Guide. Advocate. Prepare – G.A.P.

In collaboration with the Dean of Students, Housing and Residence Life, Counseling Center, Counselor Education, Social Work, and Marriage & Family Therapy, entitled “GAP” has been created.

Preliminary Synopsis of the Program

The program will utilize graduate-level students as interns representing the following programs: Counselor Education, Marriage & Family Therapy, and Social Work. The program is designed to assist residential students who are facing challenges, who may be in need of additional support, who need a little help connecting with the university. Graduate students interning in this role will assist residential students in the following ways:

 Serve as a connection point to resources

 Serve as a listening ear

 Use solution-focused and future-focused conversational techniques

 Build community by assisting students with everyday frustrations

 Use interactions with residents to promote and instill an academic mindset

        o I belong in this learning community

        o I can change my abilities through effort (a growth mindset).

        o I can succeed.

        o This work has value and purpose for me.

Program Components

Guide: All interns will have intentional interactions with students to promote a welcoming and safe presence. These are opportunities for students to familiarize themselves with the G.A.P. Interns to increase the likelihood of reaching out when in need.

Advocate: All interns will assist students flagged as a Level 2-3. This will include scheduling in-hall visits to coordinate services for the student to include regular support meetings. After receiving at-risks reports, interns will make contact with students through various channels to create an action plan with the Administrator.

Housing and Residence Life will be utilizing the following rubric to assign students to Advocates

Level of Referrals
Level 1: No immediate response needed Level 2: Follow up with HRL, check in Level 3: Follow up with HRL, GAP Intern activated for outreach
Ok/No Follow Up Needed Keep Watch, Possible Follow Up Need a GAP Intern and Follow Up
Academic Early Alert Little Moderate Highly
Qualtrics Flag N N Y
Behavioral Intervention Team N N Y
Administration Referral N N Y
Blazing Conversation Green Yellow Red

Prepare: The internship is meant to be a secondary source of hours to be applied towards the practicum and/or clinical requirements of each academic program respectively. 

Components of the Internship

Intentional Interactions

Interns may attend regular Hall or floor meetings to become familiarized with the function and flow of the residence halls, as well as attend community/campus events. 

Documentation

Interns will be required to document interactions via incident-appropriate forms which include referrals, treatment planning, etc. Logs will be maintained regarding other responsibilities listed.

Supervision

The overall function of the program will be supervised by the Office of the Dean of Students. The flow of communication will be provided by Housing and Residence Life, and the ongoing clinical supervision of interns will be established within the intern's respective program.