Director of Student Care

Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff.
Job Description: Amherst College invites applications for the Director of Student Care position. The Director of Student Care is a full-time, year-round position. The expected salary range for this job opportunity is: $90,000 to $100,000. Reporting to the Associate Dean of Students and Class Dean (the Associate Dean) and as a member of the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), the Director of Student Care (the Director) is responsible for supporting a vibrant community of students at Amherst College by overseeing and creating policies, processes, and practices that are transparent and equitable, and ensure that students of concern are connected to appropriate levels of care.

The Care & Accountability Team’s focus is on the creation of communities that emphasize comprehensive student development in an environment that is challenging and supportive. The Student Care team serves as the hub of support for students who are experiencing difficulties related to mental health, physical health, psycho-social adjustment, financial, familial, and/or personal challenges by providing direct case management services, including interventions, referrals, and follow-up services.

The Director is principally responsible for overseeing the Care Team’s collaborative approach to student support. The Director maintains a caseload of students and plays a significant role in triaging concerns and consulting with campus partners such as Class Deans, health care providers, Student Affairs colleagues, faculty members, staff, students, and families. The Director partners with the Associate Dean on the coordination of the multi-department workflow of the Leave/Return process.

The Director spearheads campus outreach and professional and student staff training on student support processes. The Director serves in the second tier of after hours on-call rotation. Due to the nature of this position, early mornings, evenings, and weekends may be required.
Summary of Responsibilities: Department Leadership

• Provides strategic direction, operational oversight, and guidance for the Student Care team.
• Oversees the development, supervision, and assessment of policies, practices, services, systems, and processes that facilitate support for students who are experiencing difficulties related to mental health, physical health, psycho-social adjustment, financial, familial, and/or personal challenges in collaboration with the other Student Affairs departments and campus partners.
• Hires, on-boards, supervises, and evaluates the Student Care Coordinator. Oversees work of wellbeing checks and outreach of the Area Coordinators.

• Manages a caseload of students experiencing significant difficulties related to mental health, physical health, psycho-social adjustment, financial, familial, and/or personal challenges.
• Collaborates with the Associate Dean to develop and maintain partnerships and protocols with community resources and campus partners, including the Center for Counseling and Mental Health (CCMH), the Health Center, Accessibility Services, Athletics, and Campus Police.
• Serves as a primary liaison for student support during hospitalizations, including liaising with emergency and family contacts, peer groups, on- and off-campus treatment providers, Class Deans, other Office of Student Affairs staff, coaches, and/or employers, and other involved parties. Engages with students, support networks, and providers throughout the hospital discharge planning and medical clearance process, including delivering follow-up support and assisting students with tracking multiple resources upon discharge.
  
  Assists with withdrawal and departure from campus when medical clearance cannot be established.
• Communicates with staff and other concerned individuals, such as family members or peers, when there are…