CLASSIFICATION TITLE: Student Services Professional II

UNION CODE: R04

TEMPORARY END DATE: This position is temporary and ends on or before June 30, 2025. Any continuation beyond June 30, 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: $4,841 - $6,884

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.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANT: FOR PRIORITY CONSIDERATION, applications must be received by October 23, 2024; however, the position will remain open until filled.

POSITION PURPOSE: Under the general supervision of the Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Education (SSE), and with daily lead direction from the SSE Advising Center Coordinator, the Academic Advisor is responsible for providing consistent, accurate, and moderately complex academic advising services to current and prospective students.  The Academic Advisor interviews and advises undergraduate students regarding information, procedures, and academic requirements of a specific program or major. In addition, the Advisor assists students in exploring careers, evaluating academic abilities, and setting goals. The incumbent is expected to provide academic advising that facilitates student success, persistence, and degree completion in a timely manner. 

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Academic Advising

• Develops an individualized academic plan for each student based on the unique needs of each student.
• Assesses student’s progress and adjusts the plan based on the progress and changing needs of the student.
• Actively coaches students through degree attainment process.
• Meets with students on a regular basis to track their academic success. Sets goals for academic progress to ensure completion of their academic programs.
• Identifies options for students to satisfy degree requirements.
• Evaluates and makes recommendations on petitions and amendments to student's program of study to assist their completion.
• Identify academic options for students such as degrees, minors, certificates, graduation requirements, curriculum, course selection and registration, career options and extracurricular activities.
• Assists student in establishing realistic and attainable academic and career goals.
• Works with students to evaluate and understand their academic records.
• Meets with students to advise and direct to applicable retention services such as the Center for Community Engagement and Career Education, faculty advising, tutoring, Student Health Center, Counseling Center, and/or Financial Aid.
• Works collaboratively with other academic units and services in the school and throughout the university to facilitate comprehensive student support.

Student/Faculty Correspondence

• Provides communication through one-on-one appointments, daily electronic communications, phone calls, and group academic advising sessions.
• Informs and interprets university, college, and program level academic policies and procedures.
• Monitors and notates academic progress of student in their electronic file and RunerConnect record. Submits requests and makes changes to student records via People Soft.
• Communicates with department faculty as needed to facilitate student success.

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 professional experience.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES (SKA’s) –

• Regular and reliable attendance required.
• Excellent ability to exercise confidentiality, discretion, and independent judgment and to handle moderately sensitive interpersonal issues.  
• Must plan and carry out day-to-day activities without immediate direction and work occasionally on Saturdays or evenings for School of Social Sciences and Education events.
• 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 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.
• Working knowledge of or ability to quickly learn University infrastructure.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A master’s degree in a job-related field.
• Experience within a higher education setting.
• Prior knowledge and use of PeopleSoft or other student records database systems desirable.
• 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.

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.