Post - Secondary Education Navigator

City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), the largest community college system in Illinois, is made up of seven colleges and five satellite sites, providing more than 70,000 students each year access to a quality, affordable education.

City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), in partnership with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), seeks to ensure that all high school students in Chicago are provided with in-depth information about CCC’s seven campuses, including career and technical education and liberal arts and sciences programs. Students expressing an interest in CCC receive help selecting pathways aligned to their interests and goals, and receive support from the initial application through enrollment at CCC.

Reporting to the Manager – High School Transitions, Post-Secondary Education Navigator positions implement coaching strategies to provide support to CPS high school students interested in postsecondary opportunities t-Secondary Education Navigator positions work with prospective students in helping them define their long-term goals, identify obstacles, and carry out the concrete steps needed to execute their plans and achieve their goals.

• provide students with in-depth information about CCC’s educational programs across its seven campuses, including degree, career and technical education, and certificate programs;
• assist students in making informed decisions about their educational and life goals, helping them select pathways aligned to their academic goals and career interests;
• help students connect their education and academic goals to career goals and employment opportunities;
• support students in navigating each stage of the application and enrollment process, connecting students and helping them engage with institutional resources including financial aid.

Post-Secondary Navigators must travel on a regular basis to high schools, attend CPS post-secondary team meetings, and CCC Student Service team meetings to stay fully aware of updates. Availability to work some evening and weekends is required. Performs related duties as required.

• Serves as information leads for CPS students matriculating to City Colleges of Chicago, and for CPS post-secondary leadership teams including College and Career Specialists and counselors. This includes specialized knowledge on CCC programs and pathways, CCC initiatives such as Early College, Transitional coursework, STAR and Career Launch, and all processes related to registration.

• Implements plans to increase students’ awareness of CCC’s varied program offerings, careers that are associated with each pathway and relevant employment data to help students make informed decisions in line with their career and life goals.
• Works with postsecondary leadership team in developing and implementing strategies across assigned high schools to identify and support student needs and provide targeted coaching to students around key areas of need related to CCC.
• Meets with students individually and in groups, coaching and guiding students in researching and exploring City Colleges of Chicago programs and career options, occupational job programs, apprenticeship programs in alignment with CCC offerings.
• Provides a range of services and resources to encourage and guide students in exploring the variety of available occupational, career and educational paths, define their career and education goals.
• Develops and utilizes academic and personal inventories/tools for use by students in exploring and identifying their academic, personal, and career interests and aspirations, and to articulate their postsecondary goals for a successful future.
• Supports students interested in City Colleges of Chicago in meeting their articulated postsecondary goals by ensuring goal alignment with selected pathways or programs at City Colleges of Chicago, including considering relevant labor market data.
• Works with and assists students in carrying out steps needed to enroll at CCC, including completing FAFSA forms, completing the admissions application process, navigating the placement testing process, and providing guidance on the enrollment process.
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