Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening. To apply for the position, please click the Apply for this Job link/button.
Please see Special Instructions for more details.
Required Application Materials All applicants are required to submit:
- A completed online District application form (go to to complete the application and to apply for this position).
- A resume that details all relevant education, training, and other work experience.
- A cover letter of no more than 3 pages that addresses the applicant's cultural competence, sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, ethnic, neurodivergent, and LGBTQIA+ backgrounds of community college students, faculty and staff as well as the applicant's qualifications as they relate to the requirements, knowledge, skills, and abilities listed in this announcement.
Candidates for interview will be selected from among those who most closely meet the requirements and knowledge, skills and abilities. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview. As part of the interview process, candidates may be asked to demonstrate job-related knowledge and skills.
For questions related to this posting, please contact:
SMCCCD Office of Human Resources
3401 CSM Drive
San Mateo, CA 94402
Tel.:
Email:
Web Page:
Position Information
Posting Number: S
Position Title: Retention Specialist (Temporary)
Location: Cañada College
Percentage of Full Time: 100%
FLSA: Non-Exempt (accrues overtime)
Min Salary: $36.78 (hourly)
Max Salary: $47.03 (hourly)
Who We Are
The San Mateo County Community College District is committed to achieving educational equity for all students. As outlined in the District's Strategic Plan, "success, equity, and social justice for our students are longstanding goals." The District's "Students First" Strategic Plan is focused on "Student Success, Equity and Social Justice." We provide students with a rich and dynamic learning experience that embraces differences - emphasizing collaboration and engaging students in and out of the classroom.
The Position
The Retention Specialist performs paraprofessional work that involves outreach and the retention of students in the EOPS Program designed to foster student success. Under direction, the employee performs a variety of preparatory work and planning and develops strategies to support and enhance student completion and success.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Exchanges information with students, faculty and staff regarding subject-matter, resources, materials, policies and procedures associated with the classroom or laboratory setting or college programs and services.
- Confers with faculty regarding curriculum, computer hardware, software and other learning tools.
- Attends meetings, conferences and workshops to obtain current subject-matter, procedural and other information.
- Participates in division and department planning activities.
- Makes presentations to small and large groups to publicize the services and programs as assigned.
- Assists with outreach and retention of students into specific programs.
- Provides encouragement and support to students who are undecided about a major.
- Proactively meets with students to monitor their progress.
- Tracks student involvement in on-campus support resources.
- Develops an early alert system to identify students who are underperforming in specific coursework.
- Assists in planning an academic support structure.
- Works with faculty advisors and student leaders of clubs to develop programs that promote academic success.
- Uses a variety of computer software to organize and maintain learning resources and related data.
- Trains and leads the work of student assistants, clerical and other staff as assigned.
- Performs other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
- Possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution OR an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- Successful experience of increasing responsibility that has included event planning, assessment, and evaluation.
- Demonstrated cultural competence, sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, ethnic, neurodivergent, and LGBTQIA+ backgrounds.
- Demonstrated oral and written communication skills, including public speaking.
- Experience with the use of a variety of computer software to compose and prepare correspondence, forms, reports, presentations, and other written materials.
- Experience with research and compiling data for reports.
- Skill in setting up and maintaining online and manual files.
Conditions of Employment
Prior to employment, the selected candidate will be required to complete the following:
- Submit official transcripts.
- Submit verifications of prior employment.
- Satisfactory references.
- Successfully clear background checks.
- Present original documents for proof of eligibility to work in the United States.
EEO Statement
The San Mateo County Community College District is an Equal Opportunity Employer that seeks to employ individuals who represent the rich diversity of cultures, language groups, and abilities of its surrounding communities.