Area Coordinator, Residence Life

Position Summary

The Residence Life Area Coordinator is a full time, 12-month, live-in position in the Office of Residence Life within the Division of Student Development and Campus Life (SDCL). The Area Coordinator is directly responsible for the total operation of residential communities in either the First-Year Community or Upper-Class Community housing. The Area Coordinator serves on a crisis response duty rotation that serves the entire residential community of all student residents. The Area Coordinator oversees graduate student(s) and undergraduate paraprofessional staff in the area. The Area Coordinator supports students and the University on issues that affect students who reside in the University residential facilities. It is the expectation of this staff member to foster a clean, safe, positive, welcoming, and inclusive community environment that encourages students to develop their full potential. This position includes educational, supervisory, programmatic, and administrative functions that promote student engagement, academic success, and personal development within the Area. Based on placement, this position will oversee a traditional style and/or a townhouse community and may include the oversight of various Living-Learning Communities within the Area.

Essential Duties

Train, supervise, and develop graduate and undergraduate student staff:

• Directly supervise Graduate Assistants.
• Supervise, train, and evaluate Resident Assistants/Community Assistants.
• Assist in coordinating and facilitating training for student staff during training periods and on an on-going basis.
• Provide staff direction, support and development using knowledge of team and group dynamics.
• Create a supportive environment that promotes the professional and personal development of all student staff members.
• Conduct weekly meetings with student staff to develop and review goals/outcomes achieved, discuss issues, recognize contributions, provide and solicit feedback.

Perform administrative and operational responsibilities:

• Coordinate operational aspects of residence hall including but not limited to openings and closings, health and safety inspection process, scheduled fire drills and room condition inventory process for area of supervision.
• Work collaboratively with the Housing Operations office in managing housing assignments, selection processes, room changes and marketing of these areas for new and continuing students residing on campus during the fall, spring, and summer terms.
• Assist with facility management in communicating work orders, repair and replacement needs, and support maintenance and custodial services, as well as third party vendors.
• Represent the Office of Residence Life at relevant admissions, orientation and community events.
• Maintain office hours daily for scheduled and walk-in appointments with students.
• Maintain programming budgets and track student staff's programming requirements, budgets, and assess effectiveness of community building efforts.
• Conduct weekly building walkthroughs to assess community care, facility needs, etc. Review Maintenance Request audits weekly and follow up as needed.

Create programming and opportunities for community engagement

• Work with Director of Residence Life or designee on departmental and divisional programming efforts, strategic planning, and assessment.
• Work with University departments and services to collaborate on programming initiatives within the Residence Halls.
• Actively participate in strategic planning of programming in the community, including ongoing assessment of program effectiveness and community need/impact.
• Ensure program tracking is occurring regularly and that the Program Tracking platform is up-to-date. Regularly use platform to pull reports to assist in assessment of effectiveness and information sharing.
• Support and attend programs, meetings, and activities offered by student staff and area board.
• Serve as a programming and community building resource for staff and students.
• Promote student participation in university programs and services through proactive outreach to your assigned community.

Participate actively in the Student Conduct process

• Serve as an informal and/or formal hearing officer to help create a positive community environment in which students learn from their actions and assume responsibility for their actions.
• Maintain current understanding of university policies, procedures, facilities, and resources.
• Collaborate in the administration of the University Student Conduct System for on and off campus students.
• Document policy violations, write incident reports, correspond effectively with students through appointment and sanction letters.
• Provide, facilitate and promote conflict resolution services through the Roommate Agreement Workshop and through formal conflict resolution.

Intervene and respond to crisis:

• Serve in the On-Call/Coordinator on Call role by representing the Department of Residence Life and Division of Student Development and Campus Life outside of normal business hours.
• Respond to emergency situations as outlined in the Crisis 101 guide.
• Counsel students as they encounter various developmental and/or adjustment difficulties in making appropriate referrals to Student Wellness Services, University Ministry, Services and Support and/or Students of Concern.
• Participate in on call duty rotation and provide University management presence when offices are closed.
• Provide appropriate support and follow-up for students and staff involved in crisis or emergency situations.
• Maintain availability and accessibility to residents and student staff.
• Maintain communication with the Director of Residence Life, the Director of Student Conduct, or the appropriate Division of Student Affairs on Call team to keep them informed of emergencies and crisis situations, as appropriate.
• Document relevant incidents and situations through the designated incident report.

Oversee advising of active student Area (Hall) Governments

• Foster student leaders' ability to advocate for student needs and develop programs that enhance their residential experience.
• Provide practical learning opportunities for emerging student leaders.
• Build and maintain relationships with members of the Resident Student Association Executive Board.
• Advise the Area Board in each building of supervision to ensure alignment with overall building/area programming strategies and effectiveness.

Support the Director of Residence Life through leadership and oversight in the following functional areas, including serving as the designated team lead for an assigned area:

Residence Life Process Management

• Assist with planning the logistics of opening and closing the residence halls.
• Ensure adequate student staffing for break periods by hiring break, extension, and summer RAs.
• Manage the logistics for the office presence at Admission events.
• Manage the logistics of Room Condition Inventories and damage billing process that support shared goals with Facilities and Residence Life.
• Manage common area damage billing in participation with Director of Residence Life and appropriate campus partners.

Residential Community Development

• Assist in reviewing and maintaining the departmental programming model in accordance with best practice, student needs, and the University's Mission.
• Assist with the development and coordination of educational outreach programs with campus partners.
• Co-advise Residential Student Association (RSA) alongside the Director of Residence Life.
• Solicit feedback from residents regarding the residential experience, programming and community building initiatives in the halls.
• Assist in the creation of consistent program tracking processes for student staff across all residential buildings and train appropriate staff in those tracking processes.
• Assist with the office presence in the University's engagement software.

Student Staff Training and Recruitment

• Assist in the implementation and monitoring of effective RA/CA selection processes for student staff members.
• To include yearly student staff selection and mid-year processes should vacancies occur.
• Assist with the design and implementation of student staff training initiatives to enhance learning outcomes and in accordance with best practice and the University's Mission.
• Collect and analyze data from staff evaluations and feedback to assist in determining appropriate training and selection programs.

General Responsibilities within Residence Life:

• Support the Office of Residence Life by serving as a liaison for and assisting with the management of a functional area within Student Development and Campus Life as appointed by the Director of Residence Life.
• Maintain current understanding of university policies, procedures, facilities, staff, and resources.
• Track and manage inventory of office owned items and supplies.
• Assist with management of Residence Life Central e-mail and other correspondence.
• Advocate for all students, especially those from under-represented populations.
• Maintain awareness and sensitivity to community diversity and actively work to sustain and promote the understanding and acceptance of that diversity within the residential community.
• Remain competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, attending discretionary and/or required professional development opportunities by the Director of Residence Life, the Dean of Students, and the Vice President for Student Development and Campus Life.
• Participate actively in university governance through committee assignments and other responsibilities assigned by the Director of Residence Life, the Dean of Students, and the Vice President for Student Development and Campus Life.
• Participate actively in divisional and University programs, activities, ceremonies, and celebrations which may be held during evening or weekend hours, such as graduation events, Career Fair, and Homecoming, etc.

Secondary Responsibilities

All other duties assigned by supervisor.

# of Direct Reports: Graduate and undergraduate paraprofessional staff

Required Qualifications

• Education - Master's Degree in college student personnel, counseling, higher education administration, or a related field.
• Experience - 2 to 5 years of experience in student affairs or an equivalent combination of experience, with some supervision experience.
• On-call and/or live-in experience in a university setting preferred.
• Knowledge of and commitment to the mission of La Salle University.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with student life on an urban, Catholic residential campus and commitment to the ongoing enhancement of student learning and student life.
• Experience with supporting and advocating for students from diverse populations.
• Specialized knowledge- Student Development Theory and Community Based Theory and those implications within a university setting.
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written, attention to detail, and basic understanding of assessing data.

Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours

• Must have the ability to be mobile throughout the La Salle University Community.
• Evening and weekend work will be necessary during Coordinator on Call schedule and during other peak times of the academic year.

Special Instructions to Applicant

Housing provided to all live-on staff will include furniture, a washer/dryer, and a kitchen. A parking pass will also be made available to those who qualify. While all on-campus housing is not the same size in terms of square footage, Residence Life will work to ensure that all live-on staff have equitable amenities.

La Salle University is committed to fostering a welcoming and respectful environment where all individuals can thrive. We seek candidates who will contribute to a positive, equitable, and supportive working and learning environment. We encourage individuals to apply who bring diverse perspectives and experiences, and who are dedicated to helping create an inclusive community for all.

La Salle University offers its eligible employees comprehensive medical and dental plans, employer paid life and disability insurance, retirement benefits, generous paid time off (vacation, sick leave, and holidays), and tuition benefits such as no cost undergraduate and graduate degree programs for its employees (with no wait period) and no cost undergraduate degree programs for its employees' dependents (after completing the required years of service).