"Assistant Professor/Counselor (Noncredit)"

Job Details

Assistant Professor/Counselor (Noncredit)
Rancho Santiago Community College District

Salary Range: $89,384.09 - $147,056.08/11-month academic year, depending upon education and experience

Job Type: Full Time

Job Number: AC25-01316

Location: Santa Ana, CA

Division: Santa Ana School of Continuing Education

Closing: 2/4/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

POSITION DETAILS

About Rancho Santiago Community College District

Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) is one of the most established districts in the state and has been in operation for nearly 50 years. Located in the heart of Orange County, it is one of the largest of California's 72 community college districts, based on the number of credit and non-credit students. RSCCD encompasses 25 percent of Orange County's total area and serves a population of more than 700,000 residents in the communities of Anaheim Hills, Orange, Santa Ana, Villa Park, and portions of Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Fountain Valley, Garden Grove, Tustin, and Yorba Linda. The district includes Santiago Canyon College and Santa Ana College, as well as the Centennial and Orange Continuing Education Centers, the Digital Media Center, the Joint Powers Fire Training Center, the Orange County Sheriff's Regional Training Academy, the College and Workforce Preparation Center, and the District Operations Center. RSCCD's three (3) auxiliary Foundations are actively involved in supporting both community and campus programs.

RSCCD's student population is a direct reflection of the diverse communities in the surrounding neighborhoods. The district has the honor of serving approximately 55,537 students: 51% Hispanic/Latinx, 20% White, 9% Asian & Filipino, and 2% are African American. RSCCD is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and serves predominately historically underrepresented students. There is a commitment to foster student-centered values among our employees to provide equitable student learning, academic excellence, and workforce development. By delivering high-quality educational programs and student support services, the district ensures that students have the appropriate resources to achieve their goals.

At RSCCD, our mission is to integrate diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and justice into all aspects of student academics and employee relations. Thus, creating transformational experiences that prepares students and employees to engage in the world with a renewed sense-of-self. Through this commitment, Rancho Santiago Community College District strives to cultivate a learning environment that prioritizes respect, to ensure that RSCCD stakeholders feel valued and supported throughout their academic and professional careers.

About the Position

The ideal candidate will demonstrate cultural competency in serving diverse community college student populations, including those with differing abilities, AB 540 students, DACA recipients, Foreign Residents, VACA participants, Dual Enrollment, and Continuing Education students. They will support RSCCD's mission to promote self-awareness, knowledge, and communication skills, enabling students to participate creatively and confidently in an ever-changing world.

Candidates will cultivate an inclusive classroom culture that engages and supports a diverse student population. They should effectively teach students from varied ethnic, racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds, including those with disabilities or differing academic preparation levels. Candidates should show sensitivity to diverse learning needs and a commitment to equity and anti-racism. They will help empower students to achieve their educational and career goals while fostering creativity, confidence, and lifelong learning.

About the Department

At the Santa Ana College School of Continuing Education Counseling Department, our mission is to provide comprehensive academic guidance, individualized support, and career counseling to our diverse student community. We are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment while collaborating closely with faculty, administrators, and staff to empower students to achieve their educational, personal, and professional goals.

The Counseling Department is dedicated to advancing student equity, promoting lifelong learning, and empowering continuing education students to achieve their academic, career, and personal goals. The School of Continuing Education reported an unduplicated headcount of 29,731 students and offered 14,117 individual counseling sessions throughout the year. The counseling team actively supports the broader academic mission of the college by fostering a safe, inclusive, and culturally responsive learning environment. Counselors provide comprehensive services through individual counseling sessions, orientations for incoming and prospective students, and support for those transitioning into School of Continuing Education programs, including High School Diploma, High School Equivalency, Career Education, and English as a Second Language.

The department also leads student success workshops and participates in the annual Student Success Conference to strengthen academic achievement, encourage personal wellbeing, and build students' sense of belonging. To support pathways to upward mobility, counselors deliver workshops and individualized guidance designed to promote a seamless transition from noncredit to credit coursework. Recent efforts, including the expansion of Adult Dual Enrollment, offer SCE students new opportunities to engage in college-level courses that accelerate transition, skill development, and program completion. Recognizing that students come with a wide range of life experiences and needs, counselors provide holistic support by assessing individual circumstances and connecting students to on-campus and community resources. To further increase student access, counselors regularly collaborate with community partners and bring resources directly to students through workshops, orientations, and classroom presentations. These efforts ensure that all students have the information, support, and opportunities necessary to reach their goals.

About the College

Santa Ana College (SAC), a proud Hispanic-Serving Institution within the Rancho Santiago Community College District, is committed to advancing equitable access, academic excellence, and transformative learning. Serving a diverse student population across credit and noncredit programs, SAC provides robust academic pathways, vocational/workforce preparation, and lifelong learning opportunities. The School of Continuing Education (SCE) extends SAC's mission into the community, serving 29,731 adult learners annually and offering programs in English as a Second Language, Career Education, High School Diploma and Equivalency, Citizenship, Parenting, Older Adults, and more. Through culturally responsive instruction, community-focused partnerships, and high-impact student services, SAC empowers learners to achieve their educational, career, and personal goals while contributing to the economic and cultural vitality of the region.

General Responsibilities

Counselors provide academic, career and personal counseling by assisting current and prospective students with course and program information, career exploration, educational planning, career selection, and the identification and exploration of personal concerns. They provide assessment opportunities and use the results in helping students with course and program selection. Counselors may teach courses as assigned by the Dean of Counseling. They provide assistance to students on academic probation and assist in the monitoring of student progress with emphasis in helping students to achieve their educational goals. When appropriate, they refer students to other student services programs or community resources. They may participate in staff development and in-service training activities. They perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications

(Applicants must meet one of the following):

• Possess from an accredited institution: A master's degree in counseling, rehabilitation counseling, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, guidance counseling, educational counseling, social work, career development, marriage and family therapy or marriage, family and child counseling, OR (NOTE: A bachelor's degree in one of the above listed degrees and a license as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) is an alternative qualification for this discipline), OR
• Possess a valid California Community College credential; OR
• The equivalent (applicants who do not meet the above minimum qualifications must complete the Equivalencies Section in the application form.): Any masters degree or higher and 30 graduate units completed in the discipline

AND

• Candidate must demonstrate clear evidence of sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, ability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, staff, and the community. Experience in teaching students from diverse ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds who have diverse identities and varying levels of proficiency.

Desirable Qualifications

• A working knowledge of and experience with student learning outcomes and assessment.
• Experience with interdisciplinary and community engagement.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, establish and meet deadlines, and work cooperatively with others.
• Bilingual (Spanish)

APPLICATION PROCESS

To ensure full consideration, all applicants must submit a complete online Rancho Santiago Community College District application that includes the items listed below by the position's closing date. The application process will align with RSCCD Administrative Regulations 7120.1 Full-Time Faculty Recruitment and Selection.

A Complete Application Packet Must Include the Following:

1. RSCCD Online Application
2. Cover Letter
3. Curriculum Vitae (CV) or Resume - details all relevant education, training, teaching experience (including courses taught) and other work experience.
4. Academic Transcripts (Unofficial copies of undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate transcripts).

Hiring Process Timeline

It is anticipated that the screening activities will be conducted as follows:

• Week of February 9, 2026: Screening Begins
• Week of March 9, 2026: Initial Interviews
• Month of March: Final Interviews with the College President
• July 31, 2026: Start of Fall 2026