Black Unity Center Student Engagement Specialist (Student Services Professional III, Range 1) - Community Inclusion

Black Unity Center Student Engagement Specialist

Reporting to the Director of Community Inclusion and Student Engagement, and under the overall strategic direction of the Senior Associate Vice President (AVP) for Community Inclusion and Student Life, the Black Unity Center (BUC) Student Engagement Specialist serves and advocates for students of Black and African descent in order to increase access to and success in higher education. The engagement specialist is responsible for providing student advising, support, mentoring, coaching, guidance and appropriate referral for students of Black and African descent at San Francisco State University (SFSU) in alignment with student development and student learning models that incorporate the experiences and realities of historically marginalized students.

The incumbent organizes and implements educational, social and cultural programs and services for the success of students of Black and African American descent in collaboration and partnership with other programs, departments and areas within Student Affairs and in Academic Affairs. The BUC Student Engagement Specialist works to improve outcomes related to the success, development, inclusion, retention and experience of Black and African American students on campus by assisting with efforts to identify and eliminate systemic and institutional barriers as well as building the capacity of individual students.

The incumbent ensures opportunities for leadership and career development, as well as active participation in programs and learning opportunities that promote student success, including but not limited to health promotion/wellness, student activities and clubs/organizations, residential life (as relevant), recreational sports and intercollegiate athletics, study abroad, and applied learning experiences including faculty-directed research and internships/externships. The incumbent identifies and provides resources for students to address and ameliorate obstacles to their success, which includes making referrals to campus support systems and services such as counseling, academic advising, health and wellness programs, and other systems to support pathways to success and graduation for students of Black and African descent, as well as help close the educational equity gap.

Advisement and Student Support:

• Provide comprehensive individual and small group advising to address obstacles to the success of students of African descent, including academic, personal, financial, or career-related issues.

• Responsible for conducting in-depth assessments of student needs, skills, abilities, and academic progress at SFSU in order to provide timely, appropriate, and critical resources as appropriate.

• Partner and collaborate with Center, Black Student Organizations, Student Affairs, Academic Affairs, community-based organizations, and the larger CSU system to support student needs for program planning, course advisement, major and career exploration.

• Implement advising strategies that support pathways to graduation for students of African descent. Develop, implement, and sustain academic support modules to assist students to identify obstacles to their success, think critically about possible interventions/resources, and engage in self-assessment of healthy and successful strategies to support their graduation goals.

Engagement Program Coordination:

• Responsible for planning and implementing retention-related student engagement workshops, sessions, and events on campus. Develop data-driven and community-informed programs that engage the community in current trends, data, narratives, and issues related to the success of students of African descent in higher education.

• Collaborate with the Director to assess all student engagement programs, initiatives, and projects of the Center. Represent the Black Unity Center at selected campus, community, and statewide CSU events, counselor meetings/conferences, and other special events.

• Participate in department and campus committees, programs and projects as assigned. Collaborate and partner closely with the Center, Black Student Organizations, Student Affairs, Academic…