CLASSIFICATION TITLE: Student Services Professional II

UNION CODE: R04

TEMPORARY END DATE: This position is temporary and ends on or before May 31, 2025. Any continuation beyond May 31, 2025, is contingent upon satisfactory performance and available funding.

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 $4,841 per month.

CSU CLASSIFICATION SALARY RANGE: $4,610 - $6,556

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, 14 paid holidays per year and more!  See our benefits website for additional information.

CANDIDATES ELIGIBLE TO APPLY: Open to all qualified applicants

POSITION PURPOSE: Under the general supervision of the Associate Dean, School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, & Engineering (NSME), with daily lead direction from the NSME Advising Center Coordinator, the Academic Advisor is responsible for providing consistent accurate, and moderately complex academic advising services to current and prospective students.  Within the School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering, the Academic Advisor primarily serves undergraduate students whose majors are housed within the school through interviewing and advising freshmen and transfer undergraduate students regarding information, procedures, and academic requirements of a specific program or major. The incumbent assists students in exploring careers, evaluating academic abilities, and setting goals and is expected to provide academic advising that facilitates student success, persistence and degree completion in a timely manner.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Academic Advising

• Provide communication through one-on-one appointments, daily electronic communications, phone calls, Zoom meetings, and group academic advising sessions. Work with students to evaluate and understand their academic records, setting goals for academic progress to ensure completion of their academic programs, and informing and interpreting university, college, and program level academic policies and procedures.
• Use counseling techniques to address the variety of needs of a diverse student population including first-time­ freshmen, first-time transfer students, at-risk, Associated Degree Transfer, Super Seniors, Graduation Initiative, satellite campus and others.
• Assist with campus retention and graduation efforts. Responsible for an assigned group of students each year to follow through toward graduation. Function as an academic case manager for all assigned students, evaluate student confidential academic records and develop an individualized academic plan based on the unique needs of each student. Monitor and assess student's progress in achieving individualized academic plan and make adjustments to the plan based on the progress and changing needs of the student.
• Actively coach students through degree attainment process. Meet with students on a regular basis to track their academic success, identify options for students to satisfy degree requirements, and evaluate and make recommendations on petitions and amendments to student's program of study to assist their completion.
• Provide workshops and presentations to first-year seminar and EOP Summer Bridge students on advising and topics that relate to succeeding in college, especially as a URM, first generation, etc. students.
• Serve as liaison to the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Serve as a dedicated advisor for chemistry and biochemistry majors and lift holds for UD students in coordination with the department when faculty are not available. Attend all department meetings. Represent the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at NSME outreach events.
• Identify academic options for students such as degrees, minors, certificates, graduation requirements, curriculum, course selection and registration, career options, research, and internships, and extracurricular activities. Assist student in establishing realistic and attainable academic and career goals.
• Refer students to appropriate resources to explore careers and related majors including CECE and faculty advisors.
• Monitor academic progress of students. Determine eligibility and satisfactory progress toward degree. Identify current and potential needs or problem areas (e.g., study skills, tutoring) and refer students to appropriate campus resources for assistance. Communicate findings to the Advising Center Coordinator.
• Meet with students to advise and direct them to applicable retention services such as tutoring, student health, counseling, financial aid, and career services. Work collaboratively with other academic units and services in the school and throughout the university to facilitate comprehensive student support.
• Input, organize, and enter data to address issues relating to persistence. Monitor all students and track assigned student groups to ensure persistence in enrollment, good academic standing, and appropriate progress toward graduation.
• Update EAB Navigate (RunnerConnect) records and notations, request change to student records via People Soft, input data into intake forms and maintain student files to accurately reflect advising session interactions and progress on or toward degree completion. Ensure that students know how to use their myCSUB portal.
• Maintain student files and records. Document all pertinent student information and update computerized information system regarding changes to student status.
• Actively participate in professional development training, maintaining current and accurate information regarding college student development theory, academic success, retention, and graduation strategies, and first-year experience support programming.
• Collaborate with university units outside of the School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering on behalf of individual students, providing advocacy and problem-solving as challenges arise.

Academic Success Events

• Interpret and explain college and university policies and procedures. Participate in preparation of orientations and present academic information to new students and parents during orientation.
• Prepare, attend, and facilitate university and School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering recruitment activities on and off campus,
• Create and organize School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering student success events as needed.
• Act as guest speaker to assist with AARC, First-year experience course instruction, and other campus units to promote academic success.
• Assist with commencement and honors program activities to ensure a smooth and successful event for thousands of students, parents, VIP, faculty, and campus guests.

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 job-related field and two (2) years of recent related experience. Specialized experience during which the applicant has acquired and successfully applied the appropriate knowledge and abilities may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. A master’s degree in a job-related field may be substituted for one year of the professional experience.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES (SKA’s) –

• Regular and reliable attendance is required.
• Working knowledge of the practices, procedures, and activities of the program to which assigned.
• General knowledge of the methods and problems of organizational and program management.
• General knowledge of research and interview techniques and of the principles of individual and group behavior.
• Ability to interpret and apply program rules and regulations.
• Ability to use initiative and resourcefulness in planning work assignments and in implementing long-range program improvements.
• Ability to obtain factual and interpretative information through interviews, reason logically, collect, compile, analyze and evaluate data and make verbal or written presentations based on these data.
• Ability to advise students individually and in groups on routine matters where required.
• Ability to recognize multicultural, multisexed, and multi-aged value systems and work accordingly.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with faculty, CSU administrators, student organizations, private and public agencies and others in committee work, and student advising and community contacts.
• Ability to rapidly acquire a general knowledge of the overall operation, functions, and programs of the campus to which assigned.
• Demonstrated ability to make decisions and carry through actions having implications with regard to other program or service areas.
• 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. Ability to learn and operate department specific software and programs. Must be able to use a state-issued PC running windows.
• Working knowledge of or ability to quickly learn University infrastructure.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in a related field preferred.
• Experience working in a higher education setting.
• Prior knowledge and use of PeopleSoft, EAB Navigate (RunnerConnect), or other student records database system desirable.
• Demonstrated skills in an institutional/educational environment utilizing 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.

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: Limited:  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.

EEO STATEMENT:  California State University, Bakersfield is committed to Equal Employment Opportunity.  Applicants will be considered without regard to gender, race, age, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability or covered veteran status.