Admissions Counselor - Graduate & Adult

Calvin University; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Calvin University is seeking an Admissions Counselor for Graduate and Adult programs to recruit and assist prospective students, coordinating travel and communications for on-campus and online enrollment paths. The role emphasizes customer service, relationship-building, and collaboration with academic leaders.

The successful candidate will manage CRM data, review applications, and support enrollment activities while engaging with domestic and international prospective students and partnerships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience in admissions or higher education preferred, including international admissions.

Responsibilities

• Develop recruiting relationships with colleges, universities, and community groups; represent Calvin University at events.
• Serve as primary contact for prospective students via calls, emails, and meetings (domestic and international).
• Review admission files, monitor applicant status, and coordinate recruitment travel.
• Utilize CRM to track leads, report activity, and analyze enrollment data.
• Assist in communicating with faculty and administer admissions decisions; support various enrollment projects.

Skills

Excellent written & verbal comms

Public speaking

Customer service

Relationship building

Sales techniques

Team leadership

Travel coordination

Driver’s license

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Job Summary

The Admissions Counselor- Graduate and Adult role will purposefully seek, recruit, qualify and assist with the admission of prospective Calvin University graduate and adult students, providing excellent customer service to the student. The counselor is responsible for creating and implementing strategies to recruit and enroll prospective students into specific graduate and undergraduate programs at the university. Strategies will include recruitment travel, phone calls, emails, texts, on-campus appointments, employer drop-offs, cultivating organizational partnerships, etc. They will assist in coordinating special projects, reviewing application materials, and communicating with academic leaders to implement admissions decisions. This role will also heavily support international students' interest in graduate and adult degree programs through student communication, transcript evaluations, and guiding through the on-campus or online enrollment process.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Territory development, including building and maintaining strong connections to key colleges, universities, businesses, community organizations and other primary contacts, as well as outreach for market development. Establish recruiting relationships with key colleges/universities, businesses and other community groups by making scheduled visits and contacting appropriate staff to foster strong relationships and ensure optimal enrollment. Represent the School of Graduate & Continuing Studies at local and regional events. Serve as primary contact for prospective students through calls, events, individual meetings, emails, etc. Including both domestic and international audiences. Perform department administrative duties by reviewing admission files for completion, monitoring the status of individual applicants, scheduling recruitment visits and making all travel arrangements to contribute to an efficient and cost-effective recruitment process. Develop proficiency within the CRM to gather data, track leads through the enrollment funnel, record interactions with students, and report activity. Database management will be an essential component to successful recruitment. Analyze current enrollment data related to Calvin University student recruiting by reviewing current and historical enrollment and geographic data to identify and develop sources and contacts for reaching potential students. Become an expert on the distinctiveness of Calvin University and its programs by attending training and meeting with faculty and other departments to appropriately represent the University.

Assist with other enrollment populations, events, and other recruitment activities as needed.

Ongoing performance

Consistently exceed performance measures: calls, events, 1:1 meetings, emails, etc. Mastery of all graduate & adult undergraduate programs. Mastery of all admissions processes/procedures. Mastery of key skills- Public speaking, sales, customer service, relationship building. Demonstrated initiative, leadership, strong team mentality, cultural competency, maintain positive morale, and posture of learning. Demonstrated ability to plan, execute and analyze admissions travel Continuous growth in knowledge through participation in training and self-development.

Skill Requirements

• Excellent written and oral communication, including public speaking to large audiences
• Excellent customer service and hospitality
• Ability to connect with diverse audiences with a focus on relationship building
• Skilled sales techniques
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed
• Ability to work independently, without supervision and as an inspirational team leader
• Ability to schedule and embark on travel including airplane and car, including having a valid driver’s license
• Ability to be adaptable and manage multiple competing priorities

Education and Experience

A bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline required, master’s degree preferred. At least 12 months of relevant administrative, admissions, or higher education experience preferred. Previous international admissions experience preferred.

Travel Requirements

The Admissions Counselor- Graduate and Adult position requires a small to moderate amount of domestic travel (continental United States).

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The work in this position is performed within routine office conditions, usually without exposure to hazardous or unpleasant conditions. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Proofreading and checking documents for accuracy. Using a keyboard to enter, retrieve, or transform data. Closely observes monitoring devices for 2 hours or more at a time. Lifting 40 lbs. or less.

FAITH and EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT

1. Commitment to the educational mission of Calvin as a Christian liberal arts University affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church. 2. A commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith, learning, and student development.

DIVERSITY COMMITMENT

Demonstrated awareness and commitment to effectively establishing relationships and positive communication across multiple dimensions of diversity including, but not limited to, race, gender, physical limitations, class, or religious perspectives.

About the University

Founded in 1876, Calvin University is a top-ranked, liberal arts institution that equips its more than 3,600 students from 48 U.S. states, 55 countries, and five Canadian provinces to think deeply, to act justly, and to live wholeheartedly as Christ’s agents of renewal in the world. Calvin offers 100+ majors and programs, including a growing portfolio of graduate-level offerings. Calvin students engage in intensive internships, community-based service learning, and significant research that results in publishing and presenting alongside world-class faculty. The university’s 400-acre campus is in the vibrant city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Discover more at www.calvin.edu.