Transfer Counselor

Position Summary:

The VCU Office of Admissions for the Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Success is seeking a Transfer Counselor. Reporting to the Senior Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions, the Transfer Counselor will spearhead recruitment and enrollment efforts primarily targeted to undergraduate transfer students from Virginia community colleges by developing and implementing effective student recruitment and marketing plans that meet the strategic enrollment goals of the University, providing students, faculty, and staff with important information about VCU, its programs, pre-enrollment course recommendations, and the transfer application process. This is a 10 month position working from the Annandale Campus of NOVA and regularly visits other campuses in Virginia and Maryland. The employee should be open to working a hybrid remote schedule that will include an alternation of working from home and from the assigned NOVA workspace, if needed.

Core Responsibilities:

Student Recruitment (65%):

• Actively recruits prospective students at Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), and other assigned community colleges by meeting with students, attending college day/night programs, college fairs, conducting community college visits; provides information about VCU, its programs, and the transfer application process, requirements, and deadlines. Travels to community colleges for the university, including weekends and evenings when needed.
• Plans and implements private visits with community colleges in assigned geo-markets. Makes follow-up visits as appropriate with community college transfer counselors and students.
• Works with the Office of Admissions leadership team to develop a strategic plan that ensures VCU is attracting and enrolling a multifaceted student population from the region. Evaluates program effectiveness and provides recommendations for future programming.
• Leads the development and implementation of strategies and programming designed to increase transfer students’ campus visits throughout the year, increasing yield, and ultimately meeting VCU’s enrollment goals for transfer students.
• Represents the Office of Admissions at special events, on- and-off campus, including open houses, yield events, and panel discussions provided for transfer students and their families. Works with university faculty and staff to assist with university and departmental events.
• Plans, develops, markets, and organizes in-person and virtual information sessions, interviews, campus tours, and counseling sessions with prospective undergraduate students and their parents to provide accurate information about the university, admissions processes, their admissibility, and university policies and procedures.
• Works to identify options, utilize professional judgment, and develop solutions for unique or unprecedented situations that should be addressed differently to address transfer enrollment challenges.
• Track transfer students throughout the application process to ensure final matriculation and enrollment at VCU.

Application review (20%):

• Accurately reviews and evaluates an assigned caseload of student applications to determine their admissibility to the university adhering to the deadlines and goals of the office’s review timeline.
• Updates student information systems with student data as required. Contacts students and stakeholders when applicant information is incomplete or when additional information is needed.

Admissions Networking (10%):

• Communicates effectively with prospective students, parents, supporters, transfer counselors, and other community college personnel via letters, e-mails, and by phone.
• Develops and maintains relationships with and serves as a resource for key personnel in assigned geo-markets including community college personnel, the VCU Transfer Center, Admissions Communications, and other campus partners to coordinate effective communication, information availability, and the ultimate success of enrolling transfer students at VCU.
• Responds to email inquiries sent to the Office of Admissions generic email account as well as to emails sent to the employee’s individual VCU email account.
• Participates in electronic marketing communications as needed. Assists in the development and implementation of recruitment activities centered around electronic communications, and mobile and social networks.
• Collaborates with the Admissions Communications team to develop targeted communications, including development of transfer admissions webpages.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%):

• Performs other duties as assigned.