Private Postsecondary Education Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established January 6, 1994

Scope

This series specification describes three class levels in the Council for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education. These classes are used for positions responsible for administering and regulating a statewide program for evaluating and approving educational programs of private postsecondary vocational, degree granting, and correspondence institutions. Incumbents also approve other educational services to issue certificates and diplomas and to train veterans in both public and private postsecondary institutions.

Definition of Series

Persons in these classes provide leadership in private postsecondary education in California to protect students and reputable institutions, ensure appropriate State control of business and operational standards, ensure minimum standards for educational quality, prohibit misrepresentations, require full disclosures, prohibit unfair dealings, and protect student rights. Incumbents develop standards, policies and procedures relating to the evaluation of public and private postsecondary educational programs and schools; evaluate programs for conformance with standards, policies and procedures, and grant course approval, approval for schools to grant degrees or issue diplomas or approval for schools to train veterans; consult with and advise public and private postsecondary personnel on curricula, instructional methods and administrative procedures as they relate to the approval and reapproval of higher education, professional, technical and vocational education programs; advise public and private postsecondary school officials on utilization of space, equipment and facilities; develop, review, analyze, interpret and apply Federal and State laws and regulations affecting private and public education; prepare reports of findings and recommendations; investigate and evaluate applications for correspondence school sales representative permits; conduct field evaluations of educational programs and facilities to ensure programmatic quality and compliance with State and Federal laws and regulations; promote and evaluate the effectiveness of workforce training programs in private postsecondary education and vocational institutions to provide job training; verify whether the completion and placement data has measurable outcomes as reported by educational institutions; investigate complaints against schools offering or conducting courses without proper approval or issuing certificates or diplomas without proper authorization; evaluate, approve, advise and coordinate veterans' education programs; conduct studies and research relating to the planning, evaluation and administration of programs; organize, administer and attend conferences and workshops; prepare and recommend changes in legislation, regulations and policies to facilitate the work of the Council; make presentations and represent the Council as assigned; and do other related work.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

Scope and level of responsibility assigned; complexity of work; type and level of supervision received; sensitivity of issues; the independence and consequence of action; the level and scope of responsibility of program and policy development and implementation; the impact of decisions on statewide programs; and degree of supervisory and administrative responsibility.

Definition of Levels

Private Postsecondary Education Specialist

This is the entry and first journey level class in this series. It is typically used as a permanent allocation level for lesser skilled functions and as a training level for the higher professional levels in the series. Incumbents typically work under the general supervision of an Administrator and may also work under the lead of a Senior Specialist. At this level, incumbents typically provide consultative services to vocational and nondegree-granting postsecondary educational institutions; review and evaluate all phases of program operations including reviews of curricula; prepare recommendations with regard to granting or denying approvals to continue operations; and assure that postsecondary education institutions approved for veterans are in compliance with Federal regulations. Incumbents may also be assigned to complete the less sensitive and complex special projects related to the Council's programs and mission and to assist Senior Specialists involved in reviews of degree-granting private postsecondary institutions.

Private Postsecondary Education Senior Specialist

This is the full journey level in the series. The Senior Specialist performs the most complex reviews of private postsecondary institutions conducted by the Council as well as provides leadership and training to incumbents in the Specialist class. Under the direction of an Administrator, incumbents are typically assigned to review and evaluate educational programs and activities of degree granting postsecondary institutions as required by State law, provide consultative services to these same entities as well as to the public and Federal, State and local client institutions so that they may continue operation, and defend determinations to rescind approvals as necessary. Incumbents may also be assigned to prepare or direct the most complex and sensitive special projects or to serve in a lead capacity over a small group of Specialists, typically in the Vocational Education/Title 38 and nondegree program areas.

Private Postsecondary Education Administrator

This is the full supervisory level in the series. Under general direction from a Deputy Director or higher level position, incumbents typically plan, organize and direct the work of a program unit within the Council. Incumbents are typically assigned to supervise a program staff of from three to ten Specialists and/or Senior Specialists as well as other technical and support staff.

Minimum Qualifications

All Levels:

Education: Possession of a bachelor's degree, preferably supplemented by an earned master's or doctorate degree at the Senior Specialist level and above, granted by an accredited or Council approved postsecondary education institution under the provisions of California Education Code Section 94310. (Applicants who do not possess the required degree but who possess standing as a senior in college will be admitted to the examination but must secure the bachelor's degree before they will be considered eligible for appointment.)

Experience:

1. Experience applicable to any of the patterns for a class in this series may be combined on a proportional basis with experience applicable to other class patterns to meet the total experience requirement.

2. Experience in California state service applied toward the general experience pattern must include the same number of years of qualifying experience as required in the promotional pattern performing the duties of a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to that described in the promotional experience pattern.

3. Applicants may substitute possession of a master's degree for up to one year of the required nonsupervisory administrative experience or up to eighteen months of the required teaching experience. A doctorate degree may be substituted for up to two years of the required nonsupervisory administrative experience or three years of the required teaching experience.

4. Full-time teaching experience is defined as teaching the equivalent of nine or more semester hours for two semesters a year.

Private Postsecondary Education Specialist

Either I

Two years of professional administrative experience in one or a combination of postsecondary education agencies or institutions including accredited or Council approved institutions and professional institutions such as a college board, an accreditation association, or higher education program regulatory authority. Such experience must have been gained by working in one or more different education program or service areas including curricula, student services, financial aid, admissions, vocational education or related programs.

Or II

Three years of full-time experience teaching at an accredited or Council approved postsecondary education institution.

Private Postsecondary Education Senior Specialist

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing postsecondary education program review duties of a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to Private Postsecondary Education Specialist,� Range B.

Or II

Four years of professional administrative experience in one or a combination of postsecondary education agencies or institutions including accredited or Council approved institutions and professional institutions such as a college board, an accreditation association, or higher education program regulatory authority. Such experience must have been gained by working in at least two different education program or service areas including curricula, student services, financial aid, admissions, vocational education or related programs.

Or III

Five years of full-time experience teaching at an accredited or Council approved postsecondary education institution.

Private Postsecondary Education Administrator

Either I

One year of experience in the California state service performing postsecondary education program review duties of a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to Private Postsecondary Education Senior Specialist.

Or II

Two years of experience in the California state service performing postsecondary education program review duties of a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to Private Postsecondary Education Specialist, Range

B.

Or III

Five or more years of professional experience in one or a combination of postsecondary education agencies or institutions including accredited or Council approved institutions and professional institutions such as a college board, an accreditation association, or higher education program regulatory authority. Such experience must include administration of curricula programs at the institution and at least one additional education program or service area including student services, financial aid, admissions, vocational education and related programs. A minimum of two years of the required experience must have included responsibility for the supervision of professional-level staff. Teaching experience may be substituted for up to two years of the nonsupervisory administrative experience with three years of full-time teaching experience being equivalent to two years of administrative experience.

Knowledge and Abilities

All Levels:

Knowledge of: Principles, practices and trends in public and private postsecondary education, professional, technical, vocational and veterans' educational programs; curriculum development and instructional methods; administrative practices of public and private postsecondary education; State and Federal rules and regulations as they apply to public and private postsecondary schools and colleges, the approval of courses, the granting of degrees and the issuing of diplomas; criteria used in evaluating and accrediting educational institutions; and Federal and State laws and regulations applying to veterans' education programs.

Ability to: Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with a wide variety of personnel including professional educators, fiscal and business office staff and legal personnel; communicate effectively; analyze situations accurately and take effective action; conduct conferences and workshops; formulate and carry out research studies and projects; and exercise tact, resourcefulness and good judgment in interactions with both groups and individuals with varied backgrounds.

Postsecondary Education Senior Specialist

Knowledge of: In addition to the above, counseling and interviewing methods.

Ability to: In addition to the above, define public policy issues; interpret statutory requirements by the development of effective operating rules and regulations; and provide leadership to lower level staff.

Postsecondary Education Administrator

Knowledge of: In addition to the above, the organization and function of the Council for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education; principles of public administration, budgeting, personnel management, and program planning procedures; program development, implementation and audit procedures; the Council's Affirmative Action Program objectives; a supervisor's role in affirmative action and labor relations programs and the processes available to meet these objectives.

Ability to: In addition to the above, assume leadership in the formulation and direction of a statewide program to encourage and improve privately supported education institutions; work effectively with top administrative personnel within the Council and other agencies; supervise subordinate staff; and contribute effectively to the Council's affirmative action objectives.

Special Personal Requirements

All Levels:

Evidence of: Willingness to participate in professional groups and associations and to travel throughout the State.

Class History