Working Title: Admissions Counselor

State Role Title: N/A

Position Type: Administrative & Professional (Non-teaching Faculty)

Position Status: Full-Time

College/Division: Admissions

Department: 100175 - Admissions Office

Pay Rate: Maximum Starting

Beginning Review Date: 05/02/2024

Specify Range or Amount: $40,000

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

About JMU:

Mission
We are a community committed to preparing students to be educated and enlightened citizens who lead productive and meaningful lives.

Vision
To be the national model for the engaged university: engaged with ideas and the world.

Who We Are
Located in the heart of Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the city of Harrisonburg is approximately 120 miles from Washington, D.C. and Richmond, VA. With a population of just over 53,000, Harrisonburg is one of the most diverse communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. JMU is a selective, public institution with a growing national reputation for offering experiences that lead to an outstanding education and inclusive environment for students, faculty and staff. The student body includes approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students, with over 1,000 full-time instructional faculty.

JMU offers thriving programs in the liberal arts, science and technology, and professional disciplines at the undergraduate, master's and doctoral levels. The university is committed to expanding diversity, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting superlative teaching and scholarship. JMU has achieved national recognition for the high quality of its academic programs, focus on maintaining strong student/faculty interaction, and innovative faculty research.

General Information:

James Madison University is accepting applications for an Admissions Counselor. This position is primarily responsible for representing JMU to prospective students through on- and off-campus recruitment efforts. It involves extensive solo travel (potentially 8 weeks in the fall and 3 weeks in the spring) and reviewing freshman and transfer applications.

Duties and Responsibilities:

* Manages a recruitment region.
* Evaluates all freshman applications and all transfer applications for fall intake in that recruitment region. This requires the ability to analyze transcripts, follow-up with school counselors regarding situations to advocate for applicants, and ensure accurate, consistent decisions are made using professional judgement and a strong attention to detail.
* Supports bringing a diverse student population to campus that meets University goals.
* Serves as the point person for recruitment region to ensure consistency over time for admissions decisions. Serves as an active member of other admissions application committees.
* Answers emails, phone calls, decision inquiry forms, and in-person questions from prospective families for the recruitment region in a timely fashion.
* Advises students on potential majors that align with career path and course decisions for competitive first-year and transfer applicants. Requires an ability to listen, understand, and validate conversations with families to provide counseling and advising.
* Helps prospective families navigate through the application processes, and develops pathways for applicants not initially offered admission to JMU.
* Utilizes office-wide technology for prospective students and applicants. Includes using PeopleSoft and OnBase to analyze application information, recording notes to share with admissions committees, and maintaining accurate data.
* Works with the travel coordinator in the office to develop an appropriate travel plan to maximize our ability to reach students. Requires an ability to analyze reports of schools that have provided us strong admissions candidates in the past. Keeps current with regions to recognize shifts and identifies potential new markets for recruitment.
* Manages travel logistics for regions, including booking hotels, reserving transportation, and mapping out a schedule for how to get to different high schools and college fairs for travel.
* For virtual events, uses Zoom, Teams, and other technologies to be able to meet with prospective students.
* Represents JMU positively at high school visits, college fairs, daily visitation, and on-campus recruitment events to connect with prospective students and families.
* Delivers presentations to prospective students and families about what JMU has to offer and clearly articulates the admissions process and criteria.
* Performs additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Required:
Bachelor's Degree
Valid Driver's License
Some evening and weekend availability

Preferred:
Ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Strong multi-media presentation, oral and written communication skills
Customer service experience
Attention to detail
Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs with or without an accommodation

Conditions of Employment:

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

Additional Posting Information:

JMU's Dual Career and Community Resources Program is available for candidates that will be relocating to the area. For more information, please visit https://bit.ly/2OTF1NG.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.