Job no: 499643
Work type: Staff
Location: San José
Categories: Unit 4 - APC - Academic Professionals of California, Student Services, Probationary, Full Time

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of the Educational Opportunity Program and in collaboration with departments within the University, the Guardian Scholars Program Coordinator is responsible for the overall planning and coordination of the Guardian Scholars Program in the department of Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). This includes: targeted outreach to foster youth and oversight of the program’s application process, providing intricate student support services to former foster and homeless youth, tracking student progress through intensive coaching/counseling, advising, and referrals to external and campus support services as needed. The position will develop, implement and assess programming to assist former foster youth and homeless students in their transition from high school and community college to San Jose State University and focus on student retention and persistence to graduation.

The incumbent serves as the EOP and Guardian Scholars representative at appropriate meetings, relevant committees on campus, and serves as a liaison with other CSU and community programs serving former foster youth and homeless students. The Guardian Scholars Program Coordinator will work closely with community college foster youth programs, foster youth consortiums, the Chancellor's Office, local school districts and community agencies. The incumbent promotes and represents the Guardian Scholars Program and the Educational Opportunity Program within the SJSU community by advocating for former foster youth, wards of the court, unaccompanied homeless youth, and youth under legal guardianship.

Key Responsibilities

• Establishes and implements long-range plans, goals, and policies for the Guardian Scholars Program by assessing the needs of the student population, determining obstacles to completion of degree, and adjusting programs and services as needed.
• Coordinates quarterly and annual events involving on and off-campus constituents.
• Designs, maintains and enhances educational services to middle school students, parents, school personnel (including principals, teachers, counselors, etc.), school boards, and community organizations in the SJSU service area, including information about admissions requirements, financial aid resources, reports on student performance, development and dissemination of informational materials, scheduling of counselor conferences, community meetings, etc.
• Attends conferences and keep abreast of new developments in issues addressing current and emancipated foster youth, access and equity programs that serve this population, and fundraising and resource development to advance the mission of the Guardian Scholars Program.
• Advises and counsels current and prospective Guardian Scholars students and their families on general CSU and SJSU specific admissions and retention requirements.
• Meets regularly, monthly group meetings and one on one individual student meetings. Assist with personal Guardian Scholars student needs and address a multitude of student issues that are highly sensitive and complex in nature.
• Provides an ongoing program of activities to promote student engagement, involvement, achievement, and satisfaction to develop community within the Scholars community.
• Oversees the preparation of data, program progress, and analytical reports via Navigate and PeopleSoft as requested by the Director of EOP.
• Maintains student records to ensure academic progress, assess program services, and ensure timely graduation.
• Develop and deliver outreach presentations throughout the academic year to prospective student groups on and off campus.
• Develops strong networks with local and regional social service agencies to ensure county and state supports for the Guardian Scholars Program are provided.
• Assists in review of emergency funds requests and tracking donor funds that have been distributed to students.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of the foster care system and of services available through county and state agencies for emancipated foster and homeless youth.
• Knowledge of non-resident tuition policies including AB 540; experience with or ability to acquire and apply knowledge of disability resources and admissions requirements
• Thorough knowledge of and skill working with historically underserved student communities.
• Ability to effectively establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within a diverse multicultural environment.
• Ability to use a broad range of computer skills and software.
• Ability to prepare various documents including operations manuals and procedures, program and activity schedules, requisitions, proposals and monitor budgets.
• Apply judgment, discretion and maintain confidentiality in performing complex tasks.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent customer service skills
• Ability to apply high level analytical skills to take effective action while independently carrying out assigned responsibilities.
• Ability to promote, organize and facilitate group meetings.
• Ability to effectively prioritize multiple work priorities and organize various projects and to follow safety and confidentiality protocols.
• Ability to recommend initiatives and changes to improve quality of services/programs.
• Ability to analyze and evaluate applications and transcripts and acquire knowledge of Transfer Admissions Agreements.
• General knowledge of counseling techniques and a basic understanding of trauma informed care for working with foster youth.
• Ability to work independently and in a team setting
• Ability to advise students individually or in groups on varied and complex matters
• Ability to determine the appropriate course of action and proper techniques to utilize while engaged with students during personal interactions of a sensitive nature.
• Ability to plan and evaluate program services; ability to interpret, explain and apply a wide variety of regulations related to admission, residence, registration, and general education requirements.
• Ability to design and conduct workshops/presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to interact with potential students, families, middle/high school and community college staff.
• Ability to market and recruit students for SJSU, EOP, and Guardian Scholars.
• Ability to provide work lead direction and train others.
• Ability to travel to other geographic locations, work evenings and some weekend hours.
• Must possess and maintain a valid California Driver’s License at time of hire.
• Ability to manage a program budget.
• Ability to develop strong partnerships with stakeholders in EOP and Guardian Scholars Program.
• Ability to participate in meeting and professional development activities.

Required Qualifications

• Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in a related field, including or supplemented by upper division or graduate coursework in counseling techniques, interviewing, and conflict resolution where such are job-related
• Three years of progressively responsible professional student services work experience. 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.

License

A valid driver's license is required for this position. Out of state candidates selected for the position must obtain a State of California driver's license within 10 days of hire in accordance with the California Department of Motor Vehicles regulations.

Once hired the employee must successfully complete the Defensive Driver Training Program provided by the State of California for California State University campuses.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's Degree in Educational Counseling, Social Work, Sociology, Psychology, or related field
• Two years academic advising experience, preferably with first generation college students and/or court dependents, former foster and homeless youth.
• Experience with outreach and recruitment of disadvantage populations.
• Experience with national and local policies affecting foster youth, homeless youth, and court dependents.
• Experience with higher education academic advising policies and procedures.
• One year of experience supervising student staff and graduate students.

Compensation

Classification: Student Services Professional III
Anticipated Hiring Range: $4,691/month - $5,150/month
Hiring Range: $4,691/month - $6,683/month

San José State University offers employees a comprehensive benefits package typically worth 30-35% of your base salary. For more information on programs available, please see the Employee Benefits Summary.

Application Procedure

Click Apply Now to complete the SJSU Online Employment Application and attach the following documents:

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

All applicants must apply within the specified application period: March 30, 2021 through April 18, 2021. This position is open until filled; however, applications received after screening has begun will be considered at the discretion of the university.

Contact Information

University Personnel
jobs@sjsu.edu
408-924-2252

Additional Information

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. SJSU will issue a contingent 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. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was offered the position on a contingent basis.

The standard background check includes: criminal check, employment and education verification. Depending on the position, a motor vehicle and/or credit check may be required. All background checks are conducted through the university's third party vendor, Accurate Background. Some positions may also require fingerprinting. SJSU will pay all costs associated with this procedure. Evidence of required degree(s) or certification(s) will be required at time of hire.

SJSU IS NOT A SPONSORING AGENCY FOR STAFF OR MANAGEMENT POSITIONS. (e.g. H1-B VISAS)

All San José State University employees are considered mandated reporters under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and are required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Equal Employment Statement

San José State University (SJSU) is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer committed to nondiscrimination on the basis of age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, gender, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, race, religion or lack thereof, sex, sexual orientation, transgender, or protected veteran status consistent with applicable federal and state laws. This policy applies to all SJSU students, faculty and staff programs and activities. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and certain other federal and state laws, prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex in all education programs and activities operated by the university (both on and off campus).

Advertised: March 30, 2021 (9:00 AM) Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Open until filled