Enrollment Specialist

Carbondale•Off Campus, IL

About The Position

The Enrollment Specialist is a 12-month term appointment in SIU Online and Extended Campus at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Reappointment is contingent on job performance. The position may be based in Chicago, Illinois; Atlanta, Georgia; or Texas. Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience, while also considering internal equity. The specialist serves as the primary enrollment representative for assigned prospective and current students, guiding prospective students from initial inquiry through enrollment and supporting students’ academic progress, engagement, retention, and program completion. The role includes outreach through phone, email, text, virtual appointments, in-person consultations, recruitment events, orientation, and enrollment activities. The specialist helps students navigate applications, admissions requirements, document submission, financial aid referrals, registration, onboarding, academic options, and support resources. The position manages an assigned enrollment caseload and uses CRM systems such as Slate to document interactions, maintain accurate records, coordinate communication workflows, and prioritize outreach using dashboards and reports. The specialist collaborates with university offices, faculty, academic units, community partners, and external groups; monitors academic progress and retention trends; supports assessment and reporting; and develops and implements recruitment and retention initiatives, including initiatives for under-represented populations. Other duties may be assigned. SIU Online and Extended Campus describes its environment as encouraging and collaborative, with a focus on teamwork and serving students wherever they are. Southern Illinois University Carbondale is an R1 Opportunity University and an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer.

Requirements

Master’s degree by the date of hire and two years of experience in higher education advising, student recruitment/retention, or a related student service; alternatively, a bachelor’s degree by the date of hire and three years of sales or recruitment experience with frequent client contact.
Demonstrated proactive and innovative approach to leadership that resulted in appropriate demonstrated outcomes; for the bachelor’s-degree pathway, the posting describes this as an initiative-taking and innovative approach to leadership resulting in appropriate demonstrated outcomes.
Submit a letter of application, CV/resume, academic transcripts, and three references.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary enrollment representative for assigned prospective and current students.
Conduct timely outreach through phone, email, text messaging, virtual appointments, and other channels; respond to student inquiries within departmental service expectations.
Participate in recruitment events, including virtual information sessions, webinars, college fairs, employer events, military outreach, and community partner events.
Develop relationships with community colleges, employer partners, school counselors, administrators, faculty members, and other recruitment partners.
Represent the university professionally at recruitment activities and assist with orientation and enrollment events.
Build relationships with prospective students, understand their educational goals, and recommend appropriate academic programs.
Guide prospective students through the admissions process from inquiry through enrollment, assisting with application completion, admissions requirements, document submission, financial aid referrals, registration, and onboarding.
Conduct individualized enrollment consultations by phone, video conference, and in person when appropriate; maintain communication throughout the enrollment funnel to encourage application completion and enrollment.
Provide one-on-one academic and personal support to help students progress and complete their programs; respond to student inquiries within 24–48 hours and conduct proactive outreach.
Help students explore academic options and connect them with resources such as tutoring and counseling; encourage continued enrollment through registration reminders and academic milestone communications.
Use CRM systems such as Slate to document interactions, manage communication workflows, maintain accurate student records and activity notes, and manage an assigned enrollment caseload.
Complete daily follow-up for inquiries, applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students; participate in automated and personalized communication campaigns.
Monitor enrollment dashboards and reports to prioritize outreach, monitor retention trends, and provide insights for annual planning.
Collaborate with Admissions, Financial Aid, the Registrar, Academic Advising, faculty, program directors, marketing, other university offices, and external groups.
Serve as a liaison regarding academic success and assist with planning and implementing orientation, workshops, and other student programming, including joint programming with community entities.
Participate in regular meetings with Extended Campus leadership to monitor and report on student academic progress.
Monitor student academic progress using reporting tools and university data; work with students, faculty, and staff to support academic success and standards.
Support academic assessment data collection and reporting in collaboration with academic units.
Conduct needs assessments; evaluate and analyze student support service effectiveness; develop recommendations and take appropriate action to improve efficiency and accuracy.
Use reporting tools and ensure student data is accurate.
Enhance recruitment efforts, report on their viability for annual planning, and develop, plan, and implement recruitment initiatives, including those for under-represented populations.
Guide students, organize outreach activities, raise awareness of SIU programs and student services, and create and sustain appropriate recruitment outreach activities.
Assist with recruitment strategies to increase program awareness and enrollment growth.
Coordinate student recruitment and retention goals using knowledge of prospective student trends, admissions decisions, registration criteria, financial aid, academic performance, careers, scholarship information, and deadlines.
Perform other duties as assigned.