Undergraduate Admissions Visits & Events Intern - Ambassador Program

The primary function of each intern position is to provide vital support to the Admissions Office Visit Program and give prospective students and their families a quality visit experience to Seattle Pacific University. Interns are a crucial part of the admissions recruitment effort and provide much needed help for conducting a successful campus visit program. In the broadest sense, interns help introduce visiting students to the benefits of a Christian higher education from a student’s perspective by helping to coordinate their visit.

The intern positions also provide several aspects of professional development for those serving in the role itself. The position helps develop management (time and people), leadership, public relations, networking, event planning, and public speaking skills. It also allows the person to learn skills in working with and motivating students, staff, and faculty involved in the visit experience.

Structure and Organization

The Undergraduate Admissions Office will interview Seattle Pacific University Admissions Intern Applicants during the Spring Quarter previous to the year in which they will be working. All applicants must complete the application. Applicants must have completed one year of schooling at SPU and commit to a full academic year of employment. Each intern may re-apply to serve a consecutive year, and many times an annual raise can be earned.

The starting compensation for the 2022-2023 academic year will be $17.69/hr DOE.

*Hours have the potential to fluctuate according to the requirements of busier or less-busy seasons reflected in the admissions cycle.

Interns should have completed their freshman year by the time the internship begins. Interns should also have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.80, and should maintain that GPA throughout their term as an intern. The internship is neither major nor minor-specific, unless the student opts to register for internship credit. In this case, the intern will need to work with a faculty sponsor to determine the requirements for receiving academic credit.

Interns are expected to provide courteous and competent service to all visiting students and parents. Our visitors are our top priority and their needs will be accommodated by the Undergraduate Admissions Visit Team. Telephone, email and personal dialogue should be professional at all times. Every effort should be made to cater to the needs of the visitor.

Interns are to help with scheduling and arranging campus visits for students and their parents/guests in a timely fashion. This requires a careful review and understanding of the daily commitments of admissions staff and other services or people needed by the visitor. It will be the responsibility of the Visit staff and interns as to how this is accomplished and reported. An ability to communicate effectively and in a timely manner is required.

Interns are to be clearly informed of the current messages that are being expressed by the Undergraduate Admissions Office on behalf of SPU. Interns should also familiarize themselves with the various publications and information brochures that are presented to prospective students.

Interns will help implement Admissions events (i.e. Previews, Falcon Fridays, Receptions, etc.) as directed by individual job descriptions, in addition to managing their own internship-specific tasks, as described under each internship position.

Interns are expected to work under the direction of the Assistant Director for Visits & Events as well as the two Visits and Events Coordinators, and sometimes work in conjunction with our University Welcome Team, Student Calling Teams, and other Admissions staff and personnel.

Interns are also expected to:

● Be present for intern training week in September, ahead of the school year in the fall. (September 5-9, 2022)

● Become trained in use of the client-relations management software (CRM), Slate.

● Assist with all aspects of the Visit Program. Although each intern should be an “expert” in their own area, they are expected to assist the team as a whole, and provide support where it is needed. For example, if the Transportation & Group Visits Intern is having a slow week, they should be willing to help with the duties of other interns.

● Be ready to work many hours during the weeks of Admissions events.

● Assist with the planning and execution of visit events. The interns are expected to be “on-duty” on event days.

● Maintain pre-set office hours weekly, and keep work calendar updated.

● Hold a current driver’s license and be trained to drive an SPU vehicle.

● Able to be tour-trained and give campus tours as-needed. Giving tours keeps you on your toes! Parents and students ask a lot of great and unexpected questions that can increase your knowledge of admissions processes.

● Be excellent self-managers and creative problem-solvers.

● Meet weekly with the visit team (visit staff and other interns) as well as meet with their immediate supervisor for a weekly one-on-one.

This intern will assist the Visit and Events Coordinators by scheduling ambassadors for all weekly tours, group visits, and events throughout the year. They are responsible for managing the various ambassador needs of the team and helping to recruit ambassadors to the program. While campus tours are the biggest need from the ambassador program, this role will also schedule ambassadors for many additional visit and events-related responsibilities, including walking guests to class visits, helping assemble event materials, conducting meet & greets with prospective families, and other ambassador needs and roles as assigned.

Other duties of this intern role include arranging training for ambassadors, giving campus tours, helping with assembly of materials for visitors, assisting with all on-campus events, and other tasks as assigned. This intern will need to communicate with ambassadors consistently, especially on event days to make sure all areas of the events are covered.

If you have any questions, you may contact Pierce Salave'a Assistant Director for Visits and Events, at salaveap@spu.edu.