Graduate Student Services Advisor (5157C) - EECS

About the University

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom, and belonging makes it a special place for students, faculty, and staff, who are among the most talented and accomplished anywhere, including Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners, and MacArthur Fellows. Since our founding in 1868, we have been an engine for innovation—driving intellectual, economic, and social progress that benefits California, the U.S., and beyond. Together, we change the world.

At Berkeley, the best careers are built on a foundation of continuous learning and growth. We actively support professional development by providing all full-time staff employees with at least 80 hours of paid time per year and fostering supportive colleague communities through numerous employee resource groups. We invite applicants who are inspired by our Principles of Community and who are eager to be part of our exciting Strategic Plan, which charts Berkeley's next era of excellence.

About the Department

The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences (EECS) spans both the College of Engineering and the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS). It is the largest department on the Berkeley campus, consisting of over 130 faculty, adjunct, active emeriti, and PIR appointments, 3,500+ undergraduates, 750 graduate students, and 60+ staff members. EECS programs are consistently ranked in the top three by many measures, including U.S. News & World Report's national and global rankings. The department’s annual operating budget exceeds $37 million (excluding research expenditures).

EECS is actively engaged in teaching and research across a broad range of disciplines, including:

• Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence, Computational Biology, Databases, Graphics, Hardware/Architecture, Human-Computer Interaction, Operating Systems/Networking, Programming Systems/Software, Scientific Computing, Theory, Vision.
• Electrical Engineering: Biosystems, Communication/Networking, Communications/Physical Layer, Control, Design, Modeling and Analysis, Electromagnetics/Antennas, Integrated Circuits, Optics, Physical Electronics Devices, Physical Electronics/MEMS, Optoelectronics, Energy, Robotics, Signal Processing for Image & Video, Signal Processing for Speech & Audio.

Computer Science operates research and instructional laboratories in Soda Hall and Sutardja Dai Hall, while Electrical Engineering operates facilities in Cory Hall and Sutardja Dai Hall. EECS also maintains a significant technical staff support structure for research, instructional laboratories, and fabrication facilities.

About the Role

Reporting to the EECS Director of Graduate Affairs, this position serves as the Graduate Student Services Advisor for the Computer Science division, supporting approximately 250 students. The advisor provides graduate student services and advising while also supporting the broader EECS student services unit and assisting the Director of Graduate Affairs with graduate student services for the department as a whole.

Responsibilities

Academic Advising

• Identifies and refers for resolution intricate student issues or grievances, such as alleged discrimination, complex grade disputes, and personal crises; recommends petition exceptions that affect requirements across multiple departments.
• Advises continuing graduate students on all aspects of their degree programs, including registration and enrollment, policies and procedures, degree requirements, petitioning for exceptions, administrative issues, personal issues affecting studies, departmental and campus programs, and graduation.
• Monitors student progress, updates and manages student records, and maintains the graduate student database.
• Serves as the main contact for communication between graduate students and the university, keeping students informed of important dates, deadlines, and relevant departmental and university news; oversees the monthly newsletter.
• Provides counseling support and refers students to other university resources as needed.
• Exercises judgment with respect to confidentiality and sensitivity of student issues and concerns.
• Acts as a liaison with other campus offices for students with problems or conflicts.
• Serves as a backup advisor for Electrical Engineering doctoral students.

Department/School/College Policies

• Advises chairs and deans on the formulation of departmental, school, or college policy by identifying areas needing clarification and recommending solutions; analyzes the consequences of academic policies and recommends new or changed policies.
• Recommends resolutions for student issues or grievances to the Director and Vice Chairs of Graduate Matters.
• Approves, denies, or makes recommendations regarding petitions and requests to the Vice Chair as needed.
• Composes correspondence on behalf of the Vice Chair, including verification letters, completion of degree requirements, and petitions for exceptions, exemptions, or extensions.
• Exercises designated signature authority on appropriate Graduate Division forms.
• Advises faculty on policies and procedures related to all aspects of graduate student degree programs.
• Analyzes existing departmental policies, programs, and procedures as they relate to Computer Science graduate students and the broader graduate population; works with staff, faculty, and graduate student leaders to revise or update them, identifying potential solutions and clarifications while considering the consequences of proposed changes.

Program Oversight

• Provides and recommends improvements for the Computer Science Graduate Program within the academic department, school, or college.
• Assists the Director and Executive Director with leadership and professional expertise in operations for continuing graduate student matters.
• Coordinates the Computer Science division’s preliminary exam and biannual graduate student review.
• Identifies areas of need within the existing graduate program and works with staff, faculty, and leadership to address these issues.
• Collaborates with the EECS administrative computing group, graduate unit staff, and student leaders to update and improve the student database, student website, and other departmental student information systems; suggests ways to streamline and automate processes to enhance the student services experience and staff efficiency.
• Assists admissions officers with student recruitment and workshops.
• Provides student data and statistics about the graduate student population and academic progress for use in the department’s strategic planning, grant proposals, and for the College of Engineering.
• Leads the student affairs team in special events, programs, and projects such as new graduate student orientation, commencement, department town halls, and visit day.

Professional Development

• Participates in professional student services committees that develop policies and procedures with nationwide impact.
• Maintains and updates working knowledge of College and campus student affairs issues by taking appropriate classes, attending campus-wide student affairs meetings, and networking with peers.
• Stays current with higher education trends, particularly as they relate to Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
• Previous experience advising students at the university level.
• Advanced knowledge of advising and counseling techniques.
• Demonstrated understanding of the principles and practices of graduate student services at UC or a large research university.
• Familiarity with EECS programs and requirements.
• Skills in monitoring and assessing people, processes, or services to make improvements.
• Project management skills and social perceptiveness to be aware of others’ reactions and understand why they react as they do.
• Able to work independently and effectively to manage multiple important priorities.
• Ability in problem identification, reasoning, and developing original ideas to solve problems; skills in persuasion and leadership.
• In-depth knowledge of the field’s post-degree employment opportunities and practices.
• Strong interpersonal skills and multicultural competencies; ability to work with diverse populations.
• Proven ability to create and maintain effective working relationships with faculty, staff, and students; ability to work as a team member.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Organized and service-oriented.
• Knowledge of common computer application programs, such as the MS Office suite and Adobe Acrobat; experience with website maintenance.
• Hands-on experience and expertise with UC computer systems used for student services.
• Knowledge of University-specific computer application programs and principles and procedures involved in risk assessment and evaluating risks as to likelihood and consequences.
• Interest in supporting the work of a large academic department in a research university.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Student Affairs, Counseling, or a related field.

Pay

The budgeted salary range for this position is $76,230 to $105,840 yearly ($8,820 to $11,287.50 monthly). Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. For more information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, visit the University of California’s Compensation & Benefits website.

Schedule

This is a 100% career position eligible for full benefits and is FLSA exempt, paid monthly.

Other Information

This position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement between UAW (United Auto Workers) and the University of California Regents for SV. It is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley hires people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts a conditional offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions determining misconduct within the last seven years, received notice of any allegations, or are currently the subject of any administrative or disciplinary proceedings involving misconduct, or have left a position during such proceedings.