College Access Programs Coordinator at Stony Brook University
(VISTA AmeriCorps Position)
Position Description Spring 2025
Position description
Stony Brook University has partnered with AmeriCorps VISTA to create a paid service opportunity on campus. We are searching for a College Access Programs Coordinator who will work to make college more accessible for historically marginalized and underrepresented students in Suffolk County. The College Access Programs Coordinator will design and expand education programs at Stony Brook University that empower students to apply to college and succeed once they get there. By minimizing barriers to college, the College Access Programs Coordinator will help students to achieve a more financially secure future. If you are interested in a career related to public service, community engagement, or program development, this full-time, one-year service position is a great opportunity to gain professional leadership experience. We hope that you will consider joining our team to help students achieve their educational goals.
Location
This is a full-time, in-person position at Stony Brook University (Stony Brook, NY). The College Access Programs Coordinator will report to Lauren Donovan and Elizabeth Bojsza. They will also interact with staff from the Office of the Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, as well as the Provost’s Office.
Application deadline and start date
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Possible start dates range from now through March 2025.
What is AmeriCorps VISTA?
The College Access Programs Coordinator will be hired as an AmeriCorps VISTA Member. AmeriCorps is a national government program focused on volunteerism and community service. VISTA Members are full-time, paid volunteers that help local organizations. VISTA members gain professional experience and leadership skills. They are prepared for a life of service in the public, private, or nonprofit sectors. AmeriCorps VISTA positions are a great way of giving back. Many AmeriCorps members join the program because they are looking for a meaningful way of spending their gap year after college, they are looking for a small stipend to hold them over between jobs, or they want to spend a year as they consider a career change.
Responsibilities
- Assist with the Academy of Civic Life program.
- Working with the leadership team to create expansion plans to grow the program
- Providing administrative support to manage the program’s day-to-day operations and creating workflows that make it more self-sustaining
- Maintaining detailed task lists, timelines, and other written records.
- Identifying new funding sources and writing grant applications to obtain funding
- Creating and distributing promotional materials, including updating the program’s website, creating social media accounts, and writing pieces for media outlets.
- Participating in regular meetings with program leadership, organizing meetings, preparing meeting agendas, and recording meeting minutes.
- Additional responsibilities may be detailed as necessary and appropriate within the scope of the position.
Desired qualities
- Genuine passion for and interest in college access for students from low-income families and socioeconomically disenfranchised school districts.
- Demonstrated strong organizational and administrative skills.
- Experience with leadership and/or the creation of new programs or events
- Demonstrated ability to professionally communicate with internal and external stakeholders.
- An ability to take initiative and work independently when necessary with enthusiasm, self-motivation, and a team player mentality.
- Familiarity with Google Mail, Google Drive, Google Calendar, and Zoom.
- Previous experience preparing promotional materials, designing websites, or managing social media accounts is desired, not required.
- Previous experience working with students in educational settings and/or students from low-income families and socioeconomically disenfranchised school districts is desired, not required.
- Spanish language skills are desired, not required
Eligibility requirements
- A bachelor’s degree (December 2024 is the latest graduation date that will be accepted for this position).
- 18 years or older (no upper age limit)
- Hold one of the following citizenship or legal residency statuses: US citizen, US National, Lawful Permanent Resident (i.e. Green Card status), and persons legally residing within a state. Examples of persons legally residing within a state may include those holding the following classifications: refugee, asylee, temporary protected status throughout VISTA service, and holding Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status.
Compensation and benefits
In return for their service, VISTA Members receive a modest bi-weekly living allowance to cover basic expenses. This amount is set by AmeriCorps by county. Suffolk County’s bi-weekly allowance is set at $1,155.14.
AmeriCorps VISTA Members also receive healthcare benefits, federal non-competitive eligibility (which gives an edge during the federal hiring process), an award at the end of service (in the form of either a cash stipend or an award that covers education expenses), and professional development training. VISTA Members may also be eligible for childcare assistance and a relocation allowance. You can read more about the benefits on this AmeriCorps website.
HOW TO APPLY
The online application can be found here: https://forms.gle/caQfiJKPwvyEjBsw8
You will also need to email a copy of your transcript to academyofciviclife@stonybrook.edu
We are accepting applications on a rolling basis. Additional details about the application can be found below. Competitive applicants will be asked to interview via Zoom. We will also make an effort to update applicants who are not selected for this position.
Questions about this position can be directed to academyofciviclife@stonybrook.edu.