Academic Counselor

Summary

This position is part of the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), Department of the Interior (DOI). As a Guidance Counselor (Academic) you will be responsible for providing academic support services and resources to students.

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Duties

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As a Guidance Counselor (Academics)/Academic Counselor, GS-1740-11 , your typical work assignments may include the following under supervision:

• Serve as an advisor and counselor to first-year students, returning and continuing students, and students with disabilities.
• Provide direct and indirect academic support to help students navigate college systems, access student services, and utilize available on and off campus resources as students begin and continue their education with emphasis of cultural integration in areas supportive co-curricular activities.
• Administer career assessments to evaluate students' interests, needs, and career goals and build upon specific educational plans appropriate to degree or certificate program.
• Provide individual and group academic counseling services to all student with a strong emphasis on adult learners and students on probation or suspension.
• Gather, organize, and analyze student data to support effective academic counseling and non academic assessment program objectives and criteria. Maintain accurate and complete student records as required by laws, policies, and administrative regulations.
• Contribute to SIPI's strategic and academic initiatives by supporting integrated advisement with faculty/advisors, strengthens guided pathways towards workforce development and student transitioning, assist with student learning in retention, persistence, and degree completion efforts aligned with program assessment, strategic planning, and continuous improvement requirements.
• Strengthen internal and external partnerships with tribal, state, and federal government workforces and higher educational institutional pathways for student internships and graduate students.
• Support Guide Pathways model for integrated advisement.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Be sure to read the 'How to Apply' and 'Required Documents' Sections.
• U.S. Citizenship is required.
• A background security investigation will be required for all new hires. Appointment will be subject to the applicant's successful completion of a background security investigation and favorable adjudication.
• As a condition of employment, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial or 1-year probationary period during which your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated.
• If you are a male applicant born after 12/31/1959, you are required to register under the Military Selective Service Act and the Defense Authorization Act of 1986, in order to be eligible for appointment to this agency.
• Driving Requirement (Required only at time of appointment): Incumbent may be required, as an incidental duty, to operate a government-owned or leased motor vehicle, in the performance of duties, therefore, a valid driver's license is required.
• Term Appointments do not confer competitive /permanent status (5 CFR Part 316).

Qualifications

Applicants must meet the qualification requirements contained in the OPM Standards. For this position, they are listed below.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS:

Degree: that included or was supplemented by at least 24 semester hours appropriate to the position to be filled in one or a combination of the areas described below. At least one course must have been from (1) or (2) below.

1. Tests and measurement: Study of the selection, evaluation, administration, scoring, interpretation, and uses of group and individual aptitude, proficiency, interest, and other tests.
2. Adult education: Study of the adult as a learner, teaching-learning theories for adults, models and procedures for planning, designing, managing, and evaluating adult learning activities.
3. Educational program administration: Study of the foundation and methods in organizing for adult and continuing education programs.
4. Curriculum development or design: Study of the principles and techniques for development of curricula for adult or vocational education programs.
5. Teaching methods: Study of teaching strategies and learning styles of the adult learner.
6. Guidance and counseling: Study of the purposes and methods in counseling and guidance, the role of the counselor in various settings, approaches to counseling, and the uses of tests in the counseling situation.
7. Career planning: Study of career development, learning activities, systems, approaches, program coordination, use of educational and community resources, and vocational counseling systems.
8. Occupational information: Study of theories of occupational choice and vocational development and their application to the guidance process. Identification and utilization of various types of occupational information and resources.

AND

For guidance counselor positions, a completed college or university-sponsored practicum in education services counseling is required.

In addition to meeting the Basic Requirements, you must also meet the following Minimum Qualifications requirements:

SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE: Experience that equipped the applicant with the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position, and that is typically in or related to the work of the position to be filled. To be creditable, specialized experience must have been equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization.

GS-11: 1 year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the GS-9 grade level in the federal service. Examples include: providing individual and group academic counseling services to students; academic planning to assist students; develop educational plans (promote educational, personal and career goals); assist students with scheduling classes and completing class registration.

OR

3 years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to a Ph.D. degree or Ph.D. or equivalent doctoral degree in a field directly related to the work of the position.

OR

Combination of specialized experience and more than two years of graduate education, as described above, and when combined together meets 100% of the total requirements for the position.

All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of this announcement.

Education

EDUCATION: Transcripts MUST be uploaded and electronically linked from USAJOBS at the time you apply and MUST include identifying information to include School Name, Student Name, credit hours, major, and grade-point average or class ranking, degree and date awarded. All academic degrees and coursework must be completed at a college or university that has obtained accreditation or pre-accreditation status from an accrediting body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE).

Applicants are responsible for providing documentation that the educational requirements have been met. To qualify based on education you must submit a legible copy of your transcripts. Official transcripts are required upon selection if you qualified based on education. Education must have been obtained from an accredited or pre-accredited institution recognized by the U.S. DOE (click here) in order for it to be credited towards qualifications.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements if you can show that the foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the U.S. (click here).

Additional information

The pay flexibilities of a recruitment bonus, relocation bonus or student loan repayment may be authorized, pending availability of funds and management approval.

Initial appointments to the competitive or excepted service: The probationary or trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider:

• Your performance and conduct;
• The needs and interests of the agency;
• Whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• Whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your probationary or trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Bargaining Unit Status : Position is covered by Bargaining Unit/Union - Federation of Indian Service Employees, American Federation of Teachers Local 4521.

Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)/Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) Documentation: The CTAP/ICTAP provides placement assistance (click here for more details, here for DOI's policy) to permanent Federal civilian employees who are surplus, displaced, or involuntarily separated. Applicants claiming eligibility must submit a 1) copy of their most recent performance appraisal, 2) proof of eligibility, 3) most current SF-50 noting position, grade level, and duty location with their application. To be considered, applicants must be well-qualified (i.e., meet the minimum qualification requirements, including any selective placement factors; education, and experience requirements), score at least 85 on the assessment questionnaire, and be able to perform the duties of the position upon entry.

Veterans' Preference: If you are a Veteran with preference eligibility and you are claiming 5-points veterans' preference, you must submit a copy of your DD-214 (member 4 copy) or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you must also submit an SF-15 plus the proof required by that form.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

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A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

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Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.