Position Summary

Are you passionate about fostering student growth and development? Do you thrive in a dynamic and supportive environment? As the General Advisor and Retention Specialist (GARS), you will play a crucial role in guiding and mentoring residential students. This position is pivotal in helping students achieve academic excellence, personal growth, and active campus engagement.

Under the supervision of the Associate Director of Student Care and Academic Initiatives for Residential Education, you will be responsible for developing and implementing advising and programs that facilitate growth in scholarship, personal and leadership development, citizenship, mentorship, and campus engagement. Your role will involve providing guidance and mentoring through various programming and advising efforts tailored to the needs of residential students.

Key Responsibilities:

• Program Development: Implement initiatives to enhance student communication through in-person presentations, workshops, and online technology. Develop and facilitate programs that support student success.
• Personal Counseling: Offer guidance and counseling related to self-awareness, personal growth, and academic probation, helping students stay on track towards their degree goals.
• High-Impact Practices: Collaborate with campus partners to provide advising on internships, study abroad opportunities, research, and other high-impact practices that enhance academic coursework.
• Peer Advisor Coordination: Recruit, select, train, and evaluate peer advisors and tutors to support student retention and academic excellence.
• Academic and Holistic Advising: Provide comprehensive advising to students living on campus, addressing academic concerns, course selection, and navigation of advising tools. Offer referrals to campus resources as needed.

Why Join US?

• Supportive Environment: Join a team dedicated to fostering a positive and inclusive atmosphere where every student can thrive.
• Growth Opportunities: Be part of a dynamic team that values your contributions and encourages your professional development.
• Impactful Work: Play a vital role in enhancing the academic and personal success of our residential students.

If you’re ready to make a difference in the lives of students and contribute to a vibrant campus community, apply now!

Position Information

• This is a full-time, benefits-eligible, temporary position anticipated to end on June 30, 2025 with the possibility of reappointment.
• This position is designated as exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
• Standard work hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Occasional evenings and weekend work).
• The individual hired into this role will work on campus at SDSU in San Diego.

Department Summary

The Residential Education Office is designated as the University department responsible for planning and administering Residential Education programs and services including those in traditional residence halls and apartment complexes. The Residential Education Office serves to enhance student life and success through a comprehensive living-learning experience that provides academic and personal support, contact with faculty, educational programs, community activities, student leadership development and multicultural learning opportunities. The department is part of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity/Dean of Students sub-division. 

The Residential Education Office strives to provide safe and supportive on campus living learning communities where diverse students are challenged to develop holistically; as scholars, citizens and leaders. 

Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity 

The Division facilitates the academic and career success, personal growth and well-being of all students, and works proactively to address systemic inequities through professional learning, community building, advocacy, policy recommendations and organizational structures. We aim to foster an affirming campus culture based on the core values of excellence, equity, diversity, belonging and inclusion through: 

• Recruiting and retaining faculty and staff who are reflective of the diverse student body and communities served by SDSU, and recruiting students who are representative of the rich diversity of the region and the world; 
• Fostering an environment that is welcoming, affirming, and empowering for students, faculty, staff and alumni of all backgrounds; 
• Enhancing the career and educational pathways of a diverse student body, the faculty and staff, including enhancing the learning environment and expanding learning opportunities for all students inside and outside the classroom, and expanding and connecting opportunities for students to participate in transformational experiences; 
• Developing leaders who believe in and lead others toward supporting civility, mutual respect and diversity in our society and workplaces; and 
• Cultivating relationships with the local community that advance the well-being of diverse individuals and communities. 

Position upholds the Student Affairs and Campus Diversity Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, specifically: 

“The Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity acknowledges and honors the inherent value and dignity of all individuals by creating and nurturing a learning and working environment that affirms and leverages our community’s diversity of traditions, heritages, perspectives, and experiences. We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusive excellence designed to facilitate the personal and professional success, growth, development, and well-being of all members of our community. We manifest this commitment through our innovative, strategic and collaborative efforts to develop leaders who believe in and lead others toward practicing civility, mutual respect, and inclusion in our workplaces and society.” 

For more information regarding The Residential Education Office, click here.

Education and Experience

Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in one of the behavioral sciences, public or business administration or a job‑related field. Additional specialized experience during which the applicant has acquired and successfully applied the knowledge and abilities shown above may be substituted for the required education on a year‑for‑year basis.

Possession of these knowledge and abilities is typically demonstrated through the equivalent of two years of professional experience in one of the student services program areas or in a related field; experience should give evidence of competence and indicate the potential for further growth. A master’s degree in a job‑related field may be substituted for one year of the professional experience.

Key Qualifications

• Effective interpersonal skills.
• Experience working with students living in on-campus residential communities.
• Familiarity with academic advising practices preferred.
• Experience providing outreach services to students, specifically first-generation college students is preferred.
• Understanding of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act with regards to the maintenance of academic and judicial records of individual students.
• Understanding of reporting responsibilities outlined as a “Responsible Employee” and “Campus Security Authority” under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Act.
• Ability to learn and acquire knowledge of Title V, CSU policies and procedures, and University rules and

regulations and their application to student organizations, student activities and expression and student

governance structures preferred.

Compensation and Benefits

Starting salary upon appointment is not expected to exceed $4,841 per month. 

Salary placement is determined by the education, experience, and qualifications the candidate brings to the position, internal equity, and the hiring department’s fiscal resources.

San Diego State University offers a rich benefits package that constitutes a major portion of total compensation. For more information regarding SDSU benefits, please click here.

CSU Classification Salary Range: $4,841 - $6,884 per month. 

Diversity and Community at SDSU

At SDSU, our diversity gives us power and benefits every single member of our community.

Through our commitment to equity and inclusion, we encourage all members of our community to purposefully learn from one another through open and respectful dialogue and responsible engagement. For more information, click here.

Principles of Community

At San Diego State University, we are a community of diverse individuals who have and represent many perspectives, beliefs, and identities. This diversity lends our community strength, and we commit to creating and sustaining an inclusive and intellectually vibrant environment that benefits all members of our university. 

SDSU’s Principles of Community is an aspirational statement that is intended to evolve over time. The statement reflects the ideals we are encouraged to uphold in our interactions with one another. 

Supplemental Information

Initial review of the required application materials, including cover letters and resumes, will begin on October 25, 2024. To receive full consideration, apply by October 24, 2024. The position will remain open until filled.

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. 

San Diego State University is not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions (e.g., H-1B visa). Applicants must currently be authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. Offers of employment are contingent upon the presentation of documents that demonstrate a person's identity and authorization to work in the United States, which are consistent with the provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act. 

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily and is required for employment. SDSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current SDSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

SDSU is a smoke-free campus. For more information, please click here.

SDSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer that considers all qualified candidates for employment and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, covered military and veteran status, or any other protected characteristic or status. Reasonable accommodations will be provided for qualified applicants with disabilities who request an accommodation by contacting Eurick Hilario at echilario@sdsu.edu.