College Persistence Advisor

POSITION OVERVIEW

College Persistence Advisors (CPAs) adhere to the College Scholars advising model in working directly in support of College Scholars’ success in college. CPAs support Scholars in three general buckets of support: personal, academic, and career. CPAs are responsible for building relationships and catering their support to each Scholar specifically as needed and desired. CPAs also lead or support the Scholars Program, College in running workshops and programming for Scholars.

Topics vary from career development, academic strategies, to infinity focused support groups. In addition to the direct student work, CPAs are expected to manage a variety of administrative tasks, including but not limited to: documentation of advising sessions and outreach, tracking Scholar document submissions, looking at data to analyze engagement trends, and noticing trends across school clusters.

• Manage and engage one-on-one a cohort of ~70 Scholars remotely and in person, ensuring that each Scholar has equitable support.
• Advise Scholars in college preparedness, academic support, personal support, and career development support throughout their time in college.
• Provide case management services for Scholars who need support with basic needs.
• Apply the College Scholars Advising model in the direct work with students, implementing intentional use of skills and tools that uphold our pillars or advising.
• Reinforce and discuss linkages and relationships between Scholars’ instructional program and their desired occupation/career.
• Assess for Scholars’ well-being and safety as needed.
• Foster rapport with students through consistent and non-judgmental communication in advising sessions, as well as through proactive identification of supports that address the unique needs of first-generation and low-income students.
• Maintain student confidentiality.

• Advocate for students with universities and other stakeholders.
• Maintain, collect, and report student data on an ongoing basis, such as degree audits, resumes transcripts and financial aid completion for purposes of reporting, institutional research, and institutional effectiveness.
• Assess engagement of the assigned cohort to ensure that outreach efforts and re‑engagement strategies are implemented when needed.
• Document student case notes promptly and accurately into Salesforce database.
• Utilize Salesforce systems, as necessary, to aid in the delivery and reporting of advising services.
• Foster rapport with students through consistent and non-judgmental communication of outreach efforts, as well as through proactive identification of supports that address the unique needs of first-generation and low‑income students.

• Actively participate in the College Scholar’s CPA Professional Development Plan.
• Engage in internal professional development opportunities around student support through on-going and regular feedback and coaching for continued growth.
• Contribute to a safe educational and working environment by participating in all training and being prepared to act.
• Facilitate and co-facilitate programming workshops designed to increase student success in college and the high school to college transition.
• Participate in or attend occasional evening and weekend work are required, dependent on program needs.
• Support program initiatives that contribute to College Scholar success, usually in the second year.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Master’s degree required, preferably in Social Work, Counseling, School Counseling, School Psychology, or related field from an accredited university.
• 2-3 years graduate school field placement or work experience in education or related field.
• Prior experience working with high school and college students a must.

• Demonstrates unequivocal passion for closing the opportunity gap and driving and inspiring student achievement.
• Understanding of the unique needs of first-generation and low-income students.
• Highly detail‑oriented and organized approach to tasks while able to meet competing deadlines.
• Exceptional communication skills: verbal,…