The effects of an active-listening training program on admissions counselors communication style

Most admissions counselor training programs across the country neglect to incorporate active-listening and communication skills as a viable component of college admissions training. This study sought to determine the effects of an Active-Listening, Communication Skills Workshop (AACW) in the improvement of five components of active-listening skills of admissions counselors participating in the workshop. Two hypotheses were tested to determine the effects of the AACW on workshop participants. The instruments which were developed by the researcher to collect the data used in hypothesis testing were the Admissions, Active-Listening, Communication Style Inventory (AACSI) and a Personal Data Form (PDF). Study subjects were 86 admissions counselors representing 6 colleges and universities in the metropolitan Washington D.C. area, and 14 colleges in the state of Virginia. Analysis of the study data utilized the t-Test. The criterion for statistical significance in the study was p $<$.05. Results of the hypothesis testing were that there was a significant difference in the AACSI Mean scores for admissions counselors who participated in the AACW. It was concluded that the AACW had a profound effect on participant utilization of five components of active-listening, communication behavior. Implications for the training needs of college admissions counselors and recommendations for further research are also discussed.