CalWORKs Counselor

The faculty member shall be responsible for the following: counseling services and/or teaching assigned classes under the supervision of the area dean; helping students fulfill their maximum potential in mastering course content; assessing student learning outcomes; maintaining a thorough and up-to-date knowledge in their regular teaching field; continuing professional development; utilizing current technology in the performance of job duties; maintaining standards of professional conduct and ethics appropriate to the professional position; assisting with articulation and curriculum development and review; serving on college committees and participating in faculty governance including accreditation and student co-curricular activities; assuming other responsibilities as assigned by the area dean; fulfilling other duties and responsibilities of a full-time faculty member.

The department maintains a focus on:

• Counseling academically and/or economically disadvantaged students
• Crisis intervention counseling
• Career exploration and decision making
• Outreach activities
• International students
• Trends and challenges facing community college students
• Counseling designed to support student retention and success
• Program development and coordination
• Mentoring/coaching
• Empathetic and active listening counseling

The assignment may include instructing classes, which could result in a Counselor/Instructional split assignment.

Position Salary Information: Initial maximum salary placement is based on academic degree, upper/graduate level units earned, and/or related professional occupational experience per the Los Rios College Federation of Teachers Contract (the initial maximum placement is Class V, Step 1).

Typical Duties

The assignment may include, but is not limited to:

Academic/Career Counseling

• Participating in the planning and implementation of Guided Pathways, matriculation, onboarding, case management service delivery, and counseling program as directed.
• Providing individual and group counseling to assist students in making decisions regarding associate’s of arts/associate’s of science/associate’s degree of transfer, transfer, and career/occupational goals.
• Providing short-term crisis counseling services to students as needed.
• Facilitating the use of career assessments and inventories for students, and interpreting the results.
• Working collaboratively with campus departments, such as Admissions and Records and Financial Aid, in order to appropriately advise students.
• Using current technology to assist students in developing an educational plan based on needs, interests, abilities, achievements, and aptitude, including referrals to instructional and other support services designed to assist students in achieving their educational and/or career goals.
• Using current technology to assist student in exploring careers, in developing an understanding of the employment environment and in making and implementing career decisions.
• Using current technology, preparing and maintaining counseling records, relaying pertinent information to college personnel as needed, and respecting the confidentiality of such records as required by law.
• Using current technology to provide counseling services to students attending the college through distance education programs.
• Developing knowledge and maintaining collaborative working relationships with instructional areas, outreach centers, feeder high schools, neighboring colleges, and community resource agencies.
• Providing counseling for issues impacting persistence and academic success (i.e. academic probation and academic dismissal) and referring students to resources as appropriate and necessary.
• Using multi-tasking skills while synthesizing information accurately and efficiently.
• Using Microsoft Word, spreadsheets, and other databases to organize and track data.
• Developing an individualized Integrated Student Educational Plan (ISEP) to each eligible student and monitoring students’ academic progress.
• Providing services to meet students’ educational goals such as degree or certificate, transfer, vocational, skills building and/or professional development.
• Assisting students in assessing, planning, and implementing immediate and long-range goals.
• Working with four-year colleges and universities to assist students in a smooth transition to those institutions.
• May teach classes that include college success skills, personal development, career exploration and career decisions-making skills. In addition to: (a) Human Career Development (HCD) 115, Orientation to College, (b) HCD 122, Study Skills, (c) HCD 160 Applied Life and Success Skills, and (d) HCD 330, Life and Career Planning.

Personal Counseling

• Assisting students with life issues that interfere with academic success.

Crisis Intervention

• Providing students with campus and community services directly or through cooperative arrangement.

Multi-Cultural Counseling

• Maintaining an understanding of diverse and multi-cultural backgrounds and the appropriateness of counseling approaches.

Performing other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

1. Have a master’s 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 the equivalent. All degrees must be from an accredited institution completed by date of hire. (NOTE: A bachelor’s degree in one of the listed degrees and a license as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) is an alternative qualification for this discipline.)
2. Have an equity-minded focus, responsiveness, and sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, including those with physical or learning disabilities as it relates to differences in learning styles; and successfully foster and support an inclusive educational and employment environment.