Retention and Graduation Specialist

Type of Appointment: Full-Time, Probationary

Collective Bargaining Unit: California State University Employees Union - Unit 4

Job Classification: Student Services Professional III

Classification Salary Range: $4,691 - $6,683 per month

Anticipated Hiring Amount: $4,691 - $5,100 per month

Work Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Recruitment Closing Date: June 7, 2022

THE DEPARTMENT

The College of Science Dean's Office provides administrative and technical support to seven academic departments and several programs that educate students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and support to students in other colleges who need fundamentals and foundations in science. The Advising Center is responsible for providing advising to all students to provide support in meeting their degree goals, navigating institutional processes, and getting access to resources and tools, supporting students in all majors in the College of Science, and providing assistance with the navigating institutional processes such as completing petitions, accessing resources, and utilizing academic tools.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• The Retention and Graduation Specialist will provide academic advising to undergraduate students using intrusive, developmental advising techniques in accordance with national best practices and the standards defined by the Associate Dean of their College and, in partnership with the Office of Student Success.
• The Retention and Graduation Specialist is responsible for improving retention, reducing time to degree and resolving issues impeding graduation for freshman and transfer cohorts using a wide variety of campus data platforms and reports with the goal of promoting student success and specifically increasing retention and graduation rates. This may include: guiding students in the identification of academic and life goals and ways of pursuing them; assisting students with major and career choices and changes; assisting students with personal counselling; providing coaching regarding study techniques and time management; helping students construct, monitor and update degree plans to promote timely graduation; making referrals as needed to campus and community resources; and related topics.
• Establish effective and meaningful relationships with students to support their academic goals.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of policies, procedures, best practices, and research trends related to advising for student success and electronic advising.
• Act as the resource person/knowledgeable expert for the unit on electronic advising, academic coaching and related matters.
• Assist with the training of chairs of academic departments, faculty advisors and other staff members on the principles and practices of effective intrusive advising to support student success, including the use of electronic advising tools.
• Serve as an active member of the College-based Student Success Team by providing expert knowledge to identify and explore solutions and interventions. Implement interventions to improve student outcomes.
• Collaborate with a broad range of institutional partners including College Associate Deans, Department Chairs, faculty, and staff, as well as the Office of Student Success, the Bronco Advising Center, University Advising, the Registrar's Office, and staff from supplemental advising programs (including Athletics, International Center, Kellogg Honors College, and CPP Pledge Programs) to provide support to students' persistence and timely graduation.
• In coordination with the Office of Student Success, namely the Bronco Advising Center, develop timely and relevant campaigns to target/outreach to specific student populations (i.e., cohorts, students in academic difficulty, first-generation, underrepresented students, etc.)
• In coordination with University Advising, facilitate campus-wide and CSU student success initiatives in college and departments.
• Serve as an active member of the College and University advising community. Regularly participate in Academic Advisor Council and attend its meetings, as well as advisor trainings, webinars, and workshops.
• Participate in supplemental advising committees and working groups, as appropriate
• Run regular weekly reports (using e-advising tools, institutional reports, early warning
• systems (when they become available), or other tools as needed/assigned) to identify students who need help and use that information to deliver services as described above.
• Use CPP Connect, Peoplesoft, Tableau, and other tools to provide regular summary to the direct supervisor and the Associate Dean of their College regarding the number and kind of student visits conducted, outcomes of those visits, and general student success data specifically targeting retention and graduation rates.
• Provide analysis and advice about program and policy revision, and work to constantly improve services to students.
• Attend meetings and trainings as directed (including trainings on e-advising tools, meetings of the Academic Advising Council and/or other committees related to advising and student success, NACADA webinars, etc.).
• Communicate regularly with the Associate Dean of the College, the Office of Student Success and the Bronco Advising Center, other academic advisors across campus, and other professionals. This will include taking information from meetings and trainings back to assigned college for dissemination.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 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.
• 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.       

The following knowledge and abilities as well as those listed at the lower levels in the Student Services Professional series are required for appointment into this classification. Thorough knowledge of the principles of individual and group behavior. General knowledge of the principles, practices and trends of the Student Services field as well as general knowledge of the policies, procedures, and practices of the program area to which assigned; general knowledge of individual counseling techniques; general knowledge, or the ability to rapidly acquire such knowledge, of the organizational procedures and activities of the specific campus to which the position is assigned. Working knowledge of student services programs outside the program to which immediately assigned. Ability to analyze complex situations accurately and adopt effective courses of action; advise students individually and in groups on complex student related matters; determine appropriate courses of action and proper techniques to utilize while engaged with individuals in personal interactions of an argumentative or sensitive nature; interpret and evaluate descriptions and explanations of problems brought forward by individuals or student organizations, analyze and define the problem, draw valid conclusions and project consequences of various alternative courses of action; carry out a variety of professionally complex assignments without detailed instructions; and establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with a variety of individuals.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience working with a diverse student body, using equity-minded practices. Demonstrated academic advising experience in a college/vocational setting, preferred. Demonstrated ability to develop, implement trainings and interventions to support student learning and success, preferred.
• Possess (preferred) or quickly acquire knowledge of university academic requirements, including general education, major requirements, and other requirements.
• Possess (preferred) or quickly acquire knowledge of university policies and procedures.
• Be familiar-through education, training and/or experience-with advising and counseling techniques to assist, motivate, retain and graduate students.
• Have the ability to form strong connections with students and foster their personal and academic development.
• Have the ability to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment; have a cooperative "team" approach and form strong working relationships with those in the office, around the campus and in the surrounding community.
• Ability to follow written and oral instructions, make group presentations, and perform other assigned tasks as directed by the immediate supervisor.

COVID-19 Vaccination

CSU requires faculty, staff, and students who physically access campus facilities or programs to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, which includes obtaining a COVID-19 booster dose, 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. See policy at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/11030468/latest.

Out of State Work

The California State University (CSU) system is a network of twenty-three public universities providing access to a quality education through the support of California taxpayers. Part of CSU’s mission is to prepare educated, responsible individuals to contribute to California’s schools, economy, culture, and future. As an agency of the State of California, the CSU’s business operations almost exclusively reside within California.   The CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside California. See policy at https://calstate.policystat.com/v2/policy/10899725/latest/. 

Background Check

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. Cal Poly Pomona 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 Cal Poly Pomona employee who was conditionally offered the position.  See policy at https://www.cpp.edu/eoda/employee-labor//documents/employment-policies/hr2017-17.pdf.  

I-9: Employment Verification

Cal Poly Pomona hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.  See Form I-9 Acceptable Documents at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents.

Child Abuse/Neglect Reporting Act (CANRA)

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. See policy at https://calstate.policystat.com/v2/policy/10927154/latest/.

Smoking

Cal Poly Pomona is a smoke and tobacco-free campus.  See policy at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/6591951/latest/. 

Clery Act

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, California Education Code section 67380, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), the Cal Poly Pomona Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at: https://www.cpp.edu/campus-safety-plan.shtml.

Reasonable Accommodation

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact the ADA Coordinator by email at [email protected]. More information is available at: https://www.cpp.edu/eoda/employee-labor//access-accommodations/index.shtml.

EEO

Cal Poly Pomona is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer. The university subscribes to the pay transparency nondiscrimination provision and all state and federal regulations that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information, medical condition, and covered veteran status. More information is available at: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OFCCP/pdf/pay-transp_%20English_formattedESQA508c.pdf and at https://www.cpp.edu/eoda/employee-labor/documents/aa-eeo-doc/policy-statement_2022-aap-for-california-state-polytechnic-university-pomona_confidential_20220127.pdf.