Student Support Specialist

Robust Health Coverage : Our comprehensive medical plans cover preventative care at no cost, including a yearly mental health visit. Plus, benefit from affordable dental, vision plans, and competitive prescription drug prices.

Financial & Retirement Benefits : Take advantage of our health savings, flexible spending accounts, and life and disability insurance. Plan for your future with our retirement options.

Further Your Education : Avail twelve (12) waived credits per academic year for courses at any CU campus. We invest in your educational and professional growth.

Wellness & More : From wellness programs aimed at achieving your best self to various additional benefits through CU Advantage, we prioritize well-being and holistic development.

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Summary

The Office of the Dean of Students cultivates student success through student support and advocacy, educational opportunities, and the promotion of personal accountability and empowerment. The Office of the Dean of Students' addresses issues of students' safety and wellbeing, and we support all students in times of challenge and crisis.

Primary responsibilities for this positions include: risk assessment for incoming referrals, administering academic withdrawal process for students with extenuating circumnutates, implementing interventions determined by the CARE Team, providing support and case management services to non-crisis referrals and supporting CARE Team administrative operations.

This position is dependent on the availability of funding. Funding is currently expected to last 3 years.

Essential Functions

The duties and responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:

Student Support (55%)

• Serve as a departmental representative of the CARE Team.
• Provide administrative support to CARE Team meetings, including but not limited to taking case management notes and providing appropriate follow-up documentation.
• At the direction of CARE Team, respond to students in crisis. This may include providing resource referrals, academic support/planning, communicating with faculty, on-going wellbeing check-ins, communicating with concerned family members, and ensuring students receive proper follow ups.
• Manage personal caseload with minimal oversight from supervisor.
• Manage low-concern CARE Team cases related to students living on-campus.
• Provide case management services to students who are experiencing difficulties that may include, but are not limited to: academic performance, physical and/or psychological health/wellness, as well as interpersonal relationships. This function involves assisting students as they navigate various University offices and processes; consulting with and gathering information from internal and external resources to support the holistic wellbeing of students; advocating for students and their needs to campus constituents; and properly documenting all case interactions.

Academic Withdrawals (30%)

• Manage most, if not all, academic withdrawal requests through the Office of the Dean of Students.
• Assist students facing extenuating circumstances through the late or retroactive withdrawal process and referring the student to various support measures on and off campus.
• Assess all incoming withdrawal requests for urgent/emergent factors that may require escalation.
• Collect and compile data related to the academic withdrawal process.
• Provide feedback and suggestions on how to improve the process overall.
• Recommend academic withdrawals decision to both supervisor and college specific Associate Deans.
• Assists students in determining reentry strategies after their immediate crisis/emergency is resolved.

Office Support and Administration (15%)

• Assess student complaints for appropriate referral within the Office of the Dean of Students or to campus partners.
• Provide immediate support to walk-in concerns, assessing for urgent/emergent needs, deescalating when appropriate, and providing next-step solutions to students.
• Assist in the data collection and assessment for CARE Team report preparation.
• Represent the Office the Dean of Students on various standing or ad hoc committees as assigned.
• Support campus wide events such as orientation and commencement.
• Other duties as assigned

Tentative Search Timeline

• Priority will be given to applications submitted by: 10/04/2026
• Potential interview dates: 10/09/2026 - 10/16/2026
• Potential start date: 11/01/2026

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

In accordance with the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, UCCS does not discriminate based on sex in our employment or compensation practices.

Qualifications :

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university is required.
• Professional or para-professional experience working with college students (minimum: 1 academic year in a professional position or 2 years in a student employment position).
• Professional or para-professional experience with supporting students in crisis.
• Master's Degree in student affairs, higher education, counseling, or similar field is preferred.
• Familiarity with case management software (Maxient Preferred)
• The ideal applicant will have professional trainings or certifications related to risk assessment, crisis response, suicide prevention, case management, de-escalation, trauma- informed practices, and/or assessment, student success and retention, or supporting diverse populations.

The University of Colorado Colorado Springs has implemented a misconduct history check program with respect to final candidates for specific appointments. The misconduct history check program is intended to allow UCCS to collect and review information about a candidate's conduct at their previous institutions, specifically conduct related to sexual misconduct, harassment, and/or discrimination – before making hiring decisions. All final candidates to these appointments are required to complete an Authorization to Release Information and provide contact information for their previous institutions.