Job Details

San Francisco State University

ACADEMIC COUNSELOR/COLLEGE SPECIALIST

JOB ID

10016

WORKING TITLE

Academic Counselor/College Specialist (Student Services Professional III)

NUMBER OF POSITIONS

1 Position

DEPARTMENT

Student Success Office

TIME BASE

Full-Time (1.0)

WORK SCHEDULE

Monday to Friday: 8:00 a.m. â€" 5:00 p.m.

ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE

$4,554.00 to $4,721.00 ($54,648.00 - $56,652.00 Annually)

POSITION SUMMARY

The Academic Counselor/College Specialist supports the University's strategic plan, the Graduation Initiative 2025, and the Campus Student Success Plan by providing comprehensive academic counseling to help undergraduate students achieve their academic, personal and career goals. This position is a shared advising role that is split (50/50) between the Undergraduate Advising Center and one of our colleges (College of Business, College of Ethnic Studies, College of Liberal and Creative Arts, College of Health and Social Sciences, and the College of Science and Engineering). The incumbent collaborates with faculty, staff, and administrators both in their assigned college and in the Undergraduate Advising Center to improve the communication of advising-related information and to develop systems for delivering cross-campus, coordinated advising services.

The Academic Counselor/College Specialist will assist students in exploring and declaring into a major, identifying strengths and interests, and overcoming academic and personal challenges. Additionally, the counselor will help students understand SF State's general education and additional graduation requirements as well as to understand college-based and university-wide policies and procedures. The Academic Counselor is responsible for providing consistent, accurate, complex, academic counseling services to current undergraduate students. Working independently, the counselor will provide individual and group counseling that requires the use of counseling techniques to evaluate students' academic interests and to facilitate major and career exploration. The Academic Counselor will assist students in setting goals to facilitate student success, persistence, and degree completion in a timely manner. In addition, the incumbent will independently lead, develop, plan, implement, and evaluate advising-related projects in the Undergraduate Advising Center and in their assigned college.

The Academic Counselor/College Specialist reports directly to the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education who oversees campus-wide advising efforts. The counselor also works closely with the Associate Dean of the assigned college. The position functions under general supervision, but with a high degree of autonomy. This position requires strong judgment, flexibility, persuasiveness, and imagination in order to develop and institute coordinated advising approaches across SF State's campus. The incumbent will need to apply careful administrative planning when cultivating and launching creative solutions to address specific advising problems and to launch new advising initiatives.

San Francisco State University has long-standing commitments to teaching, learning and social justice. Individuals interested in advancing the University's strategic plan are strongly encouraged to apply.

POSITION INFORMATION

The Academic Counselor/College Specialist splits time between their assigned college and the Undergraduate Advising Center. Typically, the split is 20 hours per week at each location. Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

Academic Counseling

• Counsel declared majors in their assigned college and undeclared/exploratory students; in a one-to-one or group setting, provide academic, personal and career exploration and planning; review general education and degree requirements; set goals for undeclared students to ensure acceptance to their desired major within 60 units/two-academic years.


• Independently coordinate and deliver academic advising to an assigned group of students each year; develop action plan for success based on the unique needs of each student; monitor and assess student progress in achieving their path to success and make adjustments to their path based on the progress and changing needs of the student; identify current and potential challenges (e.g. adjustment to college, time-management) and counsel students through complex academic/personal challenges; make appropriate referrals to campus resources.


• Resolve complex advising-related situations by applying in-depth knowledge of academic policy and recommending an appropriate course of action to students; serve as an advising expert for faculty and staff who need assistance resolving complicated advising issues.


• Provide academic counseling to undergraduate students on general education, graduation requirements, college-based policies, and other related policies and procedures (appointments, walk-ins, and groups) advising

Project Coordination

• Lead, develop, plan, implement and evaluate Undergraduate Advising Center and college-based projects (priorities will be identified by the Associate Dean in the college and the Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education).


• Create and maintain accurate, up-to-date lists of faculty advisors for each of the major departments in their assigned college.


• Collaborate with resource center and college staff to develop and deliver ongoing training for faculty advisors in their college.


• Serve as a liaison to a college, improving cross-campus communication of advising-related information.


• Coordinate and deliver strategic advising initiatives established by the campus as part of the Campus Student Success Plan


• Develop and implement strategies to address the academic support needs of at-risk students

Advising at Orientation

• Provide academic counseling to freshmen and transfer students at New Student Programs/Orientation.


• Design and deliver general education/registration workshops for incoming students.


• Update college-specific advising materials and lead training for academic counselors and peer advisors on important major information for the assigned college

Other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in a related field. A master's degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a directly related field may be substituted for one year of experience.

Knowledge and Abilities:
Thorough knowledge of the principles of individual and group behavior. General knowledge of the principles, practices and trends of the Student Services field as well as general knowledge of the policies, procedures and practices of the program area to which assigned; general knowledge of individual counseling techniques; general knowledge, or the ability to rapidly acquire such knowledge, of the organizational procedures and activities of the specific campus to which the position is assigned. Working knowledge of student services programs outside the program to which immediately assigned.

Ability to analyze complex situations accurately and adopt effective courses of action; advise students individually and in groups on complex student-related matters; determine appropriate courses of action and proper techniques to utilize while engaged with individuals in personal interactions of an argumentative or sensitive nature; interpret and evaluate descriptions and explanations of problems brought forward by individuals or student organizations, analyze and define the problem, draw valid conclusions and project consequences of various alternative courses of action; carry out a variety of professionally complex assignments without detailed instructions; and establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with a variety of individuals.

Experience:
Possession of these knowledge and abilities is typically demonstrated through the equivalent of three years of progressively responsible professional student services work experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Education: Master's degree or upper division or graduate course work from an accredited college or university in counseling, higher education, student affairs, or related-field.

Knowledge and Abilities:

• advising and developing programs that support the needs of underrepresented, low­income and first-generation college students


• providing effective academic counseling to students from diverse cultural, ethnic, socioeconomic, academic, sexual orientation and disability backgrounds in a one-to-one and group setting at a college/university


• using current software, technology, and online resources related to academic counseling


• facilitating workshops to small and large audiences using effective public-speaking techniques


• mastering complex information and communicating changes in university policy, regulations and requirements to students, faculty and staff


• assisting undeclared students explore their major options


• providing information on Title V, California State University, and San Francisco State University policies and procedures


• serving as a lead to develop, plan, implement and evaluate advising-related projects


• using PeopleSoft - Campus Solutions, Microsoft Office Suite, and Learning Management Systems

BENEFITS

Threaded through our Total Compensation package is a commitment to Bridging Life's Transitions. SF State is committed to providing our employees with a comprehensive program that rewards efforts that are appreciated by your colleagues, students and the customers we serve.

We offer a competitive compensation package that includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Pension, 401k, Healthcare Savings Account, Life Insurance, Disability Insurance, Vacation and Sick Leave as well as State Holidays and a dynamic Fee Waiver program, all geared towards the University's commitment to attract, motivate and retain our employees.

APPLICATION PROCESS AND INQUIRIES

For the complete job description and qualifications of current openings, please go to SF State's online job posting http://hr.sfsu.edu/Employment_HRMS/employment/jobs. Submit an online application and upload (in one file attachment) your resume and cover letter, describing your specific qualifications for each position. The online recruitment system will allow one file attachment for each submission.

Additional positions will be available throughout the year. Please visit SF State's Human Resources website http://hr.sfsu.edu/Employment_HRMS/employment/jobs for job postings or contact Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education Kim Altura at kwidic@sfsu.edu for more information.

SF STATE IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (i.e. H1-B VISAS).

The Human Resources office is open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and can be reached at (415) 338-1872.

SF State is Equal Opportunity/Americans with Disabilities Act employer and has a strong commitment to the principles of diversity.