NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC) provides quality and affordable higher education to empower lives and strengthen communities within Northwest Arkansas and surrounding areas.
As the largest community college in Arkansas, NWACC is recognized as a leader in education. NWACC offers a full range of associate degrees, certificates and workforce training programs that prepare students for rewarding futures and careers.
NWACC employees are dedicated to fostering a diverse educational community and cultural learning environment that supports student success.
Under the general supervision of the Director of New Student Relations, the College and Career Coach ensures middle and high school students (grades 7-12) have the opportunity and support needed to increase their knowledge, skills, and educational attainment necessary for education/training beyond high school and the workforce. By providing college and career guidance to the families eligible for these programs, the project directly addresses the needs of these populations. Coaches will be employed by NorthWest Arkansas Community College but maintain a presence in their assigned school districts by serving as a member of the counseling team. This position will be located at the Gentry School District, reporting to designated on-site supervisors. This position is contingent on funds provided on an annual basis by the Arkansas Department of Education's Division of Career and Technical Education.This is a fully grant funded, provisional position.
Job Description
- Maintain updated records on all services and programs provided to students and enter required data weekly in the ADE website.
- Provide early outreach to low-income students and their parents with information about the importance of postsecondary education, as well as accurate information on how to prepare, apply, and pay for it.
- Provide interest inventories and skills assessments to assist individuals in making informed career decisions.
- Assist with the development of individual career plans and portfolios.
- Assist students with enrolling in education or training programs.
- Provide information on careers, career pathways, and educational requirements.
- Provide opportunities for job shadowing, mentoring, internships, visits to business and industry, and other career awareness activities.
- Provide or connect low-income students to support services that will ease the transition to postsecondary education.
- Connect educationally disadvantaged youth and adults to "bridge programs" that teach basic academic skills in the context of training for advancement to better jobs and postsecondary education.
- Connect students to academic enrichment activities such as study groups, tutoring, and workshops on study skills.
- Connect high school students to early college programs, Advanced Placement classes, and academic and career and technical education (CTE) and concurrent-credit enrollment.
- Provide a continuum of career guidance to ease the transition of students from middle school to high school to post-secondary education or training and ultimately to the workplace.
- Retain documentation which has been uploaded to ADE website and Google folders for five years.
- Plan and implement Career Cluster Camps, exposing students to careers available.
- Assist with delivery of ACT remediation services and programs, including facilitating ACT Academies.
- Provide information on pursuing and obtaining industry-valued certifications.
- Facilitate programming and marketing as it relates to the Arkansas College Application Campaign (ACAC) to increase number of students applying to college their senior year.
- Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.
Rate of Pay: $50,000 annualized
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Knowledge of college policies, procedures, and practices.
- Ability to plan, organize, and implement assigned responsibilities.
- Ability to work well under pressure to meet deadlines.
- Ability to participate as a team member.
- Ability to understand and interpret rules and regulations.
- Ability to adjust to change.
- Ability to handle confidential material judiciously.
- Understanding of education programs, Student Services processes, academics, and tools related to community colleges.
- Self-motivated and self-directed with the ability to prioritize work independently.
- Strong analytical and computing skills.
- Well-developed oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to use a personal computer and other office equipment, including related college software and email.
- Experience with facilitation of group planning efforts and facilitation strategies are desirable.
Physical Demands
The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations.
While performing the functions of this job, the employee is continuously required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, talk or hear; regularly required to reach with hands and arms, taste or smell; occasionally required to walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
Environmental Conditions
The following work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Required Qualifications
- Formal equivalent of a bachelor's degree with a major in counseling, sociology, education, or a related field.
- Facilitating Career Development (FCD) certificate OR obtain one within a year of employment.
Preferred Requirements
Master's Degree in counseling, sociology, education, or a related field.
NWACC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, please see our EEO policy.