Academic Success & Wellness Counselor - SSP III (Temporary) (#514873)

ABOUT CAL STATE EAST BAY:

Cal State East Bay's beautiful main campus is located in the Hayward hills with panoramic views of the San Francisco Bay shoreline. Situated above the city of Hayward, the campus offers an ideal setting for teaching and learning and yet easy access to the many cities along the bay. The University has a satellite campus in Concord, a professional development center in Oakland and a significant presence online. Founded in 1957, Cal State East Bay is one of 23 universities of the California State University system (CSU). With an enrollment over 15,800 students, Cal State East Bay is recognized as a regionally engaged and globally oriented university with a strong commitment to academic innovation, student success, engaged and service learning, diversity, and sustainability.

SALARY AND BENEFITS:

Salary Range: $4,691.00/month to $6,683.00/month. PLEASE NOTE: The starting salary placement depends on qualifications and experience and is anticipated to be in the range of $4,691.00/month to $5,687.00/month.

Cal State East Bay offers a broad range of benefits that includes medical, dental, vision, retirement (CalPERS), 401k, 457, 403(b), dependent and health care reimbursement accounts, life insurance, vacation and sick, 13 paid holidays, one personal holiday and tuition fee waiver.

For more information on the benefits program, please visit https://www.csueastbay.edu/hr/benefits/index.html

ABOUT THE POSITION:

Project IMPACT, a Student Support Services (SSS) Program, is funded through the TRIO division of the United States Department of Education.  The SSS program is a five-year grant.  This position opening is available through August 31, 2023, with the possibility of reappointment for a maximum of three years from the date of hire.  Project IMPACT provides undergraduate students with disabilities non-mandated support services, including academic advising, career planning, subject specific tutoring, support with the financial aid process, support with the graduate school application process, academic wellness counseling, assistive technology training, academic skills development, and personal finance skill development.  The intent of this program is to provide services to increase retention, student GPAs and graduation rates of students with disabilities. Project IMPACT provides these enhanced academic support services to 100+ students with disabilities.   

The primary purpose of this position is to provide academic advising and academic wellness counseling to participating students.  The Academic Success and Wellness Counselor supports students in completing their post-secondary education by providing targeted advice related to class selection, the development of educational plans and monitors the academic progress of students in the program. Furthermore, the Academic Success and Wellness Counselor provides academic wellness counseling to support students in the development of non-cognitive skills including academic & realistic self-appraisal, growth mindset, locus of control, positive self-concept, motivation and long term goal setting. This position will function as a team member of Project IMPACT and will assist the Project IMPACT Program Coordinator with carrying out the requirements of the grant.

This is a temporary, full-time, grant funded position through August 31, 2023, with the possibility of re-appointment for a maximum of three years from the date of hire.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Direct Services to Students

Academic Advising

Provide academic advising to participants including support with course selection each term and the development of long-term educational plans.

Provide academic advising related to withdrawals, plans for recovering from academic probation and avoiding academic disqualification.

Offer advice that takes into consideration students’ financial aid status, participation with the Department of Rehabilitation, personal learning preferences, learning strengths and challenges, and disability management strategies as it relates to course load and course selection.

Monitor students’ grades and academic progress towards graduation. Monitor barriers to students’ ability to enroll or continue to make academic progress (academic holds, financial holds, etc.)

Attend regular university-wide meetings that support the function of academic advising

Develop a close working relationship with the General Education Office and Academic Advising and Career Education (AACE) Office. Collaborate with the Department of Rehabilitation if a student is a client. 

Provide support to students with graduate school applications.

Academic Wellness Counseling

Provide general educational and emotional support to students as it relates to their academic experience. While academic wellness counseling is not therapy, the Academic Success and Wellness Counselor supports students with academic & realistic self-appraisal, growth mindset, locus of control, positive self-concept, anxiety, managing interpersonal conflicts, developing a support network, developing plans of self-support, motivation and long term goal setting. 

Conduct workshops for students on the above mentioned topics

Conduct trainings for part-time staff on the above mentioned topics and help facilitate a culture of growth mindset. Participate in the development of a nurturing team-focused culture.

Inform Accessibility Services Director immediately of participants at risk to harm self or others

Individual Support Plan Development

In collaboration with the Program Coordinator, support students in developing Individual Support Plans which serve as a guide for how students should engage with the various services offered by the program, given their unique needs.

Identify students at risk for not persisting, including using CSUEB’s early alert system in Bay Adviser. Help students revise their support plans accordingly.

Coordinate with other departments and agencies as needed to support students in finding and making use of additional resources.

Financial Aid Advising

Support students in completing all necessary applications for Financial Aid, including the FAFSA, the CSUEB financial aid verification process and scholarship applications.

Support students with completing financial aid appeals as needed.

Develop a strong working relationship with the Financial Aid Office personnel to maintain understanding of the financial aid process, student requirements for meeting academic  progress standards, and required student-submitted financial aid documentation.   

Record Keeping and Reporting

• The Academic Success and Wellness Counselor is expected to keep accurate and timely case notes and maintain accurate student information in program software including Blumen and Accommodate.

Support with maintenance of program

Collaborate with other campus departments including Accessibility Services, various academic departments, the General Education Office, Academic Advising and Career Education, Housing and Financial Aid to educate the campus community about Project IMPACT.

With the Program Coordinator, recruit, interview and select new students to join the program each summer. Attend outreach events for student recruitment as needed.

Support other program staff with the coordination of the tutoring service and provide subject-specific tutoring if needed

Support the work of the Program Coordinator in meeting all programmatic objectives as outlined in the grant. Carry out the requirements of the grant and assist the Program Coordinator in monitoring compliance with state and federal regulations, maintaining accurate student records and other administrative tasks as needed.

Attend TRIO trainings as needed to remain aware of best practices for TRIO service delivery.

Other Duties as Assigned

• Since Project IMPACT is a full-service program, the Academic Success & Wellness Counselor may be called upon to provide unique or one-time services for students in order to promote the safety, academic performance, or personal progress of a student.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge of various types of disabilities including physical and mental health disabilities, learning disabilities, and developmental disabilities including Autism
• An understanding of the financial aid process, general student requirements for meeting academic progress standards, and general knowledge of typical graduation/ general education requirements
• Knowledge of legally mandated services to students with disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
• Knowledge of laws and ethics related to counseling
• Experience providing services to students in a higher education environment, including case management in an academic coaching, counseling, advisor or related role
• Competent in working with students in distress, including students with significant mental health challenges and knowledge of related protocols for student and campus safety
• Strong ability to communicate effectively with diverse student, faculty, staff and community members
• Pro-active problem solving skills
• General competence with software packages such as Microsoft Office Suite and academic support software packages
• Experience with counseling theory and practice, intake interview techniques, and group facilitation skills

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience:

Possession of these knowledge and abilities is typically demonstrated through the equivalent of three years of progressively responsible professional student services work experience. One year in the program area to which assigned may be preferred but is not required.

A master’s degree in Counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a directly related field may be substituted for one year of experience. A doctorate degree and the appropriate internship or clinical training in counseling or guidance may be substituted for the three years of experience for positions with a major responsibility for professional career or personal counseling.

Education:

Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in a related field, including or supplemented by upper division or graduate course work in counseling techniques, interviewing, and conflict resolution where such are job-related. 

PREFERRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Master’s Degree in Counseling, Educational Psychology, Psychology, Social Work, Special Education or related field
• Experience working with students with disabilities in a higher education setting strongly preferred
• Experience working with students with disabilities, low-socioeconomic status, or first generation college students
• Previous experience with TRIO programs
• Specific knowledge of CSUEB requirements for General Education, graduation and financial aid
• Experience with Blumen Software, PeopleSoft, Accommodate, and/or Bay Advisor

CONDITION(S) OF EMPLOYMENT:

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including LiveScan, as appropriate), that may include, but is not limited to: criminal records check, verification of academic credentials, licenses, certificates, credit history, professional references and/or verification of work history is required for employment.  Cal State East Bay will issue a conditional offer of employment to the selected candidate, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Unsatisfactory results may also affect the continued employment of current Cal State East Bay employees who were conditionally offered the position.

All background checks are conducted through the university's third party vendor, Accurate. LiveScan is conducted through the University Police Department.

EEO STATEMENT:

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, Cal State East Bay does not discriminate on the basis of any protected categories: age, ancestry, citizenship, color, disability, gender, immigration status, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran's status. The University is committed to the principles of diversity in employment and to creating a stimulating learning environment for its diverse student body.

OTHER INFORMATION:

All California State University campuses, including Cal State East Bay, are smoke and tobacco-free.  For more information, please visit our website at http://www.csueastbay.edu/smokeandtobaccofree/

In compliance with state and federal crime awareness and campus security legislation, including The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, the Cal State East Bay Annual Campus Security Report is available at: http://www.csueastbay.edu/upd/safety-and-security-reports.html

SPONSORSHIP:

Cal State East Bay is not a sponsoring agency for Staff or Management positions and we are not an E-Verify employer.

MANDATED REPORTER:

The incumbent in this position may be considered a mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and will be required to comply with requirements set forth in the CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

CSU VACCINATION POLICY:

CSU requires faculty, staff, and students who are accessing campus facilities to be immunized against COVID-19 or declare a medical or religious exemption from doing so.  Any candidates advanced in a currently open search process should be prepared to comply with this requirement. The systemwide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ and questions may be sent to hr@csueastbay.edu.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please visit www.csueastbay.edu/jobs and under New Employment Site, please click on Faculty, Staff and Management Employment Opportunities.