Associate Director for Student and Family Support, Student Wellness

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $68,300 - $85,000 Annually

Position Summary

The Associate Director for Student and Family Support will have a focus on Student Wellness. This position is a key member of the Student and Family Support team, responsible for providing comprehensive case management to undergraduate students in Columbia College (CC) and The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS). This role supports students experiencing complex personal, academic, and health-related challenges-such as medical and psychological concerns, life traumas, behavioral emergencies, and other barriers that disrupt academic success-through high-touch, non-clinical support, interventions, referrals, and personalized follow-up.

This position blends collaboration with colleagues/partner offices and non-clinical support to provide direct follow-up for CC/SEAS undergraduate students who are in distress related to medical and psychological concerns, life traumas, and other barriers that impede students' success. The Associate Director uses interventions, referrals, and follow-up services to provide a personalized, high touch, and customized response to address individual student issues which can include health and public health concerns (e.g., pandemic), emotional and behavioral emergencies, suicidal behavior, and/or sexual assaults. In providing support to students this position will need to collaborate with many partner offices, such as Residence Life, Counseling and Psychological Services, Center for Student Advising, Health Services, Public Safety, Student Conduct, Disability Services, Family Engagement, Financial Aid, and Athletics. While strong supportive relationships may develop with students, the Associate Director does not engage in individual therapeutic relationships or psychological counseling.

Responsibilities

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  Case Management:
  
  
  
  • Respond to queries from students, staff, faculty, and parents related to concerns about students in distress, medical leaves, and/or the navigation of Columbia resources.
  • Provide ongoing case-management for students in various stages of distress and need, including meeting individually with students to support their progress and provide referrals to services within the university. Follow-up and monitor student progress to ensure continuity of care and adequate support.
  • Manage student cases that come through referrals or the online management system, including collecting, evaluating and updating information.
  • Conduct meetings and manage parental notifications for students with multiple hospital transports due to instances of alcohol/substance intoxication.
  • Provide crisis intervention & wellness resources to students living off-campus.
  • Support the on-call team and residential life with students who are hospitalized due to physical or psychological concerns. Participate in crisis response, including individual student concerns and large-scale community incidents.
  • Provides on-going support to these students to create a plan for successful completion of the semester or review options such as leaves of absences.
  • Maintain accurate records and manage sensitive information in compliance with FERPA and institutional policies.
  
  
  
  
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  Outreach, Training, and Education:
  
  
  
  • Work with student groups focused on health & wellness initiatives.
  • Assist partner offices in developing and implementing programs that disseminate information and promote student wellness. (i.e. parent webinars, family orientation/weekend, orientation)
  • Assist in training and advising faculty, staff, and students on managing and responding to students of concern
  
  
  
  
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  Other Related Duties:
  
  
  
  • Assist in college-wide events and programs. Provide support as requested during emergent situations.
  • Other duties as assigned.
  
  
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum 4 years of relevant experience in student affairs, case management, or family engagement in a higher education setting.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex cases and collaborate across multiple departments.
• Deep understanding and awareness of FERPA, Clery Act, CAS Standards, HECMA standards, and other emergent issues pertaining to case management in a higher education setting.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage sensitive situations with discretion and empathy.
• Comfortable working in a dynamic environment with flexible hours, including evenings and weekends as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in higher education, counseling, social work, or related field preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.