Undergraduate Admission Counselor

Location: Hickory, North Carolina

Position Summary

The Undergraduate Admission Counselor is responsible for recruiting, counseling and assisting prospective students and their families in the admission process, maintaining excellent customer service standards, and managing geographic travel territories to meet recruitment and enrollment goals. The role requires carrying out the daily operations of the office and contributing to projects as assigned. This position is highly collaborative, often working closely with campus partners such as Financial Aid, Residence Life, Athletics and Academic Advising. This position reports to the Director of Undergraduate Admission.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Conduct market research; cultivate and manage relationships with counselors, high schools and community-based organizations; and maintain correspondence with students, families, counselors and other audiences.
• Coordinate recruitment activities for the assigned territory, including college fairs, high school visits, recruitment events, student interviews and meetings, email, text and phone campaigns and other recruitment activities to meet application and enrollment goals.
• Contribute to projects and special events as assigned by developing action plans and implementing project activities.
• Spend 25% of work time traveling, including up to eight weeks of recruitment travel in the fall and up to four weeks in the spring. Plan and prepare for all travel.
• Meet with prospective students and families for individual and group information sessions daily. Counsel students and families on the admission and financial aid process. Articulate the features and benefits of a personalized and hands-on education and residential experience.
• Attend on-and-off campus events hosted by the admission office.
• Participate in occasional weekend and evening events such as tours, open houses, admitted student days and new student orientation programs.
• Read and evaluate applications for admission and scholarship consideration. 
• Attend weekly meetings with the counseling staff and the supervisor.
• Maintain professionalism and build strong relationships with members of the Lenoir-Rhyne community, high school counselors, community-based organizations, alumni and other constituencies with whom the admission office interacts.
• Respond promptly to all questions or concerns from prospective students, parents, counselors, alumni and others. Maintain the highest level of customer service.

Other Duties

• Participate actively in professional organizations.
• Participate enthusiastically in all staff activities.
• Contribute to the overall success of the division by performing all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Required Qualifications 

• A bachelor's degree is required.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, as well as strong organizational skills, are required.
• Candidates should understand the nature and purpose of higher education, as well as the value of a residential and engaged college experience.
• Demonstrated cross-cultural competence in building relationships. Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and access in undergraduate student recruitment.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of a team is important.
• Proficiency with admission-specific software, spreadsheets, calendars and virtual resources.
• Changes Made
• A valid driver's license is required. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Slate or other student information systems preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to travel during the day and overnight to assigned geographic territory.
• Lifting is limited and should not exceed 20 pounds.
• Mobility throughout campus, including the ability to lead campus tours when needed. 

Work Schedule

• Standard office hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Travel and work evenings and weekends as necessary.

The requirements outlined in this position description indicate the minimum knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the job competently. Role descriptions are an overview of the duties, responsibilities and requirements of the position and are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of the position. Employees may be required to perform other job-related assignments as requested and acquire new skills and responsibilities. Lenoir-Rhyne University reserves the right to modify, add, remove, or waive the position's responsibilities, duties, and skills required.

Application Process

While completing the application, candidates will be prompted to submit: 

1. Resume
2. Cover letter
3. Three professional references 

The university’s mission, vision, and values statements may be reviewed using About LR.  

Lenoir-Rhyne University promotes a welcoming campus environment that is integral to the university's commitment to excellence in engagement and education. We are particularly interested in candidates who have demonstrated experience nurturing a welcoming community, working with faculty, staff and/or students from all walks of life and/or incorporating varied perspectives and traditions in their current or previous positions. This commitment is rooted in our Lutheran tradition of fostering wisdom, nurturing vocation and preparing students for lives of purpose while serving the common good. 

About Lenoir-Rhyne University

Lenoir-Rhyne University is a co-educational, private, comprehensive institution founded in 1891, with its traditional campus located in Hickory, North Carolina, a city of more than 40,000. The university has additional graduate centers in Asheville, N.C., and Columbia, S.C. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lenoir- Rhyne is less than an hour’s drive from Charlotte, and the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of about 365,000. The university now offers more than 45 undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs to approximately 2,400 students. Lenoir-Rhyne University seeks to liberate mind and spirit, clarify personal faith, foster physical wholeness, build community, and promote responsible leadership for service to the world. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lenoir-Rhyne is open to people from all religious and non-religious backgrounds.

Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy    

Lenoir-Rhyne University is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment, as well as other benefits, programs, and activities that are free from discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

LR is committed to creating a safe campus environment for all members of the LR community, including, but not limited to, those who identify as transgender and gender non-conforming. To that end, LR does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including sex stereotypes and sex characteristics), ethnicity, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable law.

To ensure compliance with federal and state civil rights laws and regulations and to affirm its commitment to promoting the goals of fairness and equity in all aspects of the educational program, activity and employment, LR has developed internal policies and procedures that provide a prompt, fair and impartial process for those involved in an allegation of discrimination or harassment, and for allegations of retaliation.

LR values and upholds the equal dignity of all members of its community and strives to balance the rights of the parties in the grievance process during what is often a difficult time for all those involved.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

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