Counseling Assistant

Coast Community College District•Costa Mesa, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Orange Coast College (OCC) is seeking equity-minded individuals for a classified employee role as a Counseling Assistant under the Student Services Wing, as part of the Counseling Division. OCC's 164-acre campus is located in Costa Mesa, just minutes from Southern California's beautiful beaches, with its main campus in Costa Mesa and a campus in Newport Beach (Waterfront Campus). Founded in 1947, OCC's mission is to serve the educational needs of a diverse local and global community. The College empowers students to achieve their goals by providing high-quality, culturally responsive, and innovative programs and services through pathways leading to degrees, transfers, certificates, foundational skills, workforce development, and lifelong learning. The College promotes student development, learning, and equitable outcomes by fostering a respectful, inclusive, caring, and participatory campus climate of student engagement and academic inquiry. Ideal candidates for this position will share OCC’s dedication to transforming lives through education, with a strong commitment to serving a diverse and vibrant student population. OCC currently enrolls 17,859 students, the majority of whom are from racially minoritized populations. As a designated Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an eligibility designation as an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), Orange Coast College reflects the dynamic diversity in the region. OCC engages in a wide range of collaborative efforts aimed at fostering a culture of educational excellence and inclusivity. With a commitment to providing high-quality academic programs and student-centered support services, OCC creates an environment where all students can thrive. As a diverse and globally-minded institution, the college takes pride in initiatives that empower student communities by promoting cultural synergy across departments, including the Office of Student Equity, the Global Engagement Center, and the Multicultural Center. OCC is a recognized leader in preparing students for transfer to four-year institutions and holds the prestigious designations of both a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). The college also boasts state-of-the-art facilities and is the first community college in Southern California to offer on-campus residential housing with over 300 apartment units, further enhancing the student experience. The Coast Community College District is a multi-college district that includes Coastline Community College, Golden West College, and Orange Coast College. The three colleges offer programs in transfer, general education, occupational/technical education, community services, and student support services. Coastline, Golden West, and Orange Coast colleges enroll more than 60,000 students each year in more than 300 degree and certificate programs. Since its founding in 1947, the Coast Community College District has enjoyed a reputation as one of the leading community college districts in the United States. The Coast Community College District values diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and anti-racism by creating a culture of inclusive excellence that uplifts employees and students through an environment that is equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible. The Coast Community College District (Orange Coast College, Golden West College, and Coastline) continues to strengthen our efforts around diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and anti-racism. Orange Coast College is focused on creating a culture of inclusive excellence by uplifting employees and students through an environment that is equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible. We have a strong focus and importance on building an inclusive culture and atmosphere of belonging. We will be actively listening, assessing, and evaluating for this throughout each stage of the application, recruitment, and interview process. Ideal candidates for this position share OCC's devotion to educating and improving the lives of our representative students, employees, and community populations. OCC currently enrolls 18,121 students, the majority of whom are from racially minoritized populations.

Requirements

Working knowledge of the matriculation and onboarding processes used for new students and policies, procedures, student services, and academic support programs.
Working knowledge of the resources and materials available within the college or community to assist students in pursuing academic or vocational interests.
Working knowledge of modern office practices and procedures, including filing systems, records, and privacy of information, and appointment scheduling.
Working knowledge of the use of spreadsheets and/or databases for storing and transferring data.
Knowledge of community college enrollment practices, including eligibility requirements for priority registration.
Knowledge of proper American English language composition, syntax, grammar, usage, vocabulary, spelling, and punctuation sufficient to compose specialized correspondence.
Sufficient math skills to perform basic business computations, record statistical data, and follow budget and purchasing procedures.
Sufficient human relations skills to facilitate group processes, deliver informal presentations, and explain technical concepts to students with diverse backgrounds.
Ability to carry out the essential responsibilities and functions of the position, providing support to students and assisting with counseling services.
Ability to identify resources, services, and programs to further assist students in vocational or academic pursuits.
Ability to give initial academic and career suggestions to prepare them for counselor conferences.
Ability to explain college policies and procedures, assist and make referrals for students with concerns and problems, and suggest available alternatives for problem resolution.
Ability to perform a variety of clerical duties, including and are not limited to scheduling and filing relating to counseling support services.
Ability to become familiar with and interpret college catalogs, program eligibility and guidelines, and career/occupational literature.
Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with those contacted during the course of work.
Ability to be respectful of and sensitive to the diverse backgrounds of students.
Evidence of demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, geographic, gender, gender identity, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students. (California Code of Regulations Title 5 53022; Education Code Section 87360; Coast Community College District EEO Plan)
Must possess authorization to work in the United States. The District does not sponsor visas or take over any established visa sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Additional experience in a counseling, career planning, or enrollment office may substitute for some post-secondary education.

Responsibilities

Provides clerical and technical support to students, faculty, and counselors in the delivery of counseling, career planning, and college information services.
Interacts with and assists students by directing them to the resources they need to engage as a student.
Assists with outreach by participating in orientations, presentations, and events.
Serves as intake and the first level of conveying information, introducing occupations and careers fulfilled by the College, and assisting students to navigate through the enrollment and counseling process.
Identifies, assembles, prepares, and distributes information relating to available community college programs, alternatives, careers, and educational planning, transfer programs, and academic and student support services.
Assists counselors in providing supportive services by performing pre-counseling and follow-up activities relating to individual student cases, campus-wide programs, and counseling activities.
Serves as a student advocate to navigate matriculation.
Participates in conducting student tours and orientation sessions involving the oral and written distribution of pertinent information to new and transferring students.
Provides advisement assistance for students during registration and enrollment periods, recommending appropriate classes and planning schedules for counselor approval.
Assists students in navigating career assessment and interest instruments and assists with career research.
Maintains and updates counseling records pertaining to students’ academic progress, course and major choices, career interests, and problem areas.
Refers students to available and pertinent college or community programs or services that enhance their ability to maintain an active status.
Provide support to students needing assistance in completing grant and scholarship applications, admissions forms, and related materials.
Maintains an up-to-date inventory of promotional, occupation-related, student services, and co-curricular program materials.
Serves as a first point-of-contact for calls and walk-in visitors.
Responds to inquiries for general information, encourages current and prospective students to visit, and refers callers to other resources that can provide further assistance.
Participates in, and may organize and facilitate special activities, presentations, and outreach activities.
Composes routine correspondence and compiles student and other data to support research and reports.
Schedules and follows up on appointments arranged for students with counselors.
Responsible for providing functional oversight and work direction to students and/or hourly support staff, as assigned, including such activities as the assignment of tasks and duties, distribution of work, training, scheduling, and checking on work performed in collaboration.
Performs other related duties as assigned that support the objective of the position.
Required to abide by all District policies and procedures, including Board Policy 3050 – Code of Professional Ethics.