JOB SUMMARY
WHO WE ARE:
Mt. San Jacinto Community College District is committed to achieving parity in academic outcomes by removing institutional barriers and creating an inclusive and culturally affirming learning environment. As outlined in the District's Student Equity Pledge, https://www.msjc.edu/equitypledge/documents/MSJC_Equity_Pledge.pdf "our purpose is to celebrate diversity, instill hope, and empower our students to transform their lives and those around them by challenging our perceptions and biases through self-reflection and constant inquiry to identify and eliminate equity gaps." We provide students with a rich and dynamic learning experience that embraces differences -- emphasizing collaboration and engaging students in and out of the classroom, encouraging them to realize their goals, and to become global citizens, and socially responsible leaders. When you join our team at Mt. San Jacinto Community College District, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative, and equity-focused community that approaches educational justice as a means for economic and social transformation and mobility demanding the broad collaboration among faculty, classified professional staff, administration, students and community partners.
THE COLLEGE AND THE DISTRICT:
Mt. San Jacinto Community College enrolls approximately 27,000 students each academic year and has a highly diverse student population that reflects the communities it serves. Designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), Mt. San Jacinto Community College administers an array of student affinity programs specifically focused on supporting our diverse, multicultural, and multi-racial communities. Detailed information about the student population, including data related to student success, can be found on Mt. San Jacinto College's Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Planning, and Research website.
WHO WE WANT:
We value the ability to serve students from a broad range of cultural heritages, socioeconomic backgrounds, genders, abilities and orientations. Therefore, we prioritize applicants who demonstrate they understand the benefits diversity brings to a professional educational community. The successful candidate will be an equity-minded individual committed to collaborating with faculty, classified professional staff, administration, students and community partners who are also committed to closing equity gaps. The Mt. San Jacinto Community District seeks employees who value mentorship and working in a collegial, collaborative environment, guided by a commitment to helping all students achieve their educational goals.
We have an exciting opportunity for a Student Support Services Specialist, Financial Aid located at our campus in San Jacinto, CA. Under the general supervision of the assigned administrator, the Student Support Services Specialist provides general student services support for Enrollment Services, Financial Aid, and related student service programs. The incumbent provides support and guidance to students to professionally, efficiently, and effectively assist students to enter and be successful at Mt. San Jacinto College.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements and duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to this class.
- Provide high level, often complex customer service to all and be able to de-escalate challenging situations in a diplomatic and positive manner
- Serve as first point of contact in Welcome Centers; Provide guidance to students, staff and public regarding enrollment and financial aid processes, including steps to admissions, registration, and graduation, applying for financial aid, types of financial aid and application status; make referrals to higher level employees as needed
- Assist in the distribution, collection, and processing of forms; review all submissions for completeness; follow up on incomplete documents when needed
- Participate in the matriculation process by disseminating information regarding admissions, assessment, orientation, registration, counseling, and other information regarding college entrance
- Provide information and assistance to students on use of web services, online application, registration, residency reclassification, enrollment verifications, transcript requests, program declarations, enrollment status and other required information, as needed
- Scan documents into optical scanning system and maintain paper documents until disposal date; assist in the organizing and processing of electronic file submissions
- Handle record issues such as transcript requests, receipt of student documents from a variety of sources, transmittal of materials to the permanent student files, and retrieval of documents for counselors and administrators
- Inform students about all college processes, activities and functions and facilitate student success in dealing with the institution
- Keep student contact statistics and compile reports
- Answer inquiries and concerns regarding State and Federal guidelines pertaining to financial aid programs and various aspects of admission, registration, and residency
- Assist in reconciliation of various Financial Aid and Enrollment Services records
- Maintain current knowledge of state and federal requirements pertaining to financial aid programs and various aspects of admission, registration, and residency
- Provide clerical support to one or more Financial Aid Programs and Enrollment Services, as assigned
- Answer inquiries related to withdrawal calculations according to prescribed formulas for Refunds and Repayments
- Compose and draft correspondence related to enrollment and financial aid processes
- Conduct presentations for various sized groups of students, parents and /or staff
- Receive, screen, and distribute mail
- Answer multiple telephone lines
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
The incumbent should possess knowledge of:
- Practices, procedures, and activities of student services program(s), especially Enrollment Services and Financial Aid
- Methods and problems of educational organizations
- Research and interviewing techniques
- Principles of individual and group behavior
- Principles, practices, trends in the enrollment services and/or financial aid fields
The incumbent should possess skills in:
- Working effectively as a team member
- Meeting schedules and timelines
- Communicating effectively both orally and in writing
- Maintaining documentation and records
- Handling multiple assignments simultaneously and set priorities based on customer needs
- Courteously serving individuals from varied backgrounds
The incumbent should possess the ability to:
- Rapidly acquire a general knowledge of the overall operation, functions, and programs of the college, specifically Enrollment Services and Financial Aid
- Interpret and apply program rules and regulations and past practice
- Project a positive customer relations demeanor
- Gather and analyze data
- Reason logically, draw valid conclusions and make appropriate recommendations
- Present clear and concise information orally and in written reports
- Establish and maintain cooperative and effective working relationships with others, including those from a diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff
- Work additional hours and weekends, as needed
- Sit and stand for extended periods of time
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
- A high school diploma or GED; AND
- One (1) year of college-level coursework; AND
- Six (6) months of professional experience in a student services areas (admissions and records, counseling, financial aid, or student activities); OR
- a related field that will demonstrate possession of the knowledge and abilities necessary to perform in the financial aid area; AND
- Demonstrated sensitivity to and understanding of maintaining cooperative and effective working relationships with others, including those from a diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students, faculty, and staff
***Before scanning attachments, remove/redact sensitive, confidential information such as date of birth, social security number, address and photograph***
SUBSTITUTIONS
Substitutions for meeting the professional experience requirement are allowed, as follows:
- Six (6) months of college level, job-related education may be substituted for the required experience.
Substitutions for meeting the education requirement are allowed, as follows:
- Specialized experience may be substituted for the education requirement on a year for year basis.
DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- An Associate's degree
- One (1) year of professional experience in a clerical setting within student services, or closely related to enrollment services or financial aid within higher education
- One (1) year of professional experience in a general office clerical setting, student services, or related experience with computer software systems and/or student information systems that would permit the applicant to rapidly learn software applications specific to the assigned student services area
- Comprehensive knowledge of regulations and compliance issues, including but not limited to state and federal laws governing student financials, student records, privacy, tax, billing, and collection services
Prior experience in approaching work and interaction with colleagues and/or students in an equity-minded manner. Ability to promote an inclusive and welcoming work/education environment
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT
The conditions herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential job functions.
Environment: Work is performed primarily in a standard office setting with travel from site to site.
Physical: Primary function requires sufficient physical ability and mobility to work in an office setting and travel from site to site; to stand or sit for prolonged periods of time; to occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, crouch, reach and twist; to lift carry, push, and/or pull light to moderate amounts of weight up to 20 pounds; to operate office equipment requiring repetitive hand movements and fine coordination including use of a computer keyboard; and to verbally communicate to exchange information.
Vision: See in the normal visual range with or without correction; vision sufficient to read computer screens and printed documents; and to operate assigned equipment.
Hearing: Hear in the normal audio range with or without correction.
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
Initial salary placement for this position is from Step 1 to Step 4 depending on the amount of reasonably related experience. The job is a Classified position, Level 16, working full time, 40 hours per week, 12 months. The position serves District-Wide; applicants may be assigned to any district facility. The current work schedule is Monday - Thursday 8:00 am – 5:30 pm and Friday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm. Work hours are subject to change depending on department needs.
This position is in the California School Employees Association bargaining unit. For more information, please visit their website http://www.csea.com/
A twelve-month probationary period must be successfully completed before the selected candidate is considered a permanent employee of the District. The District provides a contribution towards medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. Vacation and sick leave are provided. PERS participation is required for retirement eligible employees. As a condition of employment candidates will be required to complete a live scan for fingerprint clearance and a Tuberculosis (TB) test/Tuberculosis Risk Assessment form developed by the State Department of Public Health. Candidates must have an insurable driver's record.
Mt. San Jacinto Community College will consider qualified applicants with a criminal history pursuant to the California Fair Chance Act. You do not need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Mt. San Jacinto Community College is concerned about conviction that is directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction, provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. Find out more about the Fair Chance Act by visiting the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing’s Fair Chance Act webpage.
SALARY SCHEDULES
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
- Applications must be submitted through our online job board; creating a profile is required
- Before scanning attachments, remove/redact sensitive, confidential information such as date of birth, social security number, personal photograph, etc.
- Please attach the following:
- a current resume
- transcripts of ALL college-level coursework (*see transcript tips below)
- certification, training, vocational, or related program(s) if applicable
- provide a list of professional references (include current or previous supervisors)
MSJC application must include details regarding how you satisfy the job requirements; including a statement of your philosophy regarding education and how you meet the qualifications (thoroughly answering supplemental questions "Personal Qualifications Statement" and “Diversity Statement” on the MSJC application is acceptable, or a separate document may be included in your submission)
TIPS FOR APPLYING
- For positions that require education, transcript(s) must be attached to your application submission to verify completion of college-level coursework
- Carefully review the Application Procedures and Tips for Applying to ensure your submission meets the minimum qualifications
- If selected for an interview, a presentation and/or teaching demonstration may be required as a part of the interview process. If applicable, presentation instructions will be included in the invitation to schedule a formal interview
- The documents attached to your online application must satisfy the Minimum Qualifications listed for this job
- Before scanning attachments, remove/redact sensitive, confidential information such as date of birth, social security number, address, photograph
- If you are employed by the District, it is still the applicant’s responsibility to upload the required attachment(s) to each application submission. The hiring committee does not have access to personnel files. The hiring committee only has access to evaluate the documents included with your application submission. You may contact HR to schedule an appointment to view your personnel file if you’d like access to the original transcript documents in your file.
- Your application may be marked as incomplete due to an error with your transcript(s).
- TRANSCRIPT TIPS:
- Only transcripts from an accredited college or university will be accepted
- Applicants must provide transcripts; which must include required authenticating factors: college/university seal or watermark, registrar signature, print or issue date, name of student, list of all coursework, degree conferral date, and degree major
- Transcripts copied and pasted from a website, blurry, unreadable or cut off will not be accepted
- Transcripts copied and pasted into a program where the text can easily be manipulated cannot be authenticated and are not accepted
- Electronic/digital transcripts sent by a college are typically official, certified, and restricted electronic documents; and therefore, it’s recommended to print and save this type of official transcript to a separate file before attaching to your online profile - otherwise we may be unable to open or view the attachment
- Foreign transcripts are not considered unless accompanied by an official United States clearing house evaluation report, see Foreign Transcript Tips
- If you attach documents that contain a personal photograph, it will be deleted from your submission
- If hired, you must submit official, unopened transcripts prior to employment commencement
- You must attach all the required documents before submitting your online application; otherwise it will be marked as incomplete
- If you receive notice that your application was marked as incomplete, you are welcome to reapply as long as the position is still open
- We do not accept documents submitted separate from the NEOED online application system
- Any documents you want considered as part of your application profile MUST be included at the time you apply through NEOED
- Hiring committees do not allow applicants to share documents during the formal interview (resume, portfolio, reference letters, etc.). The only exception would be if there are documents explicitly related to instructions included in a demonstration or presentation task.
SUBSTITUTION POLICY
Substitutions for meeting the minimum qualifications are allowed for a majority of our job postings. If substitutions are allowed, they will be listed under the Minimum Qualifications section of the job posting. Substitutions are allowed for education and professional experience. Substitutions will be processed as follows:
Education:
- 24 semester units equates to one (1) year of college level course work; OR
- One (1) year of professional experience
- 48 semester units equates to two (2) years of college level course work; OR
- An Associate’s degree; OR
- Two (2) years of professional experience
- 96 semester units equates to four (4) years of college level course work; OR
- A Bachelor’s degree; OR
- Four (4) years of professional experience
Professional Experience:
- One (1) year of professional experience equates to 24 semester units of college level course work
- Two (2) years of professional experience equates to 48 semester units of college level course work; OR
- Four (4) years of professional experience equates to 96 semester units of college level course work; OR
THE COLLEGE
Mission: "Mt. San Jacinto College offers quality, accessible, equitable and innovative educational programs and services to students aspiring to achieve their academic, career and personal development goals. We provide students a safe environment in which to pursue basic skills, career and general education pathways. Our programs lead to transfer, associate degrees and certificates, which meet workforce development needs in our diverse communities. Our commitment to learning and achievement empowers students to enrich our communities and participate meaningfully in today's complex world."
Vision: Transforming Learners. Transforming Communities. Transforming Lives.Values Statement: We are students, employees and a community. We believe that the act of teaching and learning is vital to a thriving community that enriches and, at times, saves lives. We commit to opportunities that inspire the following values in ourselves:
Excellence: We challenge students by setting high standards for learning and critical thinking, which we model with action.
Collaboration: We believe the best results are achieved through communication and participation among students, employees, industry and the community we serve.
Relationship: We nurture a community built on positive interactions and a genuine concern for the welfare of others.
Innovation: We cultivate a creative environment that promotes the development of new ideas for continuous quality improvement.
Relevance: We create educational experiences that have meaningful applications in a local and global context, today and tomorrow.
Access: We ensure equitable rights of all students by removing barriers to a quality education and promoting a network of support that improves learning opportunities.
Leadership: We empower people throughout the community to support and facilitate positive change.
Diversity: We respect and embrace the power of sharing our differences in thought, opinion, culture and background to optimize our collective strength.
Integrity: We believe in being true to our core values by consistently demonstrating our character and an institutional commitment to do the right thing.
THE COMMUNITY
The area provides a diverse geography that includes recreational lakes, mountains, desert and wide-open spaces. MSJC is located about 100 miles southeast of Los Angeles and 50 miles west of Palm Springs. There is freeway access to ocean beaches, skiing and cultural offerings in San Diego, Los Angeles and Orange County. Weekend recreational opportunities are a few hours away in Las Vegas, Arizona and nearby mountain resorts. Local theater productions and art galleries provide year-round entertainment, including the famous Ramona Festival and Pageant.
GENERAL
Applicants who need assistance in the application and/or hiring process should contact the Human Resources Department as soon as possible. The District will make reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities.
The Board assures that all employees and applicants for employment will be provided equal opportunity regardless of race, color, national origin, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, or veteran status.
TRAVEL EXPENSES ARE NOT COVERED BY THE DISTRICT
Equal Opportunity Employer
Employer Website: www.msjc.edu
In conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, requests for reasonable accommodations may be made to (951) 487-3161. For administrative purposes, requests must be made at the time of application.
E-VERIFY DISCLOSURE
MSJC will provide the Social Security Administration (SSA) and, if necessary, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with information from each new employee's Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. Please access the links from the drop down menu at the top left of the job board web page for further details regarding the E-Verify program.