College Advising Specialist

College Possible
$43,000.00 - $48,000.00 / yr
paid time off, 401(k), retirement plan
United States, Illinois, Chicago
Jan 14, 2025
College Advising Specialist College Possible Chicago This Work Is Our Mission At College Possible, we believe talent is universal, but access to opportunity is not. For many students, the path to college can feel overwhelming or out of reach. That's where you come in. We support students on their journey to higher education by providing personalized coaching, resources, and guidance. When you join College Possible, you become part of a team dedicated to making college access and success a reality. Together, we help students navigate the admissions process, overcome challenges, and earn their degrees. Our Impact 80% of College Possible students are admitted to college 86% of College Possible students enroll in college 93,000+ students served nationwide since 2000 Why Join Our Team? When you work at College Possible, you're not just taking a job-you're advancing a mission to help more students get to and through college. You'll play a direct role in helping students achieve their educational goals and build brighter futures. Key Benefits Professional Growth Access training, mentorship, and career development opportunities as you support student success. Mission-Driven Impact Make a direct difference in students' lives by helping them access and complete college. Collaborative Community Join a team that values teamwork, innovation, and excellence in service of students. Work-Life Balance Enjoy flexible work options, unlimited PTO, and resources to support your well-being. Your Role as College Advising Specialist The College Advising Specialist is responsible for providing support to college students in the areas of financial aid, course registration, internships, career exposure, campus connection, and more via virtual methods as well as in-person. The CAS position advocates for College Possible's college students communicating to both College Possible and the higher educational institutions as to the needs of the students and resources needed for the students to persist and graduate. Primary Responsibilities Direct Student Support - 65% Follow College Possible structured college curriculum, which supports students in four areas: financial aid, academics/registration, social emotional, and career planning to help students progress towards specific goals/milestones Coach students toward reaching College Possible programmatic milestones Conduct and document end-of-semester assessments for each student (twice annually) Create individualized support plans for students Maintain ongoing communication with all students in caseload Lead monthly office hours on designated campus with the goal of meeting 10-20 students Support the college enrollment process to ensure a smooth transition into college Send messages of encouragement, congratulatory cards, care packages, etc. Respond to all student text/calls/emails within 2 business days Guide students through financial aid renewal process by appropriate deadlines Support students to ensure semester-to-semester registration and on track to graduate with BA within 4-5 years Collect and analyze transcripts to understand where students are academically and identify early warning indicators Conduct degree mapping and audit session with students to detect any challenges with being on track to graduate Provide proactive and intentional advising or referrals to support student with major selection and courses that align with major requirements Provide tools, resources, and/or templates that allow students to learn and own their college journey with confidence. Empower students to resolve obstacles that come up throughout the school year by coaching them to become self-advocates and identify campus resources Proactive communicate with college/university departments to advocate for students Track and record student progress, using both quantitative and qualitative measures Enter essential student data into Salesforce including contact information, transcripts, coach assessments, support plans, notes, and more.. Identify, run and summarize reports into a presentable form to share key information about caseload trends and progress. Caseload Management - 20% Manage a caseload of approximately 200 plus college students, including, but not limited to: Schedule all student meetings on a monthly, or as needed, basis Manage time and calendar to meet minimum meeting standards as outlined by KPIs Support students who have become unenrolled or who have transferred out of their initial institution Utilize creative problem solving techniques to address student engagement Incorporate effective and efficient organization and time management practices to understand each student support needs and deliver accordingly. Project Management- 10% Provide project leadership and support for program design initiatives that further College Possible's goal of improving student engagement and persistence rates Utilize data, including student outcomes and feedback from partners and students, to inform new ideas and interventions Program design projects include, but are not limited to, the development or refinement of program model initiatives and resources. Program & Organizational Support - 5% Support student and AmeriCorps recruitment Attend key events, including Launch, Baseline SAT Practice Test, college visits, and career-related student workshops Support the Development team by attending events, networking with guests and supporting event logistics. Represent the College Possible brand in a positive light, and take actions to increase brand awareness throughout the community. Other Duties/Projects as Assigned What You Bring Education/Certifications/Licenses Bachelor's degree is required Related Work Experience 2-3 years min experience working as a staff member in college access/success or higher education is required Preference given to those with experience in college advising, student re-engagement/persistence and academic success/completion of college students Computer/Software Skills Well-developed computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Office. Other Skills, Abilities and Requirements Must possess exemplary verbal and written communication skills includes writing reports, giving presentations. English/Spanish bilingualism is preferred The ability to collaborate, work independently and be comfortable with some level of ambiguity Employees must have the ability to travel to college campuses or partner sites up to 30% of the time The employee must be able to problem solve complex student situations Must have strong interpersonal and coaching skills to quickly development rapport and build trust Physical Requirements Ability to lift up to 15 pounds when needed Office environment Ability to stand and/or sit for a minimum of 7 hours a day What We Offer In addition to joining a committed, diverse, values-based organization, we offer: An opportunity for you to have a tremendous impact both internally and in the broader country A competitive salary commensurate with experience excellent benefits including complete health, dental, life, short-term and long-term insurance 401(k) retirement plan Encouraged sustainability through a generous paid time off program Personalized professional development and growth opportunities. To Join Our Growing College Possible Team Please apply at: www.CollegePossible.org/careers Include a resume and cover letter.