College Readiness Mentor
Position Summary
Serve as a mentor and resource to Upward Bound students in support of advising conducted by Academic Coordinators.
About IUPUI Upward Bound
Housed at IUPUI, the Upward Bound program is designed to bridge the gap between high school and college. We provide students with tutoring, individualized resources, academic advising, college tours, cultural experiences, and more. Upward Bound is one of eight TRIO programs across the nation. As stated by the Department of Education, “The Federal TRIO Programs (TRIO) are Federal outreach and student services programs designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. TRIO includes eight programs targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to post baccalaureate programs”
Day at a Glance
The key function of this role is to build relationships and mentor Upward Bound high school students. In addition to messaging and meeting with students frequently, the College Readiness Mentor will work with Upward Bound staff in a dynamic environment to meet student needs. Each day can look different, but constants would include outreach to students and mentoring sessions.
On Tuesday evenings, College Readiness Mentors will continue to build relationships with students and support their homework and study efforts. On the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month College Readiness Mentors will assist in leading Get Real Workshops.
Lastly, College Readiness Mentors can be expected to assist in communicating program information to students, planning, and implementing programs, and contributing to student outreach inside and outside of the office. College Readiness Mentor career goals and interests can dictate additional projects throughout the year.
Roles and Responsibilities
Below illustrates the vision for the position. Upward Bound is seeking self-motivated, energetic, proactive, caring, and creative individuals who are passionate about youth and their transition to college.
Mentoring
- Build and foster relationships with Upward Bound high school students.
- Has a caseload of 10 to 15 students and meets with students at least twice each month
- Conducts student meetings in accordance with Academic Coordinator (AC) needs and recommendations
- Logs and tracks individual meetings.
- Serves as a resource, role model, and knowledge base for Upward Bound students
Professional Development/ Other Responsibilities
- Participates in regular staff meetings and one on one staff meetings with Academic Coordinators.
- Supports Upward Bound program through additional tasks as needed
- Submit student and work schedules to Upward Bound staff prior to the start of each semester
- Partake in continued professional development trainings
- Maintain organization of and communication about work projects with Academic Coordinators
- Exude a willingness to learn
Programming
- Attend monthly events and assist in their planning. These include but are not limited to: Academic Themed Saturdays (ATS) and Get Real Workshops
- Invite, encourage, and host Upward Bound students at IUPUI campus wide events once or twice per semester
- Aid in the development of programing such as workshops and cultural events
- Support with outreach and student engagement to cultivate a positive and productive program environment
Qualifications and Education Requirements
- Maintain a college GPA of 2.8 or higher
- Completed at least one year of college
- Currently enrolled at IUPUI and in good standing
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite programs and Gmail calendaring.
- Knowledge of Canva and Zoom
Gained Skills
- Case Management – Students will help advise 10 to 20 students, giving them the opportunity to practice time management, organization, record keeping, collaboration, and more.
- Communication – Students will enhance their communication skills by building relationships with Upward Bound students and staff. Individuals in this position will improve their active listening skills, empathy and understanding by interacting with students who may need social and academic support.
- Community Contributor – Students will gain knowledge about other cultures through interacting with members of the community members, schools, and families of UB (Upward Bound) Scholars.
- Advertising – Students will assist in social media campaigns, poster creations and marketing of Upward Bound to High School students.
- Leadership – Students will advocate for not only students but themselves in what they need to create a productive and prospering Upward Bound community.