Student Assistant I - Counseling at Palo Alto University

Palo Alto University (PAU), a private, non-profit university, founded in 1975 and located in the heart of Northern California’s Silicon Valley, is a community grounded in values of social justice, dedicated to addressing pressing and emerging issues in the fields of psychology and counseling that meets the needs of today’s diverse society. The students at PAU reflect the diversity of the region, are engaged in their education, and committed to improving the lives of others. The University sees diversity in its staff and faculty as very important to serving its diverse student body (or synonymous with inclusive excellence). PAU offers undergraduate and graduate programs with online, hybrid and residential options. PAU has an engaged faculty who make significant contributions to their fields and prepare future leaders who make a difference in the lives of individuals and communities. When you put all of this together, PAU creates a legacy of confident, competent, and compassionate professionals who are at the forefront of psychology and counseling and who move ahead in life by moving lives ahead.

Position Description 

Job Title: Student Assistant I

Department: Counseling

Reports To: Wendy Wade

Location: Hybrid (on-campus and remote) 

Date: September 8, 2025 through June 15, 2026

Employment Status: Part Time; 5-10hr/week

Overview 

We are seeking highly motivated individuals to work as student assistants within the Counseling Department. The successful candidates will assist the department staff in various administrative projects that support the operations of the department.   

Specific Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Handle confidential material with sensitivity based on university and federal guidelines including managing, and organizing department electronic files. 
• This position requires coming to class online weekly Fall Thursdays 4-8pm, Winter: Thursdays 6-8pm and Wednesdays 4-8pm. Spring: Mondays 4-8pm 
• Offer course instructor support during scheduled weekly class meetings
• Assisting with the management of the course Canvas shell
• Grading assignments as directed by course instructor
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Be a current PAU student, preferably a student in the PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision, PhD in Psychology or PsyD in Psychology programs
• If a MA student, you must have successfully completed the Counseling Theories and Addiction Counseling Courses. 
• Good standings and be maintaining a GPA of 3.0 or better. 
• Must be available to attend and support residency weeks. 
• Must be self-motivated and able to perform repetitive work while maintaining a high level of accuracy. 
• Process excellent oral and written communication skills
• Punctual, reliable, detail-oriented, and can work with minimal supervision 
• Ability to work as a member of a team
• Basic computer skills and comfortable with using Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite and open to learning other system applications. 

Application Procedures: 

PAU is committed to providing an educational environment that supports a diverse, equitable and inclusive population.  In your cover letter, please include information on how your background and experience has prepared you to be in an environment that holds equity and inclusion core to its mission and values.  

EEOC Policy: 

No Discrimination: The University is an equal opportunity employer and is firmly committed to non-discrimination in its hiring and other employment practices and in the application of its personnel policies. In compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists, employment decisions will be made irrespective of the staff member's backgrounds of race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age (except for minors), sex, marital status, citizenship status, military service status, sexual orientation, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic condition), disability and/or any another status protected by law. 

As provided by law, and when it is requested to do so, the University will offer reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities, if the individual is otherwise qualified to safely and to the University standards of quality of work, perform all essential functions of the position and if it will be done without undue hardship to the University.

PAU has a high-quality work environment that attracts and welcomes a diversity of backgrounds of its employees.  In your application or in a cover letter, please include information on how your background and experience has prepared you to work at a high level of quality of work with co-workers from a variety of different backgrounds.