Admissions Counselor — Part-Time, Fixed-Term

ArtCenter College of Design is searching for a Admissions Counselor — part-time, fixed-term to join our team.

The salary range for this position: $25.00 - 30.00 per hour.

Final salary is based on education, experience, skills relevant to the role, and internal equity.

About ArtCenter
Founded in 1930 and located in Pasadena, California, ArtCenter College of Design is a global leader in art and design education and has had an international reputation for its rigorous, transdisciplinary curriculum, faculty of professionals, strong ties to industry, and commitment to socially responsible design. ArtCenter is a private nonprofit fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

Every position at ArtCenter plays an important part in carrying out the values, goals, strategic vision, and mission of the College. This includes diversity, equity, inclusion, access, belonging (DEIAB) and culture.

Reporting to the Director of Recruitment, this position is responsible for the successful recruitment of a diverse population of art and design students into ArtCenter’s undergraduate degree programs by effectively conveying the College’s programs, application requirements, and philosophy of education to prospective students, families, and teachers in various capacities. This is accomplished through presentations at high schools and community colleges and representing the College at college fairs, transfer fairs, portfolio days, and other recruitment events. The Admissions Counselor will also meet with students in individual appointments to counsel them on the application process and to provide feedback on prospective students’ portfolios as they pertain to our highly specialized undergraduate majors. The incumbent is assigned to a caseload of prospective students and is charged with maintaining strategic communications with them and encouraging them to become applicants when they meet the College's requirements. Travel for this position will be primarily focused in and around Southern California but may include brief trips to other US cities. Travel is extensive between August–February and weekend and evening work is also required.

This is a part-time position of approximately 25 – 28 hours per week and a fixed term of 7 months with an anticipated start date of August and going through February.

Regular business hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m-4:30 p.m. Local travel to feeder schools is required. The position requires flexible hours to accommodate department needs and programs, including nights and weekends. The position is eligible for flexible scheduling and can be performed hybrid with the expectation of three days onsite.

Essential Functions

Recruitment Activities — 50%

• Represent the College at events such as Portfolio Days, college fairs, transfer days and other recruitment events for prospective students
• Plan all travel associated with implementing recruitment activities
• Assist with planning, coordination, and execution of recruitment events as needed, including but not limited to National Portfolio Days, Open House, virtual workshops and sessions, Accepted Student events, special tours and out-of-town recruitment events
• Give presentations on the College to groups in high school and community college art classrooms and to groups on campus; responsible for scheduling visits to assigned schools as well as booking and conducting virtual visits as appropriate
• Become versed in the curricula and portfolio requirements for each major as well as in general financial aid and transfer processes
• Cultivate relationships with visual art, media, and design teachers and college advising centers at assigned schools
• Provide information to visiting tour groups and conduct campus tours of both Hillside and South Campuses as needed

Counseling and Portfolio Reviews — 45%

• Provide continuous support to students through all aspects of the admissions process from inquiry through enrollment
• Evaluate students’ portfolios and provide advice on their readiness to apply; offer a plan of action for students who are not ready to apply
• Responsible for actively managing a caseload of prospective students and applicants by way of participating in communication campaigns for various prospective student constituencies and conducting follow-up with prospective and admitted students by phone, email, video and CRM integrated SMS text message
• Counsel prospective students on the College’s admissions requirements, curriculum, financial aid policies, and transfer credit policies, as well as on career options within the visual arts and industrial design
• Participate in Admissions reviews as part of the Admissions Committee, evaluate applicant essays

Non-Essential Job Functions — 5%

• Maintain memberships and active involvement in applicable professional organizations
• Other duties as assigned
• Serve on educational or institutional committees as appropriate
• Represent ArtCenter at outside events/conferences as necessary and appropriate

Required Qualifications:

• Commitment to the importance of the visual arts
• Ability to conduct research and utilize data meaningfully
• Bachelor’s degree in studio art, design, or related field from an accredited college or university or equivalent combination of training and experience
• Demonstrated experience in and a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, access and belonging, the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within ArtCenter’s diverse communities
• Ability to travel domestically within the US, work occasional weekends and evening hours to staff events
• Must be able to organize and structure a calendar of recruitment activities in a timely, logical way
• Must have valid driver's license and reliable vehicle; use of vehicle required for local travel
• Ability to be self-directed, managing high volumes of email, while working within a collaborative environment
• Commitment to student service
• Public speaking experience and comfort connecting with diverse audiences
• Strong oral and written communication skills to work effectively with ArtCenter staff and community and maintain contacts/relations with high school and community college instructors, advisors, and prospective students
• Demonstrated ability to use CRM software to execute assigned tasks and manage personal workflow to contribute to a larger team effort
• Effective counseling and listening skills
• Minimum 2 years of experience in customer relations and service, preferably within an office setting
• Ability to plan, organize, and manage multiple deadlines and job duties
• High level of comfort with presenting on online video platforms for virtual recruitment

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience recruiting and counseling prospective students
• Prior experience within an educational or non-profit organization
• Prior experience working in an Admissions office or other higher education administration
• Prior experience using Slate CRM software
• Prior experience working in a hybrid capacity using tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams
• Prior experience travelling in a professional capacity

Physical Demands and Working Environment

The conditions herein 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 job functions.

Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting with frequent interruptions and distractions; extended periods of time viewing computer monitor; interactions with other individuals. Due to the nature of the work environment, there is regular exposure to fumes, dust and noise.

Physical: The position is generally sedentary. Employees sit most of the time, but may walk or stand for brief periods of time. Primary functions require sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach, and twist; to lift, carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight (up to 20 pounds); to operate modern office equipment requiring repetitive hand movement and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information. Travel by car and airline and overnight travel is required.

Vision: Must be able to have the visual capacity to perform activities such as preparing and reading reports, viewing a computer terminal and other normal office work with or without correction.

Hearing: Must be able to communicate effectively in the course of normal office communication or exchange ideas with or without correction.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the employee assigned to this job; they do not purport to describe all functions. Employees may be assigned other duties, and the essential functions may be changed from time to time as necessary.

Diversity Statement
ArtCenter is fully committed to fostering a culture that values diversity, equity, inclusion, access and belonging not only in vision but in practice. Our path forward is predicated on our belief that multiple points of view, life experiences, ethnicities, cultures and belief systems are essential to academic and creative excellence. We strive to learn more about difference while respecting the rich diversity in our world, attending to important questions about racial injustice and decolonizing our curriculum. Our campus environment must be vigilant in supporting the full participation of students, faculty, and staff of every race, color, ethnicity, sex, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, socioeconomic status and political viewpoint.

Equal Opportunity Employer
ArtCenter is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate against its employees or applicants on the basis of race, color, religious creed, sex, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including HIV and AIDS), genetic characteristic or information, pregnancy, marital status, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, transgender identity, gender expression, protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by applicable state or federal law. Equal employment opportunity is extended to all persons in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including without limitation, recruitment, hiring, upgrading, training, promotion, compensation, benefits, leave of absence, transfer, discipline, layoff, recall and termination. This commitment applies to all persons involved in the operations of ArtCenter and prohibits unlawful discrimination by any employee of ArtCenter. Applicants who wish to request an accommodation for a disability may contact the Office of Employee Experience and Engagement at (626) 396-2270.

Land Acknowledgment:
ArtCenter College of Design occupies the region of the ancestral and traditional land of the Hahamog'na Tongva people, the stewards of the San Gabriel Valley area around present-day Pasadena.

ArtCenter Employees have a Mandatory Duty to Report
All employees who know or have reason to know of allegations or acts that violate ArtCenter’s Title IX Policy prohibiting discrimination, harassment, retaliation, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual violence, dating violence, and stalking shall promptly inform the Director, Title IX Compliance and Programs or designee, or the Associate Dean of Students or designee. Faculty, who have a mandatory duty to report, are required to disclose all information including the names of the parties, even where the person has requested their name remain confidential.

Pursuant to the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA), all employees who know of or have reason to suspect child abuse or neglect involving alleged victims under age 18 shall promptly inform local law enforcement or the county welfare department.

Vaccination Requirement
ArtCenter is committed to providing a safe and healthy work environment for all members of our community. Guided by the latest information from the CDC, the California Department of Public Health and the Pasadena Public Health Department, all staff, students and faculty must provide proof of vaccination. Annual vaccines and/or booster vaccines will be required based on CDC or FDA guidance. Those who cannot get vaccinated for medical or religious reasons will need to provide appropriate documentation. ArtCenter will then engage in an interactive process, on an individual basis, to determine if there is a reasonable accommodation that can be provided. Our complete policy can be found here.