The posting
Job Description
The primary purpose of this position is to support efforts to recruit, admit, and enroll graduate students. The person who serves in this position supports this goal by working with prospective students, admitted students, graduate program faculty and staff, other university departments, and external stakeholders. The person in this position performs functions associated with application to the Graduate School from the point of application until the applicant has fulfilled all admission requirements to be fully admitted for the requested term of entry or the application is otherwise finalized. The person in this position works with applicants who are U.S. citizens, international, current graduate students seeking to change or add to the programs of study, or previous graduate students seeking to be readmitted to the Graduate School. In addition, the person in this position resolves applicant issues that may be encountered during and related to the admissions process.
Responsibilities
Application Funnel Management
Graduate Admissions Office Review:
(1) Reviews applications submitted by diverse populations (U.S. citizen, international, current graduate students, and previous graduate students) to determine if files are complete and ready for department and/or further review based on Graduate Catalog policies and requirements for admission.
(2) Uses decision making and problem solving to aid in the completion of applications including, but not limited to the request of additional documentation, updating of applications/programs, and application of restrictions whenever applicable in adherence with data integrity and utilization practices.
(3) Aids in the finalizing of all applications submitted by the submission and processing of documents received directly from the applicant.
Academic Program Review/Secondary Review:
(4) Proactively monitors department review progress to ensure files are being reviewed and decided upon in a timely manner and reviews and applies final decision to be provided to the applicant.
(5) Serves as the main point of contact for the applicant and works closely with various stakeholders that can include review of applicant's self-reported prior conduct issues, exceptions to the Graduate Catalog admission requirements, international immigration process, and any other issues or inquiries that may arise.
Continuous Operations:
(6) Participates in tasks that prepare the Office of Graduate Admissions for a new admission cycle.
(7) Regularly reports application status within area of responsibility to Graduate Admissions administrators through the utilization of reports and other data generated in the CRM.
The position also:
Serves as primary point of contact for all prospect, applicants, and internal and external stakeholders through email, phone, in person etc. to inform, educate, and assists in any facet related to Graduate Admissions including but not limited to prospect/program information, application process/management, and onboarding/matriculation etc.
Ensures that all contacts and outreach with students and stakeholders is tracked in the CRM.
Aids in the receipt, uploading, and submission of documents received directly from the applicant to the CRM.
Continuous Training/Operational Improvement
(1) Participates in professional development opportunities, internal and/or external to the university, that are related to performing the specific functions of the position or related to the overall mission and goals of the Graduate School and the university.
(2) Meets at least bi-annually with appropriate academic program faculty and/or staff regarding graduate programs' admission procedures including admission requirements, application deadlines, program contacts, and when program decisions are made.
(3) Trains new graduate program staff and provides update training to existing graduate program staff regarding Graduate Admissions policies, processes, and CRM operations and functionalities.
(4) Participates in training new Office of Graduate Admissions staff and the creation and updating of Graduate Admissions office procedures.
Other Responsibilities
(1) Serves as a member of work-related committees.
(2) Performs duties as required during high volume periods while aiding in cross-functional office coverage and backup whenever additional help is needed.
(3) Assists with Graduate School events as needed.
(4) Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications
Education: High school diploma or GED
Experience: Work in an office setting or other environment in which the candidate has experience providing customer service, contributing to problem resolution efforts, working with computers and software such as Microsoft Office, performing tasks that require a high level of accuracy, and working collaboratively with other employees.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Ability to listen effectively and communicate verbally and in writing
- Excellent customer service skills
- Ability to work in a team-oriented setting
- Ability to complete work tasks and establish priorities
- Ability to effectively problem solve and make decisions
- Ability to assimilate information from diverse resources in order to make informed decisions
- Ability to enter or modify data or other content types with accuracy
- Ability to utilize general office equipment, computers, and software such as Microsoft Office
- Ability to read, interpret, and apply policies and practices in work setting
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.
Preferred Qualifications
Education: Bachelor’s Degree
Experience: Work in a higher education admissions setting in which the candidate has experience reviewing applicant files, providing customer service to applicants (including assistance resolving admission related issues), and working in admissions databases and student information systems within a team-oriented environment.
Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
- Knowledge of higher education admission processes
- Ability to perform functions and analyze data utilizing admission databases and student information systems, and reporting tools
- Ability to effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with diverse audiences represented in a higher education setting
Work Location
Location: Knoxville, TN
Onsite, Hybrid, or Remote: On-site
Compensation and Benefits
UT market range: MR05
Anticipated hiring range: $40,000 – 43,000
Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
Find more information on UT Benefits here
Application Instructions
To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments.
- Resume
- Cover Letter
About The College/Department/Division
The Graduate School at the University of Tennessee Knoxville is a dynamic, innovative, and collaborative partner in shaping graduate education, and a dedicated advocate for our graduate student experience. Applying a people-centric approach to all we do; we lead the University in providing support to ensure our programs are among the best in the nation and inspire students to be catalysts for change in the evolving global society.
About Us
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.
UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.
UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.
The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.
Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!
