These “faculty counselor” positions advise students on academic, job and life skills, but offer no mental health services, Provost Marielena DeSanctis told the college’s three-member Board of Trustees during a virtual meeting held on Zoom. The college has a contract with Henderson Behavioral Health for mental health services.
The 14 counselors, who make about $82,710 each before benefits, cost the college about $106,000 each with benefits, but have the same job duties and caseloads as 46 other employees known as academic advisers, who make about $55,000 each, officials said.
DeSanctis said many counselor positions have been converted to academic adviser positions over the years as employees have resigned or retired.