COLLEGE FORWARD AMERICORPS POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position Title: College Completion Coach
Department: Programs
Reports to: College Completion Program Manager
FLSA Status: N/A (Exception)
SUMMARY:
College Forward seeks full-time AmeriCorps*Texas members to serve as College Completion Coaches who possess a sincere interest in empowering youth and a passion for higher education. Applicants should possess strong interpersonal, organizational, and research skills to assist College Forward with providing college completion services to more than 2,000 collegians and improve and build the sustainability and success rate of the program in order to serve a rapidly increasing number of college students and graduates.
Members must serve a minimum of 1,700 hours of service (an average of 40-45 hrs/wk) and complete their full contractual term of 11 months in order to qualify for the Eli Segal Education Award.
NOTE: Mandatory AmeriCorps trainings will be held August 4, 2014 for pre-service orientation. This position will have access to vulnerable populations.
In the event of a local, state or federal disaster declaration, AmeriCorps members may occasionally need to deploy to an affected area (in-state or out-of-state) to participate in response or recovery operations for up to 60 days. During this time, service hours spent in response to that event may be counted towards the total required member hours of a given members. Any given member will be given no more than 120 days on disaster related activities in a given member year without the prior consent on the OneStar Foundation unless otherwise specified in the program’s approved grant and program design (in the case of programs with a Disaster area focus.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
w Contact one’s assigned collegians once per month by phone, email, online messaging, text and personal meeting to address specific needs and troubleshoot problems that may arise
w Update and monitor College Forward’s online social networking sites; respond frequently
w Provide students direct college transition counseling and support in areas including, but not limited to: freshman orientation, course registration, financial aid/FAFSA issues, college transfers, career development, and other miscellaneous issues. Conduct research, provide referrals, arrange meetings, and accompany students to appointments as necessary
w Provide extended support and create personalized action plans for students in “red flag” situations, including loss of financial aid, family crises, drop-outs, stop-outs, deferrals, MIA students, and students enrolled in two-year colleges
w Utilize national college enrollment databases and request school transcripts to confirm college enrollment; track, document and report collegian progress toward college graduation
w Coordinate all collegian events, including reunions, , information sessions, career seminars, and parent support events
w Coordinate campus gatherings and student mentor programs for students attending select campuses throughout Texas, and periodically make in-person campus visits.
w Orient College Forward’s high school students to the College Completion program and its services by assisting the High School Program team in preparing and administering college completion and transition curriculum to graduating high school seniors; ensure that students successfully enroll in completion services
w Organize and maintain up-to-date student information on student progress including milestones and deliverables in databases and physical files; monitor completion program statistics; produce reports as needed
w Submit weekly timesheets, periodic reports (i.e. monthly reports, self-evaluations, and supervisor evaluations), and other service-related documentation as required
w Attend required programmatic and community service events
ANCILLARY FUNCTIONS:
w Provide recognition and leadership opportunities to collegians as appropriate, including giving internal/external awards, writing recommendation letters, and composing recognition articles for newsletter and press releases
w Evaluate college completion efforts quantitatively and qualitatively for future program improvement by conducting research on best practices in college completion initiatives and gathering qualitative collegian feedback (via collegian surveys, retreats, events and/or meetings)
w Maintain excellent working relationships with supervisors, fellow AmeriCorps members, school district and college personnel, students and families, volunteers, donors, and the greater community
w Serve on project teams on the following subjects, including but not limited to: program events, student communications, financial aid and literacy, student recruitment, AmeriCorps member recruitment, parent services, curriculum revision, and community service activities
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
College Forward is a dynamic, progressive and youth-focused working environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate to loud. Responsibilities may frequently require an adjusted work schedule and/or evening/weekend hours in order to meet deadlines or satisfy program requirements.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. College Persistence Coaches must also submit to and pass a comprehensive criminal background check before a final placement offer can be made, and annually thereafter.
· EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: This position requires at least a baccalaureate degree from an accredited, academically-recognized four-year college or university, and a minimum of one year related experience.
· PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this position, the member is regularly required to communicate with and present information to others and access information using a computer for several hours at a time. Members must have mobility throughout the office and must frequently drive or ride up to 30 miles to high school campuses and other service locations to monitor service delivery. Members may infrequently be required to drive or ride distances of up to 250 miles, with occasional air travel necessary.
· EMOTIONAL DEMANDS: The member must be emotionally mature and be able to handle difficult and complex team member and student situations. Candidates must demonstrate an ability to solve practical problems and deal with frequently changing variables. The member must demonstrate strong interpersonal and coaching skills.
· INTELLECTUAL DEMANDS: Excellent writing and communication skills are essential; English/Spanish bilingualism is strongly preferred. Candidates must be able to read, analyze, and interpret general educational and business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures and governmental regulations. They must exhibit an ability to professionally write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. They must be able to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. They must be able to effectively present information and respond to questions from the general public, clients, students, partners, and managers. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to understand and apply standard, high school-level mathematical concepts for the purpose of compiling program statistics.
College Forward provides equal employment opportunities to all team members and/or applicants for employment or service, without regard to race, color, class, religion/creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, weight, height, disability, political affiliation, marital or familial status, partnership status, citizenship status (except as required by law), veteran status, or status in any group protected by federal law, state law, or local ordinance. We provide reasonable accommodations upon request in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. We encourage and support diversity and tolerance in our workplace.
* Position placement and enrollment is contingent upon final notification of funding by the Corporation for National and Community Service.