Job Summary

The Senior Student Academic Success Specialist (SASS) will have a demonstrated track record of successfully advising a diverse student population, resolving complex advising issues, and will work to ensure that all students have a clear path to achieve academic success. The Senior SASS will be responsible for developing and providing materials, workshops and other programming to support students’ success and progress to degree. The Senior SASS will focus on helping the campus close the equity gap between its varied student communities by building relationships and retaining students to graduation through increased engagement and a sense of belonging to the SJSU community.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement an asset-based and strengths-based approach while using a case management strategy to establish a working relationship that includes regular meetings, careful documentation, tracking of student progress, and assessment of student success
• Introduce and orient students to their academic requirements (MyProgress, Catalog), academic planning tools (MyPlanner, Roadmap), and campus resources
• Assist students in creating educational goals and interpretation of policies and procedures in relation to their goals
• Develop and implement programming efforts and materials to support students’ transition to college, with the goal of enhancing skills and behaviors that facilitate academic success (e.g., time management, study skills, effective communication with instructors, growth mindset)
• Monitor academic progress by leveraging early support systems (EAB Navigate – progress reports) and implement systems that offer timely interventions to support student needs
• Participate in college and university-wide programs and events that support student success for frosh and sophomores and minimize equity gaps.
• Provide academic advising during frosh orientation (Sparta Camp)
• Take a lead role in designing and implementing programming efforts and materials to support students’ transition to SJSU, with the goal of enhancing skills and behaviors that facilitate academic success (e.g., time management, study skills, effective communication with instructors, growth mindset, student panel).

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Basic principles of individual and group behavior, and techniques and methods of interviewing/connecting with students for the purposes of effective holistic academic advising
• Effective communication skills (both written and verbal) with individuals/groups.
•  Must be detail-oriented with strong organizational and programming skills
• Effectively develop and deliver high-quality programming to support student success
• Ability to establish trust and a strong working relationship with college students
• Ability to work independently and maintain cooperative working relationships with students, staff and faculty; function as part of a team

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

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Counseling, Higher Education, College Student Personnel, Social Work, Education, or a directly related field
• Three years of experience serving diverse college students in an academic advising/counselor role
• Three years of experience working with underrepresented and historically underserved students is highly desirable
• Three years of experience establishing trust and a strong working relationship with college students and referring students to campus resources/services, as appropriate
• Three years of experience interpreting and clearly explaining university and college advising policies and procedures
• Working with staff, faculty, and administrators from a diverse background
• Three years of experience organizing and leading programming efforts in a college/university environment
• Excellent interpersonal communication, relationship building and student service skills

Compensation

Classification: Student Services Professional III
Anticipated Hiring Range: $5,276/month - $5,732/month
CSU Salary Range: $5,276/month - $7,517/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

This position is open until filled.

Contact Information

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

CSU Vaccination Policy

The CSU strongly recommends that all individuals who access any in-person program or activity (on- or off-campus) operated or controlled by the University follow COVID-19 vaccine recommendations adopted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) applicable to their age, medical condition, and other relevant indications and comply with other safety measures established by each campus. The system wide policy can be found at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/9779821/latest/ and questions may be sent to jobs@sjsu.edu.

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. Incumbent is also required to promptly report any knowledge of a possible Title IX related incident to the Title IX Office or report any discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation to the Office of Equal Opportunity.

Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act and Campus Housing Fire Safety Notification: 

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, the Annual Security Report (ASR) is also now available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Security-Report.pdf. The ASR contains the current security and safety-related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and Sexual Assault prevention information, and information about drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery crimes for San José State University locations for the three most recent calendar years. A paper copy of the ASR is available upon request by contacting the Office of the Clery Director by phone at 408-924-1501 or by email at clerycompliance@sjsu.edu.

Pursuant to the Higher Education Opportunity Act, the Annual Fire Safety Report (AFSR) is also available for viewing at https://www.sjsu.edu/clery/docs/SJSU-Annual-Fire-Safety-Report.pdf. The purpose of this report is to disclose statistics for fires that occurred within SJSU on-campus housing facilities for the three most recent calendar years, and to distribute fire safety policies and procedures intended to promote safety on Campus. A paper copy of the AFSR is available upon request by contacting the Housing Office by phone at 408-795-5600 or by email at uhs-frontdesk@sjsu.edu.

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).