Kendall Hall’s basement transformed this summer to house a brand-new call center for Hillsdale’s admissions department.
Formerly based in the admissions office in Central Hall, Hillsdale College’s contact center relocated to the bottom floor of Kendall. The renovated space will facilitate the center’s revamped employee training programs and accommodate its expansion.
“The contact center will hopefully allow Hillsdale to provide the best prospect experience of any college,” said John Papciak ’13, director of contact center operations. “I hope to grow and develop its student curriculum and perhaps an internship for the summer.”
An admissions outreach, the student-operated contact center connects with prospective students to introduce them to the college, its core curriculum, and its values, ultimately seeking to interest them in attending the college.
The Kendall contact center includes individual cubicles and a training room. It provides student employees with their own headsets and computers.
“It’s beautiful,” said sophomore Amber Crump, who has worked for the call team since fall 2015. “A big leap from last year.”
The contact center’s call team is looking to hire students of all years. In full operation, Papciak said he expects it to employ 50-70 students.
Sophomore Josephine von Dohlen began working in the contact center last year. She said it taught her about Hillsdale’s history, programs, and departments. It has helped to hone her professional and communication skills, as well, von Dohlen said.
“I love it,” she said. “I met a lot of really great friends doing it. And especially now that we’re growing, there are a lot of opportunities for personal growth through working through it, and a lot of great real-life experience.”
