Academic Advisor (SSP II)

CSU Careers•Turlock, CA

About The Position

Classified as: Student Services Professional II Full-time position available on or after March 9, 2026 for College of Education, Kinesiology and Social Work. Under general supervision of the Department Chair, this position provides career, counseling, and advising services to School Administration, Counselor Education, and Curriculum & Instruction students working towards a degree and/or a credential. Utilizing a comprehensive understanding of campus-wide, college-wide, and program specific policies and procedures, this position, under general direction, will independently provide complex, professional student service work and full scope program support for students in pathways towards a degree or a credential. This position requires counseling techniques, planning, judgment to recommend solutions to problems and changes in program procedures. This position acts as spokesperson within the area of expertise. This position serves as a resource for the department chair, faculty, and students to insure uniformity and continuity in procedures.

Requirements

Education: 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 may be substituted for the required education on a year‑for‑year basis.)
Experience: 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.)
Working knowledge of the practices, procedures and activities of the program to which assigned.
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.
Ability to interpret and apply program rules and regulations.
Ability to use initiative and resourcefulness in planning work assignments and in implementing longrange program improvements.
Ability to obtain factual and interpretive information through interviews.
Ability to reason logically; ability to collect, compile, analyze and evaluate data and make verbal or written presentation based on these data.
Ability to advise students individually and in groups on routine matters where required.
Ability to recognize multicultural, multi-sexed and multi-aged value systems and work accordingly.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with faculty, CSU administrators, student organizations, private and public agencies and others in committee work, and student advising and community contacts.
Ability to rapidly acquire a general knowledge of the overall operation, functions and programs of the campus to which assigned.
Demonstrated ability to make decisions and carry through actions having implications with regard to other program or service areas.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Counseling or closely related field.
Comprehensive knowledge of academic and career counseling.
Experience conducting workshops and facilitating events.
Prior experience in a higher education or university setting.
Familiarity with California Commission on Teacher Credentialing licensure requirements.
Proficiency in software programs including Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, PeopleSoft, Concur, CSU Data Warehouse system, and FilemakerPro.

Responsibilities

Actively engage in assisting students in problem-solving and selecting suitable solutions to academic and personal challenges they encounter.
Advocate persistently for the needs of individual students and groups of students to ensure their voices are heard by university administrators, faculty, and staff.
Continuously offer support and assistance to students facing a diverse array of personal and institutional challenges, fostering an environment conducive to their success.
Assist students in navigating the intricacies of their educational and career paths by providing relevant and up-to-date information on occupational and educational requirements tailored to their unique aptitudes, interests, and abilities.
Sustain effective working relationships with students, faculty, and the general public, fostering collaboration and mutual understanding within the university community.
Review student petitions and provide input for the committee.
Attend meetings as needed.
Assist in the administration of evaluation forms to students, university, and agency/schoolbased supervisors.
Engage in proactive planning and organization of moderately complex and/or sensitive informal educational activities, ensuring their seamless execution.
Offer insightful recommendations for changes in program procedures, based on ongoing assessments and feedback.
Serve as spokespersons for the program in their respective areas of expertise, effectively communicating its objectives and achievements.
Resolve challenges and obstacles within their area of expertise and assignment, fostering a conducive environment for program success.
Determine and allocate resources appropriately to ensure optimal levels of assistance and service delivery to students within defined guidelines.
Provide innovative solutions to emerging problems and recommend changes in program procedures to enhance effectiveness.
Plan and deliver orientations and information sessions, ensuring clarity and relevance to the audience.
Independently analyze diverse situations, demonstrating sensitivity to the underlying issues and potential impacts on other Student Services areas.
Utilize expert judgment within their area of expertise to revise existing procedures and recommend solutions to unprecedented problems.
Continuously assess program effectiveness and identify areas for improvement, driving ongoing enhancements and innovation in student services delivery.
Review university evaluations, cooperating evaluations and determine who should be used in future semesters.
Work with Coordinators on class scheduling and assigning faculty to classes.
May be required to obtain additional training and/or certification as part of professional development, based on department and/or campus needs, to stay current with industry standards.
The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to this classification.
At the direction of appropriate administrator, may provide support to other departments/areas withing functional department/area as needed.
Serve on interview panels for initial student entrance into a program (as needed).
Other duties that are deemed necessary by Program Coordinators and Department Chair to support the department.