Credential and Graduate Program Counselor

California State University • Allen, TX

9d

About The Position

The School of Education is seeking a Student Services Professional III to serve as a Credential and Graduate Program Counselor. This role provides comprehensive academic, career, and credential advising to prospective and current graduate, doctoral, and credential candidates. The counselor will assist candidates in evaluating educational and vocational goals, understanding credential admissions and exit requirements, and developing individualized pathways toward degree completion through various communication strategies. Additionally, the role involves mentoring, guidance, and referrals to academic and financial resources, applying state regulations and university policies to evaluate eligibility and progression, and advising on changes in credentialing policies. The position also includes active student recruitment, developing and facilitating workshops, creating advising resources, and independently developing and refining admissions and advising systems. The counselor will support the admissions process, maintain student records, provide fieldwork placement, and collaborate with faculty and external stakeholders. Other related duties may be assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a job related field required.
• Three years of progressively responsible student services experience (or a master's degree in Counseling/Clinical Psychology/Social Work substituting for one year).
• Consideration may be given to additional specialized experience with educator preparation programs, or Counseling/ School Psychology programs; a Master of Education or related Counseling/ Psychology degree may substitute for work experience.
• Requires three years of experience, or equivalent, in one or more of the following areas: recruitment, working with CTC requirements for the school counseling and school psychologist profession; fieldwork placement, evaluating academic qualifications of candidates for public school credentials or permits; processing academic records to determine eligibility for admissions or degrees; performing technical duties involving formulation, revision, or interpretation of academic requirements for courses.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the credentialing process, including experience in processing admission to educator preparation programs and making recommendations to the CTC.
• Knowledge of the California standards and requirements for issuance of educator credentials, including the Pupil Personnel Services Credential.
• Knowledge of California public school practices related to the employment of credentialed employees.
• Proven ability to work successfully with faculty, students, and staff from diverse ethnic, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
• Flexibility and initiative to work in a rapidly changing and at times ambiguous work environment.
• Demonstrated ability to make decisions and carry through actions that have impact on the unit workplace and related programs.
• Ability to perform duties independently and in a highly competent professional manner.
• Utilizes excellent interpersonal skills to communicate effectively, maintains a professional disposition when working with applicants, staff, faculty, and administrators; upholds the confidentiality of records.
• Must be consistent and accurate in reviewing academic records submitted by applicants; use sound judgment when applying complex regulations and requirements.
• Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with Outlook, Excel, and Peoplesoft.
• Understanding of the overall operation, function, and programs of CI's School of Education.
• Bilingual proficiency (Spanish) is preferred.
• Ability to assist students whose primary language is other than English.
• Familiarity with CTC requirements for the Pupil Personnel Services Credential and Bilingual Authorization as well as the appropriate licensing requirements for School Counselors and School Psychologists are advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provides comprehensive academic, career, and credential advising to prospective and current graduate, doctoral, and credential candidates.
• Assists prospective graduate and credential candidates in evaluating educational and vocational goals, understanding credential admissions and exit requirements, and developing individualized pathways toward degree completion.
• Provides students with mentoring, guidance, and referral to academic and financial resources, both internal and external.
• Applies CTC regulations, accreditation standards, fieldwork requirements, university policies, and program requirements to evaluate admissions eligibility, candidate progression, fieldwork progression, and credential recommendation eligibility.
• Advises students and faculty regarding changes in state credentialing policies and compliance requirements.
• Advises and supports students enrolling in program courses; works with individual students to create study plans; provides timely reminders and just-in-time advising.
• Engages in active recruitment of students for assigned academic programs, provides outreach at career fairs and coordinates and participates in recruitment activities.
• Develops and facilitates workshops, classroom presentations, orientations, and advising sessions within graduate and credential program courses.
• Creates and maintains advising resources and program guidance materials aligned with current university and state policies.
• Independently develops, implements, and refines systems, procedures, and practices related to admissions review, advising, recruitment, fieldwork credential compliance, candidate progression, and credential recommendation processes.
• Establishes procedures for programs and credential pathways for new programs that did not previously have credential analyst support.
• Evaluates candidate eligibility for credentials and recommends candidates to the CTC for their credentials.
• Supports the admissions process to determine program eligibility and monitors student progress and fieldwork completion.
• Assists students in the program admission process including reviewing and monitoring files and evaluating transcripts of applicants.
• Informs applicants of acceptance, decline, or application resubmission or appeals procedures as appropriate.
• Participates in program interview planning.
• Enters and updates student files and maintains records and databases, including People Soft Records.
• Provides fieldwork placement for students and monitors placement to ensure student success.
• Provides accurate program data to faculty and Assessment Analyst for required credentialing reports.
• Collaborates with faculty, university administrators, school districts, and community partners to support student success, accreditation activities, enrollment initiatives, and continuous program improvement.
• Prepares and communicates complex information regarding admissions, credential eligibility, academic standing, program requirements, and state regulations to students, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily.
• Compliance with CSU Executive Order 1107 revised March 24, 2017 as a condition of employment (Campus Security Authority role).
• Compliance with CSU Executive Order 1083 Revised July 21, 2017 as a condition of employment (mandated reporter).
• Potential requirement to file a Statement of Economic Interest annually and complete training (Designated position under Conflict of Interest Code).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level