GARS Position Requirements

The Residential Education Office General Advisor and Retention Specialist (GARS) will: 

• Provide academic and holistic advising to students living on campus in the residential housing facilities at San Diego State University. If needed, referrals to campus resources will be provided.  

• Implement initiatives to improve communications to students, through in-person presentations/workshops and web-based/online technology.  

• Facilitate student success through program/workshop development and/or implementation. 

• Provide support for students experiencing concerns regarding academic advisement, course selection, and degree evaluation. 

• Provide guidance and personal counseling related to self-awareness, personal growth and academic probation that facilitates the continuation of students towards degree goals. 

• Work closely with the Office of Advising and Evaluations and/or individual Colleges to provide guidance to students that depend on their curriculum. 

• Provide support for, and supervision of the STAR Centers (academic resource labs), including undergraduate peer advisers, in order to ensure that residential students receive the appropriate advising necessary to efficiently progress through the major/pre-major and graduate in a timely manner. 

• Coordinate the recruitment, selection, training, and evaluation of peer advisors and tutors. 

• Work collaboratively with campus partners to provide advising in high-impact practice opportunities (such as internships, study abroad opportunities, research, etc) for students to enhance their academic coursework.  

• The REO GARS will participate, as appropriate, in various Residential Education programs and will carry out other duties as assigned by the Associate Director and/or Executive Director of Residential Education.  

• The person holding this position is considered a `mandated reporter’ under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and is required to comply with the requirements set forth in CSU Executive Order 1083 as a condition of employment.