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College Admissions Advisor

Grand Rapids Public Schools
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JOB SUMMARY

Interacting daily with high school students and/or parents in the assigned school to provide relevant information about the higher education experience and the college/university admission/financial aid process.

 

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Essential functions under the Americans with Disabilities Act may include any of the following duties, knowledge, and skills. This list is illustrative only and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and duties performed by employees in this position. Regular on time and in person attendance is an essential function of this job. Other essential functions may include, but are not limited to the following:

 

  • Encourage each student to consider a broad range of appropriate college choices.
  • Develop for each student a comprehensive college timeline, including application deadlines for admission and financial aid.
  • Help each student complete and submit admissions and financial-aid applications.
  • Assist each student in interpreting correspondence from colleges, including offers of admission and financial aid.
  • Provide information regarding high school course selection, test taking skills and basic financial planning to help prepare for future education.
  • Organize group events that encourage students and their families to consider, plan for, and apply to colleges and universities:
  • Visit classrooms, assemblies, and club meetings to offer services and emphasize the importance of college.
  • Visit feeder middle schools to encourage early planning for college.
  • Work with local community groups-churches, boys’ and girls’ clubs, social-services providers – to offer group events outside school settings and hours.
  • Host regular workshops for the families of students to discuss topics such as types of financial aid, applying for financial aid, the importance of postsecondary education, and opportunities available.
  • Establish productive working relationships with principals, counselors. And teachers in assigned high school:
  • Access, in consultation with the program director and school personnel, the particular needs of assigned school, and adapt programs and activities to meet these needs.
  • Actively seek the advice and counsel of the on-site supervisor at assigned high school.
  • Assist in the assessment and long-term sustainability of the program:
  • Assist the program director and evaluation staff to identify, collect, and interpret key progress and outcome variables to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.
  • Submit monthly progress reports to the program director documenting progress and outcome data.
  • Represent, as requested by the program director, to potential supporters and to other interested parties.
  • Maintain expertise in admissions and financial aid advising:
  • Participate fully in training each summer.
  • In consultation with the director, seek out and participate in other opportunities for professional development.
  • Maintain confidentiality in carrying out all duties.
  • Remain technically competent and knowledgeable of the job expectations.
  • Ensure decisions are consistent with District policies, procedures, goals, and objectives.
  • Interact with co-workers, administrators, students, and parents in a cooperative, supportive, and positive way.
  • Other duties as assigned and as allowed by grant funding.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience:

  • Bachelor’s degree required.

 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Master’s Degree preferred.
  • Prior experience/knowledge of college admissions/financial aid processes strongly preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

  • Proven ability to work effectively with students, faculty and staff including those from diverse backgrounds.
  • Previous experience demonstrating strong leadership abilities. The ability to influence others in a positive manner while achieving goals, and effectively communicating ideas and generating support for ideas are necessary.
  • Ability to work independently and analytically, exercise discretion and good judgement.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills; proficient computer skills.
  • Ability to manage multiple projects, strong planning, and organizational skills.
  • Demonstrate program development and management experience.
  • Willingness to handle complex and detail-oriented workload.
  • Team-oriented towards program design, implementation, and evaluation.
  • High energy, creativity, ability to assume responsibility; take initiative and develop new programs.

ADA REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands, work environment factors, and mental functions described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to stand, walk, sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, talk, hear (in a quiet or noisy environment). Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust/focus.

 

 

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Work is performed indoors although there will be required outdoor activities. The employee is directly responsible for the safety, well-being, and work output of students.

 

MENTAL FUNCTIONS

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to compare, analyze, communicate both orally and in writing, copy, coordinate, instruct, compute, synthesize, evaluate, use interpersonal skills, compile, and negotiate.

 

Non-Discrimination

The Grand Rapids Public Schools will not discriminate against any person based on race, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and expression, height, weight, color, religion, national origin, age, marital status, pregnancy, disability, veteran, or military status.

 

Americans with Disabilities Act accommodations: Assistance with the application process may be requested through the Human Resources Department at (616) 819-2022 or humanresources@grps.org.