Counselor, Educational Outreach Programs

We have an opening for a Counselor, Educational Outreach Programs at our Chattanooga State campus!

Our Purpose - We support and empower everyone in our community to learn without limits.

Our Values: 

We cultivate a welcome and supportive environment.

We care about the well-being of each other.

We instill trust through integrity and transparency.

We encourage fearless innovation and resilience.

We collaborate to build a better future.

Our Mission - We are Chattanooga State, a dedicated team that delivers accessible, innovative learning opportunities that surpass expectations.  Together, we enrich the lives of students, and their families; develop a talented workforce; and partner with our community to lead boldly into the future.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Community College Counselor (Educational Outreach Programs) plays a critical role in fostering student success and well-being through direct services, collaboration, and strategic engagement across the institution's core priorities. This position requires a dedication to holistic student support, a commitment to teaching excellence in student development, the pursuit of program innovations, the advancement of an organizational culture , and a strong sense of fiscal stewardship.

POSITION OBJECTIVES

Holistic Student Supports

• Provide short-term, evidence-based personal counseling, addressing mental health, psychosocial, and academic challenges for students of all ages.
• Conduct crisis intervention and threat assessments, coordinating with emergency services and internal resources to ensure student safety and well-being.
• Develop and facilitate referral pathways to community-based mental health resources, social services, and specialized care providers, ensuring seamless continuity of care.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to identify and support students experiencing distress, using a proactive, preventative approach.

Teaching Excellence

• Design and instruct student success workshops and seminars (e.g., stress management, study skills, coping mechanisms, career exploration) to promote developmental skills.
• Integrate counseling theories and student development models into psychoeducational programming, serving as a pedagogical resource for student-facing services.
• Mentor and train peer counselors, student leaders, and college staff on mental health literacy, appropriate boundaries, and effective referral processes.
• Utilize data to inform and evaluate the effectiveness of psychoeducational offerings, continually refining curriculum to meet evolving student needs.

Program Innovations

• Research, propose, and implement creative, student-focused counseling programs and service delivery models that address specific needs of historically underserved or marginalized student populations (e.g., first-generation, veterans, students with disabilities).
• Leverage technology (e.g., virtual counseling platforms, mental wellness apps) to expand access to counseling and support services for students in hybrid or fully online modalities.
• Contribute to assessment and evaluation practices for all counseling services and programs to demonstrate effectiveness and inform future planning.

Organizational Culture

• Advocate for and contribute to a college-wide culture of care and belonging, ensuring counseling practices are culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and grounded in social justice principles.
• Provide consultation to college leadership on policies and procedures that impact student mental health and academic success (e.g., withdrawal, leave of absence, code of conduct).
• Lead professional development activities for college personnel, focusing on topics that promote student well-being.

Fiscal Stewardship

• Identify and utilize low-cost or no-cost resources to enhance service offerings without compromising quality, ensuring efficient and cost-effective service delivery
• Utilize Medicat and other relevant platforms to maintain thorough documentation, including clinical records and those that meet FERPA and HIPAA regulations.
• Maintain strict confidentiality and ethical standards as prescribed by state licensing boards and professional organizations.
• Participate in quality assurance and documentation audits to ensure accuracy, completeness, and adherence to professional standards.
• Align program spending with institutional priorities and demonstrate a clear return on investment (ROI) in terms of student retention and completion.

Required Qualifications