The salary range for this position is $23.00 - $25.00 per hour depending upon qualifications and is non-negotiable. 

Established in 1943, the mission of the SDSU Research Foundation (SDSURF) is to support the research objectives of San Diego State University by helping faculty and staff find, obtain, and administer funding for their research and sponsored programs. SDSU achieved its strategic plan goal of becoming an R1, premier public research university in early 2025 furthering discoveries, interventions, and solutions that improve communities and change the world. SDSURF provides the full life cycle of grants services to faculty and staff to further their important work.

Our vision is to foster a culture of creativity and collaboration with integrity and respect for individuals that results in the delivery of superior service to support the university’s strategic aspirations.

Our core values:

Service: We are a service organization that strives to provide superior support to the university community to achieve SDSU’s goals; we are committed to being professionally competent by setting high standards and working hard to achieve results; and we continually seeking to improve our skills and capabilities by valuing education and professional development.

Collaboration: We seek to actively engage with our stakeholders and employees to identify issues and design solutions, build strong relationships grounded in trust, openness, and inclusion and achieve the best results by taking pride in the accomplishments of our colleagues.

Innovation: We work towards inspired solutions to improve and adapt to emerging opportunities and challenges, creative ways to streamline and enhance our delivery of services through resourceful and proactive problem solving and strategic use of technology and reduction of obstacles.

Respect: We promote a culture where every individual is valued and treated with dignity, we honor open-mindedness toward different viewpoints and ideas and have a genuine appreciation for varied backgrounds, experiences, and ways of thinking.

Integrity: We are committed to act with the highest ethical standards, with honesty, integrity, and transparency, provide consistent and accurate information and value and respect all individuals.

FUNCTION OF THE UNIT

The Institute for the Arts, Humanities, and Social Justice at SDSU advances inclusive, justice-oriented education through interdisciplinary teaching and programs. SDSU’s VISTA (Valuing Incarcerated Scholars through Academia) is a BA degree completion program, currently offering degrees in Interdisciplinary Studies and Journalism to incarcerated students at Centinela State Prison. In partnership with Global Campus, the Institute supports equity, access, and academic success for incarcerated individuals, aligning with SDSU’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION

The Student Support Coordinator position supports VISTA with a focus on the Holistic Learning project and the goal to research and facilitate innovative student-centered teaching and learning tools for students who are incarcerated. In addition, the Student Support Coordinator will offer logistical and administrative support with holistic student support endeavors and the team’s efforts of creating a reentry guide for individuals released from prison in Southern California. Operating under the supervision of the VISTA Director, the position supports administrative program needs and student achievements. Responsibilities include managing administrative processes, supporting classroom needs, and serving as a point of contact for currently and formerly incarcerated VISTA students.

Administrative Support 30%

• Attend regularly scheduled and collaborative team and subcommittee meetings.
• Support fellows administratively with notetaking and office organization.
• Engage in collaborative dialogue in relation to learning needs.
• Support the project goal in locating and organizing resources for students and the team.
• Schedule recurring meetings and maintain meeting logistics.
• Send meeting reminders and maintain meeting documents in calendar systems.
• Assist with preparation of materials for meetings, training, and program events.
• Manage and organize shared program Google Drives.

Instructional Materials & Operational Support 30%

• Gather semesterly supply requests from faculty and coordinate with VISTA staff for purchasing and distribution.
• Prepare supplies and books appropriately for distribution.
• Support routine communication with faculty and students regarding classroom requests.
• Support routine Canvas logistics related to course preparation and manage online student discussion boards.
• Support classroom setup and physical organization of instructional spaces.
• Assist in the distribution of student questionnaires and feedback forms.
• Track and record feedback.

VISTA Reentry Liaison Support 20%

• Assist in the creation of a reentry resource guide and a reentry guide draft.
• Assist in student reentry efforts by providing student support and guidance as needed upon release from prison.

VISTA-SDSU Library Liaison Support 15%

• Serve as a liaison for the VISTA-SDSU Library partnership.
• Catalogue and maintain updated inventory for SDSU Library materials at instructional site.
• Record and track checkout processes for Library materials.
• Support communication between VISTA and the Library.

Other Duties as Assigned 5%

Knowledge and Abilities

• Experience to be fully functional in all technical aspects of work assignments.
• Thorough, detailed knowledge of applicable university infrastructure, policies, and procedures.
• Thorough knowledge of English grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
• Thorough knowledge of office systems and ability to use a broader range of technology, systems, and
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• Ability to independently handle multiple work unit priorities and projects.
• Ability to apply independently a wide variety of policies and procedures where specific guidelines may not exist.
• Ability to perform standard business math, such as calculate ratios and percentages, track financial data, and make simple projections.
• Ability to draft and compose correspondence and standard reports.
• Ability to effectively handle interpersonal interactions at all levels and handle sensitive interpersonal situations.

Education & Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Previous experience in an office or administrative environment

Preferred Qualifications & Special Skills

• Proficiency in Google suite.
• CA Driver’s License required
• Candidate must be able to travel to SDSU main campus and also to the work site in the Imperial Valley.
• People with lived experience of the criminal justice system will be given careful consideration.

ADDITIONAL APPLICANT INFORMATION

• Candidate must reside in California and live within a commutable distance from SDSU at time of hire.
• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on background check results (including a criminal record check).
• San Diego State University Research Foundation is an equal opportunity employer. Consistent with California law and federal civil rights laws, SDSU Research Foundation provides equal opportunity in employment without unlawful discrimination or preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin or any other categories protected by federal or state law.  
• Employment decisions are based on an individual’s qualifications as they relate to the job under consideration. Our commitment to equal opportunity means ensuring that every employee has equal access to resources and support. 
• SDSU Research Foundation complies with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the California Equity in Higher Education Act, California’s Proposition 209 (Art. I, Section 31 of the California Constitution), and other applicable state and federal anti-discrimination laws including grant or contract terms and conditions related to funded program activities. Further the SDSU Research Foundation maintains a Nondiscrimination Policy that prohibits discriminatory preferential treatment, segregation based on race or any other protected status, and all forms of unlawful discrimination, harassment, and retaliation in all programs, policies, and practices.  
• SDSU Research Foundation makes all employment decisions including, but not limited to, applicant screening, hiring, promotion, demotion, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, and terminations on the basis of merit.