Lead Graduate Advisor (4576U) - Department of Physics Job Listing at University of California in Berkeley, CA (Job ID 66498)

Description

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world's leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.

We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of California and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at Berkeley, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Berkeley, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, our Principles of Community, and our Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. To find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley, visit grow.berkeley.edu.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: April 1, 2024 - Open Until Filled

Responsibilities

Physics is the largest department in the L&S Division of Mathematical and Physical Sciences.  It is ranked as one of the top physics departments in the world, with excellence in research, teaching, and service to the community all highly valued. The department has 80 ladder and active emeriti faculty, 60 career and casual staff, and 300 lecturers, teaching assistants, readers, research personnel, postdocs, fellowship recipients, and visiting scholars. It enrolls 250 graduate students, 250 undergraduate majors, and over 7,000 students in its courses, many with laboratory sections. Its faculty fully participates in teaching and administration and conducts world-class research in campus, local, national, and international laboratories and sites; research activities require active financial arrangements with organizations such as Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. Physics manages 3 distinct campus buildings in its facilities complex with 240,000 assignable square feet, and it also houses and provides services to several research centers and multiple research Laboratories with varying physical environments. It has an active fundraising program.

This position involves a wide range of student services duties and responsibilities for the Physics Department. The Lead Student Advisor provides assistance to faculty, and students in academic advising, recruitment, admissions, financial aid, the evaluation and awarding of fellowships and block grant funds, student orientation and events, career counseling, and related programs.

Responsibilities

Provide complex student services support to the organization's management, faculty and students:

• Provides the most complex student services support to the organization's management, faculty and students. Applies advanced concepts in the area;
• Manages and oversees registration, enrollments, degree requirements, financial support, academic progress, petitions, academic probation, degree filing, prelims and qualifying exams;
• Maintains graduate student records and all functions pertaining to progress in the program, awarding of degrees and verification of completion of degree requirements for Graduate Division;
• Manages, coordinates and schedules written prelim exams once a semester. Prepares complex score reports for each graduate student and advises on outcomes and consequences at prelim review committee meeting with faculty mentors and graduate adviser;
• Manages, coordinates and schedules all qualifying exams for graduate students;
• Manages use of computer database program related to graduate matters;
• Responds to requests for data from the Chair, Head Graduate Adviser, faculty mentors, Graduate Division, and other on and off campus units (AIP, APS, Gradschool shopper);
• Oversees various departmental events including department orientations, fall reception, and Open House (graduate recruitment) for prospective graduate students with support from Graduate SSA3;
• Assists Student Services Manager with matters related to PANIC accounts for graduate students to insure IT and security compliance. Provides user reports annually;
• May supervise staff/student staff.

Recruitment and Admissions: 

• Advises department/school/college on outreach strategies, and helps identify targeted institutions to meet organization's goals; coordinates, reviews and advises chair/dean and faculty on transferability and applicability of non-UC Berkeley courses;  
• Manages the graduate admissions and student recruitment process including identifying potential streamlining technologies and other processes for improving admissions process or adapting to changes; 
• Analyzes data from application material and produces complex reports for faculty admissions committee; 
• Graduate Division liaison. Interprets new Graduate Division policies and advises faculty and students on them; 
• Advises the Admissions and Fellowships committees on admissions goals, research opportunities, gathers and analyzes data from competing academic institutions; 
• Works with the Department Chair, Director of Administration, Admissions Committee Chair and Head Graduate Adviser to formulate the department financial support package; 
• Advises applicants and faculty on departmental and University requirements, and other admissions regulations. Makes recommendations to the department admissions committee; 
• Formulates policies to guarantee equitable and appropriate assignment of GSIs and GSRs and monitors the implementation of these policies; 
• Oversees maintenance of student files to ensure compliance with University, Federal and Department policies regarding privacy of records; 
• Provides degree and student status verification as required in accordance with University and Federal student information disclosure policies 
• Manages Fellowship Compliance reports.

Academic Advising:

• Identifies and refers for resolution intricate student issues/grievances such as alleged discrimination, complex grade dispute issues, and students' personal crises; 
• Recommends petition exceptions that affect the requirements of multiple departments; facilitates new course approval through interaction with the Coordination of College Policy, Academic Senate, or similar organization; Advises and counsels all new and continuing graduate students in the physics graduate program from initial admissions to completion of degree requirements and evaluates needs and goals of students' individual plans of study; Informs student of options, and recommends alternatives.; 
• Independently applies policy by making decisions, interpreting, modifying, enforcing, and waiving regulations pertaining to as deemed appropriate;  Provides individualized counseling and guidance of students involving all areas of university life: curriculum, financial support, registration, preliminary exams, qualifying exam committees and career options;  
• Exercises professional judgement to refer to other campus services or outside agencies/services as appropriate;  
• Devises solutions to students' academic and administrative problems;  Makes recommendations for the resolution of very sensitive and complex graduate student issues/grievances such as unprofessional faculty conduct, grade disputes, and personal crises. Makes recommendations to faculty advisers regarding resolution of problems;  
• Advises students and faculty on the NSE Designated Emphases requirements and process;  Monitors the progress of each graduate student in the program and consults with the Head Graduate Adviser and faculty as needed, including identifying deficient progress.

Financial Aid: 

• Recommends resolution of extremely sensitive, specialized, and/or complex financial aid issues; and/or administers department's/school's/college's block grants and restricted funds.
• Advises organization's management on available funds for entering students based upon special funding from all sources;  Recommends resolution of extremely sensitive, specialized, and/or complex financial aid issues; 
• Under the guidance of the Department Chair, Director of Administration and Unit Manager, administers department's block grant, restricted funds and physics graduate student endowments and enters awards in student information system; 
• Works with Unit Manager to develop key reports; 
• Coordinates and manages all physics GSR Appointments with internal and external (LBNL, SSL) campus units - approximately 100 GSRs each semester; 
• Advises department/college/school management regarding enhancement of the organization's strategic plan for career counseling and placement services for graduate students; 
• Works with Unit Manager to identify sources of funding as well as students eligible for such awards and effectively recommends the allocation of financial support to students in order to best meet their needs and maximize the effect of available resources.

Department/ College Policies:

• Advises chairs/deans on the formulation of department/school/college policy by advising them on areas needing clarification and identifying solutions; analyzes the consequences of organization's academic policies and recommends new or changed policies; recommends solutions to organization's problems without precedent:
• Makes recommendations for policies and procedures to Unit Manager;
• Advises Unit Manager, analyzes consequences of department academic policies and recommends new or changed policies for graduate matters;
• Advises Unit Manager on current program needs, both academic and administrative combining in-depth understanding of program's intellectual mission and goals with extensive knowledge of University procedures and regulations;
• Advises faculty advisors and Chair on the formulation of department policy by advising them on areas needing clarification and identifying solutions;
• Interprets university, campus and department policies and regulations.

Career Counseling: 

• Advises department/college/school management regarding enhancement of the organization's strategic plan for career counseling and placement services. Utilizing an in-depth knowledge of the field, counsel's students on post-degree employment opportunities and practices: 
• Counsels students on post-degree employment opportunities and practices; 
• Assists physics student organizations to recruit seminar speakers for Career Placement monthly seminars

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training. 
• Advanced knowledge of advising and counseling techniques.
• Knowledge of University-specific computer application programs and knowledge of University and departmental principles and procedures involved in risk assessment and evaluating risks as to likelihood and consequences.
• Skills in monitoring/assessing people, processes or services, to make improvements.
• Skills in project management, social perceptiveness to be aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Ability in problem identification, reasoning, ability to develop original ideas to solve problems, persuasion, leadership.
• In-depth knowledge of the field's post-degree employment opportunities and practices.
• Interpersonal skills. Multicultural competencies; ability to work with diverse populations.
• Complete and thorough knowledge of Federal, University, campus, and department policies and procedures in regards to privacy of records.
• Expert knowledge and understanding of university, college level and departmental processes and procedures required in all areas of graduate student services.
• Expert knowledge of graduate student financial aid/funding, award processing and management.
• Advanced knowledge of graduate recruitment planning, outreach and scheduling.
• Skills in working with students with mental health issues, disabled students and delicate situations with students in need.

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience. 

The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $85,000 to $105,000 annually. This is a 100% FTE, career position eligible for full benefits.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities.  Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities.  The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant, please see the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission poster.

 

For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, please see the University of California Discrimination, Harassment, and Affirmative Action in the Workplace policy.

 

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