EOP Retention Counselor and Coordinator, Student Affairs

California-State-University; San Marcos (CA); Hybrid; USD 62,000 - 88,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Retirement (CalPERS)

Tuition waiver

Vacation and sick leave

15 paid holidays

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

California State University San Marcos seeks an EOP Retention Counselor & Coordinator (Student Services Professional III) to deliver retention support and lead program development for EOP students, especially first-year and transfer students.

This full-time exempt role involves cross-training across department functions and supporting recruitment, onboarding, and campus partnerships. Hybrid work schedule; salary offered is competitive with CSU classifications.

Qualifications

• Full-time exempt position leading toward permanent status after probationary period.

Responsibilities

• Provides retention services including personal, academic, financial and success counseling.
• Develops and implements retention strategies and programming for at‑risk EOP students.
• Coordinates events and programming to support belonging, campus resources, and student engagement.

Job description

EOP Retention Counselor and Coordinator, Student Affairs

Job no: 562711
Work type: Staff
Location: San Marcos
Categories: Unit 4 - APC - Academic Professionals of California, Probationary, Full Time, Student Services, Telecommute eligible (work onsite as scheduled and/or as requested and telecommute as scheduled)
Position Description

Job Overview

Under the direction of the Director of EOP and Project Rebound (the Director), the EOP Counselor/Coordinator (i) provides critical retention services such as personal, academic, financial and success counseling; (ii) develops and implements retention strategies and programming for EOP students who might be “at risk” of academic and financial aid probation, academic and financial aid disqualification, and foundational academic skills building; and (iii) coordinates critical programming that supports sense of belonging, knowledge of campus resources, and meaningful campuswide involvement for EOP students—especially first year and transfer students. The EOP Counselor/Coordinator fulfills the mission of EOP to support students adversely impacted by educational and economic disadvantage; aligns with the CSUSM Strategic Plan to promote academic excellence through a culture of care; and follows the tenets outlined in the CSUSM Student Life Cycle.

Under the direction of the Director, the Counselor/Coordinator is cross-trained and capable of supporting the department in multiple lead areas, including, but not limited to: (i) working with Recruitment and Outreach to facilitate enrollment of EOP eligible students and educate students, families and school counselors within the university service area of the resources and benefits of EOP; (ii) supporting the unique pathway of our EOP eligible transfer students as they navigate their educational journey from community college to CSUSM; (iii) creating impactful foundational programming for first-year students that includes summer onboarding, family orientation, and high touch interventions during their first year; (iv) advocating with Advancement during annual campaigns like Giving Day to share the impact of EOP with donors and philanthropists; (v) maintaining a vital link with campus partners in Financial Aid and the Office of Undergraduate Studies to ensure ready access to resources that support retention and student success; and (vi) coordinating community facing events such as conferences, information sessions, graduation recognition ceremonies, and other events that celebrate and elevate the EOP student experience. In addition to these functional areas, each Counselor/Coordinator will implement best practices for student development as detailed in the CSUSM Student Live Cycle and understand the specific needs of each stage of the cycle—specifically, Engagement, Orientation/Enrollment, Studentship, and Career Preparation.

Together with the Director, the Counselor/Coordinator will represent CSUSM to external community partners and systemwide committees. This position will be called upon as a resource in responding to sensitive equity, crisis, mental health, and individualized issues as they relate to EOP students who may experience food and housing insecurity and other barriers to academic success. This position will serve as a mentor and advisor to students, and a resource to other faculty/staff positions on campus to promote holistic health, leadership development, equity, social equality, and access to basic needs to address the intersectionality of identities of EOP students at CSUSM.

Position Summary

EOP Retention Counselor & Coordinator (Student Services Professional III)

This is a full-time, exemptposition, which will lead toward permanent status following the successful completion of a probationary period.

For a complete list of responsibilities and required qualifications, please review the position description linked at the top of the page.

Pay, Benefits, and Work Schedule

Anticipated Hiring Salary Amount: $5,540 per month

CSU Classification Salary Range: $5,540 - $7,893 per month

Salary is commensurate with the background and experience of the individual selected.

This position is eligible for a broad range of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurances, retirement (CalPERS), tuition waiver, vacation and sick leave. In addition, 15 paid holidays are offered each year; 14 scheduled on specific days and a Personal Holiday that may be taken any time during the year.

This position is eligible for a hybrid work schedule.

California State University San Marcos

A mid-size university located in San Diego's vibrant North County, we are dedicated to service, innovation, leadership and student success. We have an attentive faculty and state-of-the-art facilities which offer our students hundreds of opportunities to learn, lead, play and serve.

California State University San Marcos is a new kind of university, pushing the boundaries of innovation to prepare tomorrow's leaders, build stronger communities and solve pressing issues.

Cutting-edge research meets hands-on application at our campus and in the real world.

Application Process

This position is open until filled. For assurance of full consideration, please submit application, cover letter and resume by 11:59pm on October 19, 2026.

Applicants who require an accommodation during the application or testing process due to a disability recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)/CA Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) should notify the Office of Human Resources at [phone] or e-mail: [e-mail] .

Supplemental Information

Following a conditional offer of employment, satisfactory completion of a background check (including criminal records check) is required prior to beginning employment. Any offer of employmentrescinded 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.

This position is a "designated position" in the California State University's Conflict of Interest Code. The incumbent in this position is required to file Conflict of Interest forms subject to the regulations of the Fair Political Practices Commission.

California State University San Marcos is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, physical or mental disability, gender or sex, genetic information, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, medical condition, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion or religious creed, sexual orientation, and veteran or military status.

Pursuant to the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy, as of January 1, 2022, the California State University is prohibited from hiring employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.

Subject to Education Code 89521, 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 7 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 also 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.

California State University San Marcos is not a sponsoring agent for staff or management positions (i.e. H1-B visas).

Advertised: October 06, 2026 (9:00 AM) Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Open Until Filled

• Unit 4 - APC - Academic Professionals of California 1

Job Search Category/Discipline

• Student Services 1

Time Basis

• Full Time 1

Workplace Type (Exclude Inst Fac)

• Telecommute eligible (work onsite as scheduled and/or as requested and telecommute as scheduled) 1

Outstanding Benefits and Perks

When it comes to treating our employees right, our priorities include providing anoutstanding benefits package. After all, once you become a Cougar, we want to ensurethat you stick around.