The twelve ethnic counselors are not substitutes for the residential college counselors, but function as an additional support group for their freshmen. Some minority freshmen may wish to work frequently with the ethnic counselor while others may contact him or her only occasionally. To succeed in their duties, the ethnic counselors must be both visible and accessible. Because a freshman may choose to work with both counselors, the two are expected to consult regularly about the student's progress, especially when problems arise. In order to promote the necessary relationship between the Freshman Counselor Program and the residential college system, each ethnic counselor is associated with the dean of one or another of the residential colleges and thus becomes a primary liaison for that college, dealing with all the minority students in that college, not just those of a particular ethnicity.
Ethnic counselors live in the same entryways with their liaison colleges.