Exploring College and School-Based Partnership Coordinator

Vassar College•Poughkeepsie, NY

9d•$23 - $30•Onsite

About The Position

The Office of Community-Engaged Learning (OCEL) aims to build long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with community organizations and schools in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, and the greater Hudson Valley. By centering reciprocal partnerships, OCEL provides students and faculty with opportunities to learn alongside community partners and connect academic work to real-world issues. One of OCEL’s core initiatives is the Vassar Education Collaboration (VEC), which strengthens school-based partnerships between Vassar College and the Poughkeepsie City School District (PCSD). The VEC includes three programs designed to expand educational opportunity and access for K–12 students: Exploring College (EC), the Vassar After School Team (VAST), and the Vassar English Language Learners Outreach Program (VELLOP). The program creates a supportive, relationship-based learning community where students build meaningful connections with peers and Vassar College mentors. Through these sustained relationships, students strengthen confidence, develop academic and life skills, and expand the support networks needed to thrive in post-secondary pathways. Many participants are first-generation and/or come from low-income backgrounds, and the program is grounded in expanding equitable access to education. The Program Coordinator for Exploring College (EC) provides day-to-day coordination, logistical support, and program implementation for Exploring College, an enrichment and college readiness program exclusively for Poughkeepsie High School students designed to support college readiness, personal growth, and life beyond high school. This is a two-year grant-funded position with the possibility of extension pending funding, with a target start date of mid-August 2026.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Experience working with high school students, college access programs, or youth development initiatives, partnership development and community-based educational initiatives.
Commitment to educational equity, social justice, and expanding access to post-secondary opportunities.
Experience in lesson planning, facilitation, curriculum design, and instructional support.
Strong organizational and program management skills with attention to detail.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic environment.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information professionally.
Valid driver’s license for at least 2 years and willingness to travel locally as needed.

Nice To Haves

Experience supervising, mentoring, or training college students, interns, or volunteers.
Familiarity with community-engaged learning or service-learning models.
Experience with program assessment, data tracking, or grant reporting.
Proficiency in Spanish.

Responsibilities

Coordinate logistics and day-to-day operations of Exploring College in collaboration with Poughkeepsie City School District staff and Poughkeepsie High School administrators.
Support planning and facilitation of college readiness and enrichment programming.
Assist in the development of lesson plans, set learning goals, and facilitate curriculum to ensure an effective weekly programming schedule.
Manage communication and logistics between school and campus-based programming.
Serve as an onsite coordinator for the after-school program, supporting student safety, mentor engagement, and adherence to PCSD policies.
Coordinate transportation for mentors and scholars traveling to and from program sites as needed.
Recruit, train, supervise, and mentor Vassar College student mentors.
Assist in the design and facilitate mentor training focused on youth development, college access, and relationship-based educational practice.
Provide ongoing coaching and reflective supervision for student mentors.
Foster a collaborative mentor community grounded in accountability, reflection, and shared purpose.
Ensure mentors are prepared to support both academic enrichment and socio-emotional development.
Conduct CEL advising appointments with students interested in school-based work/education, supporting them in identifying community-engaged learning placements aligned with their academic goals, values, and OCEL action area interests.
Maintain regular communication with Poughkeepsie High School staff, PCSD administrators, and school-based partners.
Assist in ongoing communication between school partners, families, and Vassar mentors.
Maintain attendance, participation, and program records.
Support data collection, analysis, and reporting.
Assist with grant reporting, documentation, and compliance requirements.