Student Support Specialist (TEMP)

San Jose State University; San Jose (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

San José State University is seeking a Student Support Specialist to drive retention and persistence under the ASAP grant. The role focuses on culturally responsive services that promote success for low‑income, first‑generation, and underserved AANHPI students, and other underrepresented groups.

The specialist will conduct outreach across the student lifecycle, guide navigation of university systems, and help students connect to campus resources while not acting as a primary academic advisor.

Qualifications

• Provides culturally responsive services that enhance the educational experiences and promote the success of low‑income, first‑generation, and underserved AANHPI students and other underrepresented groups.
• Supports re‑enrollment and ongoing retention by identifying and engaging students who are not enrolled in subsequent terms.
• Uses outreach methods (e.g., phone banking) and student data systems to assess barriers to persistence.
• Collaborates with academic advising units and campus partners while not serving as a primary academic advisor.

Responsibilities

• Advances retention and persistence efforts under the CSU ASAP grant to support student success and equity.
• Navigates university systems with students, connecting them to campus resources across the student lifecycle (first‑year, transfer, continuing).
• Fosters belonging and academic success through proactive outreach, guidance, and referrals to appropriate campus services.
• Contributes to data tracking and reporting to strengthen retention outcomes and inform targeted strategies.

Job description

The Student Support Specialist supports San José State University’s commitment to student success and equity by advancing retention and persistence efforts under the CSU Advancing Student Achievement Program (ASAP) grant. The position is responsible for providing culturally responsive services that enhance the educational experiences and promote the success of low-income, first-generation, and underserved Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) students, as well as other underrepresented student populations. Reporting directly to the Senior Director of Identity-Based Retention Centers, the Student Support Specialist implements proactive outreach and engagement strategies to support students throughout the student lifecycle—including first-year, transfer, and continuing students—in navigating the university, connecting to campus resources, and persisting from term to term. The Student Support Specialist provides guidance on university systems and fosters a sense of belonging and academic success. A key function of this role is to support re-enrollment and ongoing retention efforts by identifying and conducting outreach to students who are not enrolled in subsequent terms. Using tools such as phone banking and student data systems, the Student Support Specialist assesses barriers to persistence, including academic, financial, housing, and basic needs challenges and facilitates timely referrals to appropriate campus services. The position collaborates closely with academic advising units and campus partners to ensure coordinated support, while not serving as a primary academic advisor. The Student Support Specialist contributes to the CSU ASAP grant-funded initiatives and targeted retention strategies, including efforts to improve outcomes for male-identified undergraduate students, and supports data tracking and reporting to strengthen retention outcomes.

Equal Employment Statement:

SJSU is an Equal Opportunity Aff...

It is the policy of SJSU to provide reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities who self-disclose.