College Possible AmeriCorps and VISTA Positions 2015/16-All sites

College Possible is a growing nonprofit dedicated to coaching low-income students to-and-through college, breaking the cycle of poverty and empowering our workforce. Our rigorously-tested model earns top-of-field results that have helped 98 percent of students served earn admission to college and supported nearly 80 percent through graduation. A 2011 Harvard study found that the program more than doubles a student's chance of enrolling in a four-year college.

Our after-school services include (1) academic support through ACT/SAT test preparation; (2) college application assistance; (3) financial aid consulting; (4) guidance in the college transition; and (5) support toward college degree completion.

As an AmeriCorps organization, College Possible is recruiting college graduates to serve for one year to help make a college degree and college success possible for low-income students.  With positions ranging from working directly with students to writing grants to coordinating events, there are many opportunities offered.  Not only do College Possible AmeriCorps members make a difference in their community, they gain valuable experience for their next job or graduate school endeavor. 

 I.          Available AmeriCorps and VISTA Positions

Coaching:

A. AmeriCorps High School Coach

Serve as a College Possible coach in a high school. Support juniors by providing ACT/SAT test preparation and work with students on an individual basis providing subject specific assistance. Guide seniors as they complete the college application process including: essay writing, applications for admission, scholarships, and the FAFSA. Reports to Program Team.

B. Virtual Advising AmeriCorps Member

Support a group of high-achieving, low-income students in a virtual environment.  Help link students to information and resources, including college search materials, campus visit programs and scholarship programs.  Create resources to help guide students through the college search, application and financial aid processes.  Develop relationships with students, as well as representatives from selective colleges and scholarship programs.  Assist with planning workshops for high-achieving College Possible students.

C. AmeriCorps College Coach

Serve as a coach for College Possible student alumni as they transition from high school into college. Maintain communication and offer services to alums in college either from a college campus or College Possible Headquarters. Help link students to student services already available on campus, and plan on- and off-campus events for alums. Reports to Program Team.

Community Partnerships and Program Enrichment:

D. High School Community Partnerships AmeriCorps Member

Support College Possible's high school programming by building and supporting partnerships to serve high school students.  This includes organizing College Prep Talks, college planning workshops for middle and early high school students; conceiving and organizing two program-wide community service days for College Possible students; organizing four practice ACT exams for high school juniors and serving as lead sub for junior coaches; and supporting summer bridge programming for high school seniors. Research policies, timelines, and resources specific to Minnesota for partners such as high schools, colleges, scholarships, summer programs, etc.

E. College Community Partnerships AmeriCorps Member

Support College Possible's college partnership efforts via College Possible Connects.  This includes organizing campus visits to College Possible Explore partner colleges; coordinating support services to College Possible Bridge partner colleges; and working with Leadership Team members to develop new partnerships for the site.  In addition, this person will organize the annual Launch celebration to be held at a College Possible Connects campus; serve as lead substitute for senior coaches; and support summer bridge programming for students transitioning from first to second year of college.  Research policies, timelines, and resources specific to Minnesota for partners such as high schools, colleges, scholarships, summer programs, etc.

F. College Relations VISTA (St. Paul only)

Develop and manage College Possible's new college relations strategy, College Possible Connects, designed to connect students with colleges that are strategic partners. Develop and integrate a system that engages colleges at three levels of partnership: Explore, Bridge, and Collaborate. Design systems and structures to support sites as they execute this strategy, and prepare tools to communicate with and build college partnerships, including building a new revenue stream for the organization.

External Relations and Organizational Expansion:

G. Communications VISTA

Serve on the external relations team by providing direct support in media relations, strategic communications, and marketing. Specific projects include: writing for newsletters, website, and news releases; graphic design projects; photography of coaches & students for publications; and website maintenance. Reports to External Relations Team.

H. Development VISTA

Serve on external relations team by providing direct support on fundraising initiatives. Projects include: event planning, writing for grant proposals and letters; maintaining a grants calendar; conducting internet donor research, and soliciting in-kind donations from local businesses. Reports to External Relations Team.

I. National Expansion VISTA (St. Paul only)

Develop the National office's capacity to manage and integrate new College Possible sites. Build capacity to increase the scale and reach of College Possible services by conducting research on prospective funders, community based organizations, and local governments to inform expansion strategy. Build the infrastructure of new sites in early start-up phase by creating opportunities for the implementation of College Possible's program, culture, and general operations at new sites.

J. High School Program VISTA (St. Paul only)

Create systems that centralize and standardize programmatic initiatives in order to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of programming. Collaborate with professional evaluators and Leadership Team members in implementing programmatic evaluation. Draft written materials outlining organizational efforts and procedures. Plan and sustain exploration efforts for new and start-up branches.

K. College Program VISTA (St. Paul only)

Create systems that centralize and standardize programmatic initiatives for the College Program. Draft written materials outlining standardized organizational systems and procedures to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the College Program. Plan and sustain exploration efforts for new and start-up branches. Collaborate with professional evaluators and leadership team in implementing programmatic evaluation.

L. Human Resources VISTA (St. Paul only)

Serve with the Director of Human Resources (HR) in College Possible's national office to build and improve our systems for hiring and training College Possible Leadership Team members during this period of intense growth. The VISTA will utilize the recommendations of College Possible's Strategic Human Capital Management Plan to build the capacity of the human resources team in a growing organization.

M. Operations VISTA (St. Paul only)

Expand the scale and reach of College Possible by developing systems and structures that streamline College Possible operations so that current, and especially new, sites have the necessary information and tools to operate efficiently and effectively.

N. VISTA Leader (St. Paul only)

Develop the National office's capacity to manage the VISTA program for efficiently and effectively. Collaborate with the AmeriCorps and VISTA Manager to support 19 VISTAs across the organization in five states. Increase the effectiveness and efficiency of VISTA recruitment and reporting practices. **Must have served at least one previous full term as a VISTA to apply**

Required Skills:

College degree required.  Ideal candidates will have demonstrated leadership skills, a high level of achievement in academics, employment and/or other pursuits, and a commitment to the mission of College Possible.  We welcome candidates of all academic majors to apply. 

Compensation:

Compensation includes a living allowance, health coverage and a $5,645 Education Award that can be used to repay student loans or future education expenses. Student loans may be deferred. 10 or 12 month commitment (depending on position) beginning in early August of 2015 required.

Please visit our website, www.CollegePossible.org, to learn more about the organization!

Equal Opportunity Employer 

Applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, or status with regard to public assistance.