Founding College Success Coach

Founding College Success Coach

Location: Greater Hartford, CT or Greater Bridgeport, CT

Start Date: June 2023

Applications Due: April 10, 2023 (first round interviews will be held on a rolling basis)

Salary Range: $65,000 – $80,000, annually depending on experience and qualifications. Competitive health, dental, retirement, and life insurance benefits are included with full-time employment.

 

Overview

A college degree can be a game changer – it often leads to career advancement, economic opportunity, and upward mobility. But the existing system presents challenges for many students to access college due to high financial barriers and lack of flexibility. Enter Trio CT, an innovative new college support program designed for students who are looking for an accelerated, affordable, and achievable degree program. Trio CT will be a community-based program that provides access to the degree programs AND high touch coaching, career support, and wraparound services (like access to technology, childcare, and guidance through the financial aid process) to ensure students have what they need to succeed and earn their degree.

Trio is excited to launch this innovative new model starting in Hartford and Bridgeport CT to equip working adults with the skills and credentials needed to advance their careers and access high quality jobs leading to fulfilling, economically independent lives. This model has had early promising results, doubling graduation rates and eliminating the black-white college completion gap in Boston, San Francisco, and Philadelphia. We’re looking for our founding team who is committed to equity and breaking barriers to help our students achieve equitable college and career outcomes and is ready to roll up their sleeves and help us build this program in Connecticut– come join us!

 

About the Role

As a Founding College Success Coach with Trio CT, you will have the chance to be a part of a small, innovative, and entrepreneurial team focused on guiding students through a unique college process so that they can earn their degree and achieve their goals. The primary functions of this role include coaching students through degree program projects and providing holistic support and helping them access community-based resources and support as needed. This role will be responsible for working with a wide range of students providing them with a personalized, 1:1 support to complete their college degree as quickly and affordably as possible.

 

About You 

The ideal candidate for this role is passionate about the power of education to break down barriers to opportunity. This person has strong relationship-building skills, thrives in a fast-paced role, works well with ambiguity and change, is seeking a community-rooted organization, and is excited about the opportunity to find the right students for this program. They will be energized by the opportunity to innovate and be a part of a new, growing, and impactful endeavor.

Eligibility, Required Experience, and Skills:

• At least 2-4 years of advising or coaching experience and U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident
• Interest in the power of education to break down barriers to economic opportunity
• Unwavering commitment to the mission of Trio CT including a deep belief in the idea that all of our students have the right to an equitable college and career outcome
• An interest in, and experience working with, students from a wide range of background and ages
• An interest in and ability to engage with and understand college-level academic coursework
• A proven ability to quickly build meaningful relationships
• Willingness and ability to work some weekend and evening hours.
• Mature interpersonal style, ability to interact and relate well with a range of people from diverse backgrounds. Excellent attention to detail, ability to work both independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Reflective and responsive to feedback
• Perseverant, goal-oriented, and organized

 

About Trio CT 

Trio CT aims to achieve an average on-time graduation rate of 70% (more than three times the state average of 23%), cut college debt in half, and help at least 70% of graduates get jobs that pay a living wage in CT. To accomplish that, Trio CT has developed an innovative college support program tailored for working adults that works to improve socio-economic mobility through a unique blend of high-tech college and high-touch support. We are committed to providing a quality academic experience, flexible course work, and a community of support to ensure students graduate faster and with little to no debt – no matter if they’re 18 or 65. We do this by pairing innovative, quality online degree options through accredited academic partners with personalized coaching and a learning community.

Joining Trio CT is a great opportunity to be part of an exciting entrepreneurial organization working directly with students to provide better access to a degree. We are powered by diverse leaders and are committed to fighting the status quo. When life is full of work and family, students’ chances of obtaining a bachelor’s degree drop significantly. For these same students, we are building a path that offers them a better chance of graduating and securing a career to support their future.

 

Responsibilities 

Coach: 

• Implement a targeted and effective coaching program to support students from their very first interaction all the way to graduation; in the future, partner with and manage other coaches added as student volumes grow
• Coach a wide range of students providing them with the personalized, 1:1 support through their project based associate’s or bachelor’s degree program and other key milestones such as: project completion, financial aid renewal process, course planning etc.
• Build strong relationships with each student to support them in their academic progress and goals (often involves reviewing an academic project to ensure clarity before the start and reviewing work that needs to be revised and resubmitted to offer suggestions and guidance)
• Provide academic support, motivation, problem-solving, and referrals to other resources
• Ensure students have the proper wrap-around supports to successfully complete their degree such as: access to technology, childcare, transportation and other needs as they arise
• Extend coaching hours to students on caseload with a mix of evening and weekend hours depending on the time of the week and the time of the term
• Maintain regular communication with caseload via email, text, phone, events, and/or in-person meetings

Data Management: 

• Utilize and execute data-driven approach to provide individualized and group advising to caseload of students and identify proper support and/or intervention to coach students
• Track and maintain student outreach and data in Salesforce, customer management system
• Collaborate with the statewide ED to ensure all students are making adequate daily and weekly progress towards Associate or Bachelor’s degree completion by reviewing aggregate daily/weekly data on student progress
• Review students’ financial aid status ahead of each new term and help students complete the FAFSA to finalize their financial aid as necessary
• Analyze caseload data to identify trends and gaps to strength Trio CT programming and support of students and inform our core practices
• Trio CT is an entrepreneurial start-up organization so there will be many opportunities to take on diverse responsibilities as needed

 

Trio CT is an equal-opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We value diversity and encourage candidates from historically underrepresented backgrounds to apply.