GEAR UP College Advisor

The University of Texas at Austin•Austin, TX

1d•$45,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Institute for Public School Initiatives (IPSI) is a center within the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin. In support of the mission of the college which is focused on addressing responding to pressing challenges in education and health, IPSI commits resources and services to preparing students to achieve their academic potential; helps students and families increase their college awareness, readiness, and success; and provides educators and leadership with high-quality professional learning by designing and facilitating rigorous, engaging professional development content. The university provides employees a competitive benefits package that includes health insurance (premiums covered 100% for full-time benefits-eligible employees), retirement plans, and paid leave, in addition to other programs and services. There is one opening for this position. The College Advisor will be located in Lufkin, Texas . This is a one-year appointment that will be renewed each year, contingent on funding and performance. The expected end date is August 31, 2026. To provide in-person direct services and support to UT GEAR UP cohort students to help them graduate from high school and achieve postsecondary success. The GEAR UP College Advisor will be responsible for advising students on college and career, assisting them with college and financial aid application processes, helping students complete required actions to enroll in postsecondary, easing students’ transition to high school and college, aiding in their persistence and high school graduation, and encouraging their career goals.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
Familiarity with college admissions and financial aid application processes
Ability to meet deadlines, plan events, and keep track of data and records
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Understanding of challenges and barriers facing low-income, first-generation students and families
Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Nice To Haves

1-2 years of experience advising high school students on college and career readiness topics

Responsibilities

Provide one-on-one grade-level specific college advising to cohort students and families; help students complete and submit summer program applications, college applications, scholarships, and financial aid applications; organize and assist with events and activities such as application workshops and scholarship/FAFSA drives; maintain case management system with individual student portfolios; monitor and support student engagement in their academic work and ensure they are on track to graduate from high school; assist students with steps necessary to successfully enroll in postsecondary; encourage students’ participation in summer bridge programs leading up to their first year of post-secondary.
Provide significant and substantive one-on-one in-person and virtual advising to students on: navigating campus resources to aid them in their academic and social transition to high school and college; choosing a postsecondary path appropriate to their personal goals; degree plans and current/planned course enrollment; seeking tutoring assistance on campus; identifying engaging summer learning, leadership, and internship opportunities; and monitoring and supporting their overall engagement. Mentor a group of students and continue to provide counsel and support through the first year of post-secondary.
Support students’ transition to high school and postsecondary by collaborating with GEAR UP and district staff to help guide students through processes such as freshman orientation, course selection, constructing plans for achieving high school and post-secondary goals, enhancing utilization of academic and student services offices, job shadowing/internships, and success seminars. Monitor GEAR UP awareness and support to all cohort students and parents. Monitor and modify program implementation of activities, as needed, to meet program goals and objectives. Identify and provide appropriate resources for project activities and support their implementation.
Track student experiences and personal growth. Manage individual student caseloads via regular meetings with students on the following kinds of topics: Current and planned course enrollment; student and family goals for the year; plans and opportunities for summer activities; involvement in extracurricular activities; balancing work and academics; career interests, skills, and abilities; and significant academic, behavioral or situational events.
Assist the Project Director and other UT Austin GEAR UP staff in identifying, collecting, and interpreting key progress and outcome variables to evaluate the progress of GEAR UP; enter service data on a regular basis; submit monthly progress reports to GEAR UP leadership documenting activities, progress, and outcome data. Serve and assist UTGU at summer camps and summer events and activities.
Establish productive working relationships with principals, counselors, and teachers in the assigned middle and high schools: Assess, in consultation with the IPSI GEAR UP Project Director, GEAR UP Coordinator and school personnel, the particular needs of each school, and adapt programs and activities to meet these needs; Actively seek the advice and counsel of the Principal at each partner school; Support vertical teams with the assistance of the GEAR UP Coordinator, district and school staff to develop a support system for GEAR UP cohort students and to ease the transition between middle school, high school, and college.
Alongside the GEAR UP Coordinator, submit in-kind match and other supporting documentation as per grant requirements and assist district personnel in identifying match opportunities: Performs a variety of administrative duties in support of the GEAR UP grant, including collection of volunteer and donation forms; Maintain documentation files of all grant activities, correspondence, reports, procedures, and presentations related to the GEAR UP program; Develop outreach materials, including newsletters and social media sites.
Maintain expertise in college knowledge and readiness; In consultation with the Project Director, seek out and participate in other opportunities for professional development .