1. Admissions Counselor Orientation
A Theoretical Introduction to Your New University
Presented by: Sarah A. McLaughlin

2. Welcome to Orientation!
An Overview of the Learning Experience

3. Who Are We?
First and foremost, to create rapport
and share the mission and vision of
the college, the Admissions
Counselors must be acquainted
with the President of the University. If
this is not possible, a welcome
video of a current employee
interviewing the President, will be
shown to new hires.

4. Meet & Greet
The new Admissions Counselors
will participate in a one week
“Meet & Greet” program.
During this training, they will be
provided with materials on the
college, meet with the staff
members of each department,
and meet with the Dean of
each school of study to learn
about the majors offered.
During the “Meet & Greet”,
Admissions Counselors will learn
more of what is expected of
them as well as find direction
towards helpful campus
resources.

5. Shadowing
The new Admissions Counselor will
sit in with each current counselor
during their interviews and tours for
a week, following the “Meet &
Greet” stage. They will be required
to take notes and will have a
chance after this, to sit down with
the counselors and ask questions.
Active participation is encouraged,
as this will soon be their new role!

6. Policies & Procedures Review
A seminar will take place where the
Admissions Counselor will learn and
apply the institute's policies and
procedures to their daily jobs. An
online assessment test of these
important campus guidelines will be
given at the end of the seminar. It is
mandatory to pass this assessment.
The score given will be recorded
and placed in their employee file
for accountability purposes.

7. “Learning is the process whereby
knowledge is created through the
transformation of experience”
(David A. Kolb, 1984)
Learning Scenario
What is needed to create a sound training module?

8. Scenario Overview
 A new Admissions Counselor has been hired into the
University
 Training process will focus on:
 Admissions process
 College specific information
 Process must be done effectively & efficiently
 Department of Education
 New restrictions & policies

9. How do Our Learner’s Learn?
A quick discovery lesson

10. Piecing Learning Styles with Learners
Kolb's experiential learning style theory is typically
represented by a four stage learning cycle in
which the learner 'touches all the bases':
1. Concrete Experience - (a new experience of
situation is encountered, or a reinterpretation of
existing experience)
2. Reflective Observation (of the new experience.
Of particular importance are any inconsistencies
between experience and understanding)
3. Abstract Conceptualization (Reflection gives
rise to a new idea, or a modification of an existing
abstract concept)
4. Active Experimentation (the learner applies
them to the world around them to see what
results)

11. Motivation to Succeed
What is the Admission’s Counselors driving force?

12. Motivation Creators
 Individual Motivational Factors:
 Personal reasons for wanting to help others achieve their
educational goals-an inspirational story of their success may
inspire motivation within themselves and others
 To retain their job!
This leads to the need for them to:
 Effectively perform their job
 Enroll students in the most ethical manner possible
 Provide potential students with accurate information
 Answer potential students’ questions correctly

13. Feel, Watch, Think, Do
Adhering Goals to Evidence of Learning

14. Goals & Evidence
 Goal
 Relay accurate information to potential students
 Evidence
 Reviews by the manager and current Admissions
Counselors
 Pass knowledge assessment test
 Provider accurate information to secret shoppers
 Provide superb customer service & satisfaction
 Evidence
 Reviews by the manager and current Admission
Counselors
 Role-play with current Admission Counselors

15. Goals & Evidence Cont.
 Goal
 Ensure that the student is cognizant of all pertinent
information
 Evidence
 Students are able to recite and implement the
college’s expectations
 Director of Admissions conducts a second interview
with each student

16. Assessment
At the conclusion of training, the
Admissions Counselor must pass a
knowledge test which will be
instituted at the end of the new
employee orientation. This test will
cover all aspects of what was taught,
i.e.; polices & procedures, role-playing
scenarios, etc.
A survey will also be given at the end
of the assessment. This will help the
university gauge the effectiveness of
the training. Questions posed will ask
for suggestions on how to improve this
training for future hires.

17. Knowledge Test Example
 What is the college or university’s protocol regarding how
much financial aid information an Admissions Counselor
can give out?
 How do you handle a phone caller if they are suspected
of being a “Secret Shopper?”
 If a potential student asks about job placement or how
long the program takes to complete can an Admissions
Counselor give a definitive answer, why or why not?
 If English is not the first language of a potential student
&/or their parents how do you handle the situation?

18. Knowledge Test Example
 Did you feel the orientation covered all topics thoroughly and
efficiently?
 Was each policy and procedure accurately and correctly explained?
 Did you feel you received sufficient program specific information?
 Which part of the orientation did you feel was the most beneficial and
why?
 Which part of the orientation would like to see improvement on and
why?
 Was the orientation facilitator enthusiastic and willing to answer
questions?
 What suggestions do you have to further improve the orientation?

19. Questions?