STARS College Counselor

Position Summary:
The STARS (Small-Town and Rural Students) College Advisor will advise, remotely and in-person, high school students through the college process at 6 – 8 high schools in Tennessee. Methods of advising include but are not limited to virtual meetings with students and families, presentations on applying to college, and regular in-person site visits to assigned schools. The college advisor will also assist with on-campus programming related to college access for rural and small-town students. The college advisor will report within the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. The STARS College Advisor will be based in Tennessee and join a team of college advisors based in Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, and Texas, supported by other member institutions of the STARS (Small-Town and Rural Students) College Network.
 

About the Work Unit:
The Office of Undergraduate Admissions at Vanderbilt University is a critical unit within University Enrollment Affairs that contributes greatly to the entire Vanderbilt community. Its mission is to recruit, select, and enroll a diverse cohort of degree-seeking first-year and transfer students who are intellectually curious, academically talented, and socially engaged. The Office consists of a team that includes the Director, an experienced group of admissions officers, and a well-seasoned support staff engaged in marketing Vanderbilt globally. To accomplish this, members of the OUA team travel both domestically and abroad to conduct high school visits, attend college fairs, and do speaking engagements. The Office communicates systematically with hundreds of thousands of prospective students through traditional printed publications, the web, and other social media channels, and serves as the first point of contact for members of the public interested in VU.
 

OUA fully supports the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and is committed to the belief that equity and social justice must be accorded to all. The Office also believes that a part of its responsibility is to contribute to a diverse university community where students, staff, and faculty of differing backgrounds, viewpoints, and life experiences learn about and from each other in classroom settings as well as throughout the entire campus. It strives to ensure that the composition of OUA staff reflects its commitment to these values.
 

Key Functions and Expected Performance:
• Provides 1:1 college advising in a remote and/or in-person setting with assigned high schools in Tennessee
• Travels to assigned high schools at least once per quarter to lead in-person meetings and presentations with students and school stakeholders
• Hosts virtual events with high schools to promote college-going, assist with application completion, provide essay support, and share information on applying for financial aid
• Is regularly available to, and responds to, students and partner high schools via phone, e-mail, and through virtual platforms (Zoom, Teams)
• Willingness and ability to write counselor letters of recommendation to assist with advisee’s application process
• Weekend and evening availability is expected throughout the year for some aspects of the position including travel to high school sites or STARS member sites.
• Willingness and ability to self-manage travel calendar by determining needs of high schools
• Assist with on-campus programming focused on rural and small-town student outreach
• Liaise with other STARS College Advisors to develop college application curriculum and implement best practices
• Regularly meets with supervisor to check on progress and performance, review relevant metrics, and identify opportunities for improvement
 

Supervisory Relationships:
This position does not have supervisory responsibility and reports administratively and functionally to an Assistant or Associate Director of Admissions.
 

Education and Certifications
• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary.
• Must have and maintain a valid driver’s license and a satisfactory driving record. Vanderbilt University engages a third party to provide continuous up-to-date notifications regarding negative changes to motor vehicle records.
 

Experience and Skills:
• 2 years of relevant experience with college admissions processes is preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, and Outlook).
• Work will take place in a remote setting, with in person visits to partner schools and occasional in office work
• Travel required for occasional site visits and meetings with advisors and students

About Us

Vanderbilt is a community of talented and diverse staff & faculty!

At Vanderbilt University , our work - regardless of title or role - is in service to an important and noble mission in which every member of our community serves in advancing knowledge and transforming lives on a daily basis. Located in Nashville, Tennessee, on a 330+ acre campus and arboretum dating back to 1873, Vanderbilt is proud to have been named as one of “America’s Best Large Employers” as well as a top employer in Tennessee and the Nashville metropolitan area by Forbes for several years running. We welcome those who are interested in learning and growing professionally with an employer that strives to create, foster and sustain opportunities as an employer of choice through:

• Working and growing together as a community of communities... we are One Vanderbilt.
• Providing a work environment where every staff and faculty member can be their authentic and best self, while providing the resources and opportunities to learn and grow.
• Encouraging development, collaboration, and partnership both internally and externally while fostering the value that every member of the Vanderbilt community can lead and grow regardless of title or position.

We understand you have a choice when choosing where to work and pursue a career. We understand you are unique and have a story. We want to hear it. We encourage you to apply today so that you might become a part of our story.

*************************************************************************************************************************

Vanderbilt University has made the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff and our surrounding communities a top priority. As part of that commitment, the University may require employees to comply with any testing or health and safety measures which the University may require.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are.  We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education.

Vanderbilt University is an equal-opportunity, affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Please note, all candidates selected for an offer of employment are subject to pre-employment background checks, which may include but are not limited to, based on the role for which they have been selected: criminal history, education verification, social media review, motor vehicle records, credit history, and professional license verification.