2025-26 Next Step Adviser (Multiple Vacancies)

Department: College Access Partnerships - 240105

Minimum Qualifications

• Earned or will earn a bachelors degree between May 2021 and June 2025; Candidates must have received a bachelor's degree within four years of applying to serve as an adviser
• Ability to work well with diverse populations
• Strong desire to serve
• Strong interest in learning and professional growth
• High level of professionalism in all communications and interactions
• Must be able to relocate to the service area and be involved in the surrounding community

Essential Job Functions

Working Locations: High school(s) located within one of the following counties: Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Catawba, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Graham, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, Mitchell, McDowell, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes, and Yancey.

Advise NC at Appalachian State (AppANC) seeks to hire recent graduates to serve as Next Step Advisers in high schools throughout western North Carolina. As members of a statewide movement, Advise NC at Appalachian State advisers will help students in rural, under-served Appalachian communities realize their dreams of achieving post-secondary education.

Regular responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:

• Assist students with the development of post-graduation plans, including workforce entry, trade or technical school enrollment, 2-year or 4-year college enrollment, or military enlistment
• Provide one-on-one admissions and financial aid advisement to any student or family seeking assistance
• Encourage students to consider a broad range of appropriate post-secondary choices and assist them in developing a comprehensive list of good fit and match options
• Help students and families complete and submit admissions and financial aid applications
• Offer a variety of workshops, presentations, and events to promote a college-going culture and inform students and families about important college access information
• Engage families and mentors in support of their students' post-secondary process, including calling all seniors' families/guardians via phone
• Participate in activities, attending events, and interacting with the school and community in an effort to build trust and relationships
• Collaborate with the AppANC Program Staff and partner school personnel to fuel a school-wide college-going culture
• Record up-to-date service activity data using a web-based database system (training provided)
• Submit weekly progress reports to the AppANC Program Staff documenting progress and outputs
• Establish productive working relationships with principals, counselors, teachers, and other student support staff in partner high school(s)
• Actively seek the advice and counsel of the on-site liaison at partner high school and the AppANC Program Staff in order to provide student and family services most effectively
• Develop expertise in admissions and financial aid advising
• Participate fully in pre- and in-service training
• In consultation with the AppANC Program Staff, seek out and participate in other opportunities for professional development
• Create resources for the larger advising team, including (but not limited to): social media templates, graphics & videos, advising resources, financial aid resources, scholarship guides, newsletters, event planning guides, etc.
• Assist AppANC Program Staff with the development and facilitation of adviser pre-service and in-service trainings
• Represent the Advise NC at Appalachian State program appropriately at all times

Next Step Advisers:

• Report to Appalachian State based program staff, as well as high school-based on-site facilitator
• Participate in 4-week training during the summer and ongoing professional development throughout the school year
• Commit to one academic year (11 months) of service with preferred two-year commitment if mutually agreed upon by the program staff and the adviser

College Access Partnerships is a department within the Reich College of Education. The RCOE is committed to seeking and sustaining a culturally and ethnically diverse University community that is inclusive of all individuals and groups. Successful candidates will demonstrate leadership and innovation in advancing diversity and dedication to recruiting and serving students with diverse needs, backgrounds, ethnicities, abilities, and other distinct characteristics in respectful, sensitive, and understanding ways.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with high school aged youth
• Experience managing large projects and working in teams
• Background in community service
• Leadership experience
• Priority given to graduates of Appalachian State University during the initial application review process
• Proficiency in languages other than English

Work Schedule/Hours: Monday-Friday. Daily hours follow the partner high school’s expected schedule for faculty and staff; some nights and weekends required. Advisers work towards a set number of service hours as AmeriCorps members. Advisers are provided resources to track and plan for service hour completion.

Anticipated Hiring Range:

Closing Date: 6/30/2026

To apply, visit https://appstate.peopleadmin.com/postings/51513

Appalachian State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The University does not discriminate in access to its educational programs and activities, or with respect to hiring or the terms and conditions of employment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity and expression, political affiliation, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information or sexual orientation.