Job Summary

This position, reporting to the Educational Opportunity Program Director, provides counseling for the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). The EOP Counselor offers support services to EOP students and holds a high level of responsibility for the smooth transition and retention of first-generation and low-income students at Cal Poly. This position is charged with the monitoring of EOP student success through student persistence and graduation rates. The EOP is a highly visible program that combines access, academic support, holistic advising and supplemental financial assistance to make higher education possible for students who have the potential to succeed, despite poor preparation and limited resources. Proactive counseling, retention objectives, and program planning assist with the timely progress toward degree attainment for EOP students.

Department Summary

Equity and Transition (E&T) provides comprehensive programs that offer transition and retention services to students. These programs include Cal Poly Scholars, Career Services, Center for Military Connected Students, Disability Resource Center, New Student Transition Services, TRIO, and Upward Bound. Participating in these programs allows students access to EOP counselors so students can utilize a wide array of enhanced support that promote student success, self-advocacy, diversity, equity and inclusion awareness, co-curricular involvement and timely progress toward their degree, career/graduate school planning and university graduation.

Key Qualifications

• General knowledge of the principles, practices, theories, and trends of higher education, as well as, general knowledge of policies, procedures and practices of providing student services support to underrepresented, first-generation, and/or low-income students.
• Thorough knowledge of the principles of individual and group behavior.
• 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; and determine appropriate courses of action and proper techniques to utilize while engaged with individuals in personal interactions of an argumentative or sensitive nature.
• Ability to 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.

Education and Experience

• Equivalent to graduate from a four-year college or university in a related field, including or supplemented by upper division or graduate course work in counseling techniques.
• Equivalent of three years of progressively responsible professional student service work experience.
• A master’s degree in counseling, clinical psychology, social work, or a directly related field may be substituted for one year of experience.

Salary and Benefits

Anticipated Hiring Range: $66,480 - $74,239 Per Year

Classification Range: $63,312 - $90,204 Per Year

Cal Poly offers a best-in-class benefits program, including health, dental and vision insurance, retirement participation in the Public Employees' Retirement System, and educational benefits for eligible employees. See our benefits website for additional information. 

Cal Poly

Cal Poly is a nationally-ranked public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, and known for its Learn by Doing philosophy. Each year more than 20,000 top-tier students come to San Luis Obispo to put knowledge into action, taking their learning outside the classroom as they prepare for careers in engineering, agriculture, science, business, humanities and the built environment. Cal Poly’s hands-on philosophy, small class sizes and close student-faculty mentorships result in graduates ready from day one to impact their communities, California and the world. For more information, visit calpoly.edu.

Diversity Statement

At Cal Poly, we believe that cultivating an environment that embraces and promotes diversity is fundamental to the success of our students, our employees and our community. Bringing people together from different backgrounds, experiences and value systems fosters the innovative and creative thinking that exemplifies Cal Poly's values of free inquiry, cultural and intellectual diversity, mutual respect, civic engagement, and social and environmental responsibility.

Cal Poly's commitment to diversity informs our efforts in recruitment, hiring and retention. Cal Poly is an equal opportunity employer. 

Supplemental Information

Following a conditional offer of employment, a background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate may start work with Cal Poly. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may result in the withdrawal of the offer of employment. Current employees who are offered positions on campus will be required to undergo a background check for any position where a background check is required by law or that Cal Poly has designated as sensitive.

The person holding this position is considered a 'mandated reporter' under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo is not a sponsoring agency for staff positions (i.e. H-1B visas).

Positions are posted for a minimum of 14 calendar days.