College Bridge
Program Components
2015
CARA’s College Bridge Program is designed to support graduating high school seniors as they
matriculate into college. Each participating high school utilizes a ‘College Coach’ and an adult
supervisor to provide outreach and tailored support to graduating students.
All school sites share a set of Core Components:
1. College Coaches – The College Coaches are at the heart of the Bridge program. Each
school interviews and selects a Coach, almost always an alumni of the school, who is
currently enrolled in (or recently graduated from) college. The Coach is trained to: 1) offer
school-based workshops and meet individually with seniors during the Spring semester, 2)
provide outreach and case management to graduated seniors and intended August grads
over the summer in order to help them navigate any obstacles to college matriculation.
2. School-Based Supervisors – Supervisors are school-based guidance counselors, teachers
or 12-month staff members. They attend trainings during the spring that are designed to
support them in overseeing the work of College Coaches and the College Bridge program.
Supervisors support College Coaches for the duration of the College Bridge Program,
ending August 21, 2015.
3. Centralized Training – All College Coaches attend training at the beginning of the College
Bridge Program. Coaches are trained in a range of college guidance topics including
financial aid, college choice, and enrollment at CUNY, SUNY and private colleges, as well
as in workshop facilitation, counseling skills, and case management protocol.
4. In-School Workshops – Participating schools are required to make time available for
Coaches to meet with graduating seniors during second semester, both to conduct group
workshops and to meet one-on-one with students, as needed. The College Bridge Program
supports Coaches in developing and implementing these workshops in schools, with the
help of school-based staff and materials from the CARA College Inquiry Curriculum.
5. Participation in Evaluation – All Coaches keep and share interaction logs and relevant
student-level data. Additionally, some Coaches, Supervisors and graduates take part in
focus groups. All schools share their logs and their National Student Clearinghouse results
to evaluate the effectiveness of the program.
6. Summer Support – Coaches receive additional support throughout the summer, including
weekly case supervision meetings with a consistent group of 7-9 other coaches and a
college counselor, three (3) trainings with the larger group of coaches from all schools, and
online support from an experienced coach.
Participating schools commit to the following:
● Recruit a college Coach by January 15, 2015;
● Identify an adult supervisor and fund his or her work for five hours per week from July 1,
2015 through August 21, 2015;
● Make time available for Coaches to meet with graduating seniors during second
semester, both to conduct group workshops and to meet one-on-one with students;
● Ensure accurate and up-to-date contact information, for on-track and almost-on-track
seniors;
● Track and report data during the program duration and participate in assessments as
needed by the College Bridge program;
● Administer each component of the program;
● Share National Student Clearinghouse data with the program.
The College Bridge Program commits to the following:
● Provide five days of training to College Coaches and up to two support meetings for
school-based supervisors;
● Provide program support to networks and schools.
● Share program log/checklist for tracking student progress, and program evaluation.
● Provide College Inquiry workshops for second semester seniors.
● Coordinate summer support for Coaches and supervisors in the form of case
management and training sessions.
● Evaluate the program and share results with schools.
● Collect and share resources and promising practices from other participating schools
and recent research.
COLLEGE COACH JOB DESCRIPTION
College Coaches will be responsible for:
 Facilitating workshops in high school;
 Attending a school-based meeting in February to meet with school-based
supervisor
 Attending spring training session during your spring break and complete online
training modules – New Coaches Only
 Attending May and June trainings May 27- 29 & June 18 – All Coaches
 Meeting with guidance counselor to review all graduating seniors’ status in the
college process and issues to be aware of;
 Communicating with graduating seniors on a regular basis by phone, Facebook
and in person;
 Assisting students with the paperwork involved in enrolling in college, including
placement tests, financial aid, orientation, class registration, etc.
 Taking students to campuses, whenever possible;
 Tracking student progress using the Student Log, weekly or more often as
needed;
 Completing and submitting weekly progress reports to adult staff;
 Meeting weekly with adult-staff member;
 Attending weekly summer support meetings: Dates TBD
SUPERVISOR JOB DESCRIPTION
College Bridge supervisors are school-based guidance counselors, teachers or 12month staff members. They attend trainings during the spring that are designed to
support them in overseeing the work of College Coaches and the College Bridge
program. Supervisors support College Coaches throughout the duration of the
College Bridge Program, ending August 21, 2015. Supervisors are responsible for:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
Attending Supervisor training meetings in the spring; (required for 1st two years;
optional for supervisors with more than 2 years of College Bridge supervision)
Collecting student-level data necessary for program implementation, including
accurate contact information, and tracking it through a log;
Sharing student-level data on post-secondary plans with College Coach;
Accessing student forms needed for college enrollment during summer months
(e.g. transcripts, immunization records, etc.);
Working to support the College Bridge program at least 5 hrs/week during the
summer months;
Meeting weekly with their College Coach;
Serving as a liaison to the high school;
Consulting with College Coach and/or students and their families on complicated
cases;
Gathering end-of-summer outcome information and entering it into final log.