"Student Services Specialist (NJ STARS)"

Details

Posted: 24-Dec-25

Location: Cranford, New Jersey

Categories: Advising/Counseling, Staff/Administrative

Internal Number: 11538

Union County College is a public comprehensive community college providing quality, affordable, accessible educational programs that serve the greater Union County region. It is the oldest of New Jerseys 19 Associate Degree Colleges, serving both career-minded and transfer-oriented students since 1933. The College enrolls almost 30,000 credit, non-credit and continuing education students and is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Many programs lead to the Associate in Arts, Science and Applied Science degrees.

Campus: Cranford

General Description:

Responsible for resolving registration issues related to advising, testing, and any other registration related issues. Student Services Specialist offers the unique advising capabilities to students seeking career advice or guidance for transfer or dual/joint admission programs. The Specialist develops programs to address student retention goals and supporting student workshops. The Specialist measures, and may develop measurements for, student learning and outcomes.

This position is specifically focused on our NJ STARS population. This position will ensure NJ STARS students complete on time within the NJ STARS parameters. This position manages the transcript review process of NJ STARS students from start to finish ensures the detailed documentation of student transcript reviews, follows up with students concerning their degree progress with a focus on timely completion. This position collaborates with Financial Aid and HESAA to ensure NJ STARS students are awarded accurately and in accordance with state regulations and collaborates with American Honors to promote a holistic experience between American Honors and NJ STARS students.

Characteristics, Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides intrusive academic advising with focus on educational planning and timely program completion.
• Engages student in career assessment analysis to provide guidance to student on interests and skills.
• Provides career advising including values clarification and other strategies which support personal, academic, and vocational development/growth.
• Facilitates New Student Orientation sessions.
• Consults with the appropriate department to resolve problems or policy concerns evolving from within the sections of the program or unit supervised.
• Assists with developing student learning/development outcomes measures for Advising and Student Development goals and objectives; collects appropriate data; and completes assessments of results assigned; recommends modifications to existing services based on outcomes.
• Has knowledge of successful retention strategies and implements student retention programs as directed.
• Develops and implements student development workshops for new student orientation, career and employment topics, and personal development.
• Prepares reports and studies containing findings and recommendations for the review, information, and assistance of the student development division.
• Responsible for specific sub-cohorts of students, to improve retention and completion of those particular sub-cohorts.
• Serves on ad hoc committees as required.
• Provides data on outcomes and weekly reporting activities and outreach.
• Maintains records/data regarding services as directed.
• Performs related responsibilities as assigned by supervisor or designee.

Education Requirements:

Master's Degree required in Higher Education or a master's degree and experience to demonstrate core competencies

Experience:

Two (2) years' experience in college counseling and academic advising or equivalent preferred.

Competencies and Skills Required:

Two (2) years' experience in college counseling and academic advising or equivalent preferred.

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

This position's duties are normally performed in a typical interior/residence work environment, based on the activity scheduled. Some physical effort required; however, the employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. No or very limited exposure to physical risk. Some travel required