Lead General Advisor and Retention Specialist
Job Description
Position Summary (Student Services Professional III)
San Diego State University is seeking a dynamic and dedicated individual to join our Residential Education team as a Lead Residential Education Office General Advisor and Retention Specialist (GARS). Reporting to the Associate Director of Student Care and Academic Initiatives, this role is pivotal in developing and implementing advising and programs aimed at fostering academic excellence and personal growth among residential students.
Key Responsibilities
Comprehensive Student Advising: Provide academic and holistic advising to students living on campus, offering guidance on course selection, degree evaluation, self-awareness, personal growth, and academic probation. Make referrals to campus resources as needed.
Initiative Implementation: Develop and implement initiatives to improve communications with students through in-person presentations, workshops, and web-based technology.
Program Development: Facilitate student success by creating and executing programs and workshops tailored to their needs.
Support and Supervision: Oversee the STAR Centers (academic resource labs)/Tutoring Center, including the recruitment, training, and supervision of undergraduate peer advisers and tutors, ensuring that students receive appropriate advising.
Collaboration with Campus Partners: Work closely with individual Colleges, and other campus partners to provide consistent and effective advising and support high-impact practice opportunities such as internships, study abroad, and research.
Generalist Support: Provide backup support to other program coordinators within the department to enhance retention, academic excellence, and graduation rates.
Additional Responsibilities
Participate in various Residential Education programs.
Complete program-related tasks or projects assigned by the appropriate administrator.
Provide evening and weekend support as part of the role.
If you are passionate about guiding and supporting the academic and personal development of residential students, join us in making a difference at San Diego State University by fostering academic success and personal growth in our residential community!
Position Information
This is a full-time (1.0 time-base), benefits eligible, temporary position with an anticipated end date of June 30, 2026, with the possibility of reappointment.
This position is designated exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation.
Standard SDSU work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs. (Ability to work evenings and weekends)
The individual hired into this role will work on campus at SDSU in San Diego.
Department Summary
The Residential Education Office is designated as the University department responsible for planning and administering Residential Education programs and services including those in traditional residence halls and apartment complexes. The Residential Education Office serves to enhance student life and success through a comprehensive living-learning experience that provides academic and personal support, contact with faculty, educational programs, community activities, student leadership development and multicultural learning opportunities. The department is part of the Vice President for Student Affairs and Campus Diversity/Dean of Students sub-division.
The Residential Education Office strives to provide safe and supportive on campus living learning communities where diverse students are challenged to develop holistically; as scholars, citizens, and leaders.
Residential Education staff members are dedicated to providing curricular and cocurricular experiences to develop and enhance residents’ academic success, awareness and appreciation of diversity, and civic responsibility.
Residential Education’s values are a set of core beliefs that guide our work with students, colleagues, faculty, and other constituents. While contributing to the goals of the University and the Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity, staff members of the Residential Education Office strive to:
Achieve excellence in all that we do.
Address students as unique individuals with multidimensional needs and unlimited potential for personal development.
Promote integrity, accountability, responsibility, respect, and collaboration.
Promote the connectedness between curricular and co-curricular learning.
Embrace, celebrate, and educate on issues related to diversity.
Develop communities that embrace civic responsibility, life-long learning, and healthy lifestyles.
Maintain balance and perspective, serving as sound role models for others.
Innovate, evaluate, and refine programs to best meet the needs of the changing student population.
To accomplish these objectives, Residential Education employs approximately 18 Residence Hall Coordinators, 231 paraprofessional team members, a central office staff of 18 and a variety of student assistants.
Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity
The Division works proactively to address systemic inequities through professional learning, community building, advocacy, policy recommendations and organizational structures, while facilitating an integrated vision and shared responsibility for prioritizing and advancing institutional goals. We aim to foster an affirming campus culture based on the core values of excellence, equity, diversity, belonging and inclusion through:
Recruiting and retaining faculty and staff who are reflective of the diverse student body and communities served by SDSU, and recruiting students who are representative of the rich diversity of the region and the world;
Fostering an environment that is welcoming, affirming, and empowering for students, faculty, staff, and alumni of all backgrounds;
Enhancing the career and educational pathways of a diverse student body, the faculty, and staff, including enhancing the learning environment and expanding learning opportunities for all students inside and outside the classroom, and expanding and connecting opportunities for students to participate in transformational experiences;
Developing leaders who believe in and lead others toward supporting civility, mutual respect and diversity in our society and workplaces; and
Cultivating relationships with the local community that advance the well-being of diverse individuals and communities.
Position upholds the Student Affairs and Campus Diversity Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, specifically:
“The Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity acknowledges and honors the inherent value and dignity of all individuals by creating and nurturing a learning and working environment that affirms and leverages our community’s diversity of traditions, heritages, perspectives, and experiences. We are committed to fostering a culture of inclusive excellence designed to facilitate the personal and professional success, growth, development, and well-being of all members of our community. We manifest this commitment through our innovative, strategic, and collaborative efforts to develop leaders who believe in and lead others toward practicing civility, mutual respect, and inclusion in our workplaces and society.”
For more information regarding the Housing & Residential Education department
Education and Experience
Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university in a related field; including or supplemented by upper division or graduate coursework in counseling techniques, interviewing and conflict resolution where such are job related. Possession of the required knowledge and abilities is typically demonstrated through the equivalent of three years of progressively responsible professional student services work experience. One year in the program area to which assigned may be preferred but is not required.
A master’s degree in counseling, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, or a directly related field may be substituted for one year of experience. A doctorate degree and the appropriate internship or clinical training in counseling or guidance may be substituted for the three years of experience for positions with a major responsibility for professional career or personal counseling.
Key Qualifications
Understanding of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act with regards to the maintenance of academic and judicial records of individual students.
Understanding of reporting responsibilities outlined as a “Responsible Employee” and “Campus Security Authority” under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Act.
Ability to learn and acquire knowledge of Title V, CSU policies and procedures, and University rules and regulations and their application to student organizations, student activities and express and student governance structures.
Familiarity with academic advising practices.
Organizational and programming skills.
Effective interpersonal skills required to build and maintain cooperative working relationships among diverse individuals and groups.
Ability to understand, develop and effectively monitor fiscal budgets.
Ability to speak before all groups of students and possess the skills necessary to deal with sensitive and confidential issues.
Compensation and Benefits
Starting salary upon appointment is not expected to exceed $5,540 per month.
Salary placement is determined by the education, experience, and qualifications the candidate brings to the position, internal equity, and the hiring department’s fiscal resources.
San Diego State University offers a rich benefits package that constitutes a major portion of total compensation. For more information regarding SDSU benefits, please click here.
CSU Classification Salary Range: $5,540 – $7,893 per month.