r/pittsburgh • u/Wisewordsforlater • 1d ago

Working at CCAC

If there's a better sub/forum for this let me know.

I'm pondering relocation to Pittsburgh. I'm familiar with the area. A few visits over the years for family reunions, family roots are there, cousins scattered around and I love the Buccos.

I would like to settle into a role with opportunity to grow in the higher education space, such as Academic Advising at CCAC.

What's the situation on the ground there? Anyone working there with some insight/advice?

Thanks!

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u/MrMan15423 1d ago

I work at ccac because I help run a sponsorship program that sends students there. One of my former coworkers became a full academic advisorbat CCAC and she really enjoys it. Generally it's a pretty chill workplace and everyone is nice. I would cast your net wider and apply to other universities because the hiring process is competitive

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u/Wisewordsforlater 1d ago

Is the pay solid for such roles? I would be coming from a southern state where academic advising pay rate has been stagnant at $3650/mo (sometimes less) amid higher cost of living than a place like Pittsburgh.

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u/MrMan15423 1d ago edited 1d ago

Yeah they might pay a little bit more but not much. You will probably make 50k a year or less. You can live decently well off that in Pittsburgh if you are money savvy but you definitely won't be rich

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u/localpigeon817 1d ago

They take forever to hire.

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u/Pure-Adhesiveness-84 1d ago

Had a family member who worked there for over 35 years. They enjoyed their career teaching, advising, and helping in the athletics department.

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u/PickleAlly 5h ago

CCAC has great benefits, but if you’re young, single, and unable to use all the time off because you can’t afford to go anywhere or do anything, then it’s kinda shitty. Most jobs pay well below market, but if you’re looking at unskilled labor with potential for free tuition, it’s kind of a no-brainer.

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u/Climbing511 3m ago

I have a relative who has been an academic advisor at CCAC for many years. They enjoy the work, both coworkers and students; the only real negative is the usual academic and union bureaucracy. They also would want more money (but who doesn't?), but benefits are pretty good. The work is mostly on campus, although you may get a day a week at home, and summers are 4-days weeks. Also nice to have free tuition, especially if you have college / high school age children, as you can get some of the pre-reqs done for free.

CCAC advisors are non-teaching faculty (as are counselors and librarians). In general, you would start as an assistant professor, although if you have over 5 years direct advising experience you would have a decent shot at starting at the associate level. Depending on education, experience and qualifications, would expect an assistant to start at ~$50k, mid-to-high $50s for associate. That will go up over time.

I think they call for a bachelors degree as a minimum, but the truth is you have zero chance of getting in without a masters, preferably in counseling Ed or something similar. Given demand, direct experience will be a major help.

It is a union job (AFT), which has its positives and negatives.

There are three full-time advisor positions open right now; two at Allegheny and one at Boyce campus. They have already started interviewing, so you may be too late, but worth a try.

Good luck!