"Student Advocacy Coach"

Position Summary

The Student Advocacy Coach collaborates with team members to provide highly individualized care and support for CCAs students, including health science and public service programs and other student populations; addressing their academic success, wellbeing and personal goals by serving as an initial point of intake, triage, and response for non-clinical student referrals, facilitating knowledge of and access to campus and community resources, and providing wraparound, culturally relevant follow up. This position serves as students' primary point of contact to help them maintain continuous enrollment, achieve academic success, and persist through graduation.

Overview of CCA

The Community College of Aurora serves our diverse community by providing high-quality instruction and support services to prepare students for transfer and employment. We are particularly interested in applicants that demonstrate a commitment to working with individuals and groups from diverse identities, including but not limited to: socioeconomic, cultural, sexual orientation, gender identity expression, disability, multilingual learners, veterans, non-traditional, race and ethnic backgrounds. We actively promote a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry. CCA enrolls 11,000 students annually, over 62% of whom are students of color, including nearly 32% Hispanic students, 65% of CCA students receive some type of financial aid, including 52% of whom receive Pell grants, and nearly two-thirds are first-generation college students. More than 20 different languages and 60 countries are represented at CCA. In addition to traditional degree and certificate programs, CCA offers non-credit professional development courses, customized training, and economic and workforce development resources to employer partners and individual professionals seeking to enhance the capacity and productivity of their workforce or individual knowledge and skills. The college centers diversity, equity, and inclusion and we actively seek to employee partners who want to join us in working to reducing outcome gaps among our diverse student population.

Duties & Responsibilities

Advocacy Coaching

• Provide holistic coaching services to students experiencing personal challenges, illness/injury, emotional distress, and basic needs insecurity (food, housing, childcare, transportation, health insurance, physical and mental health care, emergency costs, and academic concerns) that impact their academic success and wellbeing.
• Respond proactively to Student Outreach and Support referrals from the campus community, student self-referrals, walk-ins, and email and website inquiries and ensure students are connected to appropriate levels of care.
• Complete intake, assessment, and triage with students of concern to fully understand their needs and develop Student Success Plans that encourage realistic goals.
• Identify trends in student needs and work collaboratively to recommend enhancements and integrate feedback into Student Advocacy priorities.
• Utilize a student-centered, highly personalized, asset-based approach to enhancing student wellbeing, security, independence, and agency.
• Assist with maintaining CCAs network infrastructure of community-based benefits, programs and resources and leverage these partnerships in the coaching process to facilitate warm handoffs and individualized referrals that meet students complex needs.
• Assist students with navigating institutional processes and support services, and partner with them to encourage and support their academic success, persistence, and the completion of career and academic goals.
• Maintain full, accurate, and up-to-date electronic case records in Maxient and Navigate and prepare data for regular reporting.

Outreach & Programming

• Support existing Student Advocacy initiatives, including but not limited to Foxys Mobile Market, Foxys Snack Stations, Laptop Loan Program, Resource walls, Parenting Student friendly stations, Care Cabinet, and Lactation/Chest Feeding Stations.
• Work with Student Advocacy team to identify and expand community partnerships, services, and benefits that enhance basic needs security, health and wellbeing.
• Contribute to innovative programing that educates the campus community about basic needs and wellness issues, reduces stigma, removes barriers, and facilitates access to resources in a manner that promotes dignity and minimizes marginalization.
• Assist with Student Advocacys marketing strategy by utilizing and updating social media, CCA website, bulletin/digital boards, Resource Walls and other media to advertise programs.
• Ensure student involvement and engagement with all stages of planning and implementation by working closely with Student Government Association and other student leaders and organizations.

Administrative and Other Duties

• Work collaboratively with Student Advocacy Team to carry out effective student support services, Advocacy initiatives, events and operations.
• Participate in the Division of Student Success fulfillment of CCAs strategic initiatives, The Higher Learning Commission (HLC) accreditations goals and assurances and The Achieving the Dream (ATD) practices, evidence-based strategies and technologies that support student success; by meeting the needs of historically marginalized groups.
• Participate in Division of Student Success trainings, initiatives, events and operations, including front desk coverage system.
• Engage in professional development to remain abreast of trends in higher education, student mental health, substance use, and wellbeing to ensure our practices are both relevant and evidenced-based.
• Serve on campus committees or relevant external groups as assigned or approved by the Executive Director of Student Advocacy Services.

Required Qualifications

• A Bachelors degree in Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, Nursing, Health Care Management, or Higher Education Administration from an accredited institution.
• Professional experience providing coaching, advising, case management and/or intervention type support.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity & inclusion with experience working with underrepresented and historically marginalized populations.
• Ability to effectively problem solve, think critically, identify alternate options and make referral to resources independently.
• Exceptional organizational and time management with demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate, prioritize, and effectively manage multiple initiatives, programs and events.
• Demonstrated skill in written and oral communication, including public speaking and virtual modalities.
• Work evenings and weekend hours for campus outreach events or emergency/campus crisis/disaster situations, as needed.
• Demonstrated aptitude working in team-based environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree (preferred in higher education, student affairs, social work, counseling or a related field).
• Knowledge of care management, intake/assessment and counseling techniques.
• At least 3 years of experience in education or closely related setting with demonstrated knowledge of crisis response, student conduct, student affairs administration, and case management support teams.
• Experience working with students in a community college setting.
• Strong preference for skills, knowledge and experience specifically focused on the needs of first gen students, adult learners, students of color, LGBTQIA+ students, and students with disabilities.
• Experience working with students in crisis, knowledge of principles and procedures involved in risk assessment and confidence creating behavioral intervention plans and/or case coordination.
• Working knowledge of relevant state and federal laws including FERPA, HIPAA, ADA, and Title IX.
• Experience collecting, analyzing, and reporting data to meet grant-based objectives.
• Experience developing programs aimed at access and/or retention of students.
• Experience with software systems such as Navigate, Banner and Maxient.
• Bilingual preferred.

Supplemental Information

Salary Range: Anticipated starting salary is $58,000.00 annually. This salary is determined by the qualifications of the selected candidate balanced with departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information. CCA offers an excellent benefit plan, including generous leave, holiday, and education benefits. Full time employees immediately upon hire earn 15 hours a month annual leave and 10 hours a month sick leave.

Deadline to Submit Application Material: An initial review of applications will begin on Friday, October 17th, 2025 and continue until the position is filled.

Application Process: When submitting your online application, please include a cover letter, current resume, and professional references. Official transcripts showing the highest degree achieved should be submitted to HR@ccaurora.edu upon offer of employment. If you have questions regarding this position, please contact us at HR@ccaurora.edu.