College Possible AmeriCorps College Access Coach - Racine/Kenosha, WI
ABOUT COLLEGE POSSIBLE
As one of the largest and most successful college access and success programs in the country, since 2000 College Possible has helped more than 80,000 students from under-represented communities get into and through college through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support. Its pioneering model matches students with a near-peer coach and an evidence-based curriculum designed to help students overcome the most common barriers to getting into college and completing their degree - all at no cost to students or their families. Nationwide, College Possible students are three times more likely to earn a bachelor's degree within six years than their peers from similar backgrounds.
College Possible is a proud AmeriCorps program. AmeriCorps is a federal agency that brings people together to tackle the country's most pressing challenges through national service. Our AmeriCorps members commit to a year of service as a College Possible coach in communities throughout the country. Many coaches represent the identities of the students they serve, and each brings a commitment to social justice and closing the college equity divide.
Our near-peer coaching model has earned national recognition: the inaugural Evergreen National Education Award recognized our leadership in increasing access to and success in college for students from low-income backgrounds. It also earns top-of-field results: a Harvard study found that the program more than doubles a student's chance of enrolling in a four-year college, and our students are four times more likely to become college graduates than their low-income peers. College Possible has an annual operating budget of $33 million, more than 150 full-time employees and more than 175 AmeriCorps and VISTA service members. During the 2021-2022 school year, we reached an estimated 24,000 students nationwide. During the 2021-2022 school year, we reached an estimated 24,000 students nationwide.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
As a College Possible AmeriCorps Member, your service will help empower equitable college opportunity for eligible program students in your service location. For this position we are looking to hire members who are able to live and work in the Racine/Kenosha, WI area at one of our partner high schools.
YOUR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As a valued member of the College Possible community, all AmeriCorps members participate in three weeks of training at the beginning of their service year. Additionally, AmeriCorps members will work with College Possible program, school, and institutional partner staff every step of the way.
Our full programming includes the following AmeriCorps service roles:
College Access and College Success Coach service positions focus on coaching and supporting high school juniors, high school seniors, or current college students who are seeking to earn a college degree. You will be matched as either a high school coach who supports students in understanding, applying, and attending the college of their dreams or a college coach who assists with supporting students in persisting through and graduating from college. High school coaches will serve primarily inside a partner high school, coaching a caseload of high school juniors and/or seniors as they explore college opportunities and complete the college application process.
College coaches will serve either tech-connected in a College Possible office, or on a specific college campus. Tech-connected college coaches meet by phone, online messaging, and virtual personal meetings to support students in successfully matriculating through college; assisting in tasks like choosing the correct classes, reapplying for the financial aid and scholarships, college success skill-building, and addressing specific student needs as they arise.
We are currently only looking to hire college access coaches to coach junior level high school scholars.
College Access Coach (High School Coach)
- Teach college preparatory classes for 40 or more underserved high school students at local high school campus(es)
- Ensure that students consistently receive the highest quality of services, that school partner needs are met, and that each student makes satisfactory progress toward program goals
- Provide one-on-one coaching to students to develop their college plan
- Gain and maintain knowledge of all students' interests, needs, and backgrounds
- Perform follow-up parent/student phone calls
- Collect, organize, and maintain student and program documents
- Update the database and spreadsheet files on a weekly basis; maintain student records and statistics
- Provide mid-year and end of year-end progress reports for all students
- Grade and provide feedback on classroom assignments, including ACT/SAT diagnostic tests
- Coordinate with the College Success Team to provide college transition services to graduating high school seniors
- Submit weekly timesheets, periodic reports (i.e., monthly reports, self-evaluations, and supervisor evaluations), and other service-related documentation as required
- Attend required programmatic and community service events
OTHER INITIATIVES
- Participate in all in-person and online trainings, orientations, and staff meetings
- Participate in organization-wide events
- Weekly check-in with supervisory staff
- Maintain a professional and courteous office atmosphere
- Successfully complete the required 1,700 service hours
COLLEGE POSSIBLE BENEFITS
- Medical, Vision, Dental Insurance
- Employee Assistance Program
- Bi-weekly living stipend (totaling $23,000 for entire service term)
- Workers' compensation
- Benefits specific to College Possible location
- College Possible Alumni Network
- College Possible / AmeriCorps apparel and gear
- Professional skill and career development opportunities that transitions into any industry after you leave College Possible
AMERICORPS AND OTHER FEDERALLY-ISSUED BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award ($6,895.00 and can be used to repay federal loans or pay for future education expenses)
- Childcare benefits paid by AmeriCorps
- Loan forbearance and interest accrual payments for qualified student loans
- Time accrual toward the U.S. Department of Education's Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
- Income-based Loan Repayment Plan (IBR)
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
College Possible AmeriCorps Coaches are as diverse as the communities we serve. We're looking for you if you want to develop and grow, and if you're eager to give back by making a real difference.
Applicants must have obtained a Bachelor's degree by the time of service (August 2023). Ideal applicants possess a sincere interest in empowering youth and a passion for equitable access to higher education. Applicants should possess strong interpersonal, organizational, and research skills to assist College Possible with providing college access and success services to students. Applicants of all academic majors are welcome to apply. Once hired, individuals will receive extensive training and ongoing support from full-time College Possible program staff.
College Possible is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, or status with regard to public assistance. Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals and conduct all possible activities in fully accessible settings. Alternative application formats are available upon request by contacting HR@collegepossible.org.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
College Possible is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and seeks to build a diverse workforce to create impact in partnership with the communities we serve. We welcome a diverse pool of qualified applicants. For each of its positions, College Possible is mindful about what best serves our students, and seeks to hire staff with relevant experience, skills and aptitude, and a commitment to the power of education. To learn more, read our Diversity and Inclusion Plan.
Headquartered in Saint Paul, MN, College Possible operates: regional sites in Chicago, IL; Milwaukee, WI; Omaha, NE; Philadelphia, PA; Portland, OR; and Seattle, WA; College Forward in Austin, TX; and Catalyze partnerships in California, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, and Tennessee. Learn more at CollegePossible.org/Serve.