WEST LOS ANGELES COLLEGE

PROFESSIONAL POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

FY23 – Counselor, Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS)

FULL TIME TENURE-TRACK D BASIS (12-month)

CLOSING DATE: May 5, 2023

DESCRIPTION OF POSITION

West Los Angeles College (WLAC) is accepting applications for a tenure-track, Counselor, Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS). The assignment is 35-hours per week in-person and online at the WLAC campus commencing Summer 2023.

Under the direction of the Department Chairperson and the Dean of Counseling, the Counselor, DSPS Online & In-Person will be responsible for providing specialized academic, career, and personal counseling services to a diverse student population in DSPS including new and returning students, and those pursuing career education, general education, and transfer goals within a Guided Pathways framework. The DSPS Counselor will, through the interactive process, identify reasonable accommodations to be provided by the College. As part of our state initiated Guided Pathways efforts, the DSPS Counselor will be an integral part as this position must integrate collaboratively and skillfully with campus units not only in Student Services but also Academic Affairs.

This position may require assignments in the evenings, weekends, or at off campus locations including online counseling services.

INTRODUCTION:

WLAC located on a lushly landscaped hillside in Culver City, opened its doors in February 1969. One of the nine campuses of the Los Angeles Community College District, the college has approximately 10,000 students attending day, evening and weekend classes. WLAC serves Baldwin Hills, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Century City, Crenshaw, Culver City, La Tijera/Windsor Hills, Marina del Rey, Mar Vista, Pacific Palisades, Palms, Playa del Rey, Venice, Westchester, West Los Angeles and Westwood. Students come from a rich mixture of nationalities and cultures.

The college is fully accredited by the Western Association of Colleges and Universities, and offers 25 transfer and 18 vocationally-oriented programs. The American Dental Association and the Federal Aviation Administration also recognize the vocational curricula offered here at WLAC. The College provides excellent transfer, basic skills transitional, and career technical education programs. Committee to student success, WLAC works closely with local secondary institutions to assist high school students in their transition to higher education and maintains strong ties to the business community by providing highly-respected job training programs that directly meet the workforce needs of local and regional employers.

The West Los Angeles Counseling Division consists of experienced and professionally-trained faculty who work with students concerning educational goals, career planning transfer to four-year institutions, and other academic and personal issues affecting student success.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the supervision of the Dean of Student Services and the direction of the Department Chairperson, duties may include but are not limited to:

• Providing counseling services to a diverse student population in DSPS;

• Implementing both Title 5 and AP 5140 by identifying and providing reasonable accommodations through the interactive process;

• Assist in the collection and analysis of relevant medical, social, educational, personal and vocational information for each student;

• Assist students in choosing and planning immediate and long-range educational goals, including development of abbreviated and comprehensive student education plans;

• Assist students in interpreting certificate, associate degree, and transfer related requirements;

• Assist students in assessing, planning, and implementing their immediate and long-range goals;

• Fostering continuing relationships with DSPS agencies;

• Participate in appropriate professional organizations and attend conferences and workshops;

• Serve as an advocate for the student within the college and with outside service agencies;

• Provide counseling to at-risk (i.e. undecided, probationary, underprepared or disproportionately impacted) students experiencing academic difficulties, personal issues or other obstacles and make referrals to on and off-campus resources as appropriate;

• Counseling students in all academic and vocational areas;

• Providing virtual counseling and/or group counseling;

• Participation in the matriculation process, including assessment, orientation, development of student/veterans’ education plans and identifying retention strategies to achieve desired outcome and follow-up;

• Teaching in the area of career planning and/or college success;

• Career planning for undecided students;

• Recruitment of vocational and/or disadvantaged students;

• Provide follow-up services to students experiencing academic difficulties such as students on academic or progress probation and academic dismissal, students with excessive units;

• Conduct in-person college orientations, student success workshops and presentations for new and continuing students who are veterans;

• Develop and facilitate workshops related to educational and career planning, probation, study skills, and other topics supportive of student success;

• Evaluate transcripts as necessary;

• Assist in the development and implementation of special programs focusing on student equity;

• Maintenance and current knowledge of Community College Counseling and effective student support strategies/ interventions;

• Serve on department, college, or district committees representing the interests of students with disabilities;

• Perform other duties as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling; or

• Master’s degree in counseling, guidance counseling, clinical or counseling psychology, educational counseling, social work, career development, marriage and family therapy or marriage, family and child counseling, and either 15 or more semester units in upper division or graduate level coursework related to people with disabilities, or completion of 6 semester units, or the equivalent of a graduate-level practicum or counseling fieldwork courses in a post-secondary Disabled Students Programs and Services program or in a program dealing with people with disabilities, or two years of fulltime experience, or the equivalent, in one or more of the following:

(A) Counseling for students with disabilities;

or

(B) Counseling in industry, government, public agencies, military or private social welfare organizations in which the responsibilities are for persons with disabilities.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Pursuant to LACCD Board of Trustee's Policy 2900, all students and employees must be fully vaccinated or have an approved exemption. LACCD employees are required to provide their vaccination status in compliance with the LACCD Board of Trustees’ policy. Newly hired employees will be required to provide their vaccination status prior to starting a position or, at the latest, by their position start date.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Minimum of two years of recent experience (within the past six years) in a California community college DSPS office;

• Minimum of two years of recent experience in a California community setting that highlights a strong commitment to counseling students from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds;

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with DSPS and at-risk student populations;

• Demonstrated ability to develop student education plans to assist students in reaching their career and educational goals;

• Possess an excellent academic record that indicates a strong background in counseling;

• Effective oral and written communication skills;

• Experience in academic/transfer and career/vocational counseling;

• Knowledge of the use of technology and availability of resources used to assist students in reaching their career and educational goals;

• Extensive knowledge of the major career development theories, current trends in career counseling and career development resources; experience in using and interpreting a variety of career assessments measures;

• Demonstrated experience in planning, overseeing, and conducting workshops and orientations;

• Demonstrated sensitivity and ability to motivate, counsel, and teach at-risk and traditionally underrepresented students from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds;

• Experience in personal counseling and student development;

• Demonstrated knowledge of the transfer process, requirements, and articulation;

• Knowledge and ability to use computers and appropriate software applications utilized in providing counseling services;

• An ability to work collegially within the division;

• Success at initiating, executing, and providing follow-up on projects, including the ability to set specific objectives and measure achieved results.

Salary and Benefits:

The starting salary for this position ranges from $86,856 - $131,112 for the 12-month academic year, depending on experience and professional preparation. The doctoral differential is $5,016 per academic year. An excellent benefit package which includes medical, vision, dental and life insurance is available for the employee and eligible dependents.

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:

For consideration in the selection process, all interested candidates must submit the following using the LACCD On-Line system. Please visit https://laccd.csod.com/ats/careersite/search.aspx?site=6&c=laccd to apply for this position and submit the following:

1. Letter of Interest (describing your interest in the position);

2. Current descriptive resume that summarizes how you meet the qualifications of the position;

3. Contact information for three references;

4. Legible unofficial copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts (Uploaded as an “Other Document”); if invited to interview, candidate should be prepared to provide official transcripts: Note: All degrees must be granted by an accredited college or university in the United States. Transcripts from a foreign institution must be submitted with an approved evaluation of equivalency from a foreign evaluation service approved by California Commission on Teaching Credentialing. You can obtain a listing of approved foreign evaluation agencies at the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing: http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/cl635.pdf

Employment is contingent upon verification of qualifications. WLAC reserves the right to modify and/or withdraw this position at any time. Notification regarding advancement in the selection process will be provided to each applicant.

Please submit your application and required documents by 4:30PM May 5. 2023. Application materials will not be accepted by Fax, Mail or e-mail.

For additional information, please contact: Angeles Abraham, Dean of Student Services, abrahaa@wlac.edu

Individuals protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) may request an accommodation in the selection/interview process with at least three business days prior notice. Documentation of the need for accommodation may be requested.

Equal Employment Policy: The policy of the Los Angeles Community College District is to implement equal opportunity to all qualified candidates for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, marital status, medical condition (cancer related), sexual orientation, or veteran status. Positive action will be taken to ensure that this policy is followed in all personnel practices including recruitment, hiring, placement, upgrading, transfer, demotion, and treatment during employment, rate of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, layoff, or termination. A vigorous equal employment opportunity program will be maintained to ensure a diverse work force and to achieve expected representation of qualified members of under-represented groups through the implementation of specific result-oriented plans and procedures (Board Rule 101301).

The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Educator