Job Information
Grand Rapids Community College TRIO Educational Opportunities Center Navigator: Professional Services-No Benefit (Contingency) in Grand Rapids, Michigan
TRIO Educational Opportunities Center Navigator: Professional Services-No Benefit (Contingency)
Date: May 11, 2022
Position Number: 1344
Work Schedule: 20 hours/48 weeks
Compensation: $18.66/hr.
Reports to: TRIO Educational Opportunities Center Project Director
Posting Closes: Open Until Filled
For information on "Who are Professional Services, No-Benefit Employees?" please visit
http://www.grcc.edu/humanresources/employeegroups/contingentemployees.
SUMMARY
The Educational Opportunities Center Navigator will provide high-touch case management services to Grand Rapids Community College's Educational Opportunities Center (EOC) participants in support of the EOC's efforts to expand secondary school diploma attainment, financial aid applicants, and postsecondary college admissions and enrollment rates for area residents of West Michigan. This work will happen at GRCC, as well as at multiple locations within the EOC's service area. Key responsibilities include assisting participants with completion of intake application forms, administering assessments to determine EOC program eligibility and support needs, providing personalized academic coaching, and developing Individual Educational Plans for participants. This position also will educate participants about secondary school reentry, GED preparation, high school equivalency, and alternative education program options. Additionally, the Navigator will assist participants with the completion of college and financial aid application processes and connect students with representatives, resources, and support services at GRCC and other area institutions of higher education. This position is also responsible for planning and facilitating field trips to higher education institutions and leading a wide range of workshops and training sessions related to FAFSA completion, financial literacy, preparing for college entrance exams, time management, and other relevant topics.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
• Assist prospective students in completing intake application forms to assess their needs and determine their eligibility to participate in EOC programming. • Review potential participant intake form responses and conduct in-person or virtual initial interviews with each applicant to establish eligibility for participation and service needs. • Administer holistic assessments to measure and characterize individual student skills, characteristics, needs, and barriers. These assessments include, but are not limited to, intake forms, Clifton Strengths, learning style inventory, and Grit scale. • Based on intake and assessment responses, work with participants to create personalized Individual Educational Plans (IEP) that define recommended steps in the pathway toward postsecondary program enrollment. • Provide guidance to adults on secondary school reentry, GED preparation, high school equivalency, and alternative education program options throughout both urban and rural areas of Allegan, Barry, Ionia, Kent, Lake, Mason, Mecosta, Montcalm, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola, and Ottawa counties. • Conduct readiness assessments, assist participants in locating programs that offer materials/instruction in Spanish or other languages, and provide test vouchers for those unable to afford testing fees. • Connect adult learners to GED preparation programs tailored to their personal needs using a "no wrong door" approach to provide a warm hand-off. • Provide high-touch case management services to assigned Educational Opportunities Center participants. Maintain appropriate documentation and concise notes of interactions, referrals, resources, and interventions provided to individual students. • Provide ongoing and individualized academic coaching for students, which includes personalized communications and prompts, one-on-one meetings to identify academic, financial, and social barriers