Early College Success Coach

Who We Are:

Are you ready to work at a dynamic institution that believes in higher education with lower obstacles? Benjamin Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology (now known as Franklin Cummings Tech) is a nationally accredited non-profit, technical college serving Eastern Massachusetts and beyond. The college was seeded in 1791 with funds from the estate of Benjamin Franklin given to the City of Boston to proliferate access to education and level the playing field for aspiring talent with meager financial means.

Today, Franklin Cummings Tech continues to build on that legacy by offering post-secondary education in high-demand technical and skilled trade fields that lead to excellent careers. Our majors intentionally focus on select industries connected to sustainability and the clean energy transition including electric vehicle technology, smart manufacturing, practical electricity, power engineering, heat pumps/HVAC, biotechnology, automation, construction management, and more.

With a mission to deliver transformative technical and trade education that leads to economic advancement, we offer a unique mix of certificate and degree-granting programs that appeal to enterprising students and respond to employer’s demand for a well-prepared workforce. Intentional partnerships with the industries we serve coupled with high graduation and job placement rates, recently attracted the largest philanthropic gift in the history of the college from the Cummings Foundation.

Last year, Franklin Cummings Tech educated more than 1,000 learners across three student types: 1) certificate and degree seekers, 2) continuing education clients, and 3) high schoolers pursuing early college. As further evidence that our mission holds resonance, this year the college tracked a 25% year-over-year jump in fall new student enrollment and applications soared.

We seek team members who are optimistic, entrepreneurial, data-informed, and excited about the prospect of continuing to strategically increase student success outcomes and total enrollment from 1,000 learners today to at least 1,500 learners by 2030. Join us in this mission-driven work!

Position Summary:

The Early College Success Coach is a passionate advocate for students and actively leads and contributes to institution-wide efforts to further improve graduation and retention rates of our student body. The Early College Student Success Coach manages a large caseload of students by providing academic, career, and personal support to our students. The Early College Student Success Coach reports to the Director of Early College and Community Connections, The Early College Student Success Coach’s main goal is to increase student retention through student support and collaborations. Early College Student Success Coach is the primary contact person for all Early College students, which is a caseload of approximately 80-100 plus students each semester.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in the planning and execution of New Student Orientation, including facilitating student session,
• Advise and support Early College students weekly during one-on-one advising sessions,
• Participate in Students of Concern Committee to review student attendance, grades, trends, and develop outreach strategies,
• Counsel students through the registration and re-enrollment process each semester
• Collaboration with High School and community leader liaisons to promote student success,
• Collaboration with Franklin Cummings Tech staff in other departments to ensure student success,
• Keep current on all aspects of academic programs, academic support services, student information system procedures, enrollment processes and procedures, college policies, mission, and philosophy,
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree is required with a background in secondary education, higher education administration, social work, counseling, or special education a plus.
• A demonstrated sensitivity to understanding the needs and concerns of a diverse urban student population, many of whom are first generation college students, is essential to the incumbent’s success.
• One-to-three years of successful experience employed in an advising or student success capacity.
• Understanding of and experience working with students with documented learning disabilities is a plus.
• Proven experience in leading collaborative efforts between multiple constituencies including, faculty, staff, students, and members of the local community.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and strong presentation skills with demonstrated ability to develop interpersonal and organizational relationships.
• Be a highly-motivated self-starter with the ability to collaborate, effectively and respectfully, with Student Services, Franklin Cummings Tech staff and faculty, as well as advocates and community-based organizations toward student success.
• Knowledge of the enrollment process including federal financial aid.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office, student information and early alert systems, such as Canvas, Signal Vine, and familiarity of online job recruiting platforms such as Handshake.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work in a fast-paced team-focused environment, the ability to multitask, and the ability to pay special attention to detail. Excellent leadership and teamwork skills with the ability to work independently, determine priorities, and meet multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.