Admissions Counselor at Briar Cliff University – Sioux City, Iowa

Graduate Admissions Coordinator – Health Sciences (DPT)

SUMMARY

The Graduate Admissions Coordinator – Health Sciences supports the recruitment, admissions, and onboarding of students for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and related graduate health sciences programs at Briar Cliff University. This role is responsible for coordinating day-to-day admissions operations, providing high-touch advising to prospective students, and ensuring accurate, timely processing of applications in alignment with institutional policies, accreditation standards, and best practices for graduate and professional programs.

The Coordinator serves as a primary point of contact for applicants and works closely with Enrollment Management, program directors, faculty, and campus partners to deliver a student-centered admissions experience from inquiry through matriculation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Admissions Operations & Coordination

• Coordinate the full admissions cycle for graduate health sciences programs, including inquiry management, application processing, and matriculation support.
• Receive, track, document, and maintain all applicant materials, ensuring files are complete and accurate.
• Prepare completed applicant files for review by program directors and faculty, including transcript organization and prerequisite verification.
• Submit transcripts and documentation for registrar evaluation as required.
• Maintain accurate applicant and prospect records in CRM and application management systems.

Applicant Advising & Communication

• Serve as a primary point of contact for prospective and admitted students, providing timely, accurate, and professional communication.
• Counsel applicants on admissions requirements, application timelines, prerequisite coursework, and next steps in the process.
• Coordinate interviews, campus visits, virtual meetings, and faculty appointments as requested by prospective students.
• Draft and send admissions-related correspondence with clear, student-friendly messaging.

Application Systems & Compliance

• Coordinate centralized application systems (e.g., PTCAS, NursingCAS, or other graduate application platforms as applicable), including correspondence, document uploads, and status updates.
• Ensure compliance with institutional policies, FERPA, accreditation expectations, and ethical recruitment standards.
• Maintain confidentiality of all applicant and student records.

Collaboration & Program Support

• Work closely with DPT and graduate health sciences program directors to ensure alignment of admissions processes with program needs and timelines.
• Support faculty and program leadership during application review cycles by coordinating materials and communications.
• Serve as a liaison between Enrollment Management and academic departments regarding applicant status and admissions processes.

Recruitment & Outreach Support

• Assist with the coordination and execution of recruitment initiatives, including graduate fairs, college visits, information sessions, open houses, and virtual events.
• Represent the University in a professional manner at on- and off-campus recruitment activities.
• Support relationship-building efforts with clinical partners, healthcare organizations, and feeder institutions.
• Coordinate scheduling and logistics for recruitment events and visits.

Orientation, Onboarding & Student Support

• Assist with planning and coordinating new student orientation and onboarding activities for graduate health sciences programs.
• Work with Financial Aid, program directors, and the Admissions Committee to support admitted students through enrollment and registration processes.
• Serve as a resource to admitted and enrolled students to promote connection, retention, and successful transition into graduate study.

Data, Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain tracking tools and reports related to inquiries, applicants, and enrollment outcomes.
• Assist in monitoring enrollment trends and applicant pipelines to support forecasting and planning.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, communication, and applicant experience within admissions operations.
• Participate in professional development activities related to graduate admissions and health sciences education.

Administrative & Team Support

• Assist with budget tracking, invoice processing, and coordination of admissions-related expenses as assigned.
• Support special projects and initiatives related to graduate admissions and enrollment management.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• 2–4 years of experience in higher education admissions, enrollment services, or student support; experience with graduate or health sciences programs preferred.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Experience with CRM systems and centralized application platforms preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work collaboratively across departments.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends to support recruitment events.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports business correspondence and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, and the general public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES: Ability to drive an automobile. Frequent travel required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to use their hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls and to talk and hear. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, distant vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The employee consistently works at least 40 hours per week, including some weekend and evening hours.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee is frequently exposed to extreme cold. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.