Alumni Success Advisor

Why New Paradigm for Education

NPFE is on a mission to ensure that all students in Detroit achieve at the highest levels, supporting educational transformation through increased student achievement, fiscal responsibility, and community support. NPFE’s Mission is to provide a quality education through shared responsibility in a safe supportive environment for all students to meet the needs of a global society. We are committed to excellence and strive to offer a new educational paradigm evident by increased student achievement, fiscal responsibility, and community support.

New Paradigm for Education seeks educators who have a relentless belief that all students, regardless of their race and economic or social circumstances, can perform at high levels, deserve a quality education, have access to high quality instruction and curriculum, and can attain post secondary success. Educators who are driven bv academic achievement, continuous growth, and excel working in a rigorous and supportive environment. We seek culturally responsive educators who have experience working with diverse communities and strong relationship-building skills that they apply to understand their students, families, and communities.

NPFE seeks an Alumni Success Advisor to support Detroit Edison Public School Academy (DEPSA) graduates as they navigate college and work toward successful completion of a postsecondary credential or degree. The Alumni Success Advisor will continue the college access and advising work that begins during high school by building meaningful, sustained relationships with alumni and helping them successfully navigate the academic, financial, social, and administrative challenges of college.

The Alumni Success Advisor will serve as a consistent point of contact for DEPSA graduates from the time they transition to college through college completion. The ideal candidate will possess a strong understanding of the college experience, particularly the experiences and barriers faced by first-generation and/or low-income college students. Chief among the skills needed for success are relationship-building, organization, entrepreneurialism, problem solving, persistence, communication, and follow-through.

The ideal candidate will be proactive and relentless in supporting alumni while also helping students develop the skills, confidence, and independence necessary to advocate for themselves and successfully navigate college. This individual must be highly organized and able to manage relationships with a diverse caseload of alumni while tracking academic progress, financial aid requirements, important deadlines, and individual student needs.

• Bachelor's degree required; preference given to candidates with a degree in education, counseling, social work, higher education, or a related field

• Previous experience working with high school or college students required

• Previous experience in college advising, college access, student success, academic advising, counseling, or a related field preferred

• Knowledge of college admissions, financial aid, and/or college student support systems preferred

• Experience working with first-generation and/or low-income college students preferred

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Strong organizational and time-management skills

• Ability to manage a caseload and consistently follow up with students

• Ability to build trusting relationships with students and families

• Willingness to work occasional evenings and attend events or activities outside of the traditional school day

• Willingness to travel to college and university locations

• Maintain a caseload of DEPSA alumni and provide individualized support throughout their college experience

• Build and maintain consistent relationships with alumni through regular communication, check-ins, meetings, and campus or virtual engagement

• Support alumni in developing the skills necessary to successfully navigate college independently

• Monitor alumni academic progress, enrollment status, and progress toward degree or credential completion

• Identify alumni who may be at risk of stopping out or not completing college and develop individualized support plans

• Help alumni identify and address academic, financial, social, and personal barriers that may interfere with college persistence

• Connect alumni with appropriate campus resources, including academic advising, tutoring, counseling, career services, financial aid offices, student support programs, and other resources

• Support alumni in communicating with college faculty, staff, advisors, and administrators when challenges arise

• Help alumni understand and navigate college policies, procedures, deadlines, and requirements

• Encourage alumni to advocate for themselves and develop the confidence to independently seek support and solve problems

• Support alumni in understanding and completing annual financial aid requirements, including FAFSA and other required forms

• Monitor financial aid deadlines and help alumni understand how financial aid decisions may affect their ability to remain enrolled

• Help alumni identify scholarships, grants, emergency financial resources, and other funding opportunities

• Support alumni in navigating financial challenges that may affect their continued enrollment

• Help alumni understand academic and financial consequences associated with dropping courses, changing enrollment status, or stopping out

• Connect alumni to appropriate resources when financial, housing, transportation, food insecurity, or other barriers impact their ability to remain enrolled

• Develop a strong and trusting relationship with each alumnus/alumna on the assigned caseload

• Establish consistent communication systems to maintain engagement with alumni throughout the academic year

• Meet alumni where they are while maintaining high expectations for their continued progress toward college completion

• Celebrate alumni accomplishments and milestones, including academic achievements, internships, leadership opportunities, graduation, and career milestones

• Re-engage alumni who become difficult to reach or disengaged from college

• Maintain appropriate communication with families and caregivers when needed and when consistent with student privacy requirements