Learning Specialist/Student Counselor

Learning Specialist/Student Counselor I or II

Reports to: Associate Dean of Preclinical Education

Summary: This position creates, develops and implements academic intervention programs for groups of students and provides individual academic skills consultations and confidential mental health counseling to facilitate success in medical and graduate school. This position works on a flexible schedule to accommodate students' class, exam and rotation commitments and to address mental health crises in a timely manner. Learning Specialist/Student Counselor I or II will be determined by the amount of related experience and licensure status of the successful candidate.

This is a full-time non-classified position with full state benefits and is exempt from FLSA provisions regarding overtime. As a non-classified employee this person will serve at the will and pleasure of the President of WVSOM.

Not all activities of this position occur within the confines of an 8:00-4:30 schedule and will require regular evening and weekend scheduling. Some travel including overnight travel will be required.

This position has been designated as Essential. This means that when WVSOM is faced with an institutional emergency, employees in such positions may be required to remain at their work location or to report to work to protect, recover and continue operations at WVSOM.

West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to enhancing diversity among its faculty and staff.

Education/Knowledge

Minimum Education Required Licenses/Certification Skills Required

Qualifications: Earned masters degree in psychology or counseling or related field with a minimum of three years experience in providing psychological, personal, academic and career support to adult populations. Licensed or license eligible in WV. Experience in the use, administration, interpretation and documentation of psychological tests is needed. Experience in counseling college and graduate student populations with mental health and academic issues preferred. An equivalent combination of recent and relevant education and training may be considered.

Additional Desired Qualifications:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Strong ability to establish rapport and therapeutic relationship with adult medical students.

• Experience with working with individuals with depression, anxiety, testing and learning problems, substance use disorders, eating disorders relationship difficulties and other conditions which are present in a medical student class.

• Skills with psychological assessment tools and procedures.

• Report writing for psychological and educational evaluations.

• Ability to communicate and interact well with team of faculty and staff in the best interests of our students.

• Familiarity with DSM-IV criteria for mental disorders and experience in referral and triage to psychiatric services as needed.

Duties and Responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide individual academic skills assessments and consultations with students under both voluntary and mandatory attendance conditions. Meet with students to assess their need for academic support services and help them develop effective habits and active learning strategies for medical and graduate school study and exam-taking. Reach out to students demonstrating academic difficulty and offer assistance. Help students with disabilities (e.g., ADHD, learning disabilities) make arrangements to apply for academic accommodations in accordance with WVSOM policy. Follow up with students as needed and maintain appropriate documentation.

• Provide mental health counseling for students within the Learning Specialist's scope of practice. Provide confidential individual counseling for students with acute stress and other personal issues that interfere with academic success. Refer students with acute mental health and/or substance abuse problems and/or needs for psychiatric consultations to appropriate services off campus. Maintain eligibility for licensure as a profession mental health provider in West Virginia. Maintain appropriate documentation.

• Create, develop and implement academic support and intervention programs for groups of students, for example Self Aware Integrated Learning (SAIL) for repeating and incoming students; orientation programs on active learning strategies; workshops on a variety of topics including learning styles, stress management, and test preparation.

• Provide workshops on a variety of topics including, but not limited to, active learning strategies, time management, test-taking, learning styles and stress management for any interested students,

• Respond to mental health emergencies and address mental health crises in a timely and appropriate manner.

• Participates in department and institutional committees and groups who develop programs, responses and interventions to students with academic or behavioral needs.

• Supervise Learning Specialist/Student Counselor I as needed and assigned.

• Perform other related duties as assigned

Required Experience