Student Relations

Student Relations staff are licensed social workers and counselors that support students who may be experiencing difficulty. Through collaboration with staff and faculty members, families, and the greater Chicago community, Student Relations provides case management and solution-focused care to students to mitigate concerns. Student Relations staff may serve as clinical support, advocates for students in crisis, and liaisons for students who require additional resources at Columbia or within the city of Chicago. Common concerns addressed with students may include academic challenges, mental health issues, lacking basic needs such as housing or food, disruptive behavior, interpersonal conflict, difficult life transitions, and medical absence. Frequently, as is permitted by applicable confidentiality laws, Student Relations provides consultation for parents and faculty that may have a student concern. When notified of a concern, Student Relations conducts outreach to students and offers support and assistance. Interactions with Student Relations are brief and generally conclude when an issue has been sufficiently addressed.