Job Description: Psychological Counselor for Summer Studies Programs

Employment

General Information about Duke TIP Summer Studies

The DukeTIP campus-based Summer Studies Program offers academically gifted students in grades 7-10 the opportunity to learn highly challenging material at a rate commensurate with their advanced abilities. Students enroll in a single DukeTIP-designed course for three weeks of in-depth study and attend nearly 40 hours of class each week between Monday morning and Saturday afternoon. The Summer Studies Program is offered on several college campuses. The program provides young scholars the unique opportunity to experience college classroom instruction and residence hall life. Highly qualified Instructor/Teaching Assistant teams teach classes of approximately 18 students. Outside the classroom, a carefully selected staff of Residential Counselors supervises students during meals, free time, and planned social and recreational activities.

The Psychological Counselor Position

The Psychological Counselor (CO) is an integral part of the administrative team with the On-Site Director (OSD), Residence Life Coordinator (RLC), and the Academic Coordinator (AC). The primary responsibility of the Psychological Counselor is providing assistance for students who are experiencing social or emotional difficulties, as well as supporting all residential and academic staff members. The Psychological Counselor also assists with students experiencing academic difficulties. The Psychological Counselor assists the On-Site Director with staff orientation and training, and also conducts workshops with students and staff throughout the term on issues such as stress management and conflict resolution.

The Psychological Counselor maintains high visibility on campus by attending major events, observing classes, participating in staff meetings, and meeting daily with students. Interactions with staff and students take place during meals, free-time, activities, and scheduled office hours. The Psychological Counselor has approximately 2 days off each week, to be scheduled in conjunction with the OSD, but must be available 24-hours/day 7 days/week by pager to respond to crisis situations. The Psychological Counselor reports directly to the Director of Domestic Educational Programs at the main Duke TIP office and works closely with either an academic supervisor or professional mentor. The Psychological Counselor should confer regularly with the OSD, RLC, and AC to discuss student and site issues. The Psychological Counselor, along with other administrative staff, must arrive 3 to 4 days before other staff to begin campus preparations. Detailed responsibilities include, but are not limited to, items listed under Specific Duties.

Qualifications

A Master’s Degree is required, with graduate work in the field of clinical psychology or counseling experience strongly preferred. Experience with gifted students is helpful. Applicants must possess excellent organizational skills as well as an ability to work cooperatively with others. A genuine interest in the academic, social, and emotional growth of adolescents, a positive and professional attitude, and a willingness to serve as a role model for staff and students are also necessary. There is a driving requirement for certain positions at Duke TIP. Eligible drivers must possess a valid driver’s license, be at least 21 years old, have an approved driving record on file, and be willing to drive students in Duke TIP vehicles (cars, minivans, and 8-passenger SUVs).

Specific Duties

Student Counseling

Provide individual crisis intervention counseling to referred and self-referred students who are experiencing social, emotional, or academic difficulties.
Facilitate group conflict resolution sessions for referred and self-referred students.
Conduct in-service workshops for students on topics of stress management, study skills, and career exploration once or twice each term.
Work in concert with the Academic Coordinator to assist and assess students identified by instructors as experiencing social or behavioral difficulties in the classroom.
Work in concert with the Residence Life Coordinator to assist and assess students identified by residential staff as experiencing social or behavioral difficulties in the residential setting.
Meet regularly with On-Site Director, Residence Life Coordinator, and Academic Coordinator and stay in frequent contact with the Campus Supervisor at the Duke TIP main office and the Director of Domestic Educational Programs to discuss student problems and to make recommendations for advisement and other action leading to desirable outcomes.
Consult with academic supervisor or professional mentor as needed to address pressing student situations, and meet weekly with academic supervisor or professional mentor to discuss routine or ongoing student issues.
Maintain an active and engaged presence on the campus through regular participation in students’ dining and social programming activities in order to obtain an accurate assessment of the social and emotional climate on campus.
Provide 24-hour availability for emergency situations through pager.

Staff Training and Support

Assist On-Site Director, Residence Life Coordinator, and Academic Coordinator with the design and implementation of orientation programs for academic and residential staff.
Conduct in-service workshops, as requested, for residential and academic staff on topics such as child abuse, crisis intervention, learning disabilities, medications, and self-destructive behavior prevention.
Provide consultations for approaches to serve the needs of students with emotional, social, or behavioral difficulties. Assist with student meetings as needed.
Serve as consultant to On-Site Director and residential staff in cases of crisis assessment and prevention.
Serve as consultant to On-Site Director, Residence Life Coordinator, and Academic Coordinator regarding internal staff conflict resolution, communication skills, and team building.
Serve as psycho-educational consultant to residential, academic, and administrative staff regarding students with behavioral and/or emotional problems.
Attend weekly academic and residential staff meetings on a regular basis.
Provide informal, individual, confidential support to residential and academic staff regarding job-related stress.
Consult with academic supervisor or professional mentor as needed to address pressing staff situations.

Referral Services

Refer, as necessary, students with severe difficulties to appropriate therapeutic agencies.
Serve as liaison to Student Health Services for consultation in response to severe student difficulties.
Serve as liaison to parents regarding concerns about students’ emotional and behavioral difficulties such as homesickness, social withdrawal, or aggressive behaviors.

Administration

On student arrival days, check in student medications according to the policies outlined in training.

Program Leadership

Read and review training materials sent by Duke TIP before the program begins.
Attend a weekend training session at Duke University in late April and arrive on campus a few days prior to staff arrival.
Confer with the Director of Domestic Educational Programs at least once a week to discuss student issues and provide weekly written reports via e-mail.

General Expectations

Arrive on your contracted start date at the specified time and location.
Perform all contractual duties at the assigned times.
Support the Duke TIP Mission and all administrative decisions.
Abide by all Duke TIP policies and procedures.
Attend all designated orientation sessions and all scheduled meetings during the term.
Residential Program Assistants, Residential Counselors, Residence Hall Leaders, Residence Life Coordinators, and On-Site Directors are required to live in program-sponsored housing, return to the residence hall by 2:00am, and sleep in assigned rooms each night. (On off-duty nights, residential staff may sleep off-campus or in assigned rooms.)
Academic Program Assistants, Teaching Assistants, Instructors, Academic Coordinators, Psychological Counselors, Operations Coordinators, and Office Assistants may choose to live either in program-sponsored housing or off campus; those living on campus are not required to spend every night on campus. However, on each night spent on campus, staff members must return to their residence hall by 2:00am and sleep in assigned rooms. Overnight guests are not permitted in Duke TIP housing.
Obey all traffic laws, including speed limits and seatbelt regulations, when transporting students or driving Duke TIP vehicles for other business purposes. Duke TIP vehicles may not be used for personal errands.
Refrain from the following strictly prohibited activities:
- Consuming alcoholic beverages in the presence of students or at any time at the program site (including, but not limited to, housing facilities, classrooms, parking lots, athletic fields, etc. ) regardless of the distance from Duke TIP's designated area.
- Returning to campus in an inebriated condition.
- Possessing, selling, distributing, or using illegal drugs.
- Inviting guests to visit the residence halls or to stay overnight in residence hall rooms.
- Using tobacco products in the residence hall or in the presence of students.
- Using inappropriate language, including profanity, discriminatory statements, and sexual innuendoes.
Maintain professional relationships with all staff members. Relationships and/or conflicts among staff members should never interfere with the proper performance of duties.
Maintain professional relationships with students at all times.
Enforce all student rules fairly and consistently according to the policies outlined in training.
Abide by all policies set forth by the host institution.
This position requires a full time commitment. Holding other jobs or taking classes during the contracted time period is prohibited.