2010-2011 Head Resident/Resident Adviser Information Sessions

Be Vanderbilt. Be an RAwww.vanderbilt.edu/bevanderbiltbeanra Office of Housing and Residential

Education

Office of Housing and Residential Education (OHARE)

Mission Statement

The Office of Housing and Residential Education is committed to the furtherance of education beyond the classroom by providing a living and learning environment and by connecting students with faculty, staff, and the community through programming, leadership opportunities, community development, and diverse interactions.

Position Definitions:

• A Resident Adviser (RA) is part-time paraprofessional who, under the direction and supervision of the Head Resident (HR) and Area Coordinator (AC), works to fulfill the mission of the department by creating and maintaining a safe and healthy environment conducive for living and learning.

• A Head Resident (HR) under the direction and supervision of the Area Coordinator (AC), is responsible for similar duties assigned to RAs in addition to some administrative duties regarding the daily operations of the residence hall to which they are assigned.

Distinguished former RAs

Hillary Rhodam Clinton - Wellesly College– Senator of New York– Lawyer– Candidate for President of the United States

Mike Ditka – University of Pittsburgh – NFL Player– Coach of the Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints– ESPN Analyst

Wesley Snipes—State University of New York at Purchase– Film Star– Producer– Martial Artist

Being a Vanderbilt RA means being a Mentor…

• Develops and maintains positive interpersonal relationships with residents in their area

• Fosters strong sense of community amongst residents and all on campus students

• Advises and counsels residents with personal issues (within the scope of his/her responsibility)

• Mediates conflicts between residents, roommates and communities

• Serves as a referral agent to appropriate Vanderbilt and community resources

Being a Vanderbilt RA means being a Programmer…

• Emphasizes a personal and community balance

• Facilitates residents’ ability to grow holistically

• Implements programs consistent with programming requirements of the department and the residential area

• Finds creative ways to develop the Community Creed with residents (Creed Tenets: Scholarship, Honesty, Civility, Accountability, Caring, Discovery, and Celebration)

• Challenge both self and residents to be critical thinking citizens of the global community.

Being a Vanderbilt RA means being a Community Leader…

• Develops a sense of caring and civility among residents

• Maintains a sense of respect for each other and the place where you live

• Supports administrative (both Vanderbilt and OHARE) action for the benefit of the community

• Acts as a liaison to Vanderbilt and Community partners in matters impacting residents

Requirements of the HR/RA Position

• To apply for a Head Resident position you must have at least one year of RA experience.

• Minimum of 2 semesters of higher education residential living experience

• GPA of 2.5

• Taking a minimum of 12 credit hours as an undergraduate or 9 as a graduate student

• Full Academic year commitment

• Good academic and student conduct standing at Vanderbilt University

• Willingness to uphold and abide by Vanderbilt University policy

Requirements of the RA/HR Position Continued…

• A Full-time student

• Present for fall and spring training as well as in-services throughout the academic year

• Present for opening and closing times each semester– Fall opening– Thanksgiving closing– Winter Break Closing– January Opening– Summer Break Closing

• Available approximately 15-20 hours a week on average– Head Residents have a 20 hour commitment– Resident Advisers have a 15 hour commitment

• Aware that the primary non-academic activity of an RA/HR is their position on staff

HR/RA Compensation Package

• Staff are provided with a Residence Education meal credit, which is equal to eight meals a week– This is not an 8 meal plan. It is a monetary credit that is

applied to your current meal plan.– If you are eligible to opt out of the meal plan, it is equal to

8 meals a week with no roll-over

• HR/RAs are provided with a private room

• An opportunity to earn additional compensation by performing duty responsibilities during break periods

• HRs are provided a stipend for the year

Professional Development Skills Learned from Being an RA/HR that will Transfer to your

Future Career– Leadership/Management experience

– Conflict Resolution & Mediation

– Listening

– Flexibility

– Time Management

– Teamwork

– Building Relationships

– Create and execute group programs

– Budget Management

– Ability to work effectively with a diverse population

(Refer to your folder for more information on skills that transfer into various professions. Provided by the Vanderbilt University Career Center)

Important things to Remember

• Applications for new staff members are due on January 22nd

• Super Saturday is on Saturday, February 6th

– This is for both Resident Adviser and Head Resident Applicants– There will be a make up interview for those candidates that cannot

make Super Saturday. It will occur on Monday February 8 th.

• All applicants may not be extended an invitation to Super Saturday

• Only completed applications will be processed

• You must be available for available for ALL parts of training in the spring and in the fall as a condition of accepting employment

Be Vanderbilt. Be an RA!

See what we mean