Salary and Benefits

Salary Range: $5,540.00 per month to $7,893.00 per month. PLEASE NOTE: The starting salary placement depends on qualifications and experience and is anticipated to be in the range of $5,540.00 per month to $6,716.50 per 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, 14 paid holidays, one personal holiday and tuition fee waiver.

For more information on the benefits program, please visit our benefits website. The CSU Total Compensation Calculator demonstrates the significance of our benefits package.

This position may be eligible to participate in the Cal State East Bay hybrid telecommute program subject to management approval. 

Classification

Student Services Professional III

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). 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.

About the Position

Please Note: Review of applications will begin on September 2, 2025. 

EXCEL, a U.S. Department of Education Student Support Services Program, is a federal grant that provides low-income, first-generation college and disabled undergraduates with supportive academic services including academic advising, career and goal planning, multi-subject tutoring, scholarship guidance, graduate school advising, personal counseling and guidance on determining learning style and balancing academic and personal responsibilities.  This position provides these services to a caseload of EXCEL students.

The EXCEL Academic Enrichment Counselor, under general supervision, plays a key role in driving student retention of EXCEL students through independent counseling and advisement, in individual and group settings with an emphasis on serving undergraduate students. The EXCEL Counselor resolves complex and/or sensitive problems for students that affect their ability to be successful in their educational and career pursuits and make appropriate referrals to campus services and other resources. This position is expected to develop solutions to individual student problems, including problems of considerable difficulty where alternative solutions are not readily available or where guidelines and precedents do not exist or are not applicable.

Responsibilities

Student Developmental Counseling & Advising

• Provide comprehensive individual and group advisement to a caseload of current EXCEL students addressing a range of academic, personal, financial and career-related matters with varying levels of complexity.
• Act as the Academic Enrichment Advisor by recruiting and enrolling students and supporting their academic development through their time at East Bay.
• Provide guidance and assistance to counselor trainees as needed.
• Perform in-depth analysis of student skills, abilities, previous academic performance and factors contributing to the student’s academic progress to assist students in program planning, course advising, major and career exploration.  Students may have problems choosing, pursuing and adjusting themselves to suitable educational and vocational goals.
• Complete GE evaluation and advising worksheets and maintain detailed and current records on each assigned student, including program of study outline, quarterly academic progress, counseling/advising contacts, referrals and test scores.
• Engage students in a holistic and strategic decision-making process to analyze and address complex personal, academic, and career-related challenges. Facilitate critical self-assessment of strengths, limitations, and circumstances to help students define realistic educational or vocational goals, develop actionable plans, and implement targeted strategies to overcome skill gaps and achieve long-term success.
• Exercise sound professional judgment to assess and respond to multifaceted individual student issues, developing individualized strategies that integrate academic, personal, and cultural or environmental factors. Coordinate comprehensive support plans involving appropriate referrals to campus services and external resources to ensure holistic student development and retention.
• Implement innovative ways of encouraging and supporting the personal development needs of a diverse student population.
• Utilize proper techniques to interact with persons with hostile reactions and bring such situations under control.
• Plan lead, develop and conduct retention-related workshops, sessions and/or courses, as required.
• Maintain regular contact with students on your caseload and monitor each student’s academic progress.
• Write letters in support of participation applications for jobs, graduate school internships, scholarships, etc.

Program Leadership and Caseload Management Responsibilities

• Strategically lead, design and oversee the planning, coordination and execution of comprehensive program implementation and services for designated caseloads, ensuring alignment with institutional goals, student success outcomes and the evolving needs of a diverse student population.
• Maintain a planning schedule for caseload management utilizing Bay Advisor.
• Write caseload reports which include evaluation and recommendations.
• Coordinate the development and updating of all needed publications related/focused on academic advising.

Provide Lead Work Direction

• Monitor and provide feedback to the relevant administrator regarding the performance of the EXCEL Academic Enrichment Counselor (Temporary) SSP IB to provide feedback on their performance evaluations.
• Assign tasks and ensure high-quality work is produced.
• Address conflicts within the team and escalate to the appropriate administrator when needed.
• Promote collaboration and teamwork to achieve program goals.

EXCEL Admissions Responsibilities

• Evaluate EXCEL applications for program participation.
• Conduct interviews for admission consideration, as appropriate.
• Support incoming students’ transition through individual and group meetings, orientation and welcome events.
• Provide admissions counseling to returning EXCEL students reapplying or seeking reinstatement to the university.

EXCEL Program Responsibilities

• Oversee a major caseload(s) in the EXCEL Orientation Sessions, EXCEL Recognition Celebrations and other EXCEL related events.
• Develop and present workshops on various academic issues to meet the needs of EXCEL students.
• Participate in regular divisional, departmental and caseload meetings and EXCEL Core Team.
• Participate in campus activities and committees, as appropriate.
• Coordinate in the development of departmental communications, as required.
• Work weekends and evenings for campus events.

Liaison and Campus Involvement Responsibilities

• Represent the department in appropriate committees.
• Initiate and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with a variety of individuals and groups, including faculty, staff, student organizations and off-campus community groups.
• Partake in appropriate professional development activities to remain current on relevant issues pertaining to higher education and the recruitment and retention of low-income and high-risk students.
• Participate in campus-wide events and programs, which seek to recruit, retain or encourage the success of low-income and environmentally disadvantaged transfer students.
• Other duties as assigned by the appropriate administrator.

Minimum Qualifications

Knowledge and Abilities

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.

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 coursework in counseling techniques, interviewing, and conflict resolution where such are job-related.

Required Qualifications

• Knowledge of GE, major and graduation requirements.
• Knowledge of university policies and procedures regarding all academic concerns.
• Ability to interpret and use appropriate PeopleSoft admission, registration, advising, financial aid screens.
• Ability to assess student’s skill level based on information provided.
• Knowledge of the calculation of grade point deficiencies (GPD), grade point average (GPA) and the impact of academic renewal on the GPA and GPD.
• Knowledge of policies and procedures governing academic probation, disqualification, academic renewal and reinstatement.
• Proficient in utilizing the computer, Word processing software, MS Access and other database software.
• Knowledge of departmental, divisional and university protocol.
• Knowledge of interviewing and counseling skills and the ability to apply these to the counseling session.
• General knowledge of financial aid processes and policies.
• Knowledge of group facilitation processes and advanced human relations skills.
• Knowledge of values and worldview of various cultures represented in the EXCEL program.
• Ability to interact and work cooperatively with a diverse student population and staff.
• Working knowledge of student services programs outside of EXCEL.
• The ability to work evenings and weekends when needed.

Preferred Skills and Knowledge

• Master’s degree in counseling or related field.

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

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, Cal State, East Bay 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. The CSU 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.

Other Information

All California State University campuses, including Cal State East Bay, are smoke and tobacco-free.  For more information, please visit our website here.

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 here. 

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.