Undergraduate Student Advisor

Company: University of California
Location: Berkeley
Posted on: June 18, 2022

Job Description:

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world's leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.

We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of California and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at Berkeley, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Berkeley, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, our Principles of Community, and our Strategic Plan.

Departmental Overview

The Department of Spanish and Portuguese at the University of California, Berkeley is a medium-sized one, big enough to offer a wide variety of approaches to teaching and research yet small enough to afford students at both the graduate and undergraduate level personal attention and mentoring. We offer an abundance of opportunities to learn and achieve mastery of the languages and cultures we study, which include Catalan, Nahuatl, Portuguese, Romance Studies, and Spanish. Our programs are specially designed for highly motivated students with a passion for other languages, literatures, and cultures, for imaginative approaches to these, and for the careful crossing of traditionally defined geographic, linguistic and disciplinary borders.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 05/31/2022. For full consideration, please apply by June 1.

Responsibilities

Academic Advising:

* Provides advice and assistance to students on all aspects of their academic experience, including progression and requirement matters for the department and collecte.
* Advises on complex transfers from other institutions such as those in the midst of advanced degree completion and coursework in other programs.
* Designs and facilitates orientation sessions for incoming transfer students.
* Evaluates and advises students in petitions for exceptions to departmental/college requirements.
* Identifies students with GPA or progress problems, advises students, and recommends appropriate courses of action by the department /college (e.g., academic probation, dismissal).
* Advises on special eligibility requirements such as Honors programs/fellowships/scholarships.
* Confirms that students have met requirements for degree completion when there are no clear precedents or articulations, such as interdisciplinary programs or when transfer work is involved.
* Advises students on a wide range of course possibilities and/or ways to complete degree requirements that may not be clearly defined.
* Advises students on strategies to prepare themselves for double majors/alternative majors.
* Determines barriers, distractions, and complications affecting a student's academic success, helps students recognize these key non-academic issues, and makes appropriate referrals for additional therapeutic counseling and / or assistance from other units.

Department & Class Scheduling:

* Primary scheduler for the department who is responsible for the overall curricular planning and scheduling of courses and classes.
* Advises faculty on determining course scheduling needs for student progression to graduation.
* Takes the lead on managing departmental course submissions to the Committee on Courses of Instruction of the Academic Senate for all new and modification submissions.
* Advises faculty on the course approval process and provides support in drafting submissions.
* Works with the faculty advisors to review programs to better serve students' needs.
* Serves as backup scheduler for the cluster unit.

Program Administration:

* Advises new and continuing instructors on student advising issues and relevant departmental/college and university policies and procedures.
* Participates in planning academic curriculum in collaboration with chair and faculty, and with other departments, to ensure student's progress through course sequences, avoid conflicts, and ensure compliance with organization-wide policies.
* Administers the undergraduate honor's awards programs for the department.
* Actively participates in commencement planning activities each year.

Department Website Maintenance:

* Primary administrator of the departmental website. Responsible for timely maintenance and updates.

Professional Development:

* Attends campus-wide and college-level undergraduate advising meetings, and tracks and reports back to the department about any changes related to undergraduate affairs. In consultation with the supervisor, identifies and implements annual professional development goals. Examples might include special projects, or participating in professional associations, training programs, or campus committees. Workshops and seminars may focus on topics such as professional skill development, planning in higher education, and developing and maintaining expertise on various computer systems and computer software.

Required Qualifications

* Working knowledge of advising and counseling techniques.
* Experience advising students in an academic department or program on academic matters, courses, enrollment, and issues affecting studies.
* Strong analytical skills in judgment, decision-making, and problem-solving.
* Well organized and service-oriented with the ability to independently manage multiple projects and set priorities.
* Able to identify measures of system performance and actions to improve performance.
* Demonstrated ability to develop original ideas to solve problems and take initiative.
* Thorough knowledge of, or the ability to learn, department and college policies, procedures, and requirements including, but not limited to, knowledge of departmental principles and procedures involved in risk assessment and evaluating risks as to likelihood and consequences.
* Solid verbal and written communication skills.
* Excellent active listening skills and interpersonal communication skills in one-on-one and group settings.
* Multicultural competencies; ability to work with diverse populations.
* Active listening and critical thinking skills.
* Ability to use discretion and maintain confidentiality.
* Ability to work under pressure to meet strict deadlines.
* Ability to conceptualize, design, and implement undergraduate enrichment programs, which involve multiple tasks, priorities, and deadlines.
* Ability to be resourceful, creative, innovative, and flexible.
* Ability to work effectively as an individual and as a team member.
* Strong computer skills including Microsoft Suite, Google applications, and database management systems.
* Experience planning meetings, events, and workshops and excellent presentation skills.
* Demonstrated language skills in Spanish.

Education/Training:

* Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Preferred Qualifications

* Knowledge of, or the ability to learn, University-specific computer application programs and knowledge of the University.
* Including, but not limited to, the Course Management System (CMS), CalCentral, Student Information System (SIS), and Berkeley Online Advising (BOA) systems.


* Working experience in a professional setting; flexibility and adaptability to meet the dynamic needs of an academic environment.
* High level of organizational skills and attention to detail.
* Work with academic advising experience at the undergraduate level is preferred.
* Familiarity with Spanish and Portuguese language and culture preferred.

Salary & Benefits

This is a 100% full-time (40 hrs a week) exempt career position, which is paid monthly and eligible for full UC Benefits. Annual salary is commensurate with experience within the range of $60,000.00 - $70,000.00. For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University visit: https://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

How to Apply

Please submit your cover letter and resume as a single attachment when applying. Please upload the document in the Resume section, then skip the (optional) Cover Letter upload section.

Other Information

This is a hybrid position, with 40% remote work eligibility.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant see:

https://www.eeoc.gov/sites/default/files/migrated_files/employers/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf

For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see:

http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct

Keywords: University of California, Berkeley , Undergraduate Student Advisor, Other , Berkeley, California