ResidentAssistantJobDescription 1

ResidentAssistantJobDescriptionGeneralStatementofDuties:TheResidentAssistantatCentralMichiganUniversity(CMU)isanupper-classstudentwholivesonthefloor/apartmentcommunitytoserveastheprimaryresourceforbuildingcommunityandfosteringstudentlearningandgrowth.TheobjectivesoftheRApositioninclude:buildingapositivecommunityontheirfloorandwithinthebuilding;assistingresidentswithbothpersonalandacademicconcerns;helpingresidentsconnectwitheachotherandCMU;beinganeducatorbypromotingandsupportingintentionallearningthroughourresidentialcurriculum,LearninginCommunity;knowledgeofandupholdingUniversitypolicy;andservingasaresourceand/orliaisonfortheUniversity.ParaprofessionalstaffplayanimportantroleinhelpingResidenceLifeachieveoureducationalpriority,sothatasaresultoflivingoncampus,residentswillbecomeempoweredcitizenswhoresponsiblyimpacttheircommunities.SupervisionReceived:TheResidentAssistantisdirectlyaccountabletotheResidenceDirector(RD)/ResidenceHallDirector(RHD)andindirectlyaccountabletotheAssistant,AssociateandDirectorofResidenceLife.MinimumQualificationsandAdditionalRequirements:

1. Beatleastsophomorestatus(26credits)attheendofthesemesterinwhichthecandidateapplies(i.e.Mayforafallposition).

2. Haveacumulativegradepointaverageof2.5orhigheratthetimeofapplicationandduringtheperiodofemployment.

3. Beavailableforemploymentfortwosemestersuponinitialhire.4. NotbeondisciplinaryprobationatCMUoranyotheruniversity.Applicantswhoareon

disciplinaryprobationwillbeeligibleforconsiderationifithasbeenmorethanoneyearsincebeingplacedonprobationonthedayapplicationsaredue.Applicantswhoweresuspendedbutnotputonprobationwillbeeligibleifithasbeenmorethanoneyearfollowingtheendofthesuspensionwhenapplicationsaredue.Duringtheperiodofemployment,paraprofessionalstaffmustnotbeinviolationofanyuniversitypoliciesorprocedures.

5. AllemploymentpositionswithinthedepartmentofResidenceLifeareinterrelated.Consequently,disciplinaryactionreceivedwhileemployedinoneResidenceLifepositionmayimpactemploymentstatusinanotherResidenceLifeposition,uptoandincludingdischarge.Ifaparaprofessionalisterminatedfromthepositionandwouldliketoreapplytobeaparaprofessional,theindividualmustnotbewithinoneyearofbeingterminatedonthedayapplicationsaredue.

6. Staffareexpectedtoplacethepositionasoneoftheirhighestpriorities.Non-academicinvolvementforparaprofessionalstaffmembersintheirfirstsemesterinthepositioncannotexceed15hoursperweek.Non-academicinvolvementforallotherparaprofessionalstaffmembersmustnotexceed20hoursperweek.AllrequestsaresubjecttoapprovalbytheRD/RHD/supervisorandAssistantDirectorfortheareaofcampus.

ResidentAssistantJobDescription 2

7. Note:Internationalstudentsmaynotbeemployedoutsideofthepositionduetorestrictionsintheirstudentvisa.

Responsibilities:

1. CommunityDevelopmentthroughResidentialEducationa. Contributetotheimplementationoftheresidentialcurriculum,Learningin

Community,utilizingmultiplelearningstrategiesincludingintentionalinteractions,self-guidedlearningopportunities,events,programs,etc.

b. Engageindialoguetodeepenunderstanding,respectandempathyforothersandbuildarapportthatwillfosteropencommunication.

c. Assistresidentsintheirtransitiontouniversitylife,connectiontocampusresourcesandunderstandingtheiridentities,valuesandbeliefs.

d. Serveasapositiverolemodelbysupportingandadheringtouniversitypolicyanddisplayingpositiveacademicandsocialbehaviors.

e. Developcommunityonthefloorandinthebuildingthroughtheuseofroomandcommunityagreements,throughfloor/buildingeventsandbuilding/communitycouncilinitiatives.

f. Assistresidentsindesigningandimplementingstrategiesforeffectiveconflictresolution.

g. Activelyeducateandengageintheareasofequity,justiceandsocialresponsibilityforthepurposeofbuildingsafe,healthyandthrivingcommunities.

h. Coordinateeventsforthepurposeofpromotingcommunitydevelopmentandinterpersonalinteractionacrossdifference,orutilizeeventsandactivitiesthatalreadyexistoncampusandintheMt.Pleasantcommunitythatmeettheneedsandinterestsofresidentsandthatsupportourlearninggoals.

i. ReportalleventsandcommunitybuildingeffortsasdirectedbytheRD/RHD.

2. PeerAssistancea. Recognizehumandifferencesanddevelopthecapacitytolistenandunderstandin

ordertobeflexibleandopen-mindedinrespondingtostudentneedsandconcerns.b. Utilizeprovidedresourcestohaveintentionalandmeaningfulconversationswith

residentsabouttheirtransitiontoCMU,academichabits,identitydevelopment,etc.c. Encourageandassistindividualsinfindingtheirownsolutionstoissues.d. Referresidentstodepartmental,campusandcommunityresources.e. Maintainappropriateconfidentialitywithresidents;informtheRD/RHDofany

concerns.f. Maintainfamiliaritywiththelocationsandoperationsofdepartmental,campusand

communityofficesandorganizations(e.g.CareerServices,ListeningEar,StudentEmploymentServices,OfficeofResidenceLife,etc.)andmakereferralsinconjunctionwiththeRD/RHDasappropriate.

3. AdministrativeDutiesa. Assistinopeningandclosingofthebuilding,verificationofrosters,damage

inventories,variousreportsandotherdutiesasassigned.b. Completereports,documentationandsurveysinatimely,thoroughand

professionalmanner.

ResidentAssistantJobDescription 3

c. UtilizetheParaprofessionalResourceCenterasaresourceforcommunitydevelopment.

4. HealthandSafetya. Becomefamiliarwithfiresafetyequipment,assistwithdrills,respondtoalarmsand

followallemergencyresponseprotocols.b. Encourageresidentstomakeinformedchoicesforthesafetyandwell-beingofself

andothersandrolemodelthisbehavior.c. Beobservantandreportallsafetyhazardsandmaintenanceconcernsinatimely

manner.d. AssisttheRD/RHD,CMUPolice,etc.duringemergencysituations.

5. ResidenceLifePolicyandProtocol

a. Know,abidebyandbeconsistentinenforcingrulesandregulationspertainingtostudentbehavior.Communicaterulesandregulationstoresidents.Assistresidentsindevelopingmethodsofself-enforcement.

b. Takeappropriateactiontoprotectthehealth,safetyandrightsofresidents.Encourageresidentstoliveproductivelyamongothers,toassumeresponsibilityfortheiractionsandtounderstandtheirrightsandresponsibilitiesforlivinginacommunity.

c. Assumedutyresponsibilityaccordingtotheformaland/orinformalbuildingscheduleandremainoncallasrequired.

6. StaffRelationsandDevelopmenta. ProvidetheRD/RHDwithaccurateandtimelycommunityandresidentinformation

viareports,documentation,1:1meetings,staffmeetings,emailsandothercommunicationtools.

b. Developandpromoteapositiveworkingrelationshipandeffectivecommunicationwithinthestaffteamandamongallindividualsworkinginourcommunities.

c. Completeallrequiredtraining,includingbutnotlimitedto:fallandwinterstafftraining,in-buildingorareatraining,CampusSecurityAuthority,etc.

d. Utilizedepartmentprovidedonlineandotherresources.Other

• Employmentisnormallyfortheacademicyear;however,continuedemploymentissubjecttosatisfactoryperformance.IndividualevaluationsofstaffwillbemadeduringeachsemesterbytheRD/RHD.

• RAsreceiveremunerationforthepositionintheformof“inkindwage”fortheirroomandboard.This“in-kind”supportisclassifiedbytheU.S.DepartmentofEducationasafinancialresourcethatreducesfinancialneed.TheamountoftheRAremunerationwillreduceCMUgrantaiddollarfordollar.Additionally,CMUmaintainsapolicythatCMUgiftassistance(scholarships,grantsandother“in-kind”remuneration)maynotexceedthecostofattendance.StudentsshouldcontacttheOfficeofScholarshipsandFinancialAidtodeterminewhataffectacceptinganRApositionwillhaveontheirawardpackage.

ResidentAssistantJobDescription 4

• TheUniversityrecognizesthevalueofreducedoccupancyinstaffroomsandwillstrivetoachievethiswheneverpossible.Itshouldbeunderstood,however,thatthecapabilitytoprovidethisoptionisbasedonbuildingoccupancy.

• CircumstancesmayarisethatnecessitatethetransferofRAswithintheResidenceLifesystem.ResponsibilityfortransferrestswiththeOfficeofResidenceLife.

• Dutyscheduleswillvaryaccordingtothelifestyleofaparticularbuilding;however,allRAsareallowedamaximumof16nightsoutofthebuilding/semester.AllRAsareoncallasrequired.

• RAsmaybeissuedorhaveaccesstomasterkeys,andlossormisuseofanykeymaybeconsideredcauseforterminationofemployment.

• TheUniversityrecognizesRAsasstrongrolemodelsforallstudents.ItisexpectedthatRAspresentapositiveattitudeandexamplewithregardtoresponsiblebehaviorandresponsiblealcoholuse.

• Otherdutiesasassigned.EachRD/RHDandstaffmaydiscoverneedswithintheirbuildingthatarenotaddressedinthisjobdescription.

LearningOutcomesParaprofessionalstaffmembersgainawiderangeofskillsasaresultofperformingpositionduties.Mostsignificantly,theywillincreasetheirknowledge,skillsandabilitiesandbeableto:

• Buildsafe,healthyandthrivingcommunities.• Designandimplementstrategiesforeffectiveconflictresolution.• Managetimeandbalancecompetingpriorities.• Establishandmaintainboundaries.• Understandtheiridentities,valuesandbeliefs.

RevisedJune2018