Admission Counselor (Multiple Positions)

Position Summary

Fort Lewis College has a team of Admission Counselors who manage the outreach, recruitment, and enrollment of students from specific geographic territories.  In addition to actively working with a caseload of students, Admission Counselors provide exceptional customer service in representing the College with campus visitors, general inquiries and contributing to our successful campus visit events.  In everything they do, our Admission Counselors advance the mission of Fort Lewis College to provide access and support to an incredibly diverse student body, over 57% of our students are students of color, they represent all 50 states and over 180 Native American Tribes and over a third of our students are the first in their family to pursue a college degree.    

 Outreach includes traveling to your territory to meet with high school, transfer, and returning students, their families, high school counselors, community college advisors and counselors, and other key influencers in small group settings, at college fairs, giving presentations to large groups and meeting one-on-one to share information about Fort Lewis College and help students and families navigate the processes of becoming an FLC Skyhawk. Outreach also includes giving virtual presentations and chatting on Zoom with students and families and following up with students in a timely and authentic way. The key to successful outreach and recruitment is building relationships with the students you meet, staying organized, managing the logistics of travel, and using data to guide your follow-up via phone calls, texts, and messaging as you work with students at various points in the process.  

 Counselors are responsible for reviewing applicants within assigned caseloads for admission eligibility, which includes a holistic approach to identifying indicators of success such as academic rigor, grade trends, and patterns, and the context within student lives that these indicators are taking place. 

 Here’s what success looks like in this position – You will know your territories. You’ll know the schools you work with, you’ll know your students.  You’ll be able to identify your top schools on the map and know where the best coffee shop is nearby.  You’ll plan and execute your travel – you’ll follow fiscal policy, you’ll schedule your visits efficiently, you’ll plan for traffic and you’ll be okay when all your plans change unexpectedly because you’ll know how to adapt.  You love to connect with people – with high school students, with transfer students, with parents, with high school counselors, with faculty and staff on campus and everyone else along the way. You will not know all the answers, but you’ll know how to find them. You will understand the importance of recording and reconciling data and letting that data guide your follow up, inform your admission decisions, and use your time wisely. You won’t be afraid to learn new technology and ask questions along the way.  In the end, you’ll be successful in this position if you can be adaptable and flexible, if you are self-motivated and want to be a part of a dedicated, fast-paced and reliable team, and if you take pride in helping connect people to opportunities.  

  Life in the Admission Office is fast-paced, collaborative and student-centered. We are currently looking to fill two Admission Counselor positions to join our team and share our enthusiasm for supporting students. The Admission Counselor team report to the Associate Director of Admission for Recruitment.  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (earned by position start date) 
  • The anticipated start date for this position is flexible and is ideally between May 2nd and May 31, 2022.
• Excellent interpersonal skills that include professional communication, relationship building, and the ability to clearly and concisely present information  
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including excellent presentation abilities 
• Experience working with diverse groups of people in a variety of settings 
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple priorities 
• Experience identifying and defining problems/alternatives and developing recommendations  
• Display strong planning and organizing skills, attention to detail, and ability to produce desired results 
• Ability to initiate and implement projects independently and as part of a team 
• Ability to work remotely while traveling or in other unique circumstances. Outside of recruitment or professional development travel, this position is based on-campus and in-person.  
• Must have a sense of humor. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Bilingual ability (e.g. Navajo, Spanish, Mandarin, etc.)  
• Experience navigating available resources or participating in activities related to higher education and/or the 16-22-year-old prospective student market 
• Experience as a student leader, Student Admission Representative, Tour Guide, Resident Advisor, Peer Advisor, Orientation Leader, or similar student involvement 

Major Responsibilities

Recruitment and Outreach  

• Travel extensively, including weeknights and weekends, (approx. 12 weeks in the fall and 6 weeks in the spring) to promote Fort Lewis College to prospective first year and transfer students to meet college enrollment goals.  
• Develop and manage relationships with key constituents in territories to include high school and community college counselors, community-based organizations and alumni, parents and students 
• Present to large and small groups of students and guests at on- and off-campus events including high school visits, college fairs, campus visit programs, application workshops, community events and parent nights.   
• Schedule high school visits and college fairs and coordinate other outreach activities to prospective first-year and transfer students, maintain calendar of events and provide activity reports 
• Conduct holistic review of student application materials in coordination with the Admission Committee as is necessary to determine student eligibility for admission.   
• Know a little bit about a lot of things. Advise students and their families on all things FLC, including admission requirements, transfer policies, financial aid and scholarships, academic programs and campus life. 
• Appropriately and efficiently manage time and allotted financial resources to meet recruiting objectives.  
• Review applications for admission for your caseload of students in a timely and thorough manner. 

Capturing and Using Data 

• Develop expertise on assigned geographic areas including market trends and competitor analysis.  
• Manage and develop recruitment strategies in conjunction with overall recruitment goals. Review and analyze data to determine schools, fairs, and events to attend/visit utilizing Technolution’s Slate CRM. 
• Prepare written reports, make strategic recommendations and contribute to the overall development of recruitment plan. Reporting and planning takes place at yearly, bi-annual, monthly, and weekly levels.  
• Record interactions with students, qualify student interest in FLC through personalized outreach efforts to include phoning and texting campaigns as well as in-person interactions. 

Support Overall Recruitment Efforts  

• Serve as the “Counselor on Duty” on a regular rotation in the Admission Office. Providing excellent customer service to visiting students, families and community members as well as responding to phone and email inquiries and giving information sessions.  
• Participate in the Admission Committee for admission and appeal decisions.  Assist in the timely review of all undergraduate applications for admission as needed.  
• Successfully manage all aspects of a special program or initiatives for a specific population as identified by the Director of Admission. Some examples of programmatic responsibilities include:  
• Coordinating Alumni Admission Volunteer Outreach campaigns  
• Serving as the liaison for special populations such as: students requesting gap year/deferrals, Veterans, Concurrent Enrollment students, etc.  
• Assisting with the coordination of Academic Recruitment Initiatives and department information  
• Collaborate and take direction from the Assistant Director of Campus Visit Programs regarding responsibilities that contribute to the success of all campus visit programs.  This may include planning and implementing components of larger programs or coordinating specific visit programs.   
• Campus visit events often take place during evenings and weekends.  

Professional Expectations 

• Responsible for timely follow up with internal and external customers.  Researching complex questions and connecting with campus partners to provide accurate information.  
• Complete reports related to travel, outreach and special programs in a timely manner.  
• Participate as an engaged and supportive member of the Admissions team by:  
• Participating in meetings, committees and special projects  
• Assisting colleagues with team projects  
• Proactively engaging in identifying areas for improvement and innovation 
• Maintain knowledge and awareness of digital accessibility including the American with Disabilities Act and Section 508. Produce and remediates digitally accessible materials in accordance with FLC standards.  
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and student success, as well as working with broadly diverse communities  
• Jump in and help out.  

Work Conditions

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that an employee can expect while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

• Moderate noise (i.e. business office with computers, phone, and printers, light traffic). 
• Ability to work in a confined area. 
• Ability to sit at a computer terminal for an extended period of time. 
• Must have a sense of humor. 
• Must be adaptable to changing policies, procedures and practices. 

Compensation

Beginning salary of $41k with the potential to earn a bonus, plus a comprehensive benefits package

The anticipated start date for this position is flexible and is ideally between May 15 and May 31, 2022.


Application Process
A complete application packet include s:

• Cover letter addressing interest and qualifications for the position
  • Include details regarding how your personal and professional experiences allow you to encourage a learning environment grounded in equity and inclusion. “How do you envision contributing to Fort Lewis College’s commitment to equity and inclusion?”
• Resume
• Names and contact information for three current, professional references

Submit materials as one PDF file via email to:

admissioncounselor-search@fortlewis.edu

Application materials received by May 1, 2022, will receive full consideration. The position will remain open until filled.

• A final job offer is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of a criminal background check as a condition of employment. All background checks will be conducted in accordance with Fort Lewis College policy.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver license. Must be in possession of the license at the time of application.
• A final job offer is contingent upon the satisfactory review of the driving record by the College insurance agent and the satisfactory driving record must be maintained to drive a campus vehicle