Lead General Advisor and Retention Specialist (Student Services Professional III)

Position Summary

San Diego State University is seeking a dynamic and dedicated individual to join our Residential Education team as a Lead Residential Education Office General Advisor and Retention Specialist (GARS). Reporting to the Associate Director of Student Care and Academic Initiatives, this role is pivotal in developing and implementing advising and programs aimed at fostering academic excellence and personal growth among residential students.

Key Responsibilities

• Comprehensive Student Advising: Provide academic and holistic advising to students living on campus, offering guidance on course selection, degree evaluation, self-awareness, personal growth, and academic probation. Make referrals to campus resources as needed.
• Initiative Implementation: Develop and implement initiatives to improve communications with students through in-person presentations, workshops, and web-based technology.
• Program Development: Facilitate student success by creating and executing programs and workshops tailored to their needs.
• Support and Supervision: Oversee the STAR Centers (academic resource labs)/Tutoring Center, including the recruitment, training, and supervision of undergraduate peer advisers and tutors, ensuring that students receive appropriate advising.
• Collaboration with Campus Partners: Work closely with individual Colleges, and other campus partners to provide consistent and effective advising and support high-impact practice opportunities such as internships, study abroad, and research.
• Generalist Support: Provide backup support to other program coordinators within the department to enhance retention, academic excellence, and graduation rates.

Additional Responsibilities

• Participate in various Residential Education programs.
• Complete program-related tasks or projects assigned by the appropriate administrator.
• Provide evening and weekend support as part of the role.

If you are passionate about guiding and supporting the academic and personal development of residential students, join us in making a difference at San Diego State University by fostering academic success and personal growth in our residential community!

Position Information

• This is a full-time (1.0 time-base), benefits eligible, temporary position with an anticipated end date of June 30, 2026, with the possibility of reappointment.
• This position is designated exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs. (Ability to work evenings and weekends)
• The individual hired into this role will work on campus at SDSU in San Diego.

Department Summary

The Residential Education Office is designated as the University department responsible for planning and administering Residential Education programs and services including those in traditional residence halls and apartment complexes. The Residential Education Office serves to enhance student life and success through a comprehensive living-learning experience that provides academic and personal support, contact with faculty, educational programs, community activities, student leadership development and multicultural learning opportunities. The department is part of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity/Dean of Students sub-division.

The Residential Education Office strives to provide safe and supportive on campus living learning communities where diverse students are challenged to develop holistically; as scholars, citizens, and leaders.

Residential Education staff members are dedicated to providing curricular and cocurricular experiences to develop and enhance residents’ academic success, awareness and appreciation of diversity, and civic responsibility.

Residential Education’s values are a set of core beliefs that guide our work with students, colleagues, faculty, and other constituents. While contributing to the goals of the University and the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity, staff members of the Residential Education Office strive to:

• Achieve excellence in all that we do.
• Address students as unique individuals with multidimensional needs and unlimited potential for personal development.
• Promote integrity, accountability, responsibility, respect, and collaboration.
• Promote the connectedness between curricular and co-curricular learning.
• Embrace, celebrate, and educate on issues related to diversity.
• Develop communities that embrace civic responsibility, life-long learning, and healthy lifestyles.
• Maintain balance and perspective, serving as sound role models for others.
• Innovate, evaluate, and refine programs to best meet the needs of the changing student population.

To accomplish these objectives, Residential Education employs approximately 18 Residence Hall Coordinators, 231 paraprofessional team members, a central office staff of 18 and a variety of student assistants.

For more information regarding the Housing & Residential Education department, click here .

Education and Experience

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. Possession of the required 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.

Key Qualifications

• Understanding of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act with regards to the maintenance of academic and judicial records of individual students.
• Understanding of reporting responsibilities outlined as a “Responsible Employee” and “Campus Security Authority” under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Act.
• Ability to learn and acquire knowledge of Title V, CSU policies and procedures, and University rules and regulations and their application to student organizations, student activities and express and student governance structures.
• Familiarity with academic advising practices.
• Organizational and programming skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills required to build and maintain cooperative working relationships among diverse individuals and groups.
• Ability to understand, develop and effectively monitor fiscal budgets.
• Ability to speak before all groups of students and possess the skills necessary to deal with sensitive and confidential issues.

Compensation and Benefits

Starting salary upon appointment is not expected to exceed $5,540 per month.

Salary placement is determined by the education, experience, and qualifications the candidate brings to the position, internal equity, and the hiring department’s fiscal resources.

San Diego State University offers a rich benefits package that constitutes a major portion of total compensation. For more information regarding SDSU benefits, please click here .

CSU Classification Salary Range: $5,540 - $7,893 per month.

SDSU Values

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU provides equal opportunity for all in education and employment. We encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. We strongly preserve the right to free expression and encourage difficult conversations that help lead to improved individual and community learning and cohesion.

Principles of Community

At SDSU, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university.

SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another.

Equal Opportunity and Excellence in Education and Employment

All university programs and activities are open and available to all regardless of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, San Diego State University (SDSU) provides equal opportunity in education and employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every student and employee has access to the resources and support they need to thrive and succeed in a university environment and in their communities. SDSU complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws, and CSU’s Nondiscrimination Policy. We prohibit discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all university programs, policies, and practices.

SDSU is a diverse community of individuals who represent many perspectives, beliefs and identities, committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful, and intellectually vibrant environment. We cultivate a culture of open dialogue, mutual respect, and belonging to support educational excellence and student success. Through academic programs, student organizations and activities, faculty initiatives, and community partnerships, we encourage meaningful engagement with diverse perspectives. As a higher education institution, we are dedicated to advancing knowledge and empowering individuals to reach their full potential by prioritizing inclusive curriculum development, faculty and staff training, student mentorship, and comprehensive support programs. At SDSU, excellence is built on merit, talent, diversity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.

Supplemental Information

Initial review of the required application materials, including cover letters and resumes, will begin on February 3, 2025. To receive full consideration, apply by February 2, 2025. The position will remain open until filled.

The person holding this position is considered a ‘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 as a condition of employment.

San Diego State University is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions (e.g., H-1B visa). Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents that demonstrate a person's identity and authorization to work in the United States, which are consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. SDSU 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 SDSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

SDSU is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click here .

Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who request an accommodation by contacting Pang Thao at pythao@sdsu.edu .

Advertised: Jan 17 2025 Pacific Standard Time
Applications close:

Closing Date/Time:

• 

• San Diego State University

• 619-594-5200

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