Academic Counselor-TRIO

Bargaining Unit: OPAP
Grade: III
Salary: Exempt
Application Deadline: Open Until Filled
Priority Screening: April 7, 2026

Position Overview:

Student Support Services is a federally funded TRIO program that assists first generation, low-income and disabled students to succeed in completing an associate’s degree and transferring to a four-year college.

Reporting to the TRIO Director, the Academic Counselor provide personal, academic, transfer, and career counseling services with professionalism and knowledge of TRIO regulations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serve as a key member of SUNY Ulster’s Orientation and Registration teams.

• Provide comprehensive academic advising, academic counseling, and career and transfer planning services to students on a drop-in and appointment basis, as well as online, on the phone and at any SUNY Ulster campus site, as appropriate.
• Provide financial aid counseling, assist students with financial aid applications, guide students in maintaining financial aid eligibility, and help students with financial aid waiver appeals and securing other sources of college funding if financial aid eligibility is lost.

• Use assessment tools to help students identify their areas of strengths and weaknesses for retention purposes, and develop success plans with students that create strategies to guide them towards graduation and transfer to a four-year college.

• Utilize record keeping systems and maintain records for federal grant projects;
• Lead efforts to ensure timely and comprehensive response to Early Warnings and other notifications of issues impacting student success issued by faculty.
• Address the unique needs in educational planning of students with no identified education goal or course of study, students enrolled in basic skills courses as well as students who are either first generation, underrepresented, disabled, and/or non-traditional.
• Provide job search assistance including résumé, cover letter and interviewing support.
• Serve as Partner Advisor to a cohort caseload of students; developing a deeper knowledge of career pathways in cohort specified; develop system for identifying and connecting with cohort students

• Act as consultant to faculty regarding student performance, retention and academic needs;
• Utilize record keeping systems and maintain records for federal grant projects;
• Serve as Partner Advisor to a cohort caseload of seventy students; developing a deeper knowledge of career pathways in cohort specified; develop system for identifying and connecting with cohort students.
• Participate in ongoing professional development in the fields of academic advisement and educational planning, higher education student success, and cultural competency; attend conferences and training sessions.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree
• Two (2) year or more previous experience in one or more of the following: advising, student recruitment/retention, case management, or related student services using a proactive and innovative approach which results in demonstrated outcomes, i.e., student development, program retention, graduation, and academic planning; OR, any equivalent combination of experience and/or education from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

And

• Commitment to community college goals and objectives of providing quality programs and services for culturally, socio-economically, ethnically, and academically diverse students and students with disabilities; personal qualities to work effectively and with sensitivity in a multicultural environment; awareness of and commitment to the needs of non-traditional and/or re-entry students with diverse abilities and interests.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of New York public educational structure, particularly as it pertains to transfer. policies and practices, articulation agreements and requirements.
• Knowledge of financial aid regulations and processes.
• Bilingual/ multilingual
• Knowledge of job market and career trends and requirements.
• Commitment and ability to work effectively and harmoniously with colleagues, individually and in teams.

• Demonstrated ability to use mature judgement, compassion, ethics, morals and character to inform decisions.

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Effective oral and written communication skills and some familiarity with Microsoft Office.

Salary :

A starting salary of $48,000 with an excellent benefits package. This position is contingent upon adequate funding.

Additional Information

SUNY Ulster offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision, life insurance, NYS or SUNY TIAA Retirement Plan, SUNY Perks, tuition waivers, including dependent waivers, and tuition assistance.

In addition, OPAP-covered members receive, on an annual basis: 24 vacation days, 12 sick days, 6 personal days, and 12 holidays including 3 floating holidays. In addition, the College is closed on the day prior to Thanksgiving, and between December 26 - January, 1, known as the Holiday Curtailment.

Application Process :

The position is open until filled. However, to ensure consideration, application materials should be received via email by April 7, 2026 at 4:00 pm EST to be given priority consideration. Applications received after the deadline are not guaranteed to be reviewed. SUNY Ulster reserves the right to close, continue, cancel, postpone or restart the recruitment at any time.

Applicants must submit the following materials to be considered for the position:

• Resume or CV
• Cover letter which discusses your qualifications and interest in the position
• Contact information for 3 professional references

Please submit only materials requested. All documents included in your application file become the property of the College. Applicants who fail to submit all required materials will not be considered.

We invite you to be part of a dedicated community of learners in an academic department that puts students first. Please go to the SUNY Ulster website for additional campus community information.

SUNY Ulster is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The college encourages applications from all qualified applicants. This position is contingent upon adequate funding. Offer and assignment of employment is subject to verification of all information provided on the employment application, credentials, transcripts, fingerprint check, verification of the right to work in the United States and all other required pre-employment conditions are met.

Applicants who are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act and who, due to a disability, require accommodations for completing the application process, testing (if required for the position), or the interview, should notify the Human Resources Office 10 working days before the accommodation is required.

Neither the smoking of tobacco (nor other substances) nor the use of electronic vaporizers is permitted on the campus grounds.

SUNY Ulster does not reimburse applicants for travel, lodging or any other costs incurred by applicant to attend interviews. All interviewing costs incurred will be the responsibility of the applicant. Meeting the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview. Internal applicants are not guaranteed an interview.

Conditions of Employment

Employment with SUNY Ulster is not complete or official until applicants meet all pre-employment requirements, and the Board of Trustees has approved. Offer and assignment of employment is subject to verification of all information provided on the employment application, fingerprint check, verification of the right to work in the United States and all other required pre-employment conditions are met.

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