Crisis Response Graduate Assistant

Job Title Crisis Response Graduate Assistant

Department: Residence Life

Reports To: Director of Residence Life, and MSW counseling staff (if needed for MSW internship requirements)

Status: On-call only, weekends. (3 weekends off per semester), September-May 2026 (renewable contract)

Remuneration: Housing in residence hall 2-bedroom apartment, meal plan

Summary

Calvin University has an opening for a part-time Graduate Assistant for crisis response. We are seeking a diverse candidate pool of people who possess a commitment to Christian faith.

Preferred qualifications: enrollment in a master's degree program in social work and/or experience in social work and/or undergraduate study in the field of social work. The position is a 10-month, part-time, on-call, live-in position. Free housing is provided throughout the year, in a townhouse-style apartment on the edge of campus.

Specific job duties:

Participate with Residence Life professional staff in the on-call crisis rotation. Specifically, the crisis on-all position will serve “on-call” for weekends during the academic year, with certain exclusions for time off (see below).

Crisis situations primarily involve mental health emergencies (suicidal thoughts, anxiety attacks that are not resolving, self-harm concerns, etc).

Other types of crisis may include: medical emergencies, disruptive behaviors, questions about urgent conduct incidents, etc

Provide ongoing support by accompanying students to the emergency room or mental health hospital to support continuity of care, advocate for students and/or their families, and facilitate releases of information and discharge planning

Transporting students to an area hospital or Pine Rest may be required. (Transportation options include ambulance, Uberhealth, private car, university-owned vehicle, or police)

Campus Safety officers are also available 24 hours/day, 7 days/week to offer in-person support and assist in crisis situations. Phone support from Pine Rest and Calvin director-level staff is also available 24-7.

On-call coverage: While on-call, must remain within 5-10 minutes of campus.

Time off: While school is in session during the academic year, this position has 3 weekends off per semester. In addition to these days, the social worker will have 2.5 weeks off for Christmas break (when the residence halls are closed).

Supervision: The primary supervisor for this position will be the Director of Residence Life (who has a Master’s Degree in College Student Affairs). The secondary supervisor will be a licensed Calvin University counselor who has an MSW degree, if required for social work internship. Other projects within the counseling office exist, if candidate is interested in additional work projects. These are optional and intended to meet the learning goals for social work internships.

Compensation: 

The position is a 10-month, part-time, live-in position beginning as soon as possible, preferably before October 1. A university-owned apartment near the edge of campus (town-house-style) will be provided free of charge, year-round. This is a 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartment, with no roommates. There is a private entrance from outside, directly into the apartment, and the apartment is located on the edge of the upperclass housing area. If the candidate desires to live with roommates, an arrangement could possibly be negotiated. If candidate has a spouse or children, they are welcome to live in the apartment as well. Calvin also covers costs for all utilities (internet is provided, cable is not).  A partial campus meal plan for staff member is also provided.

Expected Tenure:

A total term of employment of one to three years (ANNUAL CONTRACTS) is the general expectation of the university for this position.  During that period, one-year renewals beyond each contract will be based on the university’s needs and on satisfactory performance of the Crisis Response Graduate Assistant job responsibilities.  

FAITH and EDUCATIONAL COMMITMENT

1. Commitment to the educational mission of Calvin as a Christian liberal arts University affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church.

2. A commitment to the Christian faith and to the integration of faith, learning, and student development.

DIVERSITY COMMITMENT

Demonstrated awareness and commitment to effectively establishing relationships and positive communication across multiple dimensions of diversity including, but not limited to, race, gender, physical limitations, class, or religious perspectives.