The chaplain must counsel students, write sermons for services at the school, and be available to support the student body, administrators, and professors in the event of a tragic situation.
A chaplain must genuinely love people and care about the struggles and needs of the university population. He must be able to provide spiritual guidance and support and have thorough knowledge of the "good book" of his religion.
Many chaplains have undergraduate and graduate degrees in theology, psychology, or pastoral counseling.
A university chaplain's job can be physically and mentally draining, but many in the position still feel happy with the work. According to Sharon Kugler of Johns Hopkins University, while sometimes the chaplain feels helpless, the job still "gives you the opportunity to give to people and be there in an hour of need."
The average annual salary for chaplains at four-year colleges is $47,160, according to data from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources. Chaplains at doctoral schools make an average of $60,960 annually.