Black Unity Center Student Engagement Specialist (Student Services Professional III, Range 1) - Community Inclusion

San Francisco State University•San Francisco, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Director of Community Inclusion and Student Engagement, and under the overall strategic direction of the Senior Associate Vice President (AVP) for Community Inclusion, the Black Unity Center (BUC) Student Engagement Specialist serves and advocates for students of Black and African descent in order to increase access to and success in higher education. The engagement specialist is responsible for providing student advising, support, mentoring, coaching, guidance and appropriate referral for students of Black and African descent at San Francisco State University (SFSU) in alignment with student development and student learning models that incorporate the experiences and realities of historically marginalized students. The incumbent organizes and implements educational, social and cultural programs and services for the success of students of Black and African descent in collaboration and partnership with other programs, departments and areas within Student Affairs & Enrollment Management and in Academic Affairs. The BUC Student Engagement Specialist works to improve outcomes related to the success, development, inclusion, retention and experience of Black and African American students on campus by assisting with efforts to identify and eliminate systemic and institutional barriers as well as building the capacity of individual students. The incumbent ensures opportunities for leadership and career development, as well as active participation in programs and learning opportunities that promote student success, including but not limited to health promotion/wellness, student activities and clubs/organizations, residential life (as relevant), recreational sports and intercollegiate athletics, study abroad, and applied learning experiences including faculty-directed research and internships/externships. The incumbent identifies and provides resources for students to address and ameliorate obstacles to their success, which includes making referrals to campus support systems and services such as counseling, academic advising, health and wellness programs, and other systems to support pathways to success and graduation for students of Black and African descent, as well as help close the educational equity gap.

Requirements

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.
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.
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.
Must be able to competently interact with a culturally, ethnically, and racially diverse population of students, faculty and staff.
Must adhere to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the California Information Practices Act by maintaining confidentiality of student information.
Successful completion of a background check.
Applicants must be able to provide proof of US Citizenship or authorization to work in the United States, within three business days from their date of hire.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred.
Two years of experience at a post-secondary institution working with programs that address equity, social justice, and/or trends that impact the success of students of African descent.
Knowledge of various African/African American histories and cultural realities.
Knowledge of Student Affairs, Student Development and/or Student Services in higher education.
Knowledge of multicultural identity development models/theories as they relate to students of African descent.
Possession of strong communication skills and the ability to provide information accurately and effectively, both orally and in writing, to large groups and to individuals of culturally and economically diverse backgrounds.
Ability to effectively advocate on behalf of students of African descent with faculty, staff, and administrators.
Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with individuals across different communities while carrying out a variety of professionally complex assignments.
Particular knowledge of California and the CSU higher education environment.
Demonstrated experience with supervising and training student employees.
Knowledge of a wide range of communication and design applications, including InDesign, Microsoft Office suite, Drupal, Adobe Creative, page layout software, html, email and social networking applications.
Ability to acquire and maintain current knowledge of community issues that impact the success of students of African descent in higher education.
Thorough knowledge of SFSU, its philosophy, policies and procedures, programs, and services related to the engagement and retention of students of African descent.
Excellent time management skills, ability to work effectively independently, and/or in teams on multiple tasks or projects.

Responsibilities

Provide comprehensive individual and small group advising to address obstacles to the success of students of African descent, including academic, personal, financial, or career-related issues.
Conduct in-depth assessments of student needs, skills, abilities, and academic progress at SFSU in order to provide timely, appropriate, and critical resources as appropriate.
Partner and collaborate with Center, Black Student Organizations, Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, community-based organizations, and the larger CSU system to support student needs for program planning, course advisement, major and career exploration.
Implement advising strategies that support pathways to graduation for students of African descent. Develop, implement, and sustain academic support modules to assist students to identify obstacles to their success, think critically about possible interventions/resources, and engage in self-assessment of healthy and successful strategies to support their graduation goals.
Responsible for planning and implementing retention-related student engagement workshops, sessions, and events on campus. Develop data-driven and community-informed programs that engage the community in current trends, data, narratives, and issues related to the success of students of African descent in higher education.
Collaborate with the Director to assess all student engagement programs, initiatives, and projects of the Center. Represent the Black Unity Center at selected campus, community, and statewide CSU events, counselor meetings/conferences, and other special events.
Participate in department and campus committees, programs and projects as assigned. Collaborate and partner closely with the Center, Black Student Organizations, Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, Academic Affairs, community-based organizations, and the larger CSU system on the various student retention and engagement initiatives for students of African descent.
Maintain a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of current trends related to the success of students of African descent in higher education. Implement timelines and calendars for retention-related student engagement events. Serve on campus committees and workgroups at the discretion of the Director and Senior Associate Vice President for Community Inclusion.
Manage multi-media projects and plans including the Center’s social media, web and email communication plans for students of African descent.
Develop emails, videos, presentations and print pieces to engage students in the services of the Center. Capture and post campus events on social media to showcase Center activities for prospective students and applicants.
Assist in the planning and implementation of on and off campus special events, including Sneak Preview, College Fairs, Counselor Conferences and various meetings.
Develop and implement the communication and marketing plans for students of African descent in coordination with the Director, Outreach & Recruitment Specialist, and the Executive Assistant.
Other duties as assigned