Enrollment Counselor, Nursing – Admissions

The Enrollment Counselor, Under the primary direction of EMG and co-planner responsibilities to the Office of the Provost online programs, this position will manage and cultivate lead generation through application streamlining the student experience to support successful enrollment in online graduate nursing programs. The School of Nursing online graduate programs are the focus of this position. There will be deep collaboration with the Office of the Provost Online programs office and the School of Nursing. This role requires strong communication skills, customer service orientation, and the ability to connect with prospective students to understand their unique needs and goals. As an Enrollment Counselor, you'll be instrumental in guiding students to their educational journey. This role primarily involves support and detailed management of the financial aid process, providing comprehensive advising from post-admission to enrollment, and ensuring students are well-informed about financial aid and registration. You will be a key contributor to meeting our enrollment goals and upholding the institution's commitment to educational excellence.

Major areas of work include, but is not limited to, follows the lifecycle of the application process from the prospective student’s initial request for program information, to the successful completion of an application. Provides information to prospective students for all online graduate degree Nursing programs, communicates regularly with prospective students, and assists applicants throughout the application process by ensuring all materials have been received. Collaborates with administration, faculty, staff, students, and applicants to foster innovation and efficiency throughout the recruitment and application processes. The Enrollment Counselor is responsible for guiding prospective students through the enrollment process, from initial inquiry to registration completion. This role requires effective communication skills, customer service orientation, and the ability to connect with prospective students to understand their unique needs and goals. Tasks will include, but are not limited to, ensuring all necessary documentation is collected and processed, conducting in person and virtual tours and information sessions, tracking student interactions, and maintaining active and extensive communication with prospective students through various channels including phone, email, chat, and SMS.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position will involve the planning of prospective student recruitment activities, extensive outreach and travel.

Includes evening and weekend work, extensive phone use and telemarketing, travel, and directive counseling for individuals and groups

Must become knowledgeable about all aspects of Duquesne University including academic programs, campus events and activities, orientation, athletics, housing, financial aid, billing, college policy, and important dates

Through heavy use of outgoing contacts via phone, email, IM, etc., the recruiter cultivates, engages, grades, persuades and closes prospective students. Always qualifies conversation and generates next steps (application, enrollment deposit, FAFSA, housing application, registration, etc.)

Determine the best next contact for each of the hot prospects in the territory. This involves regular use of the arsenal, which comprises both printed and web information collected for this purpose and members of the campus community - i.e., faculty, alumni, current students, coaches and parents of current students.

Communication: Maintain active and extensive communication with prospective and current students through omni-channel and most effective channels, including phone, email, chat, and SMS. Personal e-mails, customized and personalized notes and “Arsenal,” individual appointments, and group presentations are also expected.

Recruitment procedures cultivates, engages, grades, persuades and closes prospective students. Always qualifies conversation (“LOI”) and generates next steps (application, enrollment deposit, FAFSA, housing application, registration, etc.)

Database Management: Keep track of student interactions and progress using institutional CMR and database systems.

Enrollment Process Coordination: Facilitate the enrollment of new students, ensuring all necessary documentation is collected and processed.

Admission Process Management and Post-Admission Advising: Oversee the entire admissions process, from initial inquiry to the completion of registration. This includes evaluating applications, facilitating decisions, and communicating outcomes to candidates. Provide ongoing support and guidance to students after admission, assisting them in understanding the next steps toward enrollment.

Financial Aid Assistance: Advise students on financial aid options, helping them navigate the application process for scholarships, grants, and loans. Explain financial aid options and application process; assist with FAFSA completion and loan applications. Provide expertise in Financial Aid Assistance through consultative approach.

Goal Achievement: Using your talents and problem-solving skills, recommend ways to help meet specific enrollment targets, analyzing data to develop strategies for improved performance. Achieve monthly goals for contacted prospects, completed applications, and semester based closed enrollments on a semester-basis.

Information Sessions and Tours: Conduct in person and virtual information sessions for prospective students and their families. Ability to work evenings until 8pm and occasional weekend work required.

Registration Support: Advise prospective students on academic program options through one-on-one consultative interactions. Assist students with course registration, ensuring they are enrolled in the correct classes and understand their academic schedule.

Compliance and Training: Stay informed of and adhere to all relevant regulations and policies, and engage in ongoing professional development. Ensure compliance with FERBA, Title IV, and other applicable regulations

Interdepartmental Collaboration: Coordinate with other departments, including SON, Online programs office, financial aid, registrar, and academic advising, to ensure a seamless student experience.

Required schedule: regular M-F, flexible schedule for late evening hours 2 x week, Saturdays 1x/month per person/in-person

Online/hybrid-WFH 1-2 days per week

Travel required for this position

Completes other duties as assigned.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Guides the work of others who perform the same work. May organize, set priorities, schedule and review work, but has no responsibility to hire, terminate, reviewing performance or make pay decisions, e.g., Lead position.

REQUIREMENTS:

Minimum qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in healthcare, business, or higher education and 1 – 3 years’ experience in customer relations, sales, higher education, particularly in admissions, financial aid, student accounts, or advising and registration or related fields.

Proficient in using technology for communication and data management

Current PA Driver’s license in good standing

Preferred qualifications:

Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Nursing, Education, Business or related field

Familiarity with Nursing and/or online academic programs and offerings

Alternately, the successful candidate may possess any equivalent combination of experience and training, which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the essential job functions. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

Strong communication skills: Articulate, active listening and tailored messaging

Collaboration: Effective in cross-functional teamwork

Strong organizational skills: Detail-oriented with a problem-solving mindset

Time management: Ability to multitask and work effectively under pressure

Guidance: Advising, supporting student goals

Persuasion: Overcoming objections, gaining commitment

Compliance: Understanding applicable regulations

Professional demeanor and student-focused approach

Proficiency of PC and Microsoft Office Software; familiarity with Slate and Banner preferred

Maintain strict confidentiality of sensitive information

Ability to make decisions in accordance with established policies

Engage in continuous improvement of processes and practices

Ability to be proactive, strategic and deadline-oriented in a complex organization

Professional demeanor with the ability to deal with people in a courteous and tactful manner regardless of circumstances

Ability to work with diverse populations and sensitivity to the need of each individual to be treated with dignity and respect as it relates to diversity in general and the Mission of the University specifically

Ability to exceed recruitment goals, partake of staff development opportunities, exhibit teamwork, model analytical & critical thinking, engage in creative problem solving and demonstrate high levels of time management and organizational skills

NCAA Compliance: NCAA requirements and competency as appropriate based on position responsibilities, if required, upholds NCAA rules and regulations

Ability to work overtime and some evenings and weekends during peak application receipt and processing periods

Motivation to work harmoniously with a diverse group of highly qualified team members

Commitment to the University’s values of diversity, equity and inclusion, and recognition of the importance of treating each individual with dignity and respect consistent with the University’s Mission. Demonstrated experience with, and understanding of, the broad diversity of the University community (students, faculty, staff and others)

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the University Community

Ability and willingness to contribute actively to the mission of the University and to respect the Spiritan Catholic identity of Duquesne University. The mission is implemented through a commitment to academic excellence, a spirit of service, moral and spiritual values, sensitivity to world concerns, and an ecumenical campus community

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three professional references.

Catholic in its mission and ecumenical in spirit, Duquesne University values equality of opportunity as an educational institution and as an employer. We aspire to attract and sustain a diverse faculty and staff that reflects contemporary society, serves our academic goals and enriches our campus community. We particularly encourage applications from members of underrepresented groups and support dual-career couples through our charter membership in this region's HERC (http://www.hercjobs.org/oh-western-pa-wv/).

We invite applicants for this position to learn more about our university and its Spiritan heritage by visiting http://www.duq.edu/about/mission-and-identity/mission-statement. Those invited to campus for an interview may be asked about ways in which they see their talents contributing to the continued growth of our community and furthering its mission.

Duquesne University was founded in 1878 by its sponsoring religious community, the Congregation of the Holy Spirit. Duquesne University is Catholic in mission and ecumenical in spirit. Motivated by its Catholic identity, Duquesne values equality of opportunity both as an educational institution and as an employer.