Puente Counselor and Coordinator (TEMPORARY)

Posting Number: F01254
Location: Diablo Valley College
Salary:

Description of Position:
The DVC Puente Project is housed at the Pleasant Hill Campus and is an in-person assignment. Puente was founded in 1981 by Felix Galaviz and Patricia McGrath at Chabot College in Hayward. The program was launched as a grassroots initiative to address the low rate of academic achievement among Latino/a students. To understand the possible causes of this high dropout rate, Galaviz and McGrath reviewed over 2,000 student transcripts. They discovered three key patterns among Latinx students: 1. students were avoiding academic counseling, 2. students were not enrolling in college-level writing courses, and 3. students were the first in their families to attend college. The Puente model that emerged in response to these patterns comprises three components: instruction, sustained academic counseling, and mentoring by members of the professional community. The DVC PUENTE program has been at DVC since 1996 and has expanded to include an ethnic studies course, a racialized Latinx politics class, and a library studies course that is paired with English 123 course.

The counseling component includes an assigned Puente counselor who works closely with Puente students to help them identify career goals, develop short and long-term educational plans, and navigate their preparation for and application to four-year colleges or universities. The counselor also teaches a course in personal development each semester. Additionally, the counselor is paired with English faculty and links the Student Success (Counseling 120) and Transfer (Counseling 130NC) courses to First-Year Composition (English C1000) and Critical Thinking (English 123), respectively. The Puente counselor and English faculty attend each other's courses, and the co-coordinators meet twice weekly to coordinate events and to strategize methods of supporting struggling students.

The Puente team members (counselor and instructor) match the Puente students with mentors from the local professional community. Three out of four Puente community college students have parents with no college education. Mentors serve as role models of academic and professional success for these students. Puente mentors are trained volunteers who offer ongoing encouragement for students and provide a vital link between the local community and the college campus.

In addition to curriculum, counseling, and mentoring, the DVC Puente Project provides a robust series of activities for Puente students and their families. These include Meet & Greet and Welcome Back events prior to the start of the semester, evening events such as Noche De Familia, local daytime and overnight campus tours to Southern California, a Motivational Conference, and on-campus author visits, speakers, and workshops, among others. In addition to coordinating and implementing activities, Coordinators have administrative responsibilities that support program development and evaluation such as attending meetings, coding in Colleague, MIS and NOVA reporting, Program Review, coordinating and participating in site visits with external partners, and outreach and recruitment efforts.

Note: This position requires an on-campus presence for counseling appointments, instruction of Puente classes, events, and meetings. Some night and weekend work is required, including overnight trips for college tours, etc..

Inquiries:
Yvonne Canada-Clarke, ycanada@dvc.edu
OR
Dr. James Noel, jnoel@dvc.edu

Position Status: Non-Tenure Track
EEO Job Category: Faculty & Other Instructional Staff
Employee Group: Part-Time Faculty
Department: D1050-Student Life

Duties and Responsibilities:
Adjunct Faculty duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:
1. providing instruction in accordance with established curriculum, course outlines and class schedules;
2. creating and maintaining an environment which emphasizes learning, encourages free discussion of ideas and critical thinking;
3. evaluating progress of students concerning educational matters and grades student work;
4. meeting with students outside of class;
5. maintaining appropriate standards of professional conduct and ethics;
6. maintaining current knowledge in the subject matter areas;
7. fulfilling professional responsibilities of a part-time/temporary faculty member;
8. maintaining accurate academic records;
9. performing other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualification-Education/Experience:
EDUCATION:
Master's 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 the equivalent

(NOTE: A bachelor's degree in one of the listed degrees and a license as a Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) is an alternative qualification for this discipline.)

AND

Demonstrate relevant experience to work with this student population. The person in this role will teach the required Puente Counseling/Career classes (.2 Instruction (Fall) and .1 Instruction (Spring)) and have Puente Counseling appointments.

Master's Degree (language): The disciplines listed in the minimum qualifications are determined by the statewide Academic Senate for California Community Colleges. A Doctoral degree (PhD) is considered to encompass a master's degree (MA or MS). If the title(s) of your degree major(s) listed on your unofficial transcripts or other documents from the degree-granting institutions are not an EXACT MATCH to the degrees listed below, you MUST submit an equivalency form. Without it, your application will not be considered. The equivalency form can be downloaded here. In addition to responding to the required Supplemental Questions below, please upload the following required documents:

1. Any/all undergraduate and graduate unofficial transcripts (must show degree and the date degree was conferred).
2. Rsum including information regarding preparation and experience relevant to the position and 3. Cover letter explaining your interest in the position.

Contra Costa Community College District follows all relevant local, state, federal, and CDC guidance related to COVID-19.

Desirable Qualifications:
Demonstrated commitment to supporting the success of Chicanx/Latinx students and historically underrepresented student populations.

Experience teaching, counseling, or working with diverse student populations, particularly Chicanx/Latinx students.

Proven experience in project management, program evaluation, with the ability to effectively plan, execute, and assess program initiatives.

Strong interpersonal skills, ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders including faculty, staff, and administrators, and to foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment for students.
Proficiency in using technology for instructional purposes and student engagement.

Job Open Date: 06/12/2025
Job Close Date: 7/10/2025
Open Until Filled: No
Employment Begins: July 1, 2025
# of Months: 9 Months

To apply, visit: https://www.4cdcareers.net/postings/11480

The Contra Costa Community College District does not discriminate against any applicant for employment on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, age, sex, or sexual orientation. This prohibition against unlawful discrimination extends to any person who is perceived to have any of the above characteristics or who is associated with someone who has, or who is perceived to have, any of those characteristics.

Job Details

Puente Counselor and Coordinator (TEMPORARY)

About the Role: