Student Services Advisor I

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is located in the heart of downtown L.A. and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family,” which is comprised of the faculty, students and staff that make the university a great place to work.  

As a community of Dornsife College “we are committed to the creation, preservation, and communication of fundamental knowledge in all its forms…as well as a lifelong passion for learning and a commitment to the betterment of society.”  The academic mission of Dornsife College can only be realized to its fullest potential when we build and protect a representative, equitable, inclusive culture of scholarship for students, faculty, and staff.  This is not done through initiatives but by embedding these values into the everyday interactions, relationships, policies, and practices of the College.  What is required is a seamless integration of the tenets of equity and inclusivity into every facet of academic life.  If we want our scholars, staff, and students to be able to give their very best, we must create an academic environment that portends success.  

Success is possible when every member of the Dornsife community owns their role as a steward of the culture in which we learn, research, and work; when we believe that it is because of who we are that we are able to do what we do: achieve excellence, together. 

Achieving a robust and inclusive academic culture requires more than just the completion of a task, but includes that person’s capacity to contribute positively to the relationships and culture of their office or department.  Therefore, any applicant seeking to advance the mission of Dornsife College should also be assessed on their capacities beyond the technical elements of their work, and demonstrate an understanding of their impact on others, and to articulate how they contribute positively to those around them.

The Department of Psychology at the Dana and David Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences is seeking a Student Services Advisor I to join its team and support the department in advising undergraduate students. This role will provide mandatory academic advisement each semester to a caseload of 250 undergraduate students in addition to taking on a collaborative role in departmental initiatives and programs. Ideal candidates for this position will have a passion for working with undergraduate students as well as demonstrated experience and success in supporting students in their academic journeys and collaborating with campus colleagues.

This is a hybrid position - three days work from home and two days in the office.

Essential responsibilities include:

• Assists in the planning and execution of recruitment strategies and programs for a major academic program, department, school or college.
• Represents same at university recruiting events.
• Coordinates recruitment activities with the university admissions office.
• Research demographics, plans outreach programs and events, mail campaigns, school visits, receptions and college fairs.
• Cultivates network of teachers and counselors at high schools and community colleges.
• Enlists faculty support in recruitment efforts.
• Counsels or advises prospective students and families on admissions, financial aid, housing and academic requirements.
• Intervenes with university central student services as necessary to connect prospective students with the right staff member or department to facilitate the application process.
• Provides initial evaluation of admissions and financial aid applications.
• Counsels students and parents on matters concerning financial aid packages.
• Evaluates student situations and requests regarding financial aid awards and takes appropriate action.
• Identifies and recommends scholarship recipients based on eligibility requirements.
• Monitors local financial aid budget and scholarship awards.
• Recommends teaching and research assistant appointments, matching abilities and background to assignments.
• Provides academic counseling for undergraduate and/or graduate students.
• Advises on matters of curriculum, course and degree requirements, transfer credit evaluation, and graduation counseling and clearance.
• Monitors student progress in honors and probation programs.
• Evaluates student problems, academic, administrative or personal, and refers student to appropriate student services office for additional counseling.
• Liaises with other offices on behalf of students to facilitate problem resolution.
• Provides career information and limited placement services for students and alumni.
• Coordinates internships and cultivates job and career opportunities with
• employers.
• Plans career events.
• Maintains employer directories and career resource information.
• Maintains academic unit student records and coordinates registration activities, grading, degree progress, enrollment and degree verification, and transcripts with the USC Office of Academic Records and Registrar.
• Assists with Petition applications, resumes and letters of recommendation.
• Interfaces with faculty, administrators and students regarding grading policies, academic progress and student promotability.
• Plans and coordinates student events including commencement, orientation, receptions, and award ceremonies.
• Contracts with vendors for services and attends and oversees events to ensure arrangements are handled as planned.
• Serves as advisor to student groups and organizations.
• Assists in planning and administering special programs such as faculty advisor programs, peer tutorial or advisor groups, and honors groups.
• Assists in the preparation or update of bulletins, newsletters, handbooks, guides, fact sheets and brochures.
• May coordinate production of materials by outside vendors.
• Participates in committees at the department, school, college or university level which deal in student services issues.
• Provides administrative support for local committees and works on committee-assigned projects.
• Provides administrative support to faculty and academic committees by coordinating textbook orders, class and exam schedules, curricula changes and new course approvals, and changes to the university catalog and school bulletin.
• Maintains currency on policies, procedures and regulations pertaining to admissions, financial aid, registration, transfer credit evaluation, course and degree requirements, graduation requirements, petitions and other student services.
• Maintains and compiles statistical data.
• Prepares reports for internal and external use.
• Gathers financial data and assists in budget development.
• Assists in the writing of grant proposals and solicits donors as appropriate.
• Monitors expenses and authorizes expenditures.

Preferred Experience:

• 2 years

Preferred Education:

• Master’s degree combined experience/education as a substitute for minimum education.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of USC student and academic programs, policies and procedures and knowledge of the student information system.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Student program or services experience.

Hourly range: The hourly rate range for this position is $28.43 - $36.45. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

Required Documents and Additional Information:

• Resume and cover letter required (may be uploaded as one file). Please do not submit your application without these documents. Applications without required documents will not be considered.
• Job openings are posted for a minimum of (5) five business days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended, so please apply on the same business day if interested.
• USC has excellent benefits, including health benefits for staff and their family with access to the renowned university medical network; eligibility for retirement plans with employer contributions after six months of employment; tuition benefits for staff and their family; free Professional Development classes; central Los Angeles location with easy access to commuter trains, buses and free tram pick up services; discounts to sporting and other campus events.

Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The University reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix Dfor specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. 

USC is an equal-opportunity educator and employer, proudly pluralistic and firmly committed to providing equal opportunity for outstanding persons of every race, gender, creed and background. The university particularly encourages members of underrepresented groups, veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply. USC will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship. Further information is available by contacting uschr@usc.edu.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree Additional Education Requirements: Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education Minimum Experience: 1 year Minimum Skills: Student program or services experience. Preferred Education: Master's degree Preferred Experience: 2 years Preferred Skills: Knowledge of USC student and academic programs, policies and procedures and knowledge of the student information system.