Job Details

Professional Academic Advisor II (Student Services Professional II)
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Position Number: 1653403
Location: Rohnert Park, CA
Position Type: Academic Advising

Professional Academic Advisor II (Student Services Professional II)
Sonoma State University

Job ID: 104925
Location: Sonoma State University (Rohnert Park, CA)
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular

Department Name
The Advising Center

Salary and Benefits
Starting salary placement depends on qualifications, experience and salary budget, and will not exceed $4,477 a month.

This position is eligible for a broad range of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurances, retirement (CalPERS), tuition waiver, vacation and sick leave. In addition, 14 paid holidays are offered each year; 13 scheduled on specific days and a Personal Holiday that may be taken any time during the year.

A comprehensive benefits summary for this position is available online by clicking the View Benefits Summary link or by request from SSU Human Resources.

Application Deadline
This position is open until filled. For full consideration, please submit application, along with cover letter and resume, by 8am on October 21. Please refer to the Application Process section of this posting for additional details.

Conditions of Employment
This is a full time, exempt position, which will lead toward permanent status following the successful completion of a probationary period.

Responsibilities
Sonoma State University is committed to achieving excellence through teaching, scholarship, learning and inclusion. In line with our Strategic Plan and our Seawolf Commitment, our values include diversity, sustainability, community engagement, respect, responsibility, excellence and integrity. We strive to cultivate a community in which a diverse population can learn and work in an atmosphere of civility and respect. We encourage innovation, experimentation and creativity, as well as contributions to equity and inclusion, in the pursuit of excellence for all members of our university community.

Reporting to and under general supervision of the Director of The Advising Center, the Professional Academic Advisor II is responsible for working as a team member with fellow Professional Academic Advisors and performs a variety of moderately complex Student Services Professional work by providing academic advising services to students. This includes collaborating with students on their individualized educational pathways, creating academic plans and schedules, assisting in declaring majors/minors, and supporting students in making decisions concerning their learning experiences, academic goals, persistence, and timely graduation. The incumbent works collaboratively with other Professional Academic Advisors, university staff, faculty, administrators, and coaches to support the educational experience of the students, as well as perform other activities related to student success and academic advising.

Major duties of the position include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Provide academic advising to students regarding general education, degree requirements, academic standing, appropriate course selection, relevant policies and procedures, e-advising tools, and campus resources.
- Support projects within The Advising Center.
- Work with students to identify, define, develop, and assess realistic and individualized educational pathways and academic plans.
- Actively participate in initiatives, campaigns, outreach, and events related to student success and advising.
- Assist students to engage in their learning experiences, develop accountability for their decisions, and cultivate an understanding of how those decisions impact their success.
- Guide students through the various pathways to declare or change a major/minor.
- Monitor scenarios, and identify potential opportunities to develop, implement, measure, and improve academic success strategies.
- Work with university partners to ensure that student inquiries are strategically coordinated and addressed in a timely manner, while supporting academic integrity and policies.
- Provide holistic, proactive, and meaningful guidance for students on acclimating to their new academic lifestyle and building supportive personal environments and best practices to facilitate their student success.
- Empower students to create and maintain effective connections within Sonoma State University.
- Maintain confidential and objective advising records.
- Participate in Orientations.
- Participate on department, division, and campus advisory committees and task forces as appropriate.

Performs other secondary duties as assigned.

Duties take place primarily in an office setting located at Sonoma State University, however may include working indoors and outdoors when necessary to support the department. The normal work schedule is Monday through Friday aligned with regular campus hours. As an exempt employee you have some flexibility in your schedule, however, you must be available during the regular campus hours Monday through Friday to meet the operational needs of the campus and department. Your specific start time is determined by your Appropriate Administrator. Evening and weekend hours may be required and will be specified only by the supervisor to meet operational needs. The incumbent must maintain regular and acceptable attendance, as is determined by the Appropriate Administrator. The position may require occasional travel, by automobile and airplane, and the incumbent must be able to work some night and weekend hours with overnight stays.

Qualifications
Possession of these knowledge and abilities is typically demonstrated through the equivalent of two years of professional experience in one of the student services program areas or in a related field; experience should give evidence of competence and indicate the potential for further growth. A master's degree in a job-related field may be substituted for one year of the professional experience. This position requires the equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in one of the behavioral sciences, public or business administration or a job-related field. Additional specialized experience during which the applicant has acquired and successfully applied the knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

Beginner to intermediate proficiency with computers, Microsoft Office (Word, Excel), and Google Suite required. Knowledge of databases and student information systems preferred. PeopleSoft preferred. EAB Student Success Collaborative preferred. Bilingual in English/Spanish highly preferred.

Working knowledge of the practices, procedures, and trends in Student Affairs, student success, and academic advising programs, with demonstrated experience and knowledge of programs and resources that support the persistence and academic success of college students, particularly at risk student populations. 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. Working knowledge of individual counseling techniques; working knowledge, or the ability to rapidly acquire such knowledge, of the organizational procedures and activities that the position is assigned.

This position also requires the following abilities:
- Interpret and apply program rules and regulations.
- Use initiative and resourcefulness in planning work assignments.
- Advise students individually and in groups on moderately complex student-related matters.
- Demonstrate multicultural competence through knowledge, skills, and abilities.
- Ability to be innovative and open to researching and implementing current academic advising best practices.
- Strong oral and written communication skills, including excellent customer service skills.
- Adhere to strict confidentiality requirements and ethical standards.
- Carry out a variety of moderately complex assignments without detailed instructions.
- Coordinate and prioritize multiple, competing tasks to meet project deadlines.
- Work effectively both independently and as part of a team.
- Be flexible in handling change and challenges.
- Think critically and stay focused under pressure.
- Work in a fast-paced environment.
- Develop positive interpersonal relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
- Learn and effectively apply a variety of state, federal, CSU, and SSU policies and procedures.
- Independently plan work, solve problems, and use sound judgment to take action.
- Make decisions within established parameters, regulations, and guidelines; and recommend changes in procedures to address student support needs.

Must have the ability to effectively communicate with all levels within the university and establish and maintain productive and effective, inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, students, and other internal and external constituents. Must be able to accept constructive feedback and work cooperatively in group situations.

Qualification Note
Evidence of degree(s) or certificate(s) and/or license(s) required at time of hire.

Application Process
Click the "Apply Now" to apply to this position, materials submitted with your application will not be returned. For questions related to the application process, please reach out to Human Resources (hr@sonoma.edu | 707.664.3100).

Qualified candidates must submit the following to be considered:
1. Cover Letter and Resume - application system only allows one document to be uploaded, so cover letter and resume must be included in the same MS Word or PDF file (file name should not contain any spaces or special characters)
2. Online Employment Application (complete entire application, resume/cover letter will not substitute for any part of the application)

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current employees who apply for this position.

The ADA Coordinator is available at 707.664.2664, to assist individuals with disabilities in need of accommodation during the hiring process.

Other Information
Equal Employment Opportunity: The University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, or protected veteran status.

Mandated Reporting: This position may be 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.

About Sonoma State University
Sonoma State University, located 48 miles north of San Francisco, is one of the 23 campuses of the California State University. Sonoma State University is a liberal arts institution with an enrollment of approximately 10,000 students and 530 full-time and part-time faculty. Our beautiful campus is located in Rohnert Park, at the foot of the Sonoma hills in the Wine Country.

Sonoma State University is proud to be a smoke-free campus, where smoking and other uses of tobacco products, such as smokeless tobacco, the use of e-cigarettes and similar devices, are prohibited.

Sonoma State University's Jeanne Clery Act Annual Security Report is available at http://www.sonoma.edu/ps/about/jeanneclery.html; Annual Campus Housing Fire Safety Report is available at http://www.sonoma.edu/housing/general-info/emergency-prep/fire-safety.html.

Contact Information
Sonoma State University
Human Resources
Main (707) 664-3100
Fax (707) 664-3196
1801 East Cotati Avenue
Rohnert Park, CA 94928
hr@sonoma.edu