AmeriCorps members will support our first-generation and low-income college students attending 2-year and 4-year institutions of higher learning. Members will develop and manage the entire spectrum of college and career success to ensure first generation students persist in college and graduate. This includes: pre-college matriculation, entrance exams, college applications, FAFSA, and the postsecondary success support network. Members will develop and integrate a system that engages colleges at three levels of partnership: Exploration, Connection, and Collaboration.
Service Activities
Duties and responsibilities:
• Maintains routine on-campus presence at high priority 2 and 4 yr colleges weekly
• Builds relationships with a small cohort of students.
• Provides hands-on academic assistance, homework help, and foundational support
• Coordinates with on-campus student support services
• Helps each student achieve success by encouraging students to reach individual goals.
• Sustain effective partnerships with community organizations.
• Collect and utilize data to inform programming
• Develop and implement curriculum to engage current high school students
Community Need Addressed
40% of the residents in the service area (Cayce, Census Tract 193) do not have a high school diploma or high school equivalency diploma (compared to 19.5% for Davidson County). We are located in the most distressed community in Nashville; Unemployment is 30.3%, five times as high as the county average (TN Department of Labor). Census figures estimate 75,000 adults age 16 and over in Metropolitan Davidson County do not have a high school diplomat.
Position Outcomes
1) Number of at-risk students entering college will increase
2) Average grades will increase
3) Number of college graduates in the community will increase as program continues
4) Adults will access post-secondary opportunities and will increase ability to be employed
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Living allowance, Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Turn taking, Write cleary and effectively
Teamwork
Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented, Use appropriate strategies and solutions for dealing with conflicts and differences to maintain a smooth workflow
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Anticipate the consequences of decisions, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them, Quickly respond with a back-up plan if a decision goes amiss
Tools
Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Operate tools and equipment in accordance with established operating procedures, safety standards, and ethical guidelines, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Drive decision making, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Evaluate customer or client satisfaction, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Recognize the importance of maintaining privacy and confidentiality of those being served, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment