COLLEGE FORWARD AMERICORPS POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position Title:
Department:
Reports to:
FLSA Status:
College Completion Coach
Programs
College Completion Program Manager
N/A (Exception)
SUMMARY:
College Forward seeks full-time AmeriCorps*Texas members to serve as College Completion Coaches at our
Austin and Houston, Texas sites from August 3, 2015 – July 1, 2016 who possess a sincere interest in
empowering youth and a passion for higher education. Applicants should possess strong interpersonal,
organizational, and research skills to assist College Forward with providing college completion services to more
than 3,000 collegians and improve and build the sustainability and success rate of the program in order to
serve a rapidly increasing number of college students and graduates.
Members must serve a minimum of 1,700 hours of service (an average of 40-45 hrs/wk) and complete their
full contractual term of 11 months in order to qualify for the Eli Segal Education Award.
NOTE: Mandatory AmeriCorps trainings will be held August 3, 2015 for pre-service orientation.
have access to vulnerable populations.
This position will
In the event of a local, state or federal disaster declaration, AmeriCorps members may occasionally need to
deploy to an affected area (in-state or out-of-state) to participate in response or recovery operations for up
to 60 days. During this time, service hours spent in response to that event may be counted towards the total
required member hours of a given members. Any given member will be given no more than 120 days on
disaster related activities in a given member year without the prior consent on the OneStar Foundation unless
otherwise specified in the program’s approved grant and program design (in the case of programs with a
Disaster area focus.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Contact one’s assigned collegians once per month by phone, email, online messaging, and possible
personal meeting to address specific needs and troubleshoot problems that may arise

Work on college campuses as applicable to provide students direct college transition counseling and
support in areas including, but not limited to: freshman orientation, course registration, financial
aid/FAFSA issues, college transfers, career development, and other miscellaneous issues. Conduct
research, 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, drop-outs, stop-outs, deferrals, MIA students, and students
enrolled in two-year colleges

Utilize national college enrollment databases and request school transcripts to confirm college enrollment;
track, document and report collegian progress toward college graduation

Coordinate campus gatherings and student mentor programs for students attending select campuses
throughout Texas, and periodically make in-person campus visits.

Orient College Forward’s high school students to the College Completion program and its services by
assisting the High School Program team in preparing and administering college completion and transition
curriculum to graduating high school seniors; ensure that students successfully enroll in completion
services

Organize and maintain up-to-date student information on student progress including milestones and
deliverables in databases and physical files; monitor completion 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 programmatic and community service events
ANCILLARY FUNCTIONS:

Provide recognition and leadership opportunities to collegians as appropriate, including giving
internal/external awards, writing recommendation letters, and composing recognition articles for newsletter
and press releases

Evaluate college completion efforts quantitatively and qualitatively for future program improvement by
conducting research on best practices in college completion initiatives and gathering qualitative collegian
feedback (via collegian surveys, retreats, events and/or meetings)

Maintain excellent working relationships with supervisors, fellow AmeriCorps members, school district and
college personnel, students and families, volunteers, donors, and the greater community

Update and monitor College Forward’s online social networking sites; respond frequently

Assist and attend events and programs and assist non-program students on campuses as requested by
the college administration

Serve on project teams on the following subjects, including but not limited to:
AmeriCorps member
recruitment, mentor program, students who are undocumented, program monitoring and evaluation,
community college students, students who are parents services, and community service activities
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
College Forward is a dynamic, progressive and youth-focused working environment. The noise level in the work
environment is usually moderate to loud. Responsibilities may frequently require an adjusted work schedule
and/or evening/weekend hours in order to meet deadlines or satisfy program requirements.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential
functions. College Completion Coaches must also submit to and pass a comprehensive criminal background
check before a final placement offer can be made, and annually thereafter.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: This position requires at least a baccalaureate degree from an accredited,
academically-recognized four-year college or university, and a minimum of one year related experience.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: While performing the duties of this position, the member is regularly required to communicate
with and present information to others and access information using a computer for several hours at a time.
Members must have mobility throughout the office and must frequently drive or ride up to 30 miles to high school
campuses and other service locations to monitor service delivery. Members may infrequently be required to drive or
ride distances of up to 250 miles, with occasional air travel necessary.

EMOTIONAL DEMANDS: The member must be emotionally mature and be able to handle difficult and complex team
member and student situations. Candidates must demonstrate an ability to solve practical problems and deal with
frequently changing variables. The member must demonstrate strong interpersonal and coaching skills.

INTELLECTUAL DEMANDS: Excellent writing and communication skills are essential; English/Spanish bilingualism is
strongly preferred. Candidates must be able to read, analyze, and interpret general educational and business
periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures and governmental regulations. They must exhibit an ability to
professionally write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. They must be able to interpret a
variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. They must be able to effectively present
information and respond to questions from the general public, clients, students, partners, and managers. Candidates
must demonstrate the ability to understand and apply standard, high school-level mathematical concepts for the
purpose of compiling program statistics.
College Forward provides equal employment opportunities to all team members and/or applicants for employment or service,
without regard to race, color, class, religion/creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin,
age, weight, height, disability, political affiliation, marital or familial status, partnership status, citizenship status (except as
required by law), veteran status, or status in any group protected by federal law, state law, or local ordinance. We provide
reasonable accommodations upon request in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of
the Rehabilitation Act. We encourage and support diversity and tolerance in our workplace.
* Position placement and enrollment is contingent upon final notification of funding by the Corporation for National and Community Service.