Graduate Academic Advisor I and Recruitment Specialist – Ilitch School Graduate Programs

Wayne State University•Detroit, MI

17d

About The Position

The Graduate Advisor & Recruitment Specialist for the Mike Ilitch School of Business plays a key role in driving enrollment growth and supporting student success across undergraduate and graduate programs. This position has a strong emphasis on strategic recruitment, relationship building, and outreach designed to attract high-quality prospective students. The Graduate Advisor & Recruitment Specialist provides academic advising, enrollment coaching, and personalized support to ensure newly admitted students transition successfully into their programs.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred, ideally in business, higher education, counseling, or a related field.
Experience in student recruitment, admissions, academic advising, or enrollment management preferred.
Strong presentation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Ability to build relationships with diverse student populations and external partners.
Proficiency using CRM systems, student information systems, and Microsoft Office suite.
Ability to travel locally and work occasional evenings/weekends for recruitment events.
Documents required at time of application: Cover letter, resume

Responsibilities

Provide academic advising and enrollment support for newly admitted and continuing students, including assistance with course planning, registration, program requirements, and academic policies.
Guide students through the admissions process, from initial inquiry through application completion, decision release, and enrollment confirmation.
Assist with new student onboarding, including orientation programming, advising workshops, and early-term transition support.
Identify potential academic or engagement concerns and connect students with appropriate university resources.
Maintain accurate advising notes and student records within university systems.
Proactively conduct outreach campaigns to students at risk of non-enrollment or stop-out to support retention goals.
Provide individualized academic success plans for students needing additional guidance or intervention.
Monitor student progress toward degree completion and conduct periodic degree audits.
Host group advising sessions, drop-in hours, and themed workshops (e.g., registration prep, graduation planning).
Serve as a resource for students navigating university policies such as leave of absence, petitions, or academic standing.
Develop and implement targeted recruitment strategies to increase enrollment across business programs, with a focus on high-yield markets and emerging demographics.
Represent the Mike Ilitch School of Business at on-campus, off-campus, and virtual recruitment events, including information sessions, graduate fairs, corporate outreach visits, and community events.
Build strong relationships with corporate partners, community colleges, university departments, and external organizations to expand recruitment pipelines.
Conduct one-on-one consultations, presentations, and information sessions for prospective students to provide program details, admissions requirements, and enrollment guidance.
Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications Office to develop recruitment materials, email campaigns, social media content, and digital engagement strategies.
Track recruitment metrics, analyze prospective student data, and provide regular reports to leadership to inform recruitment strategies and yield improvement efforts.
Engage with inquiries through phone, email, CRM systems, and virtual platforms to ensure timely and personalized follow-up.
Develop and maintain communication workflows in the CRM to support lead nurturing across the recruitment funnel.
Analyze competitor program trends to inform recruitment strategies and program positioning.
Coordinate follow-up campaigns targeting incomplete applications, admitted-student yield, and re-engagement of past inquiries.
Manage relationships with external vendors, recruitment platforms, and professional associations to enhance visibility.
Work closely with international recruitment partners and assist prospective international students with program information and enrollment requirements.
Participate in pipeline development initiatives with high-yield undergraduate programs to encourage early graduate exploration.
Collaborate with program directors and faculty to stay informed on curriculum updates, program changes, and admission requirements.
Support university-wide recruitment and retention initiatives as assigned.
Participate in strategic planning discussions related to enrollment growth, recruitment expansion, and student experience enhancement.
Assist with event planning, data collection, administrative tasks, and office coverage as needed.
Assist with updating academic program handbooks, advising guides, and orientation materials.
Support continuous improvement initiatives by gathering student feedback and contributing to process enhancements.
Assist with budget tracking for recruitment events, travel, and marketing activities.
Coordinate logistics for departmental events such as open houses, program showcases, and student engagement programs.
Train student employees, graduate assistants, or new staff on advising or recruitment procedures.
Serve on school- or university-wide committees related to advising, recruitment, or student success.