Student Support Specialists work collaboratively with multiple offices including Student Counseling and Health Services, Campus Safety, and Student Life On-Call to engage with students in a format that best decreases stressors and replaces them with short- and long-term support resources. Student Support Specialists also help identify campus resources and community supports that can facilitate student growth and conflict resolution.   Student Support Specialists are not involved in the clinical evaluation and treatment of students’ mental illness or psychological needs, nor are they to establish a clinician-patient relationship with students.

 

These student support positions require knowledge and experience in crisis management, de-escalation techniques, mental health crisis response, and campus community outreach. Student Support Specialists should have experience with and proficiency in providing consultation and intervention that is affirmative, sex-positive, culturally sensitive, consistent with risk reduction principles, and that promotes student self-determination.

 

• Respond to calls on their own or with Campus Safety where student and/or community support may be necessary to address immediate mental health issues, bias, and substance use concerns, and conduct wellness checks.
• Consult with Student Counseling Services staff when responding to mental health related calls.
• Provide student support through referrals from CARE team members and/or Student Counseling and Health Services
• Coordinate student care and incident response with Student Life On-Call staff and Student Counseling Services On-Call
• Follow-up with individual students and/or groups of students after incidents where students will benefit from processing their experience and situations where the follow-up facilitates continuity of care in the transition to the next business day
• Refer and assist in coordinating student access to campus resources
• Serve as part of the Student Life week in review group
• Participate in trainings and staff meetings with Student Counseling Services, Campus Safety, Student Life On-Call Team, Division of Institutional Equity and Inclusion, as needed
• Maintain accurate and timely records of contacts with students and incident response; prepare reports as needed
• Maintain a trauma-informed environment of wellbeing
• Provide services in affirmative, sex-positive, culturally sensitive ways, consistent with risk reduction principles, and that promotes student self-determination
• Remain current in literature and best practice developments in campus crisis practices particularly as it relates to college student mental health, identity-focused issues, and alcohol and other drug use
• Adhere to applicable ethical codes of conduct
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with students, faculty and staff
• Follow College protocols and procedures
• Other duties as assigned

Bachelor's Degree and 2-4 years related experience required. Master's Degree in social work, psychology, counseling or similar field with clinical/consultative experience, preferred. Familiarity with and experience in mental health, college student mental health, crisis management and community resources. Must have knowledge, training and experience with diverse populations; ability to learn and practice trauma informed principles and practices including the ability to assess crises and know when to intervene when appropriate. Effective written and verbal communication skills, presentation skills and social skills; high integrity needed to handle confidential information and high level of professionalism to engage the campus community. Preferred experience in substance use intervention and services. Must be well-organized, able to work under pressure and as a member of a team; ability to work evening and late night hours; excellent communication skills and must be willing to travel as necessary to meet the requirements of the position. 

Thorough applicant credentialing, including criminal records check, will be conducted on the selected candidate.

 

Connecticut College requires employees to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. This includes the booster vaccine. New employees must present their COVID-19 vaccination record to Human Resources prior to the first day of employment. Individuals who have a medical condition or sincerely held religious beliefs that prevent them from getting the vaccine may confidentially request an exemption through the office of Human Resources. Additional COVID-19 safety protocols such as participation in weekly testing will be required of faculty, staff and students who have approved vaccine exemptions.