Student Services Professional

STUDENT SERVICES PROFESSIONAL

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs): Knowledge of a specific student services area. Knowledge of applicable state and federal laws. Presentation skills. Customer service skills. Ability to manage sensitive issues. Ability to think critically and make sound decisions. Ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups. Ability to build relationships. Ability to mentor and motivate others. Ability to use relevant technology.

Role Description

Responsible for providing specialized advice, coordination, guidance, and expertise for a specific student-related function. Demonstrates a level of expertise in one or more complex areas and is responsible for advising and guiding students and their families in a more complex area requiring professional preparation. This role regularly participates in relevant professional development activities to ensure relevancy with current practices and knowledge. May oversee the work of others; however, this is a secondary function of the role. Competencies for this role are usually gained through formal education, specialized training, and/or experience in a program or specialty area specific to the position responsibilities.

Typical Functions:

Student Services/Programming
Provides specialized services to students.
Provides direction and guidance to student groups.
Counsels, advises, coaches, and serves as an advocate for students in area of expertise within student services.
Identifies, resolves, or refers issues through discussions with students, faculty, and staff, as appropriate.
Identifies appropriate referral resources for students, often in response to crisis management.
Performs student engagement and retention activities to help develop students to achieve desired outcomes.
Responsible for ensuring student safety.
Meets with supervisor and senior leadership to provide recommendations and advice on the area of specialty.
Designs, delivers, implements, and assesses presentations, programs, and events.
Manages program budgets.
Performs outreach activities for internal and external audiences, often in collaboration with other areas.
Teaches classes and college-level courses, often in collaboration with others.
Provides consultation and guidance on career planning and other student related
Provides academic advice to students in matters related to goals, policies, choice of curriculum, course load, study habits, course scheduling, academic action, and problem resolution.
Advises students and parents on educational programs and opportunities including admissions, financial aid, and international student issues.
Recruits students by attending college fair programs, visiting high schools, participating in campus recruitment activities, and/or other recruitment activities.

Administrative
Sets and monitors strategic plans for recruitment activities or academic goals.
Prepares reports and assessments, provides recommendations to management, and implements new services resulting from assessments.
Develops and maintains partnerships with internal and external resources, which may include securing funding.
Participates in professional organizations and may publish in professional publications.
Designs, consults on, plans, and oversees special projects.
Enforces and monitors activities for compliance with applicable procedures, policies, rules, and regulations.
Participates in long-range strategic planning process for the department.
Responsible for facility management.

Supervision
Supervises and/or provides work direction for staff and students or a functional area.
Coaches, mentors, and trains staff.

Levels

Student Services Professional 1 Performs diverse activities requiring analysis and judgment in alignment with broad principles, practices, and professional standards. Work is guided by objectives and expected outcomes with limited direction; refers new or complex problems to a higher level. Analyzes student situations and identifies areas of concern and problems, referring students to appropriate resources to resolve problems outside the area of expertise. Ensures compliance with applicable policies and procedures. Education/Experience: Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and two years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Advanced degree preferred. Applicable certification may be required.

Student Services Professional 2 Works on complex student services issues requiring evaluation of variable factors. Selects methods for obtaining results consistent with broadly defined policies, procedures, practices, and professional standards. Uses innovative solutions to solve problems, and modifies solutions when competing policies are present. Exercises latitude to determine objectives and complete tasks. Consults with supervisor and collaborates with other university departments to solve new or complex problems and in crises.  Education/Experience: Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and four years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Advanced degree preferred. Applicable certification may be required.

Student Services Professional 3 Senior-level individual contributor in a specialized area of student services expertise. Advises decision-makers on matters related to area of expertise. Analyzes and evaluates courses of action and makes independent decisions on complex issues within scope of responsibility. Focuses on short- and long-term strategies. Establishes and implements strategic projects. Education/Experience: Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field and six years of relevant, progressively responsible experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience. Advanced degree preferred. Applicable certification may be required.