Training Program

Position Title: Graduate Assistant Peer Counselor 

Reports to: Jennifer Jass, Director of Psychiatric and Counseling Services 

General Terms of Employment:

• For the Fall semester 20 hours per week, beginning August 25, 2025 and ending December something, 2025. These dates might vary upon approval of the academic calendar. 
• For the Spring Semester 20 hours per week, beginning January 20, 2026 and ending May 15, 2026. These dates might vary upon approval of the academic calendar.

Compensation:

• Graduate Assistantship stipend is $6,180 for full-time per semester and may be prorated depending on start date.
• Graduate Assistants may qualify for in-state tuition and fees.
• Graduate Assistants may receive University holidays and do not work during the interims between semesters.
• For more information on the Graduate Assistantship System and procedures review https://grad.uni.edu/graduate-funding/faq-grad-assistantship-tuition-scholarship

Background Information:

Psychiatric and Counseling Services provide students with mental health support through peer support, group counseling, individual counseling, case coordination, and medication management. We work closely with the Student Health Clinic and several other offices on campus to care for students. The mission of Psychiatric and Counseling Services is to empower students to achieve success by providing a safe, supportive space where students feel valued, heard, and connected. We are dedicated to fostering mental wellness, building resilience, and guiding students toward reaching their academic and personal potential.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Peer mental health counseling: providing students with support, active listening, validation, referral and resource information, and connecting to crisis services if deemed necessary through the "Let's Talk" mental health outreach program.
• Campus outreach: Assisting Psychiatric and Counseling Services mental health outreach team with events and projects in an organized, efficient, and timely manner. Create advertising materials and media posts for psychiatric and counseling services promotion. Network to enhance the culture of care for the campus community. Facilitate presentations on mental health related topics.
• Complete other administrative duties that promote and support Psychiatric and Counseling Services.

General Qualifications:

• Must be a full-time, degree-seeking student in a UNI's residential graduate program.
• Be regularly admitted without provisions to degree status in a graduate degree program.
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00. First semester graduate students must have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.75.
• Have an official transcript on file in the Office of Admissions and be fully declared in their graduate major.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Preference will be given to graduate students pursuing a degree in Counseling, Social Work.
• Experience providing mental health peer support preferred, training will be provided.
• Effective organizational skills and dependability/reliability with following through with commitments needed.
• Demonstrated ability to be self-motivated and to conduct oneself in a highly professional and ethical manner.
• Experience in leadership, communication, and public speaking is preferred.
• Comfortable using various forms of technology, updating websites, creating social media content, and proficient with Microsoft Office Suite is preferred.