| Position Title: |
Personal Counselor/Assistant Professor |
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| Location: |
Grand Rapids (Kendall) |
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| Department: |
62901 - Personal Counseling Center
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| Advertised Salary: |
$57,000 - $59,000 - Salary commensurate with qualifications pursuant to the FFA Agreement. |
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Benefits:
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Comprehensive benefit package (health care, vacation, etc.). Please see the following link for a list of benefits offered with this position.
Faculty Health Benefit Plans
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| FLSA: |
Exempt |
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| Temporary/Continuing: |
Continuing |
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| Part-Time/Full-Time: |
Full-Time |
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| Union Group: |
Ferris Faculty Association (MEA-NEA) |
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| Term of Position: |
12 Month |
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| At Will/Just Cause: |
Just Cause |
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| Summary of Position: |
The Personal Counselor/Assistant Professor is a full time, tenure track, 12 month position. Personal Counselors are responsible for providing individual and group, short-term mental health counseling and crisis intervention for Ferris State University (FSU) students. This is an embedded position working at the KCAD Grand Rapids site. The position serves as the primary mental health provider for all Ferris Students taking classes in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area including KCAD, Ferris State P3 and P4 Pharmacy students, Ferris Grand Rapids students, Optometry students, and any other students taking classes through the Grand Rapids Success Hub. This position may also provide virtual services to Ferris students on the Big Rapids main campus as needed. Personal Counselors are tasked with providing outreach, education, consultation and training to students, faculty, and staff on mental health topics. As this embedded position is physically housed outside of Big Rapids, the selected candidate will be empowered to make changes and recommendations based on client’s unique needs and experiences at the Grand Rapids site. Successful candidates will demonstrate a strong sense of integrity and professionalism, with the ability to operate as a part of a team, as well as independently. |
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| Position Type: |
Faculty - Temporary & Continuing |
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| Required Education: |
Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling and/or Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and/or comparable mental health professional degree. |
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| Required Work Experience: |
One year of demonstrated experience providing mental health therapy for clients with a wide range of psychological and emotional health concerns. |
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| Required Licenses and Certifications: |
Active license to practice in the state of Michigan. LMSW, LP, and/or LPC. LLMSW, LLP or LLC may be considered. |
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| Physical Demands: |
- Office Environment
- Moving
- Sitting
- Repetitive movement
- Standing
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| Additional Education/Experiences to be Considered: |
3 years of experience working as a clinician/mental health professional.
Experience working with clients with a history of trauma.
Experience working with individuals enrolled in college or university.
Experience with public speaking and/or community engagement and/or experience doing mental health outreach and education.
Experience with electronic health record programs.
Additional mental health outreach certifications such as Mental Health First Aid, QPR suicide prevention training, Safe Talk, etc. and/or special certifications in a treatment modality (ie. EMDR, DBT, CBT, TFCBT). |
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| Essential Duties/Responsibilities: |
Provide short-term individual and group counseling to a diverse student body using empirically based treatment methods and accepted standards of practice within one's professional discipline.
Provide crisis intervention, risk assessments, and safety planning for students identified as a risk to themselves or others on an as needed basis.
Respond to campus/local community tragedies, including but not limited to student suicide or death.
Create, coordinate, and present various relevant educational and training programs for students, staff and faculty as well as providing consultation as needed.
Serve as the primary mental health provider for all students enrolled in classes housed in the Grand Rapids area including Kendall College of Art and Design, P3/P4 Pharmacy students, Ferris Grand Rapids students, Optometry, and any other student taking classes at the Grand Rapids success hub.
Responsible for providing mental health services virtually for Ferris Big Rapids (main campus) students as needed.
Responsible for coordinating, training, and providing clinical supervision of graduate level interns as needed.
Maintain a high quality of care coordination for clients, including adequate referrals for evaluation of treatment, communicating with involved treatment providers, supporting family members when appropriate, all while maintaining appropriate and timely confidential client records in an electronic record keeping system.
Be competent and capable of providing these services in person, or virtually.
Attend and participate in student services and other appropriate campus meetings and/or committees that promote opportunities for collaboration.
Establish and maintain liaison and referral relationships with on-campus departments as well as local and state programs/agencies.
Reports directly to the Director of the Personal Counseling Center & Anti-Violence Prevention Programing.
Responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of designated protected information and performing duties in compliance with applicable policies, procedures, legal mandates, and the code of ethics.
Maintain professional competence and license(s) by continuing relevant professional training, continuing education, and development of best practices.
Responsible for upholding and promoting the mission and core values of Ferris State University as well as the mission of the Division of Student Affairs and the Personal Counseling Center.
Cultivate an environment of belonging that values, respects, supports, and celebrates individual similarities and differences, allowing students, faculty and staff to thrive authentically.
Support, promote, and develop University student enrollment and retention initiatives.
Perform any other duties assigned within the position classification area. |
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| Marginal Duties/Responsibilities: |
Provide support staff functions such as answer phone calls, schedule appointments with clients, and coverage in absence of regular support staff and/or in other unique circumstances. |
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| Skills and Abilities: |
Work independently while maintaining strong team connections within the broader Personal Counseling Center department.
Build relationships with clear and intentional communication amongst fellow clinicians, clerical staff, and the campus community, which is critical to the overall effectiveness of this position.
Excellent communication skills, both oral and written are essential.
Demonstrated successful experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. |
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| Required Documents: |
- Cover Letter
- Resume
- Unofficial Transcript 1
- Certification/License
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| Optional Documents: |
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| Special Instructions to Applicants: |
Unofficial Transcript 1 (REQUIRED): Applicants must attach a copy of unofficial transcript of Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling and/or Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Social Work, Marriage and Family Therapy, and/or comparable mental health professional degree.
Transcript must include: Institution name, applicant name, date degree attained, degree awarded. Finalist will be required to submit an official transcript.
License (REQUIRED): Applicants must attach a copy of an active license to practice in the state of Michigan. LMSW, LP, and/or LPC. LLMSW, LLP or LLC may be considered. |
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Initial Application Review Date:
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November 17, 2025 |
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| Open Until Position is Filled?: |
Yes |
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Posting Close Date:
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| EEO Statement: |
Ferris State University, an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer, is committed to enhancing equity, inclusion, and diversity within its community. Ferris offers employment opportunities to qualified candidates seeking careers in a student-focused environment that values opportunity, collaboration, diversity and educational excellence. Learn more about the Ferris Mission and community at ferris.edu. The University actively seeks applications from women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and other underrepresented groups. For more information on the University’s Policy on Non-Discrimination, visit: Ferris Non-Discrimination Statement. |
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Click here to learn more about working at FSU and KCAD. |
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