Engagement Specialist VISTA – MINNESOTA - St Paul, Minnesota, United States

College Possible National - Minnesota College Attainment Network Engagement Specialist VISTA- · Employment Status/hours: In-Person; Full-time; Monday - Friday (40 hours/week) · Compensation: · Living Stipend $957.46 paid in biweekly installments · Choice of Education Award or End ...

Job description

College Possible National - Minnesota College Attainment Network Engagement Specialist VISTA-

Employment Status/hours: In-Person; Full-time; Monday - Friday (40 hours/week)

Compensation:

• Living Stipend $957.46 paid in biweekly installments
• Choice of Education Award or End of Service Stipend
• Health Coverage

Who We Are

This Work Is Our Mission At College Possible, we believe talent is universal. For many students, the path to college can feel overwhelming or out of reach. That's where you come in.

We support students on their journey to higher education by providing personalized coaching, resources, and guidance. When you join College Possible, you become part of a team dedicated to making college access and success a reality. Together, we help students navigate the admissions process, overcome challenges, and earn their degrees.

College Possible is the founding organization for the Minnesota College Attainment Network (MinnesotaCAN). This VISTA position leverages College Possible's infrastructure to strengthen MinnesotaCAN's engagement and coordination across local communities, supporting collective efforts to improve college access and student success statewide.

What You'll Do:

The MinnesotaCAN (MNCAN) VISTA will help build the capacity of a statewide/local network to support greater college opportunity through strong communication, shared resources, and collaboration among members.

This role addresses poverty by increasing organizational capacity to understand and respond to systemic barriers to college access, affordability, and postsecondary success for low-income students.

Develop and Maintain MNCAN's Digital Infrastructure

• Conduct a needs assessment to identify gaps and challenges in the current MNCAN webpage and digital resource sharing capabilities.
• Update and maintain the MNCAN webpage to ensure content is current, engaging, and accessible to network members.
• Create a Process for Sustainability.
• Document all processes,procedures, communication templates, and evaluation metrics for the MNCAN administration and digital presence.
• Develop and design comprehensive training materials, including manuals and presentations, to educate staff or future volunteers on managing the MNCAN's core functions.
• Create a documented process for sustainably updating and maintaining the website content and design.

Support External and Member Communication & Social Media

• Design and implement a communication plan for distributing relevant information (e.g., policy updates, events, resources) to MNCAN members.
• Establish and build the MNCAN's social media presence across relevant platforms.
• Create and schedule engaging content (text, graphics, video clips) for social media to promote the MNCAN's mission, events, and policy priorities.
• Draft external communications (e.g., newsletters, alerts) promoting MNCAN activities and policy priorities.
• Develop a diverse menu of potential activities and initiatives that community leaders can implement to address identified needs, including workshops, mentorship programs, resource fairs, and community events.

Serve as MNCAN Administrator and Support Coordinator

• Implement a feedback mechanism to assess the impact and effectiveness of MNCAN initiatives, collecting data on participation rates and outcomes achieved, and community satisfaction to inform future iterations and improvements.

Conduct Policy Research to Support Organizational Learning

• Research and analyze local and national policy related to college access, affordability, and student success that is relevant to the MNCAN's agenda.
• Summarize policy findings for easy consumption by MNCAN members and College Possible leadership, integrating evidence based practices and resources to enhance effectiveness and relevance.

The VISTA member will not engage in advocacy, lobbying, or attempts to influence legislation or public policy. All activities will focus on research, analysis, and capacity-building through information sharing only.

Create a Process for Sustainability

• Document all processes, procedures, communication templates, and evaluation metrics for the MNCAN administration and digital presence.-Develop and design comprehensive training materials, including manuals and presentations, to educate staff or future volunteers on managing the MNCAN's core functions.

Qualifications

• You are a U.S. citizen; AmeriCorps members are required to be U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents
• Bachelor's degree preferred but not required
• You must clear a National Service Criminal History Check and all other security and requirements set forth by College Possible.

National Service VISTA Benefits Information:

College Possible is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, or status with regard to public assistance. Individuals with disabilities encouraged to apply. We provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals and conduct all possible activities in fully accessible settings. Alternative application formats are available upon request.