Overview
A college degree can be a life-changing ticket to career fulfillment and economic mobility. But our existing system bars many students from pursuing college due to high financial barriers and lack of flexibility. In 2021, more than two dozen community leaders in Newark came together to change that. Enter Gateway U, an innovative college support program that opened its doors to those students who have traditionally been excluded from the higher education system. Gateway U provides high touch coaching, career support, and wraparound services (like access to technology, childcare, and guidance through the financial aid process) to ensure students have what they need to succeed.
Gateway U is New Jersey’s first-ever hybrid degree pathway site, bringing an innovative new model to Newark that has already helped double graduation rates and eliminate the black-white college completion gap in Boston, San Francisco, and Philadelphia.
About You
The ideal candidate for this role is passionate about the power of education to break down barriers to opportunity. This person has strong relationship-building skills, is a problem-solver, is seeking a community-rooted organization, and is excited about the opportunity to work directly with students on their journey to obtain a college degree. They will be energized by the opportunity to innovate and be a part of a new, growing, and impactful endeavor.
Eligibility, Required Experience, and Skills:
• AA , Bachelor's degree , high school diploma required?
• 2 years of experience in admissions, advising, recruitment, customer service, or a related student-facing role preferred.
• AU.S. citizen or legal permanent resident.
• Experience with financial aid processes (e.g., FAFSA) is a plus.
• Interest in the power of education to break down barriers to economic opportunity.
• Flexibility, a willingness to learn, and strong organizational skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Responsibilities:
Student Advising (45%)
• Build strong, trust-based relationships with prospective students to support their progress toward enrollment, including regular review of enrollment status and consistent follow-up. Prospective students respond best to advisors who maintain rapport built on consistency and honesty.
• Collaborate with fellow team members to ensure all prospective students are making adequate daily and weekly progress toward successful college enrollment.
Student Recruitment & Enrollment (45%)
• Field admissions phone calls to support student enrollment.
• Support enrollment-related tasks, including but not limited to: reviewing the daily financial aid report to update student status, conducting outreach regarding next steps in the financial aid and application process, assisting students with gathering necessary FAFSA documentation, tracking application status and updates, and maintaining accurate, up-to-date student records in the database.
• Conduct outreach to prospective and current students to schedule and track next steps, including information sessions, financial aid and enrollment meetings, and orientation sessions, following up until students successfully attend.
• Lead orientation coordination, including technology setup, collection of orientation data, and updates to Google Classroom.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
Community Events & Other (10%)
• Partner with the admissions team to brainstorm and help execute community-focused events that promote the Gateway U brand and strengthen community engagement.
• Collaborate with the admissions team and broader Gateway U staff to identify best practices and drive continuous improvement in recruitment, advising, and enrollment processes.
Success in This Role Looks Like:
Admission Goals
• 100 new students are enrolled for the Fall Term
• 75 new students are enrolled for the Spring Term
• 75 new students are enrolled for the Summer Term
Engagement Goals
• The Admissions Department will host two events annually, achieving at least 75% attendance.