Economic Mobility Coordinator at Pierce College

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Position Summary:

The new AmeriCorps VISTA will focus on developing a visible and accessible single-stop center for new or prospective disadvantaged, first-generation, and minority college students from Pierce and surrounding Counties to get connected to resources on campus that will help keep them in school. Disadvantaged students endure circumstances that prohibit them from completing their education, such as the need for financial aid and counseling, affordable housing, childcare, or help with immigration support or veteran’s benefits. The idea is to have a place where students can go to get screened for multiple government benefits and/or local community resources, receive assistance in accessing those benefits, and follow-up to make sure they are successful in applying for and receiving the benefits they need.

Major responsibilities and activities:

Some of the major responsibilities of this VISTA Economic Mobility Coordinator will include: design a survey tool with questions that identify all student services provided by current organizations on campus; create an evaluation report of data on the number of disadvantaged students and minorities utilizing financial aid assistance with FAFSA and WASFA; finalize an evaluation report of data on the number of disadvantaged students and minorities with barriers to pursuing college education (i.e. food, housing, transportation, immigration issues, childcare, other living expenses.); maintain logs from each site visit to 5 high schools in the Bethel and Franklin Pierce School Districts to obtain information on student population and barriers to higher education; maintain a list of stakeholders and contacts from the Community, Local High Schools, and local or state government agencies; and finally create 2 Single Stop Centers on both college campuses where students can receive information and referrals on financial aid assistance, living expenses, immigration services, and other support in one location.

Term of service: 365 days, averaging 40 hrs /week
Application Deadline: May 7, 2018

Qualifications:

• Associate or Bachelor’s Degree
• At least 18 years of age, U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or person residing legally in Washington State
• Ability to make a full-year commitment
• Interest and/or experience in community service and/or community development
• Effective oral and written communication skills with diverse populations, including multicultural experience and cross-cultural communication skills
• Proficient in Google platform, MS Office, Adobe products, social media, and database management
• Ability to organize, prioritize and perform multiple work assignments
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as necessary
• Ability to pass criminal background check

AmeriCorps VISTA benefits:

• Bi-weekly living allowance
• Relocation and settling-in allowance, if moving more than 50 miles to serve
• Post-service $5,920 Education Award or $1,800 end-of-term cash award
• One year of non-competitive eligibility (NCE) for federal government jobs
• Basic health coverage, student loan forbearance, and basic child care assistance when applicable
• Paid round-trip ticket to pre-service orientation and reimbursed travel expenses when applicable
• Extensive training, professional development, and networking opportunities
• Access to AmeriCorps network