Assistant Academic Advisor Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

CLASSIFICATION TITLE: Student Services Professional IB

UNION CODE: R04

FT/PT: Full-time

PAY PLAN: 12-month

WORKPLACE TYPE: On-site (work in-person at business location)

ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE: Starting salary upon appointment is not expected to exceed $4,482 per month

CSU CLASSIFICATION SALARY RANGE: $4,482 - $6,342

PAY BASIS: Monthly

BENEFITS: CSUB offers a best-in-class benefit package for eligible employees that includes an array of medical plans, choice of dental plans, vision coverage, retirement participation in CalPERS, CSU tuition waiver, up to 24 vacation days per year, sick leave with unlimited accrual, 15 paid holidays per year and more!  See our benefits website for additional information.

CANDIDATES ELIGIBLE TO APPLY: Open to all qualified applicants

POSITION PURPOSE: As a unit under the Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Support, the Department of Undergraduate Advising supports students throughout their academic journey by providing information, guidance, and referrals that promote academic progress and timely degree completion. Academic advisors assist students with class registration, academic planning, understanding degree requirements, and connecting with campus resources such as faculty mentoring, tutoring, counseling, financial aid, and career services.

Under the general supervision of the Director of Undergraduate Advising and with daily lead direction from the designated Advising Coordinator, the Assistant Academic Advisor provides basic professional academic advising services to current, newly admitted, and readmitted students from entry through degree completion. Following established university, college, and program procedures, the Advisor provides information regarding academic requirements, assists students in reviewing available options, helps students develop appropriate academic plans, and refers students to campus resources. Assignments are well structured and primarily involve applying established policies, procedures, guidelines, and precedents to individual student situations.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Academic Advising Support

• Provides basic academic advising to students using established advising procedures, guidelines, and program requirements.
• Reviews student records and other pertinent information to identify applicable degree requirements, course options, and established pathways toward completion.
• Assists students in developing and updating academic plans based on declared programs, completed coursework, established degree requirements, and realistic academic goals.
• Provides standard information regarding general education, major, minor, graduation, registration requirements, course selection, academic deadlines, and available educational and career resources.
• Reviews petitions and program-of-study requests for completeness and makes recommendations consistent with established policies and precedents.
• Reviews academic records, degree progress information, and university communications; monitors assigned student records and outreach lists to identify students requiring follow-up and completes established outreach or referral activities.
• Identifies student needs and refers students to appropriate campus resources, including faculty mentoring, tutoring, career services, the Student Health Center, Counseling Center, and Financial Aid.
• Provides information and guidance to students experiencing routine academic difficulties and refers situations requiring more complex counseling or interpretation to more senior Advisors, Advising Coordinator, Director, or appropriate campus office.
• Maintains current working knowledge of university resources, curriculum, degree requirements, academic policies, and established advising procedures for majors within the assigned college to support accurate day-to-day advising.

Student Communication & Documentation

• Communicates clear and consistent information through appointments, email, phone calls, and text messaging in accordance with established advising practices.
• Explains university, college, and program-level academic policies and procedures and responds to routine questions concerning their application.
• Documents advising contacts and student progress in electronic records, including RunnerConnect, ServiceNow, and OnBase, according to established documentation requirements.
• Provides students with timely reminders regarding registration, academic deadlines, required actions, and available resources.
• Responds to student inquiries by locating, selecting, and organizing relevant information and referring non-routine matters to the appropriate resource.
• Communicates with university staff, faculty, and external contacts to exchange factual information need to support student needs and academic progress.

Program Support, Collaboration, & Professional Development

• Assists with advising initiatives and activities that support student success, retention, and completion within the assigned college.
• Provides logistical and informational support for orientations, workshops, outreach activities, and advising-related events using established materials and formats.
• Participates in training and professional development to maintain knowledge of advising procedures, student success practices, and campus systems.
• Participates on committees or workgroups as assigned and provides information or assistance related to established advising processes.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE - Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in one of the behavioral sciences, public or business administration, or a job-related field and the equivalent of one (1) year of professional Student Services work at the entry trainee level. Equivalent amounts of graduate-level job-related education may be substituted for the required experience. Additional specialized experience during which the applicant has acquired and successfully applied the required knowledge and abilities may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES (SKA's):

• Regular and reliable attendance required.
• Working knowledge of the methods and problems of organization and program management.
• Working knowledge of research and interviewing techniques and of the principles of individual and group behavior.
• Ability to rapidly acquire such knowledge of the organization, procedures and activities of the specific campus to which the position is assigned and the basic principles, practices and major trends in the Student Services field to which assigned.
• Ability to rapidly acquire a working knowledge of the specific objectives of the campus Student Services program and its relationship to the total campus operation.
• Ability to interpret and apply program rules and regulations, gather and analyze data, reason logically, draw valid conclusions and make appropriate recommendations, and present clear and concise information orally and in written reports.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with faculty, CSU administrators, student organizations and other private and public agencies
• Demonstrated customer service experience requiring a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism.
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy to effectively handle a broad range of high level and sensitive interpersonal situations with diverse personalities, and to respond appropriately to conflicts and problems.
• Ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.
• Excellent communication skills; ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and understandable manner.
• Thorough knowledge of English grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Ability to interpret, communicate and apply policies and procedures.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines.
• Excellent computer skills and competence with a variety of computer applications including word-processing, spreadsheets, databases, on-line systems, Internet as well as online calendaring and email.
• Working knowledge of or ability to quickly learn University infrastructure.
• Must be willing to travel and attend training programs off-site for occasional professional development.
• Must be able to work overtime, occasional holidays, and adjust working hours to meet special jobs.  May be called back periodically to perform work as needed on an emergency basis.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A master's degree in a job-related field.
• Two (2) years of  experience providing academic advising, student support, or related services in a higher education setting.
• Prior knowledge and use of PeopleSoft or another student records database system.
• Demonstrated skills in an institutional/educational environment possessing a customer-oriented and service-centered attitude.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: SEDENTARY WORK - involves mainly sitting; minimal walking and standing; lifting light weight objects limited to 15 pounds.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

SCREENING: Only those applicants possessing experience most directly related to the immediate needs of the office will be invited to appear before a Qualifications Appraisal Board for the purpose of appraising training, experience, and interest in the position.

BACKGROUND CHECK: Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. CSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last seven years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant's current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

SENSITIVE POSITION: Sensitive positions are designated by the CSU as requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position, based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of the people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to the CSU or individuals in the university community.

MANDATED REPORTER: The person holding this position is considered a limited mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083, revised July 21, 2017.

GENERAL INFORMATION: It is the policy of California State University, Bakersfield to hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States. All new employees will be required to present documentation verifying their right to accept employment. You will also be requested to present a social security card at the time of initial appointment in compliance with state payroll regulations.  State regulations require that every state employee sign the Oath of Allegiance prior to commencing the duties of his/her state employment, except legally employed non-citizens. These individuals are required to sign the Declaration of Permission to Work.

The California State University ("CSU"), including California State University, Bakersfield is committed to an inclusive and equitable community that values diversity and fosters mutual respect.  All students and employees have the right to participate fully in CSU programs, activities, admission, and employment free from discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking and retaliation. The CSU Nondiscrimination Policy prohibits discrimination and harassment based on any protected status, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, prohibited consensual relationships, and retaliation.

Campus contact for our Nondiscrimination policy is Allan Williams, AVP of Civil Rights and Compliance, (661) 654-2713.