Academic Advisor - BPA

CLASSIFICATION TITLE: Student Services Professional II

UNION CODE: R04

TEMPORARY END DATE: This position is temporary and ends on or before December 31, 2026. Any continuation beyond December 31, 2026 is contingent upon satisfactory performance and available funding.

FT/PT: Full-time

PAY PLAN: 12-month

WORKPLACE TYPE: On-site (work in-person at business location)

ANTICIPATED HIRING RANGE: Starting salary upon appointment is not expected to exceed $5,083 per month

CSU CLASSIFICATION SALARY RANGE: $5,083 - $7,228

PAY BASIS: Monthly

BENEFITS: CSUB offers a best-in-class benefit package for eligible employees that includes an array of medical plans, choice of dental plans, vision coverage, retirement participation in CalPERS, CSU tuition waiver, up to 24 vacation days per year, sick leave with unlimited accrual, 15 paid holidays per year and more! See our benefits website for additional information.

CANDIDATES ELIGIBLE TO APPLY: Open to all qualified applicants

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANT: FOR PRIORITY CONSIDERATION, applications must be received by March 17, 2026; however, the position will remain open until filled.

POSITION PURPOSE: As a unit under the Division of Strategic Enrollment Management and Student Support, the Department of Undergraduate Advising is responsible for supporting students throughout their academic journey by providing guidance and resources to ensure their success. Through a case management model, academic advisors offer personalized support tailored to the unique needs of each student. This includes assisting with class registration, academic planning, and helping students navigate their degree requirements. The department also plays a key role in connecting students to essential campus resources, such as faculty mentoring, tutoring, counseling, and career services, ensuring they have the tools and support necessary to thrive. Additionally, advisors foster student development by encouraging engagement in co-curricular activities, academic exploration, and timely progress toward graduation.

Under the general supervision of the Director of Undergraduate Advising and with daily lead direction from the designated Advising Coordinator, the Academic Advisor is responsible for delivering consistent, accurate, and up to moderately complex academic advising services to both current and newly admitted/readmitted, from their first year through degree completion. The Advisor provides information on policies, procedures, and academic requirements related to specific programs or majors within the assigned college. Additionally, the Advisor supports students in exploring career paths, assessing academic strengths, connecting them to student support services and resources across campus, and establishing goals. This role is focused on providing academic guidance that promotes student success, persistence, and timely graduation. The Academic Advisor will also collaborate with various campus stakeholders, including staff, faculty, administrators, and colleagues across divisions, to foster student achievement.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Academic Advising

Student Communication & Documentation

Program Support, Collaboration, & Professional Development

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE – Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in one of the behavioral sciences, public or business administration, or job-related field and two (2) years of recent related experience. Specialized experience during which the applicant has acquired and successfully applied the appropriate knowledge and abilities may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. A master’s degree in a job-related field may be substituted for one year of professional experience.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES (SKA’s) –

• Regular and reliable attendance required.
• Excellent ability to exercise confidentiality, discretion, and independent judgment and to handle moderately sensitive interpersonal issues.
• Must plan and carry out day-to-day activities without immediate direction and work occasionally on Saturdays or evenings for special events.
• General knowledge of the methods and problems of organizational and program management.
• General knowledge of research and interview techniques and of the principles of individual and group behavior.
• Ability to interpret and apply program rules and regulations.
• Ability to use initiative and resourcefulness in planning work assignments and in implementing long-range program improvements.
• Ability to obtain factual and interpretative information through interviews; reason logically; collect, compile, analyze and evaluate data and make verbal or written presentations based on these data.
• Ability to advise students on routine matters where required.
• Ability to recognize multicultural, multisexed, and multi-aged value systems and work accordingly.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with faculty, CSU administrators, student organizations, private and public agencies and others in committee work, and student advising and community contacts.
• Ability to rapidly acquire a general knowledge of the overall operation, functions, and programs of the campus to which assigned.
• Demonstrated ability to make decisions and carry through actions having implications with regard to other program or service areas.
• Demonstrated customer service experience requiring a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism.
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy to effectively handle a broad range of high level and sensitive interpersonal situations with diverse personalities, and to respond appropriately to conflicts and problems.
• Ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.
• Excellent communication skills; ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and understandable manner.
• Thorough knowledge of English grammar, spelling and punctuation.
• Ability to interpret, communicate and apply policies and procedures.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines.
• Excellent computer skills and competence with a variety of computer applications including word-processing, spreadsheets, databases, on-line systems, Internet as well as online calendaring and email.
• Working knowledge of or ability to quickly learn University infrastructure.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• A master’s degree in a job-related field.
• Experience within a higher education setting.
• Prior knowledge and use of PeopleSoft or other student records database systems.
• Demonstrated skills in an institutional/educational environment possessing a customer-oriented and service-centered attitude.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: SEDENTARY WORK – involves mainly sitting; minimal walking and standing; lifting light weight objects limited to 15 pounds.

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS: N/A

SPECIAL CONDITIONS:

SCREENING: Only those applicants possessing experience most directly related to the immediate needs of the office will be invited to appear before a Qualifications Appraisal Board for the purpose of appraising training, experience, and interest in the position.

BACKGROUND CHECK: Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. CSU 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 CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

Education Code 89521 Requirements: Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last seven years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

SENSITIVE POSITION: Sensitive positions are designated by the CSU as requiring heightened scrutiny of individuals holding the position, based on potential for harm to children, concerns for the safety and security of the people, animals, or property, or heightened risk of financial loss to the CSU or individuals in the university community.

MANDATED REPORTER: Limited: The person holding this position is considered a limited 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, revised July 21, 2017.

GENERAL INFORMATION: It is the policy of California State University, Bakersfield to hire only United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States. All new employees will be required to present documentation verifying their right to accept employment. You will also be requested to present a social security card at the time of initial appointment in compliance with state payroll regulations. State regulations require that every state employee sign the Oath of Allegiance prior to commencing the duties of his/her State employment, except legally employed non-citizens. These individuals are required to sign the Declaration of Permission to Work.

The California State University (“CSU”), including California State University, Bakersfield is committed to an inclusive and equitable community that values diversity and fosters mutual respect. All students and employees have the right to participate fully in CSU programs, activities, admission, and employment free from discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking and retaliation. The CSU Nondiscrimination Policy prohibits discrimination and harassment based on any protected status, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, prohibited consensual relationships, and retaliation.

Campus contact for our Nondiscrimination policy is Allan Williams, Associate Vice President of Civil Rights & Compliance, (661) 654-2713.