Position: College Access Coordinator
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 and early morning hours will be required throughout the year
(Typically for community, business and student outreach; College Application and Financial Aid seasons, annual events such as NAC Thanksgiving, NAC Alumni Reunions, 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: $22.00 to 23.00 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 Required (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 Coordinator (CAC) is responsible for coordinating and executing the process of student college placement and assists with preparing them for success in college. The CAC 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 CAC 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 CAC 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 CAC aids NAC Seniors in completing their FAFSA, CSS Profile, and/or California DREAM Act applications, maintaining student’s files and alerting the Director and the Assistant Directors of College Access about any issues that may come up with students. Additionally, the CAC acts as a college advocate for NAC seniors and NAC Alumni. The CAC works with the College Access Team, the College Success Team, the Academic Services Team, and the NAC Management Team to assess students’ and alumni academic progress and needs and to collaborate and assist with the implementation of programs and services accordingly.
RESPONSIBILITIES
ADMINISTRATIVE
- Maintain an auditable record of:
- College Access programming
- Programming and 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
- NAC College Access Mentors
- Participate and actively contribute to discussion during College Access department meetings
- Prepare 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
- Mentor and advocate for NAC current students, providing them with personal, academic, collegiate, and financial aid guidance.
- Create and implement College Access programming for underclassmen at home sites
- Manage College Access Mentors at NAC home sites
- Manage and execute outreach to stakeholders for NAC home site
- Serve as a College Access advocate for NAC students
- Manage college-matching process for each NAC senior
- Maintain open communication and collaborate with Assistant Director of College Access and with other NAC Management regarding departmental programs, as well as problems and concerns about students to ensure the needs of students are being met
- Organize and track the dissemination and application of college related opportunities (college fly-out programs, college immersion programs for juniors, scholarships, etc.)
- Collect and track NAC seniors’ acceptances into colleges.
- Collect and track NAC seniors’ information regarding the status of student applications for Financial Aid, CSS Profile, CA DREAM Act, college deposits, placement tests, etc.
- Collect and track college financial aid award letters from NAC seniors.
- Coordinate and help teach Personal Statement workshops for NAC students.
- Read and give feedback to NAC seniors’ regarding their personal statements.
- Assist NAC Seniors fill out forms including: college applications, FAFSA, CSS, CA DREAM Act, financial analysis forms, etc.
- Act as local point of contact for college stakeholders
- Facilitate college presentations at NAC home site
- Create and implement college knowledge curriculum and programming
- Assist with identifying students’ college related needs (i.e.: NAC College Dorm Gear, NAC Winter Coat and Shoes Assistance Program).
- Assist in the implementation and tracking of NAC’s College Transition Program.
- Implement and track NAC’s College Knowledge Program
- Coordinate college learning opportunities to increase students’ college knowledge (college visits to NAC, college campus visits, college fairs, learning activities onsite and within community)
- Assist with collecting records of student attendance to College Access programming.
- Assist NAC seniors with understanding their financial aid gap and the NAC financial gap stipend program information
- Assist and facilitate alumni outreach meetings
- Assist with facilitating localized alumni programming
- Maintain strong relationships with all NAC alumni via telephone and in person, establishing an outreach process designed to improve college retention rates of NAC graduates.
- Visit NAC alumni at college sites to help improve college retention and graduation
- Assist with maintaining updated alumni files (gap stipend applications, contact information, needs, etc.)
- Assist with planning and implementing coordinated alumni outreach activities and events (alumni events, alumni care packages, social media outreach, alumni peer mentoring, etc.)
- Assist with implementing winter, spring, and summer break activities and programming (classes, workshops, field trips, Fun Fridays), teaching classes as appropriate
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 and 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: $22.00 - $23.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Education:
Experience:
- Mentoring: 1 year (Required)
- working with youth: 1 year (Required)
- College Knowledge: 1 year (Required)
Language:
- English & Spanish (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Santa Ana, CA 92701 (Required)
Willingness to travel:
Work Location: In person
