Working Title: Director of Graduate Admissions

State Role Title: General Administration Supervisor I/Coordinator I

Position Type: Full-time Staff (Classified)

Position Status: Full-Time

FLSA Status: Exempt: Not Eligible for Overtime

College/Division: The Graduate School

Department: 100140 - Graduate School

Pay Rate: Pay Range

Specify Range or Amount: $58,000 - $64,000

Is this a JMU only position? No

Is this a grant-funded position? No

Is this a Conflict of Interest designated position? No

Beginning Review Date: 04/12/2025

About JMU:

James Madison University is a publicly funded university with a beautiful campus and a supportive community that is committed to preparing students for the future. The university offers excellent comprehensive benefits which include paid vacation, sick, parental, and community service leave in addition to 19 paid holidays a year; affordable health insurance; retirement through the Virginia Retirement System. We also offer a work-life balance and integration program, Balanced Dukes, that is designed to support the overall wellbeing of our employees and a Tuition Waiver Program that allows employees to have tuition waived for undergraduate and graduate level courses taken at JMU.

Visit our Prospective Employee site to learn more about what makes JMU a great place to work: bit.ly/JMUEmployment

General Information:

The Graduate School is accepting applications for a Director of Graduate Admissions who will be responsible for overseeing the graduate admission processes for all graduate degree and certificate programs at JMU. The Director supervises a team that manages our online application system, distributes applicant documentation to programs, receives admission recommendations from programs, issues official admission letters, receives responses from admitted candidates, and matriculates new students. As university-wide technology changes, the Director is responsible for implementing changes in graduate admissions practices as necessary. This role also serves as the first point of the primary interface between graduate admissions and other offices that need information or services.

The university enrolls approximately 20,000 undergraduate and 1,900 graduate students. The university offers a wide range of programs including doctoral, master’s and graduate certificates in many fields of study including many professional licensure programs.

Duties and Responsibilities:

The Director of Graduate Admissions is responsible for managing all aspects of the graduate admissions process. This includes overseeing admissions staff in direct management of the following: customized admission requirements for each program, communicating application requirements and procedures to potential applicants, managing the online application system, distributing applicant documentation to programs, determining applicant residency, and reviewing and releasing, in a timely manner, official admission letters and denial notices at the recommendation of programs. The Director also reviews candidate acceptances, oversees the matriculation of new students, and manages special applicant requests such as application fee waivers, deferrals, and admission condition satisfaction. Additionally, the Director ensures applicant questions and requests are responded to in a timely manner, collaborates with graduate program directors to assure policy-consistent admission recommendations and address program concerns, and supervises admissions staff to ensure accurate and policy-compliant work. This position is responsible for effectively representing The Graduate School to university applicants, students, faculty, university leadership and staff.

The Director serves as the lead and the primary point of contact with other offices at various levels that collaborate with or require information from The Graduate School (TGS) admissions team. These departments include, but are not limited to: Registrar, Provost’s Curriculum and Catalog Office, Institutional Research, State Authorization and Compliance Office. The Director also serves on committees, including Graduate Council, Data Governance, and International Student Scholar Services/TGS.

The Director effectively oversees management of admissions specific information technology systems (CollegeNET Application, CollegeNET Admit, Peoplesoft SA, Hyland Onbase). Additionally, the Director serves as Graduate Admission lead for Reengineering Madison (an initiative for new technology platforms and data solutions for managing and visualizing JMU data) and serves on the Data Governance and SA Applications Planning Committee. The Director will serve as the TGS lead for the implementation of the new ERP (Enterprise Resource Management) and graduate admissions system.

The Director is expected to assist with other activities that support TGS (Graduate & Professional School Fair, Three-Minute Thesis Competition, Commencement, etc.). Additionally, this role participates in Virginia Council of Graduate Schools (VCGS) organization, and assists the Associate Dean and Dean with projects as assigned.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:
1. Demonstrated experience with higher education admissions processes.
2. Demonstrated familiarity with relevant software such as online application systems, student administration software, CRM software, Microsoft Office or comparable systems.
3. Demonstrated experience with personnel management, leadership and supervision.
4. Knowledge of Domicile (Residency) Rules to determine in-state or out-of-state status.
5. Knowledge of Federal and State laws, regulations and guidance regarding higher education admissions.
6. Strong oral and written communication skills.

Additional Considerations:
1. Demonstrated experience with graduate admissions processes and developing policies and procedures relevant to graduate admissions.
2. Demonstrated experience analyzing and adjusting business processes to improve efficiency and implement new technologies and solutions.
3. Demonstrated ability to solve problems, provide guidance, and resolve disputes.

Additional Posting Information:

Conditions of Employment:  

Employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a criminal background check.

E-Verify Notice: After accepting employment, new hires are required to complete an I-9 form and present documentation of their identity and eligibility to work in the United States. James Madison University uses the E-Verify system to confirm identity and work authorization.

EEO Statement:

James Madison University is committed to creating and supporting a diverse and inclusive work and educational community that is free of all forms of discrimination. This institution does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, national origin, parental status, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation or veteran status.

We promote access, inclusion and diversity for all students, faculty, staff, constituents and programs, believing that these qualities are foundational components of an outstanding education in keeping with our mission. The university is interested in candidates whose experience and qualifications support an ongoing commitment to this core quality.

Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Office for Equal Opportunity: (540) 568-6991.

Reasonable Accommodation:

If you are an individual with a disability and need assistance searching or applying for jobs please contact us at (540) 568-3597 or jobs@jmu.edu. You may also visit the JMU Human Resource Office, located at 752 Ott Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807 and we will be happy to assist you.