Transfer Engagement Specialist

Position Overview

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions reports to the Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and is responsible for domestic and international undergraduate admissions for freshman and transfer students. The Office of Undergraduate Admissions coordinates the overall recruitment strategy for KU, including travel, high school and community college relations, on and off-campus events, prospect and inquiry management, and application processing.

More than perhaps any other factor, the degree to which a university attracts and retains qualified students determines the success or failure of that institution. The Enrollment Management division is a key player in this activity and has a profound effect on the institution’s success. Enrollment Management (EM) includes the following functional units: Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Graduate Enrollment Management, Financial Aid and Scholarships, Office of the University Registrar, Student Lifecycle Technology, Enrollment Marketing Communications, and Enrollment Management Services. The division is committed to developing a data-informed, forward-looking, comprehensive enrollment strategy that enables the institution to pursue strategic goals in an integrated and intentional manner.

The Transfer Engagement Specialist is a key member of the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and plays a vital role in its Strategic Enrollment Management plan. This position focuses on recruiting and supporting prospective transfer students throughout the application and pre-application process. A key member of the Undergraduate Admissions and the Transfer Engagement Team, a successful candidate must have a passion for the University of Kansas, be highly motivated and goal-oriented, and can articulate the values and objectives of the University of Kansas to attract, recruit, admit, advise, and enroll a high-quality student population to meet KU's enrollment goals. Duties include communicating daily and building relationships in person and virtually with prospective students, families, and school counselors or advisors, managing multiple engagement correspondences, coordinating on- and off-campus recruitment responsibilities, and organizing a travel schedule. Transfer Engagement Specialists are responsible for interpreting data to tailor outreach efforts to students in assigned territories to elevate KU’s market position and profile.

Reporting to the Assistant Director of Transfer, this position is a liaison between the university and prospective transfer students, ensuring a seamless transition from their previous institution to KU. The role involves recruiting transfer students, pre-transfer, and fostering relationships with community college partners.

In addition to a competitive salary, KU offers great benefits to employees with up to 176 hours of paid vacation per year, 96 hours of sick leave earned per year, 9 paid holidays plus one discretionary day, a great retirement program, medical and dental insurance, life and disability insurance, other benefit plan options and state of Kansas discounts offered by various vendors. KU also offers educational opportunities for employees.

Job Description

35% - Recruitment and Transfer Student Engagement

• Develop and implement recruitment strategies tailored to prospective transfer students from all walks of life and through different modalities (e.g. in-person, online).
• Establish and maintain relationships with community colleges, academic advisors, and prospective students.
• Represent KU at community college fairs, transfer events, and on-campus programs.
• Conduct in-person and virtual pre-application advising sessions for prospective transfer students.
• Provide guidance on the admissions process, transfer credit evaluation, scholarships, and financial aid.
• Utilize data to track enrollment trends and refine recruitment strategies.
• Manage a recruitment territory, tracking prospective students and ensuring follow-up communications.
• Utilize Slate CRM to conduct targeted outreach efforts such as phone calls, virtual meetings, or in-person engagement.
  
  
  

35% - Pre-Enrollment Advising and Support

• Serve as a primary resource for prospective transfer students, addressing academic and procedural questions at the pre- application and application stage.
• Collaborate with academic departments and student services to provide tailored advising for transfer pathways.
• Organize and facilitate transfer-specific recruitment and yield events.
• Assist students with navigating KU’s application process, credit articulation, and orientation.
  
  
  

20% - Assist with Undergraduate Admissions Recruitment Events

• Conducts presentations in a central public speaking role to small and large groups of prospective transfer, high school, and some middle school students, families, and community stakeholders.
• Plans, organizes, and hosts targeted recruitment and pre-application advising events in assigned in-state and out-of-state markets.
• Helps with presentation support, team building, and other leadership roles within the Kansas-based freshman recruitment team, as assigned by Undergraduate Admissions leadership.
  
  
  

10% - Collaboration and Professional Development

• Works closely with the Associate Director for Transfer and Community Engagement Initiatives, the Assistant Director of Transfer Recruitment, the Transfer Engagement Team, and the broader admissions team to align transfer recruitment efforts with institutional goals.
• Participates in professional development opportunities related to transfer recruitment and student success.
• Stays informed of best practices and policy changes affecting transfer students.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  
  
  

Position Requirements

• Driver’s license required or ability to obtain one at the time of appointment.
• Evening and weekend work, along with extensive travel, is required.
• This position requires 25-50% for travel time.
  
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required at the time of appointment.
• At least 3 months of public speaking or presentation experience in academic, volunteer, or professional settings as evidenced by application materials.
• Strong written communication skills as evidenced by application materials.
  
  
  

This position requires a formal degree in the cited discipline area(s) to ensure that candidates have advanced knowledge, analytical skills and professional competencies necessary to perform the duties of the position. The level of degree is commonly recognized as the standard qualification for similar roles in the public and private sector, ensuring that the university remains competitive with industry aligned practices, enhances collaboration with external partners, and supports the delivery of services and programs that meet professional and market-driven expectations

Preferred Qualifications

• A graduate of KU or knowledge of KU academic programs, student services, and admissions processes as evidenced by application materials.
• Experience working with student populations such as first-generation, transfer, and non-traditional students as evidenced by application materials.
• Bilingual proficiency in Spanish as evidenced by application materials.
• Understanding CRM philosophy and familiarity with Slate or other CRM technologies as evidenced by application materials.
• Experience in student recruitment, advising, or a related field (can include coursework, internships, or professional experience, as evidenced by application materials.
• Experience with community college partnerships and transfer pathways as evidenced by application materials.
• Experience working independently and as part of a team to achieve recruitment goals as evidenced by application materials.
• Work experience that required strong organizational and time management skills, as evidenced by application materials.
  
  
  

Additional Candidate Instructions

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:

• Cover letter describing how you meet the required and preferred qualifications.
• Resume
• List of three (3) professional references
  
  
  

Only complete applications will be considered.

Application review begins October 22, 2026. and will continue until a qualified pool of applicants are identified.

Contact Information to Applicants

Amy Tharp

atharp@ku.edu

785-864-5421

Advertised Salary Range

44,100

Application Review Begins

Thursday October 22, 2026

Anticipated Start Date

Sunday November 8, 2026