Coaches provide intensive support to students in reaching academic milestones that are proven to increase their likelihood of success. Coaches also engage students in activities and events that create awareness and address community needs. Ample training is provided to coaches with valuable professional development, networking, guidance and support with career and “Life After the Corps” goals. Members serve full-time, or 1,700 hours over 11 months, and in return receive a modest living allowance, basic health insurance, and an Educational Award upon completion of the full-time commitment.
Service Activities
- Assist a cohort of approximately 100 students each semester (200 students total over an academic year).
- Complete “coaching contacts” throughout the academic year to help students adjust to college life, identify and remove
barriers to their success and problem solve.
- Communicate regularly with students through phone, e-mail, and in-person while on-campus.
- Help students build momentum in completing coursework.
- Connect students to campus and community resources to address barriers.
- Conduct workshops covering topics like study skills, financial literacy, and time management.
- Plan civic engagement opportunities for students & the campus-at-large through AmeriCorps days of service.
- Collaborate with college faculty and staff to increase student success.
- Track and monitor data to report on daily and quarterly activities.
Community Need Addressed
Coaches work with a site supervisor and partner with faculty to support students in the following ways:
-Support students in critical courses during the fall and spring semesters;
-Help students develop a formal completion plan;
-Work to ensure the students meet their education goals;
-Meet with students individually and provide workshop opportunities; and
-Provide volunteer and volunteer leadership opportunities through the AmeriCorps days of service.
Position Outcomes
Indicators of progress for the first year include successful completion of developmental coursework, subsequent college-level coursework, and general education courses with a total of 12 to 24 college-level credit hours earned. It is expected that students served by Coaches will ultimately demonstrate higher credit hour accumulation, persistence rates, and completion rates compared to those not provided with completion coaching.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Education Benefits
College Degree
Skills you will gain
teamwork, leadership, public speaking, professionalism, effective communication, time management
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Maintain open lines of communication with others
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Provide relevant expertise
Teamwork
Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Drive decision making, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization