AmeriCorps College Success Coach
at California Polytechnic State University

Location: San Luis Obispo, California
Time Period: One year position, renewable for a second year (August 1, 2024 - July 31, 2025)
Employment Status: In-person; Full-Time; Monday-Friday during traditional school hours
Compensation:

• Living Allowance of $23,000; paid in bi-weekly installments
• Segal Education Award valued at $7,395, after successfully completing your service term
• Medical, Vision, and Dental coverage at no monthly cost to you

Who We Are

As one of the largest and most successful college access and success programs in the country, since 2000 College Possible has helped more than 85,700 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 ~$33.5 million, more than 190 full-time employees and more than 245 AmeriCorps and VISTA service members. During the 2021-2022 school year, we reached an estimated 25,700 students nationwide.

Headquartered in Saint Paul, MN, College Possible operates: regional sites in Austin, TX; Chicago, IL; Milwaukee, WI; Omaha, NE; Philadelphia, PA; Portland, OR; Saint Paul, MN; and Seattle, WA; as well as Catalyze partnerships in California, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas.

Our Coaches

College Possible Coaches are selected from a diverse group of individuals from various backgrounds across the United States to serve our students as college access and success mentors; each Coach brings their unique skill set to assist students' success. We are seeking talented, caring, and passionate people committed to supporting our students in their path to achieving a college degree. Through this service year opportunity, our Coaches develop leadership skills, participate in professional development workshops, engage in public speaking and much more. This is not only a positive learning experience for our students but for our Coaches as well!

What You'll Do

The College Success Coach service position focuses on coaching and supporting current college undergraduate students who are seeking to earn a college degree. College coaches will serve in-person on a specific college campus. College success coaches communicate with their students via email, text message or telephone and meet with them by in-person or video meetings. College success coaches, support students in successfully persisting through college; assisting in tasks like navigating course registration, reapplying for financial aid and scholarships, and addressing specific student needs as they arise.

College Success Coach

• Contact one's assigned collegians once per month by phone, email, or text. Hold 1:1 coaching sessions to address specific needs and troubleshoot problems that may arise.
• Provide students support in areas including, but not limited to new student orientation, course registration, financial aid/FAFSA issues, career development, and other miscellaneous issues. Provide referrals, arrange meetings, and accompany students to appointments as necessary.
• Provide extended support and create personalized action plans for students in "red flag" situations, including loss of financial aid, family crises, academic warning, etc.
• Network and collaborate with university staff within academic advising, financial aid, and student support offices
• Organize and maintain up-to-date student information on student progress including milestones and deliverables in databases; monitor success program statistics; produce reports as needed
• Submit weekly timesheets, periodic reports (i.e., monthly reports, self-evaluations, and supervisor evaluations), and other service-related documentation as required
• Attend required training, programmatic and community service events

Qualifications

• You are a U.S. citizen; AmeriCorps members are required to be U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents
• You have obtained a bachelor's degree
• You must clear a National Service Criminal History Check and all other security and health requirements set forth by College Possible and the school district in which you serve before the start of training

College Possible Coach Benefits & Perks

• 3 weeks of paid school breaks & holidays
• Up to 5 personal days
• 3 weeks onboarding and training
• Consistent professional & leadership development training
• Employee Assistance Program access, with mental, physical, & financial wellness benefits
• Company-provided technology
• Company-provided gear & apparel
• Access to College Possible alumni network

Cal Poly Campus Benefits

• $3,000/year housing allowance
• Free rec center membership
• On campus meal plan
• Free campus parking

AmeriCorps Eligible Benefits

• Student loan deferment and interest forbearance
• Child care benefits program
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Benefits
• Department of Education's Public Service Loan Forgiveness program
• Access to Schools of National Service Network for additional education benefits
• Access toAmeriCorps alumni & Employers of National Service networks

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.