FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The University of Arkansas Counselor-In-Residence Program has been identified by NASPA: Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education as one of eleven exemplary programs in the United States. In the 2002 publication of Bridges to Student Success, the Counselor-In-Residence (CIR) Program is highlighted for its significant impact on the lives of students living in residence halls.

This publication is currently being distributed to university officials, legislators, and other public officials in the state of Arkansas.

A program developed by University Housing and the University Health Center Counseling and Psychological Services, the Counselor-In-Residence Program provides highly trained counselors in the actual residence halls to work with students at critical times. The CIR’s are available to help students address challenging yet common issues sucha as relationships, decision making, emotional management and even more serious mental health crises.

Students are able to work through their personal issues with skilled counselors who are alert to more serious emotional and mental health signs and symptoms, which would be appropriately treated through Counseling and Psychological Services. As an important part of retaining students and supporting them as they work toward their degrees, the CIR program provides early contact and intervention to potentially enormous mental health crises.

Since 1996, doctoral students in Counselor Education of the College of Education and Health Professions, have been awarded assistantships as well as room and board in exchange for their role as CIR’s. Not only are these graduate students engaged in their educational program but also in an intense, on-going training program provided by Counseling and Psychological Services. They are active participants in the residential community, available through office hours or 24-hours emergency call.

"Counselors-In-Residence provide a safety net for our students who face incredible challenges in their adjustment to university life as well as unanticipated family crises, acquaintace crises and personal difficulties," said Dr. Jonathan Perry, director of Counseling and Psychological Services.

Claire Good, senior associate director of University Housing and co-facilitator of the CIR program said, "the early intervention of CIR’s helps students deal with personal issues before they mushroom to major impediments to their academic pursuits. In addition, our residential students benefit from the educational programming the CIR’s provide on proactive topics such as stress management, understanding relationships and time management."

University Housing and the University Health Center Counseling and Psychological Services are services within the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Arkansas.

NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, is a national association, which is the leading voice for student affairs administration, policy, practice and critical issues.