West Hills Community College District has a rich history of serving the educational needs of the west side of the San Joaquin Valley for more than 80 years. The district covers nearly 3,500 square miles with colleges in Lemoore and Coalinga, the Firebaugh Center and three child development centers throughout neighboring rural communities. We are culturally responsive to the needs of our diverse student body. We strive to increase and sustain equitable outcomes for all students. We recruit and retain quality employees who are reflective of our students and the community we serve.

Summary:
As the flagship student equity support program in the California Community College system, Extended Opportunity Programs & Services (EOPS) serves the State's most underserved and underrepresented student populations.

The NextUp program provides EOPS students who are current or former foster youth to access wraparound support services including counseling and advising, textbooks and school supplies, etc. through the EOPS/CARE/NextUp program. Utilizing a student-centered approach, NextUp provides a supportive community for students from the foster care system by increasing their sense of belonging, self-efficacy, and awareness so they can access opportunities to empower them to achieve their academic and personal goals.

The Cooperative Agencies Resource for Education (CARE) provides EOPS students with educational and economic support services to single parents receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

The EOPS/CARE/NextUp Counselor plays a critical role by providing counseling/advising as well as intrusive and specialized intervention strategies to connect students in the program to on and off-campus resources.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide comprehensive counseling services to culturally diverse student populations, specifically to those who experienced the foster care system and/or single parents with academic, career, and personal counseling.
• Interpret certificate, associate degree, and university transfer related requirements.
• Facilitate EOPS/CARE/NextUp orientations and academic success workshops for students.
• Counsel and follow up with EOPS/CARE/NextUp students on academic/progress probation.
• Assist students in developing student educational plans (abbreviated and comprehensive).
• Participate in the planning of support programs that result in educational growth of EOPS/CARE/NextUp students.
• Represent EOPS/CARE/NextUp as a faculty counselor on campus and within the broader community by serving on departmental and college committees and taking leadership roles on campus, community, and professional organizations.
• Participate in visits to local area high schools to provide outreach information.
• Develop liaison relationships with high school counselors/career advisors, child welfare services case managers, and other community resources.
• Maintain knowledge and use of current counseling, educational, career websites, and software.
• Perform other counseling related duties as assigned to meet the College’s mission as well as the mission of EOPS, CARE, and NextUp, which includes providing “over, above, and in addition to" services to EOPS/CARE/NextUp students.
• Work collaboratively with other college departments including Counseling, Financial Aid, Admissions & Records, DREAM, Career and Transfer, DSPS, CalWORKs, Outreach and Engagement, Veterans Resources Center, Basic Needs Resources.
• Participate and serve on college committees, department, and Student Services Division meetings.
• Participate in program development, learning outcome development and assessment.
• Maintain counseling records on EOPS/CARE/NextUp students.
• Participate in the development and implementations of intensive services focusing on EOPS,/CARE/NextUp students; assist with the data collection and preparation of evaluation reports on the status of the Special Funded Programs
• Late afternoon and/or evening assignments may be required as a part of the regular contract.
• Perform related duties as assigned, including timely compliance with administrative responsibilities and College, division, and department policies.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of the community college and EOPS mission and philosophy;
• Experience as a counselor in higher education, preferably at a community college;
• Ability to interpret, apply, and explain policies and procedures to students;
• Ability to handle sensitive material in a confidential manner;
• Commitment to maintain currency in the discipline, and use of advanced technology and social media as a counseling tool;
• Strong commitment to professional growth and development, and to the continued innovation and improvement of successful counseling and student support;
• Ability to work effectively with computers and other forms of advanced technology utilized in providing high quality counseling;
• Knowledge of college and community services to address the holistic needs of students;
• Ability to communicate professionally and clearly with students and staff, both orally and in writing;
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain positive and effective working relationships with on-campus groups (including students, faculty, administrators and staff), as well as, off-campus community and educational partners;
• Demonstrated sensitivity to, and understanding of, the diverse academic, socio-economic, cultural, ethnic and disability backgrounds of community college students;
• Highly developed counseling skills, which enable one to comfortably deal with a variety of personal issues without reflecting personal bias;
• Highly developed interpersonal skills;
• Willingness to use available technologies and assessment instruments with the ability to provide effective interpretation to students;
• Knowledge of career counseling; concepts, issues, and resources;

Education and Experience:
Understanding of, sensitivity to, and respect for the diverse academic, socio-economic, ethnic, cultural, disability, religious background of community college students.
Master's degree in counseling, rehabilitation counseling, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, guidance counseling, educational counseling, social work, or career development, or the equivalent,
AND
Have completed a minimum of nine semester units of college course work predominantly relating to ethnic minorities or persons handicapped by language, social, or economic disadvantages,
OR
Six semester units or the equivalent of college-level counseling practicum or counseling fieldwork courses in a community college EOPS program, or in a program dealing predominantly with ethnic minorities or persons handicapped by language, social, or economic disadvantages,
AND
Two years of occupational experience in work relating to ethnic minorities or persons handicapped by language, social, or economic disadvantages.

EQUIVALENCY
Candidates not meeting the minimum qualifications as stated above may complete an equivalency form (linked under "Required Materials" below) to be submitted with the other required material. Requests for equivalency will be reviewed by the Equivalency Committee as assigned by the Academic Senate. If you need a copy of the equivalency form and are unable to download by clicking on the link below, please contact Human Resources at 559-934-2155 or via email at humanresources@whccd.edu.

Licenses and/or certifications:
Requires a valid driver's license.