Counseling Assistant

Counseling Assistant

Orange Coast College (OCC) is seeking equity-minded individuals for a classified employee role as a Counseling Assistant under the Student Services Wing, as part of the Counseling Division. OCC's 164-acre campus is located in Costa Mesa, just minutes from Southern California's beautiful beaches, with its main campus in Costa Mesa and a campus in Newport Beach (Waterfront Campus). OCC was founded in 1947 with the mission to serve the educational needs of a diverse local and global community. The College empowers students to achieve their goals by providing high-quality, culturally responsive, and innovative programs and services through pathways leading to degrees, transfers, certificates, foundational skills, workforce development, and lifelong learning. The College promotes student development, learning, and equitable outcomes by fostering a respectful, inclusive, caring, and participatory campus climate of student engagement and academic inquiry. Ideal candidates for this position will share OCC's dedication to transforming lives through education, with a strong commitment to serving a diverse and vibrant student population.

OCC is a recognized leader in preparing students for transfer to four-year institutions and holds the prestigious designations of both a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institution (AANAPISI). The college also boasts state-of-the-art facilities and is the first community college in Southern California to offer on-campus residential housing with over 300 apartment units, further enhancing the student experience.

Counseling services at Orange Coast College are in place to help students identify and clarify personal, career, and educational goals. The intent is to help students choose options that will improve the quality of their lives. The Counseling Division serves all students, whether bound for transfer or in pursuit of career and technical programs. Counselors work to encourage students to explore interests and goals across the curriculum. This is done holistically within the context of each student's background, competencies, motivation, family situation, and outside obligations. Counseling intersects and collaborates with instructional disciplines, student services, four-year colleges, universities, and local high schools to provide targeted interventions to students from recruitment and onboarding through graduation and educational goal completion. The Counseling Department shares Orange Coast College's commitment to equitable outcomes, inclusive practices, and racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity. Ideal candidates for this position share Orange Coast College's devotion to educating and improving the lives of our representative students, employees, and community populations.

The Coast Community College District is a multi-college district that includes Coastline Community College, Golden West College, and Orange Coast College. The three colleges offer programs in transfer, general education, occupational/technical education, community services, and student support services. Coastline, Golden West, and Orange Coast colleges enroll more than 60,000 students each year in more than 300 degree and certificate programs. Since its founding in 1947, the Coast Community College District has enjoyed a reputation as one of the leading community college districts in the United States. The Coast Community College District values diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and anti-racism by creating a culture of inclusive excellence that uplifts employees and students through an environment that is equitable, diverse, inclusive, and accessible.

Provides clerical and technical support to students, faculty, and counselors in the delivery of counseling, career planning, and college information services. Interacts with and assists students by directing them to the resources they need to engage as a student. Assists with outreach by participating in orientations, presentations, and events. The Counseling Assistant serves as intake and the first level of conveying information, introducing occupations and careers fulfilled by the College, and assisting students to navigate through the enrollment and counseling process. Advancement potential exists to Counseling Technician with a minimum of two years in a capacity equivalent to Counseling Assistant and a demonstrated ability to offer higher-level advising of students with their career exploration, interpret aptitude and placement tests, and monitor student records for acceptable academic progress.

Identifies, assembles, prepares, and distributes information relating to available community college programs, alternatives, careers, and educational planning, transfer programs, and academic and student support services. Assists counselors in providing supportive services by performing pre-counseling and follow-up activities relating to individual student cases, campus-wide programs, and counseling activities. Serves as a student advocate to navigate matriculation. Participates in conducting student tours and orientation sessions involving the oral and written distribution of pertinent information to new and transferring students. Provides advisement assistance for students during registration and enrollment periods, recommending appropriate classes and planning schedules for counselor approval. Assists students in navigating career assessment and interest instruments and assists with career research. Maintains and updates counseling records pertaining to students' academic progress, course and major choices, career interests, and problem areas. Refers students to available and pertinent college or community programs or services that enhance their ability to maintain an active status. Serves as a first point-of-contact for calls and walk-in visitors. Responds to inquiries for general information, encourages current and prospective students to visit, and refers callers to other resources that can provide further assistance. Participates in, and may organize and facilitate special activities, presentations, and outreach activities. Composes routine correspondence and compiles student and other data to support research and reports. Schedules and follows up on appointments arranged for students with counselors. Responsible for providing functional oversight and work direction to students and/or hourly support staff, as assigned, including such activities as the assignment of tasks and duties, distribution of work, training, scheduling, and checking on work performed in collaboration. Performs other related duties as assigned that support the objective of the position. Required to abide by all District policies and procedures, including Board Policy 3050 – Code of Professional Ethics.

The position requires working knowledge of the matriculation and onboarding processes used for new students and policies, procedures, student services, and academic support programs. Requires working knowledge of the resources and materials available within the college or community to assist students in pursuing academic or vocational interests. Requires working knowledge of modern office practices and procedures, including filing systems, records, and privacy of information, and appointment scheduling. Requires working knowledge of the use of spreadsheets and/or databases for storing and transferring data. Requires knowledge of community college enrollment practices, including eligibility requirements for priority registration. Requires knowledge of proper American English language composition, syntax, grammar, usage, vocabulary, spelling, and punctuation sufficient to compose specialized correspondence. Requires sufficient math skills to perform basic business computations, record statistical data, and follow budget and purchasing procedures. Requires sufficient human relations skills to facilitate group processes, deliver informal presentations, and explain technical concepts to students with diverse backgrounds. Requires the ability to carry out the essential responsibilities and functions of the position, providing support to students and assisting with counseling services. Requires the ability to identify resources, services, and programs to further assist students in vocational or academic pursuits. Requires the ability to give initial academic and career suggestions to prepare them for counselor conferences. Requires the ability to explain college policies and procedures, assist and make referrals for students with concerns and problems, and suggest available alternatives for problem resolution. Requires the ability to perform a variety of clerical duties, including and are not limited to scheduling and filing relating to counseling support services. Requires the ability to become familiar with and interpret college catalogs, program eligibility and guidelines, and career/occupational literature. Requires the ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with those contacted during the course of work. Requires the ability to be respectful of and sensitive to the diverse backgrounds of students. The general physical demands, working conditions, and essential job functions associated with this classification will be kept on file with the Office of Human Resources. Essential functions will vary by position. As defined by Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") and California's Fair Employment and Housing Act ("FEHA"), the District shall engage in a timely, good faith interactive process with employees or employment applicants who are requesting or are in need of reasonable accommodations and, provide reasonable accommodations for employees or employment applicants who, because of their disability, are limited in or unable to perform one or more of the essential functions of their job in accordance with applicable state and federal law. The position typically requires an Associate's degree in psychology, education, or a related field and concurrent reception/office experience. Or, any combination of education and experience that would meet the required equivalent qualifications for the position. Additional experience in a counseling, career planning, or enrollment office may substitute for some post-secondary education. Evidence of demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, geographic, gender, gender identity, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students. May require a valid driver's license. Work is performed indoors, where minimal safety considerations exist.

This is a permanent, general-funded, full-time (40 hours per week) 12-month-per-year classified position. The normal hours of work will be Monday and Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9:30 am to 6:30 pm, with the flexibility to occasionally work extended hours and/or weekends as needed to meet the department's needs. The effective date of employment will be arranged with the supervisor. The District provides medical, dental, and vision insurance for the employee and eligible dependents, and life insurance for the employee. (Salary Schedule: EE-113 + 3% fluctuating shift differential) Please note that job offers are conditional and are contingent upon the successful completion of a satisfactory