College Advisor - Educational Talent Search, Center for Educational Partnerships

University of California, Berkeley; Berkeley (CA); On-site; USD 78,000 - 88,000; Full time

Job summary

University of California, Berkeley seeks a College Advisor to design, implement, and assess programs guiding students from middle school through college and into career readiness. You will work with students, alumni, teachers, and families to promote higher education access.

The role emphasizes advising, development of education plans, program management, and collaboration with school sites to build a college-going culture. Evening and weekend work may be required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area or equivalent experience.
• 3–5 years experience advising educationally disadvantaged students.
• Strong knowledge of K-12 and higher education policies.
• Ability to work with diverse youth and families.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Capacity to travel to multiple sites and work some evenings/weekends.

Responsibilities

• Identify, recruit, and select high school participants through referrals, presentations, and events.
• Provide in-person and virtual advising to students and families; develop education plans.
• Develop and implement college-going workshops and program activities.
• Coordinate with school staff, parents, and community partners to foster college-going cultures.
• Collect and analyze participant data; maintain confidential records and reports.
• Present at K-14 and community events; support program budgeting and reporting.

Skills

Educational equity programs

K-12 and higher ed policy knowledge

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Cultural competency

Time management

Social media management

Bilingual (Spanish/Cantonese/Mandarin/

Education

Bachelor's degree

3-5 years experience/training

Job description

Departmental Overview

The Center for Educational Partnerships (CEP) is the primary department on the UC Berkeley campus charged with developing and implementing programs and strategies to improve academic preparation, expand educational opportunities, and ensure access to higher education for low-income, first generation, and underrepresented students.

Working in partnership with local schools and communities, CEP improves academic achievement and expands post-secondary educational opportunities for students who face significant barriers to college.

Position Summary

The College Advisor plans, develops, implements, and evaluates programs, activities, counseling, tutoring, and advising focused on students' successful graduation from high school and college, and career readiness. This position works with students, program alumni, teachers, counselors, school districts, community stakeholders, and parents.

Responsibilities

Recruitment, Advising, and Retention - 35%

• Identifies, recruits, and selects high school participants through school staff referrals, class presentations, summer activities, school media, and correspondence.
• Introduces the concept of higher education to middle school and/or high school participants and their parents.
• Interprets and demystifies complex and ever-evolving college admission requirements, test preparation, and financial aid application for cohort participants and their families.
• Provides cohort participants with current and concise information on colleges that include community colleges, vocational/technical schools, private colleges, California universities, and out-of-state universities.
• Delivers in-person and virtual individual and group advising services along with maintaining relationships with middle school and high school participants.
• Develops comprehensive education plan for each participant in advisors caseload with regards to their academic path from middle school to high school and subsequent enrollment in post-secondary education.
• Reviews and analyzes all cohort participant transcripts every semester to ensure student progress and success.
• Provides related career exposure, advisement, and personal self-improvement activities to help cohort participants establish attainable academic and career life goals.
• Facilitates the educational advancement of cohort participants enrolled in the program from middle school to high school or high school to college.
• Develop digital marketing and branding material for recruitment, programming, workshops, and activities.
• Performs follow-up advisement with matriculating 8th-grade participants to high school.

Program Development, Management, and Implementation - 30%

• Conducts all aspects of ETS program activities and objectives in compliance with the U.S. Department of Education regulations pertaining to federally funded TRIO programs specifically Educational Talent Search.
• Designs, implements, and delivers appropriate 9th-12th grade level workshops, curricula materials, and activities to enhance the college-going rates at each assigned school site for ETS participants.
• In collaboration with school site personnel, other student service programs, and parents to establish and foster a college-going culture among the staff and participants at each assigned school site.
• Delivers in-person and virtual college-going, career, socioemotional workshops to ETS participants and families at program, community, and school-sponsored events.
• Establishes positive working relationships with assigned school site personnel; designs and implements a strategic plan of operation detailed to meet the needs of each assigned school site based on the cohort.
• Develops and maintains relationships with parents/families to support cohort academic success and access to higher education.
• Acts as an advocate for participants and parents/families base on the cohort.
• Develops collaborative relationships with other college-going programs and K-12 and higher education personnel.
• Establishes and maintains comprehensive collaborative partnerships with other school sites, community-based programs, and school districts to maximize referral and services to enrolled participants.
• Participates in strategic and program planning to meet the diverse socioemotional and educational needs of the student populations as assigned school or community sites.
• Plans and implements program-sponsored college-going field trips, socioemotional and cultural enrichment activities appropriate for cohort participants.
• Organizes and/or participates in meetings and activities with school site personnel, school districts, and/or service providers as appropriate.
• Serves as a presenter at K-14 and community events.
• Coordinates participant attendance of other university-sponsored programs.

Documentation, Official Communication, and Reporting - 25%

• Collects, analyzes, evaluates cohort participant data; documents participant contacts and progress; and tracks the academic progress of all cohort participants.
• Secures appropriate student/parent documentation to verify participants income eligibility, parental educational attainment, and need to program services.
• Obtains and maintains confidential school site records of participant program eligibility, academic promise, and progress throughout the participant enrollment in the program.
• Participates in strategic and program planning for all cohort participants.
• Produces program reports, proposals, budgets, and evaluations that include: Activity proposals and budgets for program-sponsored activities that include student field trips, cultural activities, college visitations, academic and test preparation classes, parent/student orientations, socioemotional and career awareness exploration activities; Post-activity evaluations and reports for program-sponsored activities detailing the activity, expenses, and outcomes of the activity; Ad hoc reports as requested.
• Assists with the research, development, and submissions of project reports and proposals required by the U.S. Department of Education.
• Establishes and maintains accurate and complete cohort participant files and database produces written documentation regarding all contacts with participants and detailing all services provided.

Other - 10%

• Serves and represents ETS on department, campus, and external committees, workgroups, and coordinating bodies to help maintain positive relations and effectively communicate ETS.
• Attends bi-weekly staff meetings.
• Attend training and professional development provided by the university, CEP, Berkeley TRIO programs, and WESTOP.
• Perform administrative responsibilities within a timely manner.
• Adhere to COVID policies and procedures provided by the university and school districts.
• Performs other duties as assigned by Supervisor.

Required Qualifications

• Strong knowledge and experience working with educational equity programs serving a diverse student population.
• Strong knowledge of up-to-date information on K-12 and higher education policies and issues. Ability to assess their impact on program strategies.
• Knowledge of K-12 and higher education institutions (UC, CSU, CC, etc.), admissions and financial aid requirements, and the ability to interpret policies and procedures to youth, parents, and school representatives.
• Knowledge of youth and adolescent development theory, including issues facing low-income, first-generation, underrepresented urban youth.
• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative relationships with school district administrators, school counselors, principals, teachers, and community contacts.
• Strong knowledge of high school graduation and college entrance requirements.
• Demonstrated cultural competency with respect to race, ethnicity, gender identity, and socioeconomic status.
• Strong communications (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills.
• Significant experience advising and supporting educationally disadvantaged students regarding postsecondary opportunities and careers.
• Ability to arrive at assigned school sites in a timely manner.
• Ability to work nights, weekends, and extended overnight fields trips.
• Experience with digital and social media management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bi-lingual in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, or Vietnamese a plus.

Education / Training

Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent of 3-5 years of experience / training.

Salary & Benefits

The budgeted annual salary range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $78,000 - $88,300.

This is an exempt, monthly-paid position.

This is a 3-year, full-time (40 hours/week) contract position eligible for UC benefits.

Other Information

This position has 3 openings.

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.

Mandated Reporter

This position has been identified as a Mandated Reporter required to report the observed or suspected abuse or neglect of children, dependent adults, or elders to designated law enforcement or social service agencies. We reserve the right to make employment contingent upon completion of signed statements acknowledging the responsibilities of a Mandated Reporter.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.