2026-2027 College Success Fellow – Hartford, Connecticut​/Rhode Island

College Success Fellow – Hartford, Connecticut/Rhode Island

KIPP Forward accepts applications from exceptional recent or soon-to-be college graduates to join our College Success Fellows program. As full-time employees with a salary of $62,355 and full benefits. Fellows work passionately and tirelessly to ensure that recent graduates of our partner high schools receive outstanding support through their first two years of college, with the ultimate goal that they persist and accumulate 60 credits to stay on track for on-time degree completion.

Throughout their commitment, Fellows engage in regular training and receive consistent and direct feedback from their direct managers, who are skilled college and career success practitioners who help Fellows grow their professional skills.

The Hartford, Connecticut/Rhode Island College Success Fellow will be assigned to a set of schools within 3 hours driving distance of the Hartford region of Connecticut and Rhode Island. This Fellow will be expected to live in Connecticut during the academic year throughout the two-year fellowship. College and career success work involves meeting with our alumni at their respective colleges. This position is a field position and requires frequent travel to college campuses.

All work-related transportation costs will be paid for by KIPP Forward.

Fellows provide transformational coaching, mentorship, and direct support to alumni in college through 1:1 advisement sessions on their campuses and touchpoints in between. Fellows assess the progress of our alumni towards college completion through our innovative "Persistence Benchmarks," which measure financial health, academic habits and planning, socio-emotional health, and career planning. Through these consistent touchpoints and assessments, Fellows perform transformational coaching interventions to ensure our alumni make positive progress in all areas.

The  College Success Fellowship is a one-year commitment from the date of hire through June 30, 2027. However, based on exceptional performance and mutual agreement, there may be an opportunity to extend the contract for an additional two years, allowing the Fellow to experience the full, standard Fellowship track from the beginning. Barring an extension, employment with KIPP NYC terminates at the end of June 2027.

General responsibilities include (but are not limited to):

• Manage a caseload of approximately 125 college students, meeting at least once, but in some cases two to four times per semester based on student priority level, in addition to regular video/calls/texts, to provide advising services focused on college persistence and credit attainment
• Become an expert on your assigned campuses through research and exploration, with the goal to be able to direct alumni to their campus offices, resources, and supports early and often
• Connect, collaborate, and maintain relationships with key campus staff and support offices in order to best support our alumni and address challenges that arise efficiently and effectively
• Conduct routine follow-ups to ensure successful registration and completion of coursework and drive registration for the summer term for students who are under-credited
• Assist students in writing and submitting financial aid and enrollment letters of appeal when needed to maintain enrollment status and/or financial aid
• Assist students with FAFSA/TAP renewals and loan counseling completion when necessary.
• Recruit for and progress monitor students' participation in KIPP Forward's Way finders Career Programs, which includes completing a career assessment, resume and mock interview workshops, engaging in networking practices, and applying for a sophomore year internship or career exposure opportunity.
• Prepare alumni for a successful transition to NERA, the Y3+ alumni support program.

Data Management:

• Track Persistence Benchmarks with every student contact on four key indicators of Persistence:
  Financial, Socio-Emotional, Academic, and Passion/Purpose/Plan (Career Readiness)
• Utilize KIPP Forward's Caseload Engagement & Advising Management System (CEAMS) to analyze student academic data and progress towards goals, prioritize…