Description

Program Overview

Want to serve your community while growing personally and professionally? Join College Now’s AmeriCorps Ohio College & Career Guides Program! College Now's AmeriCorps program is a partnership between the Ohio Commission on Service and Volunteerism (ServeOhio) and like-minded educational nonprofits across the state. AmeriCorps allows individuals to serve their community while earning a living allowance and education award.

College Now’s AmeriCorps program maintains that all students and families deserve equal access to educational opportunities. The goal of the program is to ensure that all Ohioans, especially those that are typically underserved – first generation college-going, low-income, and minority – get the information and knowledge they need and deserve to prepare, access, and complete a postsecondary credential. AmeriCorps members will deliver programs and counseling on college and career exploration and financial education to 6th through 12th graders; provide support to 11th and 12^th graders on postsecondary access and financial planning; and facilitate successful postsecondary transitions, persistence, and ongoing financial education with high school graduates. 

College Now's AmeriCorps Members are a corps of driven and highly qualified professionals, whom students can relate with, confide in, and eventually emulate, as they are guided in planning for their future and taking constructive steps toward successful completion of their goals.

College Now's AmeriCorps members will serve in a full-time capacity (1700 hours over 11 months) from early August 2024 to June 30, 2025. We have programs/host sites in 4 locations: Cleveland, Columbus, Canton, and Oberlin.

Attitude and General Responsibilities:

• Strive to create and maintain a positive and professional work environment.
• Respect the confidentiality of families and students you serve, staff you engage with in the schools or otherwise, and other AmeriCorps members.
• Maintain a professional demeanor at all times.
• Abide by the AmeriCorps Rules of Conduct and Prohibited Activities (outlined in Member Service Agreement and Member Handbook).
• Consult with your supervisor if you have any ideas, issues, or concerns, offering analysis and solutions whenever possible.
• Report any accidents, illness, or sickness to your host site supervisor immediately.
• Enter accurate data into the program’s database to track progress and success of all activities with students, families and others you serve in the community.
• Stay up to date with all AmeriCorps reporting requirements.
• Enter time and service reports into AmeriCorps OnCorps system, abiding by provided deadlines.

Program Leadership

• Participate on a team of AmeriCorps Members and volunteers at your assigned location in the planning, creation, implementation, and evaluation of service projects within the community.
• Each AmeriCorps member is responsible for recruiting a minimum of 4 volunteers to participate in service days. Ideally, volunteers will be secured beyond a one-time commitment.
• Make connections with individuals and volunteers in the community for program outreach and program enhancement.
• Train and assist volunteers for service day activities and other projects in which you engage them.
• Be proactive in developing ways to better engage the students and families you serve.

Program-Specific Duties May Include the following:

Note: several roles are available serving students starting in grade 8 through current college students. All roles will be discussed with interested candidates.

• Assist students in making a post-secondary education plan.
• Provide college and career information to students and families.
• Help to facilitate information sessions and programs for students and parents.
• Present classroom workshops to students.
• Assist students with their college applications.
• Plan and chaperone college visits.
• Assist students with registration and waivers for SAT and ACT tests.
• Assist student with SAT/ACT prep and/or resources.
• Assist students and families with the financial aid process.
• Assist students and families with FAFSA completion.
• Assist students and families with Say Yes portal enrollment.
• Assist with planning and coordinating visits to industry sector partners in healthcare, technology, and manufacturing.
• Assist with planning, coordinating, and implementing the following events: 9th grade Career Experience Fair, 9th Grade Commitment to Graduation Ceremony; resume workshops; mock interviews; job shadowing days; and classroom speakers.
• Implement College Now’s 9th, 10th and 11th grade curriculum/workshops, resulting in a change in behavior from students (i.e., students will increase their belief in a postsecondary education as measured by a pre/post test).
• Help students research, identify, and apply for scholarships.
• Enter data daily for each student/parent interaction into designated database.
• Utilize data in Power BI to monitor student services and participation.
• Utilize organization and planning tools (Planner, Outlook, Power BI) daily to assist with staying on task.
• Utilize support tools to serve students (College websites, MAP, Ohio Means Jobs, etc.)
• Acclimate students to postsecondary planning by setting goals, administering career and personality assessments, and assisting students with determining possible career pathways.
• Assist beneficiaries with college and career information in our Resource Center.
• Provide support to mentoring staff as needed.
• Assist school staff and College Now staff with fairs, community events, and tabling.
• Plan and facilitate college and scholarship clubs before and/or after school day.
• Join and contribute to at least one service project committee.

Program Training:

• Participate in AmeriCorps Member orientation in August 2024.
• Participate in regional trainings coordinated by the statewide Program Director.
• Participate in monthly statewide AmeriCorps Member conference calls/webinars.
• Participate in trainings provided by host site.
• Participate in Service Speaks and reflection of service opportunities.
• Participate in AmeriCorps training and events as required and requested by ServeOhio.
• Participate in required community service projects.

Service Schedule:

• AmeriCorps Members are expected to serve between 40-42 hours a week. Host sites will confirm your expected start time each day, which is dependent on your assigned location.
• Participate in service project for required national service days including:
  • 9/11 Day of Service
  • Make A Difference Day – October 2024
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
  • AmeriCorps Week- March 2025 
  • Global Youth Service Day- April 2025 
  • Serve Ohio Day of Service- June 2025
• AmeriCorps Members will receive a calendar of activities that will help in planning.

Qualifications

Qualifications and Skill Requirements:

• Minimum of an Associate degree, with a Bachelor's degree or in senior year of college preferred.
• Excellent communication and public speaking skills.
• Ability to serve independently and be a contributing member of the AmeriCorps and host site team.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to serve in a fast-paced environment and multi-task effectively.
• Ability to commit to 1,700 hours of service in 11 months.
• Ability to serve for at least 8 hours in a row on any given weekday day.
• Ability to serve during minimal evenings and weekends as required.
• Ability to arrange own travel to and from service sites.
• Strong organization and task management skills and self-motivation.
• Proactive in the provision of service delivery.
• Maturity, enthusiasm, positivity and great “people skills.”
• Satisfactory result of BCI and FBI background check, sexual predator check and drug screen.
• Strong commitment and passion for promoting access to and completion of higher education for everyone.
• Experience with a variety of computer programs including, but not limited to, Microsoft Office Suite.

Program benefits:

• Up to a $30,000 living allowance (please note, the living allowance is taxed).
• Eligible to apply for state food benefits and healthcare assistance.
• Upon successful completion of the full-time, 1700-hour commitment, AmeriCorps Members will be eligible for an education award up to $7,395.
• Qualified Federal student loans are eligible for forbearance during time of service and potentially a portion of accrued interest may be eligible to be paid by AmeriCorps after the completion of the service term. 
• Statewide orientation and regional trainings in August 2024.
• Orientation to assigned location and surrounding community provided by the host site.
• Intense training at the beginning of the service term provided by your host site to prepare you for entering schools and beginning to provide service.
• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities throughout the year, with at least one training a month provided by your host site.
• Two performance reviews over the 11-month service term and several site visits.
• Guidance and support for “Life After the Corps” goals.
• Member Assistance Program available for free to all members.