Admission Counselor

Expectation and Condition of Employment

Howard Payne University, a church-related institution affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, seeks to employ evangelical Christians who are dedicated to teaching and service as they model the principles of the Christian faith and the University’s sincere religious beliefs.

Howard Payne University (hereafter, University) is committed to the integration of learning and Christian faith in the pursuit of truth. Employees are expected to embrace the Christian Mission Statement and Core Values of the University and must support the University’s affirmation of traditional Christian and Baptist beliefs by leading lives of service through active involvement in Christian activities both on campus and through a local church.

Mission Statement

Howard Payne University is a Christ-centered academic community dedicated to excellence by developing and equipping the whole person for intellectual inquiry, personal and professional integrity, and service to God and humanity.

Core Values of Howard Payne University

We believe and affirm that the University as an institution and each individual called to serve the Lord at Howard
Payne should strive to demonstrate a commitment to these five Core Values:

• Centered on Christ   (cf. Col. 3:17, Matt. 7:24)
• Focused on Community   (cf. Eph. 4:4-6, 1 Pet. 3:8)
• Called to Service   (cf. Mark 10:45, Phil. 2:3-5)
• Committed to Excellence   (cf. Gen. 1:31, 1 Cor. 9:24)
• Dedicated to Stewardship   (cf. Gen. 2:15, 1 Pet. 4:10)

As a condition of employment, employees agree to be paid by Direct Deposit. Applicants offered contingent employment based on the University obtaining a clean background check agree the contingent offer of employment may be revoked based on the information obtained in the background check.

If offered employment, your acceptance will indicate that you have read and agree to the Expectations and Conditions above.

Application Procedure

To be considered for this position, please submit the following:

• a letter of application addressing in detail how you meet the position requirements
• a resume or CV (curriculum vitae)
• unofficial transcripts, and
• a completed HPU Employment Application

Job Summary

The Admission Counselor is responsible for assisting prospective students through the complete admission process, from the point of initial contact to enrolled student status. The Admission Counselor is responsible for assisting in the implementation of the enrollment strategies of the University and for achieving individual enrollment goals.  Related Admission Office responsibilities will also be assigned, relative to experience. 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

1. Provide a positive, professional demeanor within the Admission Office, on the University campus, and when representing the University to all prospective students, families and the public
2. Assist in the development and implementation of recruitment strategies to effectively target prospective students and shape the entering class
3. Responsible for implementing institutional enrollment strategies in off-campus and on-campus settings
4. Read and evaluate admission data including, but not limited to, applications for admission, standardized testing results, secondary school and college transcripts, student-written essays and letters of reference
5. Coordinate and facilitate communication to prospective students in assigned regions in standard mail and electronic formats.  Extensive phone work is required
6. Work proactively with the Office of Financial Aid to coordinate the delivery of financial aid packages to prospective students, including notifying members of the Financial Aid staff of merit scholarship slides awarded to prospective students within counselor’s assigned regions
7. Work proactively with other offices on campus, other college/university offices, high school offices, and with certain government agencies while assisting first-year, non-traditional, former, veteran, veteran dependent, or international students
8. Must be able to travel and be away from home approximately 25% of the year.  A typical travel schedule finds the Admission Counselor on the road about four to five weeks in the fall semester, two to three weeks in the spring, and about a week in the summer
9. Represent the University to prospective students, parents, community groups, high school counselors, church administrators, and University alumni by:
   1. Providing group information sessions for students and their families
   2. Conducting personal interviews with prospective students
   3. Visiting high schools to talk with students and counselors
   4. Visiting churches to talk with students and ministers
   5. Representing the University at college days and nights, school panel programs and National College Fairs
10. Build relationships with all aforementioned individuals
11. Provide a comprehensive assessment of student’s required application materials to be presented to the admission committee
12. Responsible for the complete maintenance and processing of all application files within assigned recruiting region
13. Assist in the development and implementation of a personal plan for assigned territory travel:
    1. Assist in determining college fairs to attend
    2. Assist in determining individual secondary school visits
    3. Identify key Baptist churches in primary region and schedule church visits to speak to members of youth groups, youth ministers and/or senior ministers of the church
    4. Assist fellow admission counselors in region travel
    5. Attend college fairs, school visits or church visits as assigned
14. Develop and implement a personal communication plan involving all constituencies central to recruiting students to the University:
    1. Evaluate and update personal letter flow and hand-written follow-up notes to prospective students
    2. Evaluate and update e-mail and text flow
    3. Evaluate and update phone calls to prospective students
    4. Evaluate and regularly update personal marketing plan designed to promote the University
    5. Complete tasks assigned in our customer relationship management system (CRM)
15. Represent the University by attending conferences as assigned
16. Assist when asked in interviewing prospective admission counseling staff members and student employees
17. Responsible for shared supervision of student employees
18. Obtain a detailed, working knowledge of the University and its many facets

Supervisory Responsibilities

Shares in supervision of student workers.  Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the University's policies and applicable laws. Participates in responsibilities that include interviewing, and training a student worker; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; resolving problems.

Required Competencies

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

1. Modeling Christian Faith - Must be committed to modeling the Christian faith. Displays a proven record of modeling the Christian faith in business operations, management roles, customer service functions, and interactions with others. Is committed to continuing to model Christian faith in a manner consistent with the University’s Mission Statement and Core Values
2. Analytical - Synthesizes complex or diverse information, collects and researches data, uses intuition and experience to complement data, designs work flows and procedures
3. Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner, gathers and analyzes information skillfully, develops alternative solutions, works well problem solving as part of a group, uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics
4. Project Management - Develops effective project plans, coordinates projects, communicates changes and progress, completes projects on time and budget, and manages project team activities effectively
5. Customer Service – Manages difficult or emotional situations effectively, solicits feedback to improve service, responds to requests for service and assistance promptly and effectively, meets the commitments they make to others
6. Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict without blaming others, consistently maintains confidentiality, listens to others without interrupting them, keeps their emotions under control, remains open to others' ideas and tries new things
7. Oral Communication - Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations, listens and gets clarification, responds well to questions, demonstrates effective group presentation skills, participates actively in meetings
8. Written Communication - Writes clearly and informatively, edits their work for correct spelling and grammar, varies their writing style as needed, presents numerical data effectively, is able to read and interpret written information effectively
9. Teamwork - Balances the needs of the team and individual responsibilities effectively, exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views, gives and welcomes feedback, contributes to building a positive team spirit, puts the success of the team above their own interests, is able to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives, supports everyone's efforts to succeed
10. Visionary Leadership - Displays passion and optimism, inspires respect and trust and motivates others to perform well, mobilizes others to fulfill the University’s Mission Statement while embracing the University’s Core Values, provides vision and inspiration to peers and subordinates, exhibits self-confidence and confidence in others, influences actions and opinions of others effectively, accepts feedback from others, gives appropriate recognition to others
11. Managing Student Workers - Takes responsibility for student workers' activities; Develops their skills and encourages growth
12. Quality Management - Looks for ways to improve and promote quality, demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness
13. Cost Consciousness - Works within their approved budget, develops and implements cost saving measures, conserves University resources
14. Ethics - Treats everyone with respect, keeps commitments, inspires others to trust them, works with integrity and ethically, upholds the University's Mission Statement and Core Values
15. University Support - Follows policies and procedures consistently, completes administrative tasks correctly and on time, supports the University’s Mission Statement and Core Values, Benefits the University through external community and professional activities, supports affirmative action and respects diversity
16. Strategic Thinking - Develops strategies to achieve the Institutional Priorities in the University’s Strategic Plan, understands the University’s strengths and weaknesses, analyzes the higher education market and competition effectively, identifies external threats and opportunities and adapts their strategy to changing conditions
17. Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions, exhibits sound and accurate judgment, supports and explains reasoning for decisions, includes appropriate people in the decision-making process, makes timely decisions
18. Motivation - Sets and achieves challenging goals, demonstrates persistence and overcomes obstacles, measures themselves against a high standard of excellence, takes calculated risks to accomplish goals
19. Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities effectively, uses time efficiently, plans for additional resources, if necessary, sets goals and objectives, organizes and schedules other people and their tasks, develops realistic action plans
20. Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner, reacts well under pressure, treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position, accepts personal responsibility for their own actions, and follows through with commitments
21. Quality - Demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness, looks for ways to improve and promote quality, applies effective feedback to improve performance, and monitors their own work to ensure quality
22. Quantity - Meets productivity standards, completes work in timely manner, strives to increase productivity, and works quickly
23. Safety and Security - Observes University safety and security policies and procedures, determines appropriate actions beyond guidelines, reports potentially unsafe conditions, uses equipment and materials properly
24. Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment, manages competing demands for one’s time, changes approach or method to fit the situation effectively, is able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events effectively
25. Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time, ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent, arrives at meetings and appointments on time
26. Dependability - Follows instructions, responds effectively to their supervisor’s direction. Takes responsibility for their own actions and keeps commitments. Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals. Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan
27. Initiative - Volunteers readily, undertakes self-development activities, seeks increased responsibilities, takes appropriate independent actions and calculated risks, looks for and takes advantage of opportunities to improve situations, asks for and offers help when needed
28. Innovation - Displays original thinking and creativity, meets challenges with resourcefulness, generates suggestions for improving work, develops innovative approaches and ideas, and presents ideas and information in a manner that gets others' attention

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the Essential Duties and Responsibilities listed above satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Education and/or Experience – Bachelor's degree from an accredited University or at least three years of directly related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required
2. Language Skills - Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations in English.  Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals effectively.  Ability to present information and respond to questions effectively from groups of students, other employees, trustees and the public
3. Math Skills - Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages and area.  Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra
4. Reasoning Ability - Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables in English
5. Computer Skills - To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Internet software; Spreadsheet software and Word Processing software; and willingness to learn Admission processing systems quickly
6. License - Must be at least 21 years old and maintain a current Texas driver's license to drive any vehicle, including personally owned vehicles, on behalf of the University
7. Physical Demands – The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the Essential Duties and Responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the Essential Duties and Responsibilities
   1. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms. The employee must regularly lift and /or move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
8. Work Environment - The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the Essential Duties and Responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the Essential Duties and Responsibilities
   1. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles and caustic cleaning or landscaping chemicals used on campus.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.  The employee is required to travel some during the work week.