Future Forward CT College Success Coach

Location: Greater Hartford, CT, Greater New Haven, CT and Greater Bridgeport, CT

Start Date: February/March 2025

Applications Due: January 24, 2025 (first round interviews will be held on a rolling basis)

Salary Range: $60,000 - $70,000, 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 Future Forward CT, an innovative new college support program designed for students who are looking for an accelerated, affordable, and achievable degree program. Future Forward CT is 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.

Future Forward CT launched this innovative new model starting in Hartford, New Haven, 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 someone to join 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 College Success Coach with Future Forward CT, you will have the chance to be a part of a small, innovative, and entrepreneurial team that is hyper-focused on guiding students through a unique online college process so that they can obtain a degree and achieve their dreams. The primary functions of the role include supporting the direct onboarding and coaching of students, in addition to participating in community development efforts. College Success Coaches will be responsible for working with a wide range of students providing them with the personalized, 1:1 support they need to complete their college degree as quickly and affordably as possible (all under the guidance and support of Executive Director and Director of Student Success).

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, is a problem-solver, is able to scaffold complex problems, is able to adapt to changing circumstances, is seeking a community-rooted organization, and is excited about the opportunity to work directly with students on their journey to obtain a college degree. 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
• Teaching background preferred, but not required
• Interest in the power of education to break down barriers to economic opportunity
• Unwavering commitment to the mission of Future Forward 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

Future Forward 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, Future Forward 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 Future Forward 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
• Work a non-traditional, flexible schedule to extend coaching hours and meet the needs of working adult learners to students on caseload with at least 3 evenings and one weekend day a month
• 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 Future Forward CT programming and support of students and inform our core practices
• Future Forward CT is an entrepreneurial start-up organization so there will be many opportunities to take on diverse responsibilities as needed