Data Systems Intern

Reports to: Director of Data Systems and Business Administration

About Chicago Scholars

At Chicago Scholars, we strive to prepare our Scholars for the world and the world for our Scholars. Our dual focus on Scholars and the world are both essential to our strategy. The first part of our work supports college acceptance, matriculation, persistence, and career access for our Scholars. The second part allows Scholars to go beyond surviving to thriving, from achieving to excelling, from attending and working to belonging and exceeding. The first part of our work allows entry, the second truly opens opportunity and redistributes power. To achieve these goals we center diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and racial justice so that we can launch and lift our Scholars and enable them to lead and leverage their power wherever they are on their journeys.

Chicago Scholars is transforming the leadership landscape of our city by resolving the fundamental barriers to success for academically driven, first-generation college students from under-resourced communities. Through college counseling, mentoring, and by providing a supportive community to our Scholars through each phase of our program: College Access, College Success, and Career and Leadership Development, we ensure that they realize their full potential as students and leaders.

76% of Chicago Scholars graduate college within 6 years. Per the University of Chicago Consortium on Chicago School Research, only 49% of their peers earn a degree within 6 years. Upon graduation, our Scholars move into leadership positions across Chicago, helping to drive the economic future of their communities and our thriving city.

READI Commitment 

At Chicago Scholars we strive to prepare our Scholars for the world and the world for our Scholars. Our dual focus on Scholars and the world are essential to our strategy. To achieve these goals, we center racial justice, equity, accessibility, diversity, and inclusion (READI) in all that we do. 

Chicago Scholars’ commitment to READI encompasses all of our stakeholders—from our staff to our board, from our volunteers to our partnering organizations, and most importantly our Scholars. This holistic approach is necessary for the sustained, long-term, positive impact that we seek for our Scholars, our neighborhoods, our city, and our world.

To learn more about Chicago Scholars commitment to READI, please visit chicagoscholars.org/readi.

At Chicago Scholars, we believe that education is social justice. That's why we're empowering Chicago's best and brightest first-generation college students and students from low-income communities with the mentors, resources, and opportunities to go to our nation's best colleges and universities, graduate on time, and become Chicago's next generation of leaders. Since 1996, we've impacted the lives of more than 5,000 young leaders in Chicago.

Our Values

These are a set of guiding principles that apply to all stakeholders within the Chicago Scholars ecosystem. We select and retain stakeholders based on these stated expectations for how we achieve our mission and vision. Each are supported with core competencies and narrative for the sake of clarity.

We Dream Big. We speak up, innovate, push the boundaries, and keep the creativity flowing. We don’t accept the status quo because the stakes are too high. We have an incredible belief that growth and change are possible. While we dream big, we are laser focused on our intended goals and outcomes for our Scholars, our city, and the world.

We Show Up. We show up every day; not just physically, but with a positive attitude and willingness to work, connect, challenge, engage, solve problems, and have fun. We don’t wait for someone to tell us what to do. We take action and get the job done. If we don’t know how, we figure it out through our knowledge, exploration, or our network.

We Embrace Our Differences. We represent a multicultural nation, and our collective backgrounds, experiences, styles, values, perspectives, and beliefs are an asset to the world. We recognize that together we achieve better outcomes more quickly. Justice and equity start with us using our collective voice.

We Model the Way. We exhibit the behavior that we want to see in others and in the world. Titles are granted, but our behavior is what earns us respect. In order to model the way, we must be clear about our guiding principles, celebrate our accomplishments and learn from our challenges and failures.

We Care For Each Other Along the Way. We adapt to the needs of the person in front of us. We pause, reflect, and listen. We do our best work when we are in good relationship together. We care personally and challenge directly.

We Keep Our Word. When we commit, we are all in. Whether for events, a Scholar, a peer, or ourselves. Our words are as powerful as our actions and are the building block of trust, respect, self-worth, and integrity.

Position Summary

The Data Systems intern will support the Data Solutions team in ongoing projects to improve Chicago Scholars’ data systems, data analysis, and program evaluation. The Data Systems Intern will have an inquisitive mind and be passionate about improving Chicago Scholars programming based on stakeholder feedback and historic trends. This is an ideal position for someone interested in either IT and data systems or social research and action.

Key Responsibilities:

• Analysis and Program Evaluation

o Assess and code records to prepare for data analysis.

o Analyze datasets for key trends and elevate findings.

o Analyze Scholar college enrollment records. Identify patterns for enrollment, graduation, and transfers to better support future generations of Scholars.

o Summarize Scholar and other stakeholder feedback surveys, including qualitative data coding.

o Create graphs, tables, and other visualizations for a variety of stakeholders.

o Solicit, code, and summarize Scholar feedback via interviews and focus groups. 

o Conduct literature reviews and background research on college and career success for first generation college students and young professionals of color.

• Data Systems

o Prepare datasets for systems import.

o Update Salesforce records for students, mentors, and other stakeholders.

o Conduct quality control assessments of database records; resolve errors.

o Support in equipment set-up and new user onboarding.

• Support Chicago Scholars events and programming including New Scholar Orientation, Scholar Con, and College Transition Retreat as needed.

? Chicago Scholar currently enrolled in college or Scholar alum enrolled in graduate school. 

? Education: Current undergraduate or graduate student.

? Majoring or interested in one of the following:

? Majors: Sociology, Psychology, Public Health, Education, Economics, Political Science or similar

? Data Systems: Information Technology, Computer Science, Information Systems

? Program Evaluation: Interest in social research or public health. 

? Analysis: Statistics, Math, Finance

Preferred Technical Knowledge:

? Comfort with spreadsheets or statistical software.

? Knowledge of statistics and research methods.

? Experience using a database or data system. Experience with Salesforce a plus.

? Experience managing confidential records.

? Experience conducting academic literature reviews.

Core Competencies: 

· Accountability/Project Management: committed to student data privacy and understanding of confidentiality; effectively manages own work; plans and organizes tasks and work responsibilities to achieve objectives 

· Problem Solving/Critical Thinking: breaks down tasks into manageable sections to make informed decisions and solve problems; able to perceive and resolve a gap and overcome obstacles between a present situation and desired goal; leverages the strengths of self and others to solve problems; analytical mind, interested in seeking patterns and stories in qualitative or quantitative data. 

· Growth Mindset: interested in learning new skills and researching new topics.

Hourly Rate: $16 per hour

Best Offer First Policy: The data nationally show for every $1 paid to white men, women earn 83 cents, black men earn 88 cents, and black women earn 80 cents. Women and black and brown people are also less likely to negotiate than their white male peers. Chicago Scholars has decided to offer our best offer first rather than wait for a potential negotiation. This allows us to set salaries based on market data and internal equity and ensure fair and equal pay for every role.  

If you have questions regarding any of Chicago Scholars employment policies, please reach out to the Human Resources team at humanresources@chicagoscholars.org with the subject line: Policy Question. 

Work Environment 

Chicago Scholars has a hybrid workforce which may include permanent or temporary remote positions. Normal operating hours are Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm with occasional weekend and after-hours events to accommodate Scholar and stakeholders’ schedules. 

To Apply 

• Please visit the Careers page on the Chicago Scholars website and click 'Apply' to submit your application, which should include a resume and cover letter. 
• In your cover letter we encourage applicants to share why they are excited to join the Data Solutions team and how this internship will help you grow professionally.