Counselor (Academic Counselor-Learning Community Coordinator: Umoja)

This position may include a combination of day, evening, weekend, and extension site assignments. Successful candidate may be assigned to any of the campus sites (Chula Vista, National City, Otay Mesa, and/or San Ysidro).

Southwestern Community College District is seeking a full-time, tenure track, equity-focused counseling faculty members committed to serving its’ culturally diverse student population.

Southwestern Community College District seeks counseling faculty who will foster an inclusive learning environment through equity-minded counseling, teaching, leadership, and service to students working toward goals of university transfer, associate degree and certificate completion, employment advancement, and personal growth.

THE COLLEGE

Southwestern Community College District (SWCCD) is not just a college district; it is a vibrant hub of higher education serving the diverse communities of Chula Vista, San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, National City, and Coronado. Our strategic location in south San Diego County places us in a unique position to provide exceptional services to a binational community along the United States-Mexico International Border.

As a proud Hispanic Serving Institution and eligible Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution (ANNAPISI), SWCCD places immense value on equity, inclusion, diversity, and culturally responsive classroom instruction and support services. We understand that each employee and student bring a unique set of experiences and perspectives to our campus, and we are committed to creating an environment that welcomes and celebrates this diversity.

The College is dedicated to providing quality academic programs, comprehensive student support services that ensure equitable access, and clear pathways to student success. These efforts include professional development opportunities, employee-led affinity groups, proud commitment to DACA students, and supportive employee onboarding practices.

OUR STUDENTS

SWCCD currently enrolls approximately 32,000 students annually. SWCCD is a very diverse college with an ethnicity/race make up of 58% Hispanic students, 19% Caucasian students, 6% Filipino students, 5% African American students, 2% Asian students and 3% multi-ethnicity. Approximately 56% of the college’s students are under the age of 24 with 28% ages 25 to 39. Approximately 53% of students receive some form of financial aid, 39% are full-time students and 61% part-time students. The college has approximately 1,500 employees.

OUR VALUES

We value the ability to serve students from a broad range of cultural heritages, academic backgrounds, genders, abilities, and orientations. We seek applicants who demonstrate they understand the benefits diversity brings to a professional educational community. Successful candidates will be expected to exhibit responsiveness and sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, cultural, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, religious, and ethnic and racial backgrounds of community college students and employees, and successfully foster and support an inclusive educational and employment environment. An equity-minded individual is a person who already does or has demonstrated the desire to:

1. Critically self-assess their individual impact, through teaching practices and student engagement, on closing equity gaps and holds themselves accountable to upholding and delivering equitable practices.
2. Reframe deficit language and take individual and collective responsibility to look at their own practices as a vehicle to eliminate inequities.
3. Encourage positive race-consciousness and embrace human differences.
4. Strategically encourage and build buy-in and participation among colleagues for equity efforts.

Southwestern Community College District seeks faculty who value mentorship and working in a collegial, collaborative environment, guided by a commitment to helping all students achieve their educational goals.

Master’s degree in counseling, rehabilitation counseling, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, guidance counseling, educational counseling, social work, career development, marriage and family therapy, or marriage, family and child counseling

OR

Bachelor’s degree in one of the above listed degrees and a license as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT)

OR

Possession of a valid California Community College Credential in Counseling

OR

The equivalent.

Please note, this position is not a mental health therapist position at Southwestern Community College District. It is focused on academic counseling and not associated with behavioral health or located within our personal wellness department.

• Additional assessment is required for applicants with foreign degrees from colleges or universities outside of the United States. Applicants must have their coursework evaluated by a professional association that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) and must submit a copy of the evaluation with the application.

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DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Community college counseling experience.
• Demonstrated experience in program coordination and implementation.
• Demonstrated experience in previous teaching experience, especially at the community college level.
• Demonstrated experience in the ability to use and to interpret various career assessments.
• Demonstrated experience of knowledge in the use of various academic and career-related resources to assist students in researching important information about their academic goal, selecting a major and determining a career of their choice.
• Demonstrated experience in the ability to develop a comprehensive student education plan leading to the completion of an education goal.
• Demonstrated experience in the ability to work with students from diverse backgrounds with a wide range of academic skills.
• Demonstrated experience in the ability to conduct various academic, career and job-related workshops and presentations.
• Demonstrated experience in the ability to provide interventions for students on academic/progress probation,
• Demonstrated experience in the ability to work with computers, multimedia, and other technologies utilized in providing high-quality instruction.
• Demonstrated experience in the ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Desire and demonstrated ability to participate actively in the department, division, and college committees and in the shared governance of Southwestern College.
• Desire and evidence of an ability to take on leadership roles both within the department and in the institution as a whole.
• Commitment to the Mission and Strategic Objectives of the two-year college.
• An understanding of the interconnectedness of socio-economic, cultural, environmental, and personal factors contributing to both the achievement of as well as barriers to success for African American students and other populations.
• Commitment to examine, reflect, and modify instructional, relational, classroom and counseling practices to effectively engage and support disproportionately impacted populations with a goal of closing the equity gaps.

• An understanding of Title V, Categorical programs and changes impacting Student Services.
• Specialized experience with online counseling, First Year Experience, Foster Youth, Restorative Justice or Veteran Students.
• Bilingual skills in English and other languages.
• Prior experience in coordinating LGBTQ programs, and/or support services which worked directly with LGBTQ+ student populations.

SERVICE

• Assume leadership roles both within the department and in the institution as a whole.
• Commitment to serving the needs of the student, department, college, and community.
• Collaboration across disciplines and utilization of student support resources.
• Participation in department, division, college committees, and participatory governance activities.
• Participation in curriculum and program development.
• Work collegially and collaboratively within the college community.
• Participation in ongoing professional development.

TEACHING

• Ability to create a dynamic learning environment that values instructor/student interaction.
• Ability to effectively engage with and facilitate authentic learning for students of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.
• Ability to adapt teaching andragogy/pedagogy to the knowledge of each individual and class.
• Ability to self-reflect and respond to an evidence-based assessment of student learning.
• Demonstrated experience and commitment to integrating new technologies into the learning process, including but not limited to interactive technologies for on-campus and on-line courses.
• Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Candidates must exhibit an appreciation of, a sensitivity to, and respect for a rich and diverse academic environment, inclusive of students, faculty, and staff of varying social, economic, cultural, ideological and ethnic backgrounds, and those with disabilities. Experience working in a community with a similar diversity pattern as is found in the service area for Southwestern College is desirable.

A short teaching demonstration may be required of those invited for an interview.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direction of the Dean, Counseling and Student Support Programs the Counselor will be responsible for providing equity minded academic, career and personal counseling to a diverse student population.

The UMOJA Coordinator assists African American and other student populations in transitioning into and connecting with the campus community, enhancing cultural and educational experiences, and increasing persistence and retention rates to achieve their educational goals. The assignment also involves providing educational, career, and personal counseling to students. The Counselor/Coordinator is expected to coordinate and facilitate a variety of workshops utilizing the UMOJA Community statewide practices for new and continuing UMOJA students, classroom presentations, outreach activities, evening, and Saturday assignments. The Counselor will also provide referrals for students to other services and agencies. The UMOJA coordinator/counselor will also provide leadership in areas of student intervention strategies, enhancing student completions, teaching, career, and orientation to college courses. This assignment also includes curriculum development, participation in the shared governance process through work in normal professional activities, committee work, and student activities.

In addition to counseling duties, the Counselor will assist in the development of programs and services to promote student retention; participate in developing curriculum for Personal Development programs; instruct Personal Development classes; participate in joint projects with instruction; serve as liaison to instructional schools; and participate in partnership activities with feeder school districts, other colleges/universities, and community colleges.

SALARY SCHEDULE:Academic Contract 11-Month

SALARY AND BENEFITS
Upon initial employment, full-time faculty members are placed on the salary schedule based upon years of experience and education. Initial salary placement for experience can range from $77,303.00-$116,316.00 per year.

Faculty members are encouraged to continue their professional development through additional study qualifying them for advancement on the salary schedule. For the current salary schedule and information on salary placement visit our website atwww.swccd.edu.

Academic employees participate in the State Teachers’ Retirement System, a defined-benefit retirement plan through the State of California.

TENTATIVE TIMELINE (Subject to change):Any application received after the initial screening deadline is not guaranteed a review.

March 23-April 19, 2026

Position advertised; District receives applications

March 30-April 3, 2026

Closed for Spring Break.

April 19, 2026

Initial screening deadline for guaranteed consideration. Position is open until filled.

April 27-May 8, 2026

Reviewing of applications.

May 11-22, 2026

Search Committee interviews candidates

May 25-June 2, 2026

Top finalist interviews

June, 2026

Successful applicant name submitted to Governing Board for approval.