Specifications include, but are not limited to: Qualified Staff: The service provider must have qualified and licensed mental health professionals on staff who are capable of providing quality counseling services to college students. Accessibility: The service provider must offer a 24/7 online counseling service that is accessible to students at all times. The service must be intuitive and easy to access. Beyond individual counseling, students should have access to group sessions and webinars on topics of interest. Confidentiality: The service provider must ensure the confidentiality of the counseling sessions and protect the students' personal information. Flexibility: The service provider must be flexible in providing counseling services to students based on their needs and schedules. This should include live, scheduled video, phone and chat sessions. Asynchronous service through texting and emailing should also be provided. Reporting: The service provider must provide high-level aggregated data on the counseling services provided. Cultural competence: The service provider must demonstrate cultural competence and be sensitive to the unique needs of diverse student populations. Compliance: The service provider must comply with all relevant laws, regulations, and ethical standards regarding mental health counseling. Responsiveness: The service provider must ensure a timely response to student request, preferably within 24 hours. The following services are preferred: Multilingual support: The service provider is able to offer counseling services in multiple languages to support students with different linguistic backgrounds.
