Alumni Success Advisor

New Paradigm for Education•Detroit, MI

10h•Hybrid

About The Position

NPFE seeks an Alumni Success Advisor to support Detroit Edison Public School Academy (DEPSA) graduates as they navigate college and work toward successful completion of a postsecondary credential or degree. The Alumni Success Advisor will continue the college access and advising work that begins during high school by building meaningful, sustained relationships with alumni and helping them successfully navigate the academic, financial, social, and administrative challenges of college. The Alumni Success Advisor will serve as a consistent point of contact for DEPSA graduates from the time they transition to college through college completion. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of the college experience, particularly the experiences and barriers faced by first-generation and/or low-income college students. Chief among the skills needed for success are relationship-building, organization, entrepreneurialism, problem solving, persistence, communication, and follow-through. The ideal candidate will be proactive and relentless in supporting alumni while also helping students develop the skills, confidence, and independence necessary to advocate for themselves and successfully navigate college. This individual must be highly organized and able to manage relationships with a diverse caseload of alumni while tracking academic progress, financial aid requirements, important deadlines, and individual student needs.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required; preference given to candidates with a degree in education, counseling, social work, higher education, or a related field
Previous experience working with high school or college students required
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Strong organizational and time-management skills
Ability to manage a caseload and consistently follow up with students
Ability to build trusting relationships with students and families
Willingness to work occasional evenings and attend events or activities outside of the traditional school day
Willingness to travel to college and university locations

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in college advising, college access, student success, academic advising, counseling, or a related field preferred
Knowledge of college admissions, financial aid, and/or college student support systems preferred
Experience working with first-generation and/or low-income college students preferred

Responsibilities

Maintain a caseload of DEPSA alumni and provide individualized support throughout their college experience
Build and maintain consistent relationships with alumni through regular communication, check-ins, meetings, and campus or virtual engagement
Support alumni in developing the skills necessary to successfully navigate college independently
Monitor alumni academic progress, enrollment status, and progress toward degree or credential completion
Identify alumni who may be at risk of stopping out or not completing college and develop individualized support plans
Help alumni identify and address academic, financial, social, and personal barriers that may interfere with college persistence
Connect alumni with appropriate campus resources, including academic advising, tutoring, counseling, career services, financial aid offices, student support programs, and other resources
Support alumni in communicating with college faculty, staff, advisors, and administrators when challenges arise
Help alumni understand and navigate college policies, procedures, deadlines, and requirements
Encourage alumni to advocate for themselves and develop the confidence to independently seek support and solve problems
Support alumni in understanding and completing annual financial aid requirements, including FAFSA and other required forms
Monitor financial aid deadlines and help alumni understand how financial aid decisions may affect their ability to remain enrolled
Help alumni identify scholarships, grants, emergency financial resources, and other funding opportunities
Support alumni in navigating financial challenges that may affect their continued enrollment
Help alumni understand academic and financial consequences associated with dropping courses, changing enrollment status, or stopping out
Connect alumni to appropriate resources when financial, housing, transportation, food insecurity, or other barriers impact their ability to remain enrolled
Develop a strong and trusting relationship with each alumnus/alumna on the assigned caseload
Establish consistent communication systems to maintain engagement with alumni throughout the academic year
Meet alumni where they are while maintaining high expectations for their continued progress toward college completion
Celebrate alumni accomplishments and milestones, including academic achievements, internships, leadership opportunities, graduation, and career milestones
Re-engage alumni who become difficult to reach or disengaged from college
Maintain appropriate communication with families and caregivers when needed and when consistent with student privacy requirements
Create opportunities for alumni to remain connected to DEPSA and support the development of a strong alumni community
Maintain accurate and up-to-date records for all assigned alumni, including enrollment, academic progress, financial aid status, and college completion information
Develop and maintain systems for tracking alumni communication, needs, interventions, and outcomes
Monitor key deadlines and proactively communicate with alumni to prevent missed requirements
Use data to identify trends, common barriers, and students requiring additional support
Regularly report on alumni engagement, persistence, credit completion, and degree/credential attainment
Maintain accurate alumni contact information and enrollment information
Collaborate with the College Advisor and other members of the college team to ensure a seamless transition from high school college advising to postsecondary support
Develop and maintain relationships with college student support staff, academic advisors, financial aid offices, and other campus partners
Build a network of community organizations and resources that can provide additional support to DEPSA alumni
Identify programs, scholarships, internships, mentoring opportunities, and other resources that may benefit alumni
Advocate for DEPSA alumni when appropriate and help connect students to individuals who can assist them in resolving challenges
Maintain relationships with institutions attended by DEPSA alumni to better understand available resources and student support systems
Conduct periodic visits to colleges attended by DEPSA alumni to meet with alumni, connect with campus support staff, assess student needs, and strengthen partnerships that support alumni persistence and college completion
Support alumni in connecting their college experience to long-term career and professional goals
Help alumni identify internships, campus employment, career development opportunities, and other experiences that support their goals
Connect alumni with career services and other professional development resources
Encourage alumni to build professional networks and develop career-readiness skills
Support alumni as they transition from college into employment, graduate school, or other postsecondary opportunities
Work closely with the College Advisor(s) and Counselor(s) to ensure continuity between high school college counseling and alumni support
Provide feedback to the College Advisor(s) and Counselor(s) regarding trends and challenges experienced by DEPSA alumni that may inform current senior advising
Participate in college department meetings, planning, and professional development
Assist with college-related events, workshops, panels, and programming for current students and alumni
Support planning and implementation of alumni programming and engagement opportunities
Assist with specific projects and areas as determined by school leadership based on expertise and organizational needs
Other ancillary duties as needed or assigned