Cratis D. Williams School of Graduate Studies

Position Title: GEAR UP Lead Mentor for Higher Education Partnerships
Office: Office of Rural Promise
Reports to: Assistant Director of Higher Education Partnerships
Date: August 2026 - May 2027
Hours and Compensation: 20 hours/week, $17.50/hour ($5,250 per semester / $10,500 annually)
Application Link

Primary Purpose: GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) is a federally funded college access program designed to increase the number of students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education immediately after high school. GEAR UP works in partnership with 16 school districts to provide college preparation
activities to 15,000 middle and high school students and parents. This position will work with the GEAR UP Service team whose members are collectively responsible for programs and services that increase college and career knowledge for students, families, and district staff. This is a 10 month position requiring 20 hours per week.

Essential Job Functions:

• Serve as mentor to 10 first year students
• Student mentees are enrolled at institutions throughout the UNC system
• Meet with students once a week for 30 minutes (5 hours/week).
• Meetings will be held in-person or virtually and set around your schedule and your mentees class schedule.

Mentoring Critical Components:

• Meet once every two weeks with the Assistant Director of Higher Education
• Partnerships to support management of the mentor program.
• Connect your students to campus resources.
• Advocate for your students by finding the best resources for them.
• Make efforts to contact students who miss appointments or seem to be out of touch. Communicate any concerns to the Mentoring Director.
• Maintain records of all contacts with your students and topics covered.
• Meeting resources will be provided.
• Maintain records of hours worked and share with the GEAR UP Program Support Specialist every two weeks.

Participate in monthly mentor trainings including topics:

• Rapport Building
• Boundary Setting
• Active Listening
• Crisis Response
• Time Management
• Self-care strategies
• Awareness of campus resources, etc.

The Lead Mentor will have additional weekly requirements:

• Create, plan, and facilitate monthly mentor trainings in partnership with Assistant Director of Higher Education Partnership and Assistant Director of College Access Services
• Create marketing materials for upcoming workshop experiences for mentees
• Provide biweekly report of Mentor/Mentee meetings and student attendance
• Keep track of changes, email check-ins, and mentor forms.
• Support development of mentor training materials and manuals
• Supervise mentors during weekly meetings when necessary
• Utilize Google Drive effectively for Mentor Program support with schedules, training materials, reports, etc.
• Supervise GEAR UP Guide program
• Recruit qualified candidates for the program
• Oversee onboarding and training
• Manage scheduling and workflow
• Assist with developing programs, events, and activities for the GEAR UP community
• Support College Access Partnership department events as needed
• Maintain flexibility with work schedule (including during the day, evenings, and weekends, around class schedule)

Marginal Job Functions:

• Attend and participate in all team and staff meetings, training sessions, and division-wide meetings and programs
• Maintain office space and keep work areas neat and orderly
• Attend, participate, and/or work functions as needed
• Ask for help when needed
• Foster strong relationships and serve as a liaison with GEAR UP stakeholders, faculty and staff, and students
• Act as a resource in regards to university questions and referrals

Qualifications:

• Must be an Appalachian State student pursuing a graduate or terminal degree.
• Preference for graduate studies related to education, counseling, student development, social work, or related.
• Must have obtained a bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline from an accredited university (Preference will be given to those enrolled in an education program.)
• Must have wise judgment to make good decisions, and must represent the division with integrity
• Must be positive, organized, helpful, student-centered, and responsible
• Must demonstrate a sense of job responsibility, initiative, energy, leadership, approachability, and maturity.
• Preference will be given to someone with some level of supervisory experience either in a job or leadership position