or academic departments have questions about an applicant’s status or an admissions process.

The primary responsibilities of this position are to: (1) serve as the front-line responder for Graduate Admissions; (2) serve prospective students as an expert counselor through the admission process; (3) process graduate applications and update applicant records; (4) communicate admission decisions to all graduate applicants.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Communication with Prospective Students

• Serve as the front-line responder for Graduate Admissions by responding to queries for information about graduate programs, admissions process, and status information via phone, email, text, and in-person visitors.
• Maintains working knowledge of program requirements, developing expertise that allows for prompt response to questions from applicants and academic departments.
• Manage outgoing communication to applicants regarding status. This includes email responses from shared email account, telephone responses, and coordinating with the Admissions Operations team to update Communication Flow details and website content.
• Counsel prospective students through the admissions process by communicating timely information.
• Work with program directors to develop, maintain and update all program information/curriculum sheets used for recruitment purposes.

Processing Applications

• Process graduate applications and update applicant records in Admissions CRM. In the absence of other team members, assumes responsibility of processing applications from their assigned territories.
• Ensure all applicants’ admission requirements are met by proactively communicating missing requirements with applicants through various means and review documents to facilitate application completion.
• Prepare and deliver applications for review by academic departments, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of the delivery, and routinely check on applications in review stage.
• Coordinate admissions decisions with academic departments and prepare notification letters for applicants.
• Compare official transcripts to unofficial transcripts in order to check for accuracy.

Communication with Assigned Academic Departments

• Develop positive relationships with assigned academic departments. Collaborate with those departments to provide seamless service to prospective students and to maintain accurate content in outgoing messages.
• Serve as liaison between prospective graduate students and the appropriate academic departments and personnel.

Student Employee Education

• Train and manage student employees.
• Develop tasks and projects for student employees to maximize their talents and interests.

And other responsibilities as assigned.

Required Skills

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college
• Demonstrated strong verbal, interpersonal, and written communication skills
• Experience with technology and using Microsoft Office Applications
• Ability to prioritize and manage a diverse array of activities daily despite multiple interruptions.
• Demonstrated time management skills and attention to detail
• Experience working in higher education and/or office environment preferred
• Prior experience in customer service-oriented position preferred
• Display initiative and desire to think beyond the current parameters of the role.
• Enjoys working collaboratively and is able to work independently
• Ability and willingness to work until the task is completed successfully is essential.
• Ability to work additional hours to attend and actively participate in admissions events, typically 10-15% of the time.
• Lift boxes of up to 50 pounds, and ability to work in front of a computer for up to 8 hours a day.
• Valid driver’s license with good driving record and ability to pass a DMV check.

How to Apply:

The complete application will include a cover letter, resume and contact information for three professional references. The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until a qualified candidate is selected. The anticipated start date for this position is June 1, 2022.

Shenandoah University is committed to enriching its educational experience and culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration, and staff. All candidates are strongly encouraged to include a statement in their cover letters addressing ways in which they may be able to contribute to that commitment.

**Note: A pre-employment background check, fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or on a University-approved medical or religious exemption, as well as a satisfactory driving record will be required as a condition of hire.

Shenandoah University values the unique and diverse perspectives of individuals and communities locally and globally and seeks to foster mutual understanding in an inviting community where individuals are welcome and respected. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran’s status or on any other basis protected under applicable law.

Salary Type
Not Applicable