Veteran Student Success Coach

Included with Aims Full-time Employment is a generous package of Benefits, most are listed below:

• Benefits are effective immediately
• 100% employer provided medical & dental coverage employees (employee only option)
• 85% employer provided medical & dental coverage for employee's spouse and/or family
• Voluntary vision insurance
• Staff Annual Leave (minimum accrual of 15 days) & Sick (minimum accrual of 12 days)
• 17 paid holidays and 3 personal days each year
• Summer schedule: 4-day work week - Fridays Off
• Employer paid long-term disability and life insurance premiums  
• Tuition waiver & reimbursement for employees
• Tuition waiver for dependents
• PERA employer (see www.copera.org for comprehensive benefits) 
• Additional supplemental benefits & retirement programs available
• Access to the PERC (Aims gym) for employee & one guest
• Free parking on all campuses

Job Description:

Aims Community College actively supports an environment that embraces the College’s Mission, Vision, Values, BaJEDI (belonging, justice, equity, diversity, inclusion), and Innovation. The College embraces and seeks to hire individuals who want to be a part of this environment and has the skillsets necessary to be successful in this position.

The Veteran Student Success Coach serves as a leader on campus who specializes in and provides cultural, educational, and social programming for students who identify as a Veteran, active duty service member, reservist, guard member, or dependent. The Veteran Student Success Coach aids military affiliated students in their transition from military life to student life, incorporating them into the intellectual and social life of the institution. The position actively collaborates with other SEIS support services.

This position also works directly with Veteran/military-affiliated students and non-Veteran/military-affiliated students in providing assistance with veterans benefits and certifications, initial career planning, and retention services designed to keep students enrolled in college and help them achieve their educational goals with Veteran students and non-Veteran students. The Veteran Student Success Coach ensures that Veteran/military-affiliated students are in compliance with federal VA regulations to be eligible for Veteran’s benefits. This position also works to help Aims stay in compliance with federal VA and DoD regulations. They utilize VA computer programs/software to upload Veteran/military-affiliated student information and serves as the school’s certifying official. As such, they will continually evaluate and learn of federal regulations and attend regular trainings to best understand those regulations for students and for Aims to remain in compliance with the VA.

This position assists leadership in the Financial Aid Department in providing a vision for Veteran Services in its role as a college-sponsored office and assists in the development of long and short-term strategic plans that guide Veteran Services operations and contribute to the long-term stability of the unit. This position will also evaluate and assess program efficacy through ongoing assessment activities. The Veteran Student Success Coach will design, deliver, and assess programs and services that develop and address the interests and needs of students, with a particular focus on military affiliated students and assist individuals in applying for Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense education benefits. This position will promote student development through mentorship and leadership opportunities offered through Veterans Services programs, including student clubs and organizations. This position will also plan and implement programs and events that provide a sense of place for all students and coordinate specific campus wide events such as community development programs and celebratory events.

Veteran/Military-Affiliated Success Coaching & Service:

• Provide coaching focused on transitioning from military life to student/civilian life
• Holistically guide Veteran/military-affiliated students through the Aims ecosystem to ensure those students enroll, retain, and graduate/transfer
• Provide support to and refer to appropriate resources for general wellness for Veteran/military-affiliated students
• Provide a welcoming, inclusive, and safe environment for Veteran/military-affiliated students
• Complete specialized paperwork with students and parents, when applicable.
• Explain applicable Aims, CDHE, and Veteran Administration policies and procedures to students.
• Refer students to other offices on campus such as Academic Pathways and Cashiers. Serve as a liaison with those departments to better serve Veteran/military-affiliated students and to maintain VA compliance
• Refer students to academic resources on and off campus, Veteran affiliated organizations in particular.
• Assist Veteran/military-affiliated students with academic success skills such as time management, study skills, note taking skills, etc.
• Assist in the development of long and short-term strategic plans that guide Veteran Services operations and contribute to the long-term stability of the unit.

On-Going Training to Learn & Stay Up-to-Date on VA Requirements:

• Learn and stay up-to-date on VA requirements by attending trainings and/or necessary conferences
• Serve as a liaison between the student and the Department of Veterans Affairs, college departments, and other entities as well as assist in streamlining the processes necessary to receive benefits.
• Advocate for the needs of military affiliated students in the development of college policies, programs, and services.
• Attend, and when appropriate, give presentations at local, regional, and national meetings, conferences, and symposia on topics related to higher education and student development, including those with a specific focus on military affiliated students.

Crisis Response for Veteran/Military-Affiliated Students:

• Serves as crisis response point person.
• Meet with referred students and help them to regain emotional stability.
• Assist students in problem solving process to make well-informed decisions regarding alternative choices.
• Provide outside referral resources when needed.

On-Going Training to Learn & Stay Up-to-Date on VA Requirements:

• Learn and stay up-to-date on VA requirements by attending trainings and/or necessary conferences
• Serve as a liaison between the student and the Department of Veterans Affairs, college departments, and other entities as well as assist in streamlining the processes necessary to receive benefits.
• Advocate for the needs of military affiliated students in the development of college policies, programs, and services.
• Attend, and when appropriate, give presentations at local, regional, and national meetings, conferences, and symposia on topics related to higher education and student development, including those with a specific focus on military affiliated students.

Crisis Response for Veteran/Military-Affiliated Students:

• Serves as crisis response point person.
• Meet with referred students and help them to regain emotional stability.
• Assist students in problem solving process to make well-informed decisions regarding alternative choices.
• Provide outside referral resources when needed.

General Financial Aid Advising & Retention Initiatives:

• Provide Financial Aid advising services to students on an on-going basis.
• Explain Financial Aid processes and connect students to appropriate resources (e.g., FAFSA forms and scholarship options).
• Assist students with the Financial Aid credit limit and probation appeals.
• Keep accurate log notes in an electronic database that reflects the discussion and essential information conveyed to students by adhering to ethical standards of practice.
• Teach students how to register on line and use Web Services features.
• Refer students to appropriate resources on and off campus based upon their needs and course selection.
• Input and retrieve information from integrated databases (Workday and other software); review student files each term.
• Maintain current on Financial Aid information by attending meetings and conferences and reading various materials.
• Teach general students how to problem solve by identifying alternative options as they relate to their life and career goals.

Retention Initiatives:

• Contact and meet with students (both Veteran/military-affiliated and non-Veteran/military-affiliated students) to review individual's goals and academic performance and collaborate to create an academic/personal success plan. Provide referral and resources for academic motivation, academic support, Veteran benefits (when applicable), and other support services.
• Contact and meet with students who have been identified by faculty to determine causes of academic performance below evaluation expectations; monitor student academic progress and follow-up with at-risk students; and provide training for new advisors as assigned
• Contact and follow-up with students who are progressing well to help acknowledge, support and continue success.

Other Duties as Assigned