Director Of Counseling, Wellness, & Student Success

PRIMARY PURPOSE

Under the supervision of the Dean of Academic Services, Success, and Institutional Effectiveness, the Director of Counseling, Wellness, & Student Success sees students in counseling/psychotherapy; provides leadership and professional supervision to the counseling center staff, including graduate interns/trainees completing required hours for licensure; is a consultant to faculty, staff, and administration on supporting students' mental health needs; and is available for campus programming and crisis intervention. Additionally the director provides leadership and direction in the creation, establishment, and coordination of retention and student success initiatives. The person in this role is responsible connecting and collaborating with deans, athletics, and other departments to support educational efforts and retention. The Director will work collaboratively across campus to develop a strategic plan and goals to increase retention and graduation rates. Ultimately, the Director is responsible for envisioning, leading and implementing innovative strategies to eliminate equity gaps and promote access, retention, academic achievement, and timely graduation of undergraduate students. This person will facilitate the early alert system to develop a plan for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating retention data to all stakeholders. The Director will demonstrate a commitment to cultural diversity and the ability to work with individuals or groups from diverse backgrounds. Further duties and responsibilities maybe assigned based on the needs and goals of the departments and University.

ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND FUNCTIONS

The essential duties, responsibilities, and functions of the Director of Counseling, Wellness, & Student Success include, but are not limited to the following:

Counseling & Wellness

• Provide vision and entrepreneurial leadership for a growing campus counseling center, guiding the refinement and implementation of departmental goals, objectives, programs, and services.

• Review and revise as necessary the administrative and clinical policies/procedures for an effective counseling center, in compliance with all relevant federal, state, and local laws.

• Maintain confidential records in keeping with best practices and all applicable legal requirements.

• Serve as the fiduciary leader of the Counseling Center, effectively managing all expenses as part of its operational budget.

• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, develop, and support all Counseling center staff. Establish an ongoing training and professional development program for graduate trainees.

• Provide direct student care to students in the form of live counseling services and after-hour crisis care.

• Serve as a member of the University Behavioral Intervention and Threat Assessment team.

• Collaborate with a wide group of stakeholders, including campus safety officers, residence life personnel, and other administrative professionals, to support student safety and success.

• Serve as a campus resource for trends in mental health on campus, providing training and guidance to faculty and staff as appropriate.

• Actively participate in educational outreach on mental health issues to faculty, staff, and students.

• Develop relationships with outside providers in order to establish a referral network of local services and other counseling professionals.

• Conduct student satisfaction surveys and other assessments in support of the institutional effectiveness annual review process.

• Actively use the retention module, as appropriate and legally permissible, to support student success.

• Establish affiliation with appropriate professional associations for the purpose of maintaining best practices and networking, such as the Coalition for Christian Counseling Center Directors, Association of University Counseling Center Directors, Organization of Counseling Center Directors in Higher Education, and/or the Association for Christians in Student Development.

Academic Success

• Manage the institution's Retention Module, including

• Utilize the current trends and best practices in student retention to ensure students persist and graduate.

• Develop retention strategies that include mentoring programs and other services to address barriers to student retention.

• Facilitate the Early Alert Process, which identifies at-risk students early and coordinates care and support when it is most likely to make a difference.

• Analyze and synthesize quantitative and qualitative data for the purposes of implementing innovative practices and strategies around retention and student success.

• Develop and coordinate strategies and interventions to help at-risk students thrive and succeed.

• Providing training and support for faculty and staff personnel who use the Early Alert System.

• Coordinate and lead the Student Success Committee by

• Collaborating with various offices/departments across campus to identify retention challenges, compile and analyze relevant data, and execute strategies that remove barriers to student persistence and success.

• Working with the Registrar and Institutional Effectiveness Offices to provide reports and available data to make retention recommendations to University leadership.

• Collaborate with the Offices of Academic Affairs, Enrollment Management & Student Development to coordinate and execute First-Year and Second Year Experience strategies, such as:

• Move-in and programming efforts during New Student Orientation.

• Content development and delivery for Summer RAM Days.

• Mentoring programs

• Team-building sessions and community service opportunities

• Participate in conferences, seminars, and training sessions to keep abreast of developments in the field of study and integrate relevant information into training programs.

• Maintain robust assessment processes pertaining to the effectiveness of retention services as prescribed in the University's Institutional Effectiveness Annual Review policies.

General Responsibilities

• Actively integrate Christian faith, modeling caring relationships with students through personal interaction and as an effective role model of a Christian life.

• Comply with all rules, policies, and procedures as established by Bluefield University.

• Committee work, assignments, and other duties as assigned by the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs.

• Conducts oneself, both on campus and off, in a manner becoming an employee of a Christian University upholding the highest standards of conduct in honesty, truthfulness, respectful attitude and conduct toward others.

SUPERVISORY DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES, AND FUNCTIONS

This administrator will supervise employees in the Counseling Center. This position performs supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the University's policies and applicable laws. Supervisory duties, responsibilities, and functions include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints; and resolving problems.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE

• Possesses a faith and commitment to Jesus Christ

• Is a highly motivated self-starter, demonstrating initiative and problem-solving skills

• Demonstrates a professional demeanor and presentation in dealing with the University constituency

• Is a licensed marriage and family therapist (MFT) or licensed professional counselor; doctorate from an APA or CACREP-accredited program in counseling preferred.

• Has at least 3 years of post-licensure experience (experience with young adults preferred)

• Demonstrated success in building relationships, programs, and services between diverse internal constituencies.

• Demonstrates communication, organization, and facilitation skills

• Strong data collection and analysis skills are preferred.

• Able to interact with employees, potential students, and outside contacts of all levels

• Able to prioritize and work to deadlines

• Supervisory/managerial skills are necessary and the ability to help students with general study skills is a key asset.

ERGONOMIC REQUIREMENTS

• Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position is not necessarily a physically demanding job and requires no specific physical demands other than those typical in a modern office environment. Normal responsibilities should not afford risks of accidental injury.

• Specialized Equipment Requirements

The use of specialized equipment listed here is representative of equipment an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This position requires no specialized equipment other than equipment typically used in a modern office environment, including personal computers, calculators, copiers, and fax machines.

• Working Conditions and Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the duties, responsibilities, and functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the duties, responsibilities, and functions. This position has no specific working conditions; the work environment is typical to that of a small private residential institution of higher education, with physical remote site locations within 500 miles of the main campus in Bluefield, Virginia.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS

This position is subject to at least an annual evaluation based upon the job duties, responsibilities, and functions as set forth above.

APPROVALS

The job duties, responsibilities, functions, and requirements delineated above should not be interpreted as an all-inclusive list. Additional duties, responsibilities, functions, and requirements may be assigned as deemed appropriate. The University reserves the right to change or reassign job duties, responsibilities, and functions, or combine positions at any time. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is possible that requirements may be modified to reasonably accommodate disabled individuals. However, no accommodations will be made which may pose serious health or safety risks to the employee or others or which impose undue hardships on the University. Position descriptions are not intended as and do not create employment contracts. The University maintains its status as an at-will employer.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

To apply for this position, please visit https://www.bluefield.edu/employment/ to complete the electronic staff employment application and upload the following:

• Letter of interest

• Resume or Curriculum Vitae

• Names and full contact information for at least three professional references

• Statement of Christian Faith

Hard copy application materials may be sent to Judy Pedneau, Director of Human Resources at Bluefield University, 3000 College Avenue, Bluefield, VA 24605, [email protected].

Additional information about Bluefield University is available at www.bluefield.edu.

To be considered for this position, all application requirements listed above must be completed.

Bluefield University is a Christ-centered, multicultural learning community that values and seeks faculty and staff who represent diverse backgrounds and perspectives, are committed to diversity, work effectively with diverse populations, and engage others in ways that honor our rich cultural mosaic and biblical foundation.

Bluefield University is a private, not-for-profit institution affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia. Bluefield University shall not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, age, religion, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other basis on which the University is prohibited from discrimination under local, state, or federal law, in its employment or in the provision of its services, including but not limited to its programs and activities, admissions, educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other University-administered programs. This institution encourages women, minorities, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to apply.