Position: College Access Mentor
Reports to: Assistant Director of College Access
Work Hours: Typical Work Day, Monday-Friday – 10:30 AM to 7:00 PM (up to 40 Hours per week)
- Some weekend work and late nights will be required throughout the year (typically during College Application, Financial Aid, and SAT Programming seasons; annual events such as NAC Thanksgiving and NAC Graduation)
- Work Day changes during college application season to provide support: potentially 2:00 PM - 11:00 PM
- Potential travel to local and out-of-state college locations during Fall and Spring (depending on operational and programmatic needs)
- Hour shifts - During summer and winter breaks, the organization will potentially shift their hours to an earlier time frame and may potentially have some work from home days to accommodate the needs of the organization.
Status: Full-Time, Hourly (non-exempt)
Compensation & Benefits:
- Starting Pay Range: $21.00 to 22.00 per hour (DOE)
- Health, Dental, Vision, Critical Illness Insurance (100% covered by Organization)
- 403(b) Retirement plan; Organization matches 3% after 1 year of employment
- Accrue Paid Time Off, 12 Paid Holidays Off, Paid Birthday Off
- Professional development
- Ability to make a difference in youth’s lives
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree (interest in Education, Social Services, Human Services, Psychology preferred)
- Bilingual (English and Spanish)
- Valid CPR Certification (needs to be obtained prior to official hire)
- TB Clearance (needs to be obtained prior to official hire)
- Must pass DOJ fingerprinting clearance (provided by NAC)
- Some knowledge in helping youth apply to college
- Must be available to work through October, November, December and January
DESCRIPTION
The mission of the Nicholas Academic Centers’ (NAC) is to provide support to under-served high school students to improve their academic performance, achieve their full scholarly and social potential, promote their admission to colleges and universities, retention, and graduation, and to impart the skills and knowledge necessary for them to live successful and productive lives.
As a member of the Nicholas Academic Centers’ College Access team, the College Access Mentor (CAM) is responsible to support the coordination and execution of the process of student college placement and assists with preparing them for success in college. The College Access Mentor is responsible for challenging themselves to learn the process of college placement and apply valuable skills and practices for mentoring and helping students accomplish their higher education goals.
The CAM is responsible for helping mentor and guide students with their college applications, working with students on their personal statement drafts and other documents needed to ensure students complete college applications. The CAM tracks student submission of paperwork related to students’ college admission, college testing, and registration (i.e.: college deposits, financial aid forms, placement tests, etc). Additionally, the CAM aids NAC Seniors in completing their FAFSA, CSS Profile, and/or California DREAM Act applications, maintaining student’s files and alerting the College Access Coordinator, Director and the Assistant Directors of College Access about any issues that may come up with students. Additionally, the CAM acts as a college advocate for NAC seniors. The CAM works with the College Access Team, the College Success Team, the Academic Services Team, and the NAC Management Team to assess students’ academic progress and needs and to collaborate and assist with the implementation of programs and services accordingly.
RESPONSIBILITIES
ADMINISTRATIVE
- Provide support in maintaining an auditable record of:
- College Access programming
- Curriculum for underclassmen
- Outreach to NAC high school and local stakeholders
- NAC seniors (eligible, active, community college bound, and 4-year bound)
- NAC seniors’ academic standing
- Students’ standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, PSAT, AP)
- Students’ college service applications (EOP, EOPS, EAOP)
- Students’ college applications and admissions acceptances
- Students’ FAFSA, CSS Profile, Cal DREAM Act Application status
- Students’ participation in NAC College Access and Success activities
- Updates in Student Files
- Mentoring outreach to underclassmen, seniors, and alumni
- NAC college knowledge curriculum programming
- NAC general and localized alumni programming
- Participate and actively contribute to discussion during College Access department meetings
- Provide support in preparing reports, briefs, or other data as needed for CA, Directors, and Board meetings
- Maintain records of all college guidance and mentoring guidance given to students
PROGRAMMATIC
- Provide mentoring support to Nicholas Academic Centers youth during the college application and financial aid process
- Provide guidance to youth regarding college access, college success, and career goals
- Assist College Access Coordinator(CAC) with coordination of college learning opportunities to increase students’ college knowledge (college visits to NAC, college campus visits, college fairs, learning activities onsite and within community)
- Help students with filling out college applications for public 2-year, public 4-year, and private 4-year institutions
- Help students fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
- Help students fill out College Board’s College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile.
- Help students brainstorm and develop ideas for their personal statements and personal insight statements.
- Help edit and guide students to restructure their personal statements for college.
- Help students conduct research about different collegiate institutions.
- Help students conduct research about the links between college and careers.
- Assist in cultivating a safe mentorship environment for student interactions
- Assist the CAC in providing college recommendations for seniors
- Assist the CAC in providing recommendations for improving college essays
- Assist and support CAC in College Access programming
- Assist the CAC with improving student attendance to senior workshops, college presentations, and College Access programming.
- Assist the CAC in developing plans of action for students collegiate goals
- Maintain a positive attitude and remain flexible with daily assignments
- Maintain current and knowledgeable on trends, policies, and issues relevant to educational equity, higher education, and college access program development
- Assist the CAC with data tracking
- Assist the CAC with data entry
- Assist students with completing college applications
- Assist students with reviewing personal statements
- Assist students with completing financial aid applications
- Assist NAC seniors with understanding their financial aid gap and the NAC financial gap stipend program information
- Guide NAC seniors with the college decision process
- Assist with implementing winter, spring, and summer break activities and programming (classes, workshops, field trips, Fun Fridays), teaching classes as appropriate
- Assist with mentoring 8th-11th grade students regarding college plans
- Assist 8th-11th grade students explore their introspective writing to help prepare them for future college applications.
- Assist with facilitating college knowledge workshops in classroom and small learning groups
- Work with CAC and the Academic Services Managers to identify ways to outreach and teach NAC students about college, college essay writing, college applications, financial aid application, and making college transition decisions.
- Assist 10th and 11th graders with developing writing for pre-college program applications
Position Objectives:
- Mentor will be able to help students navigate through the college application process via the Common App, Coalition, University of California, Cal State Apply
- Mentor will be able to effectively edit and submit FAFSA, Dream Act, CSS Profile
- Mentor will efficiently operate in a non-profit, community-based organization
- Mentor will become knowledgeable in the college application process, financial aid process, and college placement
- Mentor will learn how to properly network and engage with college representatives
- Mentor will become knowledgeable in advocating for underrepresented students in the higher education system
- Mentor will possess a diverse set of skills for essay brainstorming, editing, and writing for UC, Cal State, and Private school applications
- Mentor will be aware of how to mentor high school students by asking open ended questions
MENTORING AND ADVOCACY
- Mentor students as they face barriers in their personal life, education, family and general environment
- Work with colleagues, using a holistic approach, to help resolve students’ collegiate barriers
- Potential travel to college locations to visit alumni, offering mentorship
BUDGET/FISCAL
- Track and document expenses related to College Access programming
- Assist with tracking College Access budget
- Assist with tracking collecting financial documentation as outlined by NAC Chief Financial Officer (CFO)
OTHER
- Perform other duties as assigned and/or as needed to meet operation and program goals.
- Maintain current and knowledgeable on trends, policies, and issues relevant to educational equity, higher education, and college access program development.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE
- Knowledge of education/youth program development, planning, and implementation.
- Knowledge about private and public collegiate institutions.
- Knowledge of higher education and financial aid processes and procedures.
- Knowledge and sensitivity to the education and academic needs of a diverse urban student population.
- Knowledge about college guidance best practices
- Knowledge about best practices for mentoring and helping students overcome obstacles and become self-efficacious
- Goal and deadline oriented with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Communication skills with an ability to establish and maintain positive interpersonal/human relations with diverse and multiple stakeholders with students, parents, peers and high school and university personnel.
- Ability to work some nights and weekends for events and meetings.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and ethical conduct.
- Strong writing, oral, and critical thinking skills.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to establish priorities.
- Knowledge of computer applications and software, i.e. Microsoft Office and Google G Suite.
Pay: $21.00 - $22.00 per hour
Benefits:
- 403(b) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Mileage reimbursement
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Education:
Experience:
- College Knowledge: 1 year (Required)
Language:
- English & Spanish (Preferred)
License/Certification:
- CPR & First Aid Certification (Preferred)
Ability to Commute:
- Santa Ana, CA 92701 (Required)
Willingness to travel:
Work Location: In person
