Connection to Purpose and Goals of AmeriCorps Program: On-Site College Coaches support the college community that they serve to improve upon defined program areas that have requested additional support to get their current and future students to complete the steps of the college going, continuing, and completing process, focused on attainment and retention of committed students. 

Description of anticipated service schedule: The Kirkwood College Access Specialist will serve a total of 1200 hours over 49 weeks. It is expected that the member will complete approximately 25 hours per week in service. This service will be completed through personal contact hours, communication hours, planning hours, training hours, and professional development hours. Member is expected to serve these service hours between the days of Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Members will not serve hours on any State Government Recognized Holiday (New Year’s Day, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Friday after Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day). 

* Sick or personal leave, and holidays is allowed, but such time off does not count towards the required number of hours needed to successfully complete the term of service. There are additional benefits offered if the member has a compelling personal circumstance.

This position is ideal for a Kirkwood student looking to work 20-28 hours per week. 

The living allowance this year is $15,065 with a completion bonus of $1,582 at the end of the term for successful completion of hours and term length. 

UNIVERSAL CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Advocate for Continual Improvement- empowering each other to identify opportunities for excellence.
• Collaborate with Mutual Accountability- working together with a willingness to take ownership and account for our actions.
• Champion Service- anticipating needs and create a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive environment.
• Perseverance- commitment to excellence even in the face of adversity or delay in achieving success.
• Lead- regardless of title, through positive influence.

College Access and Success AmeriCorps members will work directly with prospective and current college students to ensure college matriculation, retention, and program completion.  

• Inform a minimum of 100 high school students at the four Kirkwood’s regional outreach centers on their funding options for AAS and diploma programs in all Kirkwood High School Career Academies that relate to CTE programs. 
• Coordinate with the Kirkwood Admissions Department on visit events outreaching to CTE students. Examples include, but are not limited to, Crowd the Court visit days, regular CVDs and program conferences. 
• Visit with a minimum of 2 per semester local high schools within their high school buildings and homeschool programs at an arranged location to inform students of career opportunities within the CTE areas through tabling events or classroom presentations. 
• Establish office hours by September 15th with a minimum of 3 days a week serving a minimum of 3 hours per day in the Student Services Center with other Student Services staff. Primary location would be in Student Services Cedar Rapids with alternative hours at the Student Services Center in Coralville. 
• Maintain supplemental financial aid counseling relationships with all students in designated CTE areas, which provide more individualized/personalized support prior to meeting with the financial aid advisors. 
• Connect with program faculty and staff twice per semester to discuss and understand student support needs which may include but are not limited to how students can maintain their financial aid eligibility; practicing financial planning for the semester; grade eligibility for program progression. 
• Facilitate one-on-one interactions with program students supporting registration, orientation, financial aid, and success completion with a minimum target number of 50 program connected students at least 2 times in an academic year. 
  

Position involves working in an office setting. Occasional (10-33%) standing, pushing, pulling and grasping. Frequent (34-66%) reaching and viewing a computer and other types of close visual work. Constant (67-100%) sitting, walking, repetitive motion, talking and hearing. 

• Certify that they have or will obtain the diploma/GED
• Be 17 years or older at the start of service (no upper age limit) 
• Pass a national service criminal history check prior to first day of service 
• Hold one of the following citizenship statuses: US citizen, US national, or Lawful Permanent Resident
  

• Education Award received upon successful completion of their term of service.
• Living Allowance
• Completion Bonus: 10% of living allowance paid upon successful completion of term of service
• Student loan forbearance and interest payments for eligible loans

• Member Performance Evaluation and data tracking requirements during the term (mid-term and final)
• Regular submission of member timesheets
• Submission of mid-term (January) and final (June) student interactions.