Graduate Student Wellness and Student Life Specialist

Columbia University (Staff Jobs)

Position Summary

The Graduate Student Wellness and Student Life Specialist help support the Graduate Wellness and Student Life Teams within the Office of Engineering Student Affairs by coordinating and implementing projects and services that enhance the graduate student experience. Reporting to the Assistant Dean of Graduate Student Wellness and Support Services, or designee, this role provides operational and programmatic support in the areas of disability services and academic accommodations, graduate student wellness initiatives, student support and referral, and Graduate Student Life programming.

The Specialist serves as a point of contact for students, faculty, and staff regarding wellness and Graduate Student Life processes, resources, and events; assists with on-call and case follow-up activities; organizes signature student programs; monitors budgets and program feedback; and contributes to the work of other Engineering Student Affairs subunits as needed. This position works closely with campus partners and internal stakeholders to help ensure responsive student support, effective communication, and smooth program operations.

Responsibilities

• Wellness and Support Services (55%)

• Disability Services and Academic Accommodations

• Serves as a member of the Columbia Engineering Disability Services liaison network, working with Columbia University Disability Services, faculty, and departmental administrators to support the coordination of approved student accommodations.

• Meets with students who have questions regarding disability services registration and academic accommodations, and connects them to the appropriate office or point of contact for implementation support.

• Assists with responding to routine accommodation-related inquiries and helps ensure timely communication and follow-up with relevant stakeholders.

• Maintains accurate records related to accommodation coordination in accordance with university practices and confidentiality expectations.

• Graduate Student Wellness Programming

• Supports the planning, coordination, and implementation of graduate student wellness programs and initiatives.

• Assists with organizing wellness events, including scheduling, communications, logistics, vendor coordination, and day-of-event support.

• Collects, tracks, and analyzes program participation and feedback data to support ongoing improvements to wellness programming.

• Researches graduate student wellness needs, trends, and best practices in higher education to inform program planning under the guidance of leadership.

• Tracks wellness-related expenses and works with the Financial Operations Manager to monitor spending and prepare periodic budget updates.

• Graduate Student Emergency On-Call and Student Support

• Serves as a member of the graduate student on-call rotation, as assigned, and participates in regular on-call meetings and case discussions.

• Acts as an initial point of contact for student emergencies during assigned rotations and helps connect students with appropriate University offices and support resources, escalating matters as needed.

• Conducts timely follow-up with students after urgent or emergent situations to reinforce referrals and support continuity of care.

• Provides student support meetings, as needed, to assess concerns and connect students with appropriate campus resources and services. Common topics may include roommate conflict, financial or basic needs concerns, academic distress, and personal wellness concerns.

• Monitors and responds to the wellness email inbox, addressing routine inquiries and directing more complex or urgent matters to appropriate staff.

• Graduate Student Life (30%)

• Supports Graduate Student Life initiatives, events, and communications that foster graduate student engagement and community.

• Advises graduate student organizations and the Engineering Graduate Student Council on routine processes, event planning, and student engagement activities, referring more complex issues to senior staff as appropriate.

• In collaboration with members of the Graduate Student Life team, coordinates logistics and implementation for orientation and other signature events, including Welcome Day, Graduate Class Day, the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony, and Graduate Engineers Connect.

• Assists with maintaining the Graduate Student Life events calendar and coordinating event-related communications and logistics.

• Monitors shared Graduate Student Life email aliases, responds to general inquiries, routes messages to appropriate staff, and escalates time-sensitive matters to the Assistant Dean or other designated leads.

• Tracks Graduate Student Life program expenses and works with the Financial Operations Manager to support budget monitoring and reporting.

• Collects and analyzes participant feedback and attendance data for Graduate Student Life events to support continuous improvement.

• Engineering Student Affairs Support (10%)

• Provides operational support to Engineering Student Affairs subunits, as needed, on special projects, events, and student-facing processes.

• Researches vendors for events, supplies, and promotional materials; gathers pricing and service information; and shares recommendations with ESA colleagues to support cost-effective planning.

• Supports enrollment-related administrative transactions, including Registration Adjustment Forms, Leave of Absence requests, and other academic documentation, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and adherence to established procedures.

• Assists with the implementation of Professional Development and Leadership programming and graduate career-related initiatives, including logistics, communications, and student support activities.

• Other Duties (5%)

• May provide guidance to graduate assistants, student workers, or temporary staff on routine assignments.

• Performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required.

Master’s degree in counseling, psychology, social work, or a related field strongly preferred.

0-2 years of experience required. Internship, practicum, or graduate assistantship experience in student affairs, wellness, or a related area is preferred.

Previous experience working with graduate and/or international students is preferred.

Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills.

Computer skills required (proficiency with MS Office Suite, basic experience with automating processes using online applications).

Must be a team player, a self-starter, and must be willing to work on occasional evenings and weekends.

The ideal candidate will be well-versed in developing and executing small- and large-scale events and programs.

Ability to work beyond office hours and on weekends.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.