Rising Scholars Regional Academic Counselor (Part-Time Faculty Pool)

About the role

Ohlone College is seeking a pool of qualified applicants for temporary part-time counseling and advising assignments serving the incarcerated population at Elmwood Correctional Facility and Santa Clara County Mail Jail.

Responsibilities

• Provide sustained, holistic, and individualized counseling to assist justice-impacted students across the five participating colleges (Ohlone College, Mission College, DeAnza College, Evergreen College and San Jose City College).
• Create long-term education plans and track their progress toward a degree or certificate.
• Work collaboratively across the five participating colleges to design and implement strategic educational pathways that enhance institutional coordination and support the timely completion of certificates and degrees.
• Ensure continuity across the diverse programs offered by the college collaborative.
• Collaborate with the Rising Scholars Coordinators, instructional faculty, Jail Rehabilitation Officers, and campus support programs to provide comprehensive wrap-around services for students.
• Evaluate transcripts from local or out of state institutions to align student general education goals towards degree or certificate completion.
• Develop systems, processes, and partnerships that embed this work into the core operations of participating colleges.
• Codify intake and counseling procedures, and maintain student records and track progress toward educational goals.
• Align course offerings with long-term pathways across institutions.
• Conduct outreach and counseling hours to justice-impacted individuals in local jails (Elmwood Correctional Facility and Santa Clara County Main Jail).
• Serve as a liaison between the participating college's student services departments and Rising Scholars students to ensure access to resources and other campus service areas.
• Aid in-custody students with completing the participating college's full matriculation process, including application, orientation, assessment/placement, educational planning, and registration.
• Facilitate workshops and orientations on topics such as educational planning, transfer readiness, navigating institutional systems, financial aid, and career exploration.
• Stay up-to-date on federal, state, and local laws and initiatives affecting justice-impacted student populations.

Requirements

• Master's degree in counseling, rehabilitation counseling, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, guidance counseling, educational counseling, social work or career development; OR the equivalent.
• Commitment to community college goals/objectives of being an equity-based and anti-racist institution, and providing quality programs and services for culturally, socio-economically, ethnically, and academically diverse students and students with disabilities.
• Personal qualities to work effectively and with sensitivity in a multicultural environment.
• Awareness of and commitment to the needs of non-traditional and/or re-entry students with diverse abilities and interests.
• Responsiveness to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, as these factors relate to the need for equity-minded practices.
• Ability to pass Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office security clearance.
• Completion and adherence to all required training courses and codes of conduct established by the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.
• Reliable transportation and the ability to commute between the college campus, Elmwood Correctional Facility (Milpitas), and the Santa Clara County Main Jail as needed.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in student services or related functions is necessary.
• Experience providing academic and personal counseling to justice-involved students or other historically underrepresented student groups is preferred.

Skills

• Familiarity with the barriers and engagement opportunities for justice-impacted students.
• Expertise in working with diverse student populations and employing culturally responsive practices.
• Proficiency in advising students on program requirements, certificates, financial aid, non-credit opportunities and transfer pathways.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.