Mental Health Counselor

Accountabilities:

Primarily accountable for providing confidential counseling/psychological services to students. Areas of focus include responsibility for:
●effective provision of clinical services via individual and group therapy;
●appropriate and effective crisis assessment and response;
●timely and effective on-call support of after-hours mental health needs;
●quality of treatment measured by overall improvement in symptoms and client self-report;
●client satisfaction with treatment and timely response and provision of services;
●expert consultation and information to other administrative staff and faculty;
●confidentiality and maintenance of records in compliance with professional standards;
●clinical services following ethical standards, and in compliance with state law;
●continuity of care between on-campus and off-campus resources regarding individual student mental health care, to include case management;
●assessment of student mental health needs through clinical interview and symptom inventories, as needed;
●effective outreach; and
●where appropriate, advocacy for student mental health needs.

As part of this role, the incumbent is accountable for the following:
●as required, contribute to specific internal programs (e.g. group therapy, mental health programming); and
●as required, coordinate an office program such as outreach initiatives and/or remote hours with international student services
●as required, collaborate with campus partners to extend or promote campus mental health needs;
●as required, may be responsible for providing effective advice, counsel, and leadership on University committees.

Professional Experience/Qualifications:

● Must have completed all requirements (eg- coursework, thesis, practicum/internship) toward completing a Master's degree in social work, clinical or counseling psychology, or a closely-related field, by start date
● Licensed as a social worker or mental health clinician in NY or expected to attain license within one year of hire
● Multicultural competence and skill in working with students from a diversity of backgrounds
● Excellent oral and written communication skills

Ability to serve on call, including nights and weekends as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

● Experience with young adults, adolescents, or college populations
● Commitment to social justice advocacy and diversity work
● Interest or experience in leading group therapy
● Experience in providing community education/training on various mental health subjects
● Demonstrated ability to collaborate with campus partners and multidisciplinary teams
● Evidence of ability to coordinate initiatives/programs on a team
● Interest or experience in working with international college students

Education:

Minimum of a master's degree in mental health counseling, social work, clinical/counseling psychology required.

Other Information:

Among the top liberal arts colleges in the country, Colgate University is renowned for its academic rigor, the beauty and vitality of its campus, and the contributions of its alumni across a variety of fields and endeavors, who are exceptionally engaged with the institution. Larger than classic liberal arts colleges, Colgate boasts both substantial academic offerings as well as small classes, a strong emphasis on faculty-student interaction, and a residential community valuing all forms of intellectual curiosity. Colgate's faculty members are leading teachers and scholars, committed to intellectual engagement in all its forms. Colgate's approximately 2,900 highly motivated students achieve academically, athletically, and artistically, and are actively engaged in the world around them. Colgate is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse faculty, staff, and student population, fostering an inclusive community that embraces and values diversity in an environment of mutual respect, communication, and engagement.

Colgate was first founded in 1817 as The Baptist Education Society of the State of New York by 13 men with $13 and 13 prayers. The number 13 is still Colgate's lucky number; Friday the 13th is always designated Colgate Day. New York State granted the school a formal charter in 1819, and the Baptists in New York City — soap maker William Colgate among them — consolidated their seminary with the Hamilton school to form the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institution in 1823. A state charter issued in 1846 changed the name to Madison University and established the right to grant degrees. Madison was changed to Colgate in 1890, in honor of the Colgate family's enduring support.

Today, Colgate is a thriving, highly selective liberal arts institution. Located in the geographic center of New York State. Colgate's campus in Hamilton, N.Y., boasts carefully preserved architecture, immaculate grounds, and a hillside setting. It is consistently named one of the most beautiful in the nation. It is a friendly and close-knit place where students develop lifelong bonds with the institution, with each other, and with faculty and staff members. More than 110 buildings on the 575-acre campus (the oldest dating back to 1827) and in Hamilton house Colgate's core educational, administrative, and student life functions. Faculty and staff members make intentional choices to live and work in Hamilton, New York, and this leads to a strong scholarly community that provides the foundation for undergraduate education and preparation for life after college that is unique to Colgate.

The University's academic program is grounded in its Liberal Arts Core Curriculum, which has been in place since 1928 and is required of every undergraduate. The five core classes are Legacies of the Ancient World, Challenges of Modernity, Communities and Identities, Scientific Perspectives on the World, and Global Engagements. Undergraduates may choose from 56 majors and more than 40 additional minors. Classes are small, averaging 17 students, and are taught by nearly 300 full-time faculty members, 99 percent of whom have received a Ph.D. or terminal degree in their field. Students are encouraged to collaborate with faculty members in research efforts, and Colgate undergraduates have co-authored articles in professional publications for more than 30 years.

Colgate also has a rich tradition of international and off-campus study and has one of the largest faculty-led off-campus study programs in the nation. The University is ranked first by the Institute of International Education in the percentage of students participating in mid-length off-campus study programs. The off-campus study groups run for an entire semester, in locations around the world, including Africa, Australia, Asia, Europe, South America, and within the United States. Extended study programs offer students between two and five weeks of study following the end of the semester. Through these and, more than 100 other affiliated programs, roughly two-thirds of Colgate students will study off-campus during their undergraduate years.

In recent years, the University has made significant investments in the campus in support of students' academic and overall development, most notably the construction of Benton Hall, the new home of Colgate's comprehensive career development initiatives; the addition of the Class of 1965 Arena to its athletics facilities; and a new middle campus quad featuring two new residence halls that will provide spaces for collaboration, intellectual exploration, and student-faculty engagement. They will open later in 2019. With its endowment valued at more than $900 million and an annual operating budget just above $200 million, Colgate holds a AA credit rating with S&P, which was reaffirmed in October 2018. In addition, Moody's Investment Service affirmed Colgate's Aa3 rating in August 2017 based on the University's excellent strategic positioning as a highly selective private liberal arts school with a robust market and sizeable financial resources. To learn more about Colgate University, visit: www.colgate.edu

Hamilton and the Surrounding Community

Founded in 1795, the Village of Hamilton, named one of the friendliest towns in the United States by Forbes magazine, has a population of roughly 4,000. The Hamilton Village Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and is home to an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants. The area is ideal for outdoor recreation including biking, hiking, trail running, and skiing. Colgate's golf course, Seven Oaks, was designed by Robert Trent Jones and has been repeatedly recognized as one of the best college golf courses in the country. The University's location provides easy access for summer hikes and winter ski trips. It is less than a one-hour drive from Syracuse, four hours away from New York City, and five hours from Boston. Colgate and Hamilton have formed the Partnership for Community Development, which develops an active network of professional consultants, foundations, municipalities, and not-for-profit organizations located throughout the Central New York region to assist area residents, businesses, and visitors. This includes efforts to stimulate and support local businesses through small business development and the revitalization of historic buildings. To strengthen the relationship between the village and the University, and to add to the economic development of downtown, Colgate relocated its campus bookstore to the downtown area of the village. Similarly, Colgate owns the Palace Theater, a 300-seat performing arts venue that is leased to an external nonprofit arts organization.

COLGATE STUDENTS AND STUDENT LIFE

Colgate students are achievers intellectually, athletically, and artistically, and are actively engaged in the world around them. For the Class of 2022, fewer than 2,430 students were offered admission, chosen from more than 9,700 applicants representing 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 133 countries. The acceptance rate was 24.9 percent. Admitted students had an average GPA of 3.82 and the middle 50 percent achieved a combined SAT score of 1400–1510. Fifty-five percent of students are women, domestic students of color constitute 22 percent of the student body, and international students account for 15 percent. Forty-four percent of students receive financial aid, and Colgate meets 100 percent of demonstrated need.

The curricular and co-curricular overlap and intersect often at Colgate. The student-faculty ratio is 9:1 and the average class has 17 students. Small classes are common and allow professors to advise and mentor students inside and outside of the classroom. Colgate is a residential university with more than 93 percent of students living on campus. Housing options include traditional residence halls; interest-based residential communities; townhouses; apartments; and University-owned houses. The University recently launched a Residential Commons system designed to create strong and welcoming living/learning communities. The creation of these communities has required the renovation of existing dormitory facilities and the construction of new residence halls. Starting with the Class of 2021, every first-year student calls one of four Commons home and beginning in 2019–2020, all sophomores will also live in a Commons. Through membership in their Commons, students engage with professors and each other in special recreational, social, and intellectual activities. More on the Residential Commons.

Junior and senior students may live in college apartments, college houses, Greek-affiliated chapter houses, or townhouses, or they may apply to live off-campus. The 250 students approved to live off-campus through the lottery take part in the Neighbor to Neighbor program, a collaborative effort between the Village of Hamilton and the Colgate community to ensure a positive and healthy relationship between the village and the campus. The University's visual and performing arts offerings support the creative endeavors of students on campus, as well as host visiting artists, musicians, filmmakers, theater groups, and other creative professionals.

Fraternities and sororities are part of a long-standing tradition at Colgate, dating back to the first fraternity charter adopted in 1856. Roughly a third of all Colgate students are affiliated with the fraternity and sorority community at Colgate University, which includes eight internationally affiliated Greek-letter organizations. Students are eligible to join a fraternity or sorority in their sophomore year and Colgate owns and oversees all chapter houses.

Colgate also has a rich and competitive athletic tradition. Approximately 25 percent of students are involved in a varsity sport, and 80 percent of students are involved in some form of varsity, club, or intramural athletics. There are 25 varsity teams, more than 40 club sports teams, and 18 different intramural sports. Colgate is part of the NCAA Division I Patriot League for all varsity sports (ECAC of Division I for men's and women's hockey) and consistently has one of the NCAA's top graduation rates among student-athletes.

EEO Statement:

It is the policy of Colgate University not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of their race, color, creed, religion, age, sex, pregnancy, national origin, marital status, disability, protected Veterans status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, being or having been victims of domestic violence or stalking, familial status, or any other categories covered by law. Colgate is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. Candidates from historically underrepresented groups, women, persons with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.