College Transition Advisor

KIPP • Dallas, TX

3h • Hybrid

About The Position

Counseling services can transform college and career dreams into a reality. Evidence has shown that the lack of access to information and guidance on college admissions and financial aid is a prohibitive barrier for many low-income families. In the absence of good information, many families develop misconceptions about what it takes to get into and graduate from college or vocational schools. By employing a diverse range of outreach efforts – from individualized, one-on-one meetings to large-group workshops and seminars – the KIPP Forward program closes the information divide for KIPP Texas students and families, breaking down the barriers to career success. The goal of the College Transition Advisor is to help students transition successfully from high school to college or their postsecondary pathway of highest rigor and aims to ensure that all of our students are provided with the necessary information, guidance and coaching needed to reach their post-secondary goals. The College Transition Advisor will work closely with KIPP high school seniors and the college and career counseling team throughout the school year, to ensure KIPPsters have completed all of the necessary and critical tasks through completion of their first semester after high school. This role includes significant student outreach to schedule advising sessions, monitor progress towards goals, and promote enrichment opportunities. Once KIPPsters enroll in their postsecondary program, the College Transition Advisor will provide summer enrollment support and resources for KIPPsters as well as targeted outreach during their first semester of college. The College Transition Advisor will be responsible for collecting data, maintaining a student caseload and preventing summer melt as KIPPsters matriculate to and enroll in their first semester of college.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year institution
• Professional development course provided by the KIPP Foundation, and other college and career readiness partners, is essential
• Prior experience working with college students and helping them achieve academic success, primarily first-generation, minority, and low-income students
• Strong active listening (i.e. seeks to understand the needs and motivations of students.) and coaching skills
• Demonstrates knowledge of and respect for the cultures of the community served
• Demonstrates a growth mindset with the ability to inquire and be open to feedback
• Outstanding project management skills, with an ability to manage multiple tasks and projects simultaneously and meet agreed upon deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Proven ability to collaborate and build relationships with stakeholders across functional and organizational lines
• Proficiency using computers, printers, copy machines, fax machines, scanners, and telephones
• Strong command in using the internet and social media websites
• Remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a cell phone, copy machine and computer printer.
• Moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another.
• Communicating with others to exchange information.
• Must be able to lift and carry or otherwise move up to 20 pounds occasionally.
• Articulate, professional demeanor with strong self-confidence and initiative
• Good interpersonal skills; Ability to work with a wide-range of people including teachers, parents, students, alumni, corporate partners, vendors and admissions personnel
• Proficient knowledge of college admissions and persistence
• Proficient knowledge of the financial aid processes
• Proficiency in using online databases to track student data
• Proven written and verbal communication skills
• Strong organizational and planning skills
• Comfortable using data dashboards
• Demonstrates a high proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Drive, and has previous experience utilizing a database, i.e. Salesforce

Responsibilities

• Oversee the successful transition of high school seniors into college, training, and careers
• Develop positive, appropriate, meaningful relationships with students, parents, college and financial aid advisors, and fellow staff members and teachers.
• Support in building college going culture with students during the fall of senior year through small group pull-outs and Passion, Purpose and Planning advising.
• Engage in one-on-one conversations with current KIPP high school seniors about their postsecondary plans and assist each student with postsecondary enrollment, orientation, financial aid verification (review and accept awards, loan counseling, SAP eligibility, graduation requirements, etc.), and ensure student registration.
• Planning and execution of College Exposure visits for juniors and seniors.
• Planning and execution of Parent and Family Education Nights in the fall and spring.
• Develop and deliver college and career transition lessons to high school seniors during senior seminar class
• Collect and track matriculation steps and critical forms (financial aid award letters, final high school transcripts, FERPA forms, DD4, etc.)
• Support a caseload of alumni during the first semester of college
• Engage in consistent outreach to students and alumni to confirm and verify fall enrollment.
• One college campus visit per week in the fall semester to check-in on alumni in person.
• Provide advising and coaching to help alumni navigate the critical challenges often faced by underserved communities when enrolling into college and training programs.
• Track and maintain records of student contact information changes, coaching calls, pulse-checks, matriculation steps, and verification of enrollments of alumni in college using the Alumni Database (Salesforce);
• Assist with data collection for annual report and program evaluation;

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans with coverage options for employees and their families.
• Competitive vacation and flexible paid time off (PTO) policies.
• Paid family leave.
• Flexible spending account or high-yield HSA.
• Employee assistance programs.
• legal plans, LifeLock identity protection, life insurance and disability insurance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level