GEAR UP ADVISOR

Location: Various School Sites
Department: Early Outreach Support Programs

About the role

The GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) Advisor is part of the Early Outreach and Support Programs (EOSP) Department. This discretionary grant program aims to increase the number of low-income students prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. GEAR UP provides seven-year grants to states and partnerships to serve high-poverty middle and high schools, supporting an entire cohort of students from no later than seventh grade through their first year of college.

Under the direct supervision of the School Site Supervisor of GEAR UP programs, the Advisor will help high school students connect their academic work with career and college options. Services include academic and study skill development, counseling, financial aid assistance, career information, success planning, cultural and social activities, mentoring, and community partnerships.

Responsibilities

• Advise students on academic areas such as subject study, standardized tests, and extracurricular activities.
• Assist parents in understanding academic rigor and grades.
• Assess and evaluate student progress, producing regular academic reports in collaboration with teachers and counselors.
• Collaborate with the GEAR UP school site team to plan and coordinate activities with college and university partners, overseeing day-to-day operations of the college and career program.
• Develop, plan, and implement college awareness curriculum, including postsecondary visits, networking with partner institutions, summer experiences, and other innovative strategies.
• Coordinate and present workshops for parents and students on financial aid, scholarships, college survival skills, college search, applications, and transitioning to college.
• Perform administrative duties, including maintaining documentation files for services, correspondence, reports, procedures, and presentations; develop outreach materials such as newsletters and social media content.
• Serve as a liaison between high school faculty, staff, administrators, and CSUMB; attend GEAR UP school, college, community, and partner meetings to promote the program.
• Handle sensitive and confidential documents and information with discretion.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited four-year college or university in education, counseling, or a related field.
• Two years of relevant professional experience in a student support program at a secondary and/or post-secondary level. Up to one year of experience may be substituted with a Master’s degree or advanced coursework in Education, Counseling, Psychology, Social Work, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of best practices in K-12 and higher education and academic counseling theories.
• Understanding of challenges impacting first-generation and low-income students, with strategies to support their path to college graduation.
• Demonstrated commitment to CSUMB’s Vision Statement and core values: mutual respect, collaboration, multiculturalism, diversity, community service, and institutional excellence.
• Strong leadership, team-building, and group facilitation skills.
• Experience in a GEAR UP/TRIO Outreach Program.
• Fluency in spoken and written Spanish.

Special Conditions of Employment

• Full-time (40 hours/week) benefited position, renewed annually depending on continued grant funding.
• Designated as a sensitive position with responsibilities for the care, safety, and security of people (including children and minors), animals, and CSU property.
• Must comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and California Educational Code regarding student confidentiality.
• Designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA) under the Clery Act; required to participate in training and report allegations of reportable crimes.
• Must possess and maintain a valid California driver’s license, pass a Defensive Driving Class, and be insurable under the University’s liability coverage.
• May require occasional evenings and/or weekend work.
• Designated as a mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, including Title IX reporting requirements.
• Employment contingent upon successful completion of a background check in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act.

Pay

Hourly rate: $25.00 – $28.00. Salary placement is determined by education, experience, qualifications, internal equity, and departmental fiscal resources.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Retirement plan with employer contributions.
• Voluntary 403(b) savings plan.
• Generous vacation and sick leave accruals.
• Paid holidays.
• Access to campus dining plans.
• Eligibility for affordable campus housing (if applicable).

Additional benefits include access to CSUMB’s Faculty & Staff Meal Plans and affordable campus housing options, such as Schoonover Park rental homes, which include cable television, garbage service, and sewer.