Educational Opportunity Program & Guardian Scholar Retention Advisor

CSU; United States; On-site; USD 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

California State University, Monterey Bay is seeking a Student Services Professional II to provide academic, career, and financial aid advising to EOP and Guardian Scholars students. The role supports retention and graduation through planning, referrals, and early interventions.

The position involves supervising student staff, coordinating mentoring activities, and partnering with campus units to advance inclusive excellence in student success efforts.

Qualifications

• Professional student services work in advising across personal and academic domains.
• Ability to develop, monitor and adjust student action plans for academic success.
• Experience coordinating programs and collaborating with campus units.

Responsibilities

• Performs professional student services work in advising with EOP and Guardian Scholars; meets with students individually and in groups to plan courses and campus life; monitors progress and intervenes for at‑risk students.
• Develops culturally-relevant programs and workshops to support first‑generation and low‑income students; collaborates with partners to build study skills and leadership opportunities.
• Maintains documentation and uses data reports to evaluate program effectiveness and student outcomes.
• Trains and supervises student staff; supports Guardian Scholars mentoring and liaises with campus departments to meet participant needs.
• Participates in professional development and outreach to recruit EOP/GS students; assists in program evaluation and data reporting.

Skills

Academic advising

Counseling

Student services

Data collection

Job description

Classification: Student Services Professional II
Hours:Full-time / 40 hours per week
FLSA:Exempt

Anticipated Hiring Salary: $5,084* mo.
CSU Salary Schedule
*CSUMB provides pay scales representing its good faith estimate of what the university reasonably expects to pay for this position. The pay offered to a selected candidate will be determined on factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal equity, and CSU systemwide pay for comparable jobs.

Priority Screening Date: September 13, 2025
Recruitment Status: Open Until Filled

Employment with the California State University System

ABOUT CSUMB

California State University, Monterey Bay is a mid-sized university in California’s Central Coast that grants undergraduate and graduate degrees. Powered by an inspiring Founding Vision Statement, CSUMB is part of the nation’s largest four-year public university system, California State University, which educates nearly 460,000 students every year.

With a vibrant, diverse student body of over 7,000 students, CSU Monterey Bay is both a Minority Serving Institution and a Hispanic Serving Institution. Our staff and faculty transform students’ lives with a focus on student success and engagement through experiential learning, service learning, and a strong emphasis on multicultural and global perspectives. CSUMB’s sustainability goal is to be carbon neutral by 2030.

The university’s Strategic Plan prioritizes inclusive excellence through recruiting and investing in developing a diverse body of faculty, staff and administrators. Many appreciate living and working close to the shores of beautiful Monterey Bay, with easy access to recreational areas from Big Sur to Santa Cruz. Nearby opportunities for collaborative research include working in the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Silicon Valley, and with colleagues at local research universities, including UC Santa Cruz and Stanford University.

As one of the 22 campuses in the CSU system, CSUMB offers excellent benefits, including access to below-market-rate rental housing on East Campus, and competitive salaries for faculty and staff. With proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area and San Jose, opportunities for faculty, staff and students are as endless as the shores of the nearby Pacific Ocean.

PURPOSE

Under the general supervision of the Senior Director of Early Outreach Support Programs and the daily work direction of the Associate Director, the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and Guardian Scholars Retention Advisor provides student support services to EOP students and Guardian Scholars participants. EOP is designed to improve access and retention of historically low-income and educationally disadvantaged students. The Guardian Scholars program is a part of EOP and it provides holistic support services for former and current foster youth, wards of the court, unaccompanied homeless youth, and youth under legal guardianship. The EOP and Guardian Scholars Advisor will assist in developing, planning and facilitating opportunities to support the academic success, retention and graduation of EOP and Guardian Scholars participants. The incumbent provides academic, career, and financial aid advising to assigned caseload. Furthermore, this position will make referrals to counseling services and other community organizations to support the growth and development of EOP and Guardian Scholars.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include, but are not limited to, the following

1. Performs professional student services work in the areas of personal and academic advising. Meets with EOP and Guardian Scholars individually and in small groups to provide counseling in the areas of academic planning, course selection, adjustment to the university, academic and campus life. Develops, facilitates and monitors student action plans to increase academic and social success. Refers students to academic and student support services. Monitors student academic progress in order to retain students and provide early interventions to those on academic probation or at-risk.


2. Uses an asset-based approach to develop, coordinate and implement workshops, activities, and fieldtrips that are culturally-relevant, educational programs and strategies for students who are first in their families to attend college, come from historically low-income backgrounds and under-resourced schools and communities. Collaborates with appropriate campus units and community organizations to develop and implement study skills, career development, academic success and student leadership opportunities that build upon the strengths of EOP and Guardian Scholars students to enhance academic and student success.


3. Maintains appropriate documentation of services provided and accurate and up to date electronic files of assigned caseload. Collects and interprets data using student information reports and program surveys and/or assessments.


4. Trains and supervises student staff. Supports and maintains good communication with assigned student staff to ensure program goals and activities are met. Assist with student staff trainings and professional development. Helps provide a safe and welcoming environment for Guardian Scholars.


5. Coordinates the Guardian Scholars mentoring program in collaboration with on campus and community partners to provide mentor and mentee opportunities. Serves as a liaison to various departments on campus to ensure needs of Guardian Scholars are met.


6. Participates in professional development opportunities and activities to continually evolve best practices and stay abreast of innovative and research based best-practices to support EOP and GS students. Actively participate in the Former Foster Youth Higher Education Consortium meetings. Assist in the development of program evaluation instruments, data collection, analyses and reporting of program participants.


7. Assists with outreach and recruitment of EOP and Guardian Scholars. Provides pre-admission guidance and support to incoming EOP and Guardian Scholars students. Reviews and interprets documentation that establishes students’ foster youth, legal guardianship or homeless status.


8. Support with Summer Bridge and Transfer Bridge programs for incoming EOP/GS students.

Other Functions

1. Perform other job-related duties and special projects as assigned.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

Working knowledge of the principles of individual and group behavior; procedures and activities of the program to which assigned; 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.