College Persistence Counselor

Overview

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Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation (CHLDC) has an opening for one full-time College Persistence Counselor to provide individual and group interventions for youth as part of our College Success Programs - College STEPS program. The program provides a range of youth development services to promote access to and persistence in college. Our College Persistence Program assists our young people to matriculate into college and support them throughout their years in college.

Each student is paired with a College Persistence Counselor and a College Coach who work with them to support continued persistence in college. Our counselors help with college matriculation, class registration, financial aid, social-emotional support, soft skills development, and career readiness activities. Our ultimate goal is to have as many students graduate college with a degree as possible.

• Provide individual counseling to a cohort of youth enrolled in college to maximize opportunities for success. Topics include class registration, financial aid procedures, social service needs, academic support, appeal processes, college transfers, and personal concerns.
• Directly supervise and train one college coach (current college students who serve as peer mentors to program participants).
• Review and monitor students’ financial status and financial aid to ensure maximum aid is attained and managed, and that students can budget appropriately.
• Develop student records and portfolios, including academic monitoring and an early warning system to address retention risks.
• Coordinate activities including tutoring, social activities, transition programs, or other special events.
• Collaborate with college personnel to provide supports needed for degree completion including academic advisement, mentoring, financial aid assistance, educational workshops, textbook funds, and weekly metro cards.
• Maintain weekly contact with caseload on-site (or virtually) at the colleges.
• Provide responsive assistance to college-bound high school seniors through targeted workshops at partner high schools, including facilitation of key matriculation steps (e.g., completion of commitment forms, immunization records, scheduling placement tests and recommendations, financial verification worksheets and loan counseling, and confirming orientations, class schedules, and financial aid).
• Act as liaison between students, colleges, and related agencies as applicable.
• Generate monthly reports updating the status of the client caseload.
• Attend all meetings and training opportunities relevant to the work.
• Demonstrate commitment to leadership development, community-building, and community organizing as strategies for social change.
• Other duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree in education, social work, counseling, or related field.
• Knowledge of the college admissions and financial aid process.
• Experience in working with young people from a youth development perspective.
• Demonstrated ability to engage students regularly with consistent follow-up as necessary.
• Flexible schedule.
• Strong teamwork, communication (verbal and written), and organizational skills.
• Passionate about ensuring young people’s success in college.
• Highly computer literate.
• Bilingual (Spanish or Bengali) preferred.

• Reports directly to the Director of College Persistence.

• $57,000 dependent upon experience.
• Very competitive benefits package.

• Please forward your cover letter, resume, and three (3) references to Geraldo Cruz, Director of College Persistence at: geraldoc.

EOE Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer and is committed to workplace diversity and inclusion. We do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.