Residence Experience Coordinator

This position is responsible for facilitating and assessing the residential experience focused on student engagement within the strategic plan and mission of the Housing and Residence Life Experience Department. The Resident Experience Coordinator will train and supervise student staff; and complete administrative & programmatic duties for a residential community housing 225-400 residents. As a live-in professional, the Resident Experience Coordinator is also one of the primary staff members to respond in the event of a campus emergency or crisis incident. The Resident Experience Coordinator will actively collaborate with other colleagues to implement programs and services that promote the retention, growth, and success of students.

Responsibilities/Duties/Tasks/Essential Functions:

• Assists in the implementation of a superior residential and community experience.

• Participates in collaborative, cross-departmental assignments approximating 8 hours per week in coordination with the Assistant Director of Housing and Residence Experience.

• Participates in an on-call rotation for campus, including some holiday coverage, and responds to emergencies on-campus.

• Serves as essential staff in the event of a weather-related delay or closure.

• Adjudicates cases through the student conduct process.

• Mediates conflicts between students.

• Provides a professional staff presence in the community among residential students.

• Engages with students via departmental social media platforms on a regular basis.

• Responds to concerns from parents of students living on-campus.

• Directs programmatic initiatives and community development to achieve learning outcomes.

• Conducts regular assessments, organizes departmental data, and archives annual progress through comprehensive year-end reports.

• Conducts wellness checks and provides support and referrals to students facing personal or academic challenges.

• Oversees all administrative aspects of communities of oversight, including opening & closing of residence halls, room changes, facilities work requests, budget management, records maintenance, and report submission.

• Assists with the facilitation of the student staff experience (Resident Assistants and Front Desk), including training, staff development, & recognition.

• Supports departmental projects, including housing selection and assignment process, departmental, division-wide, and institutional programming, advising for student organizations, and summer operations.

• Provides administrative support to the central Residence Life Office.

• Participates with on-campus committees to implement programs and services that promote the retention, growth, and success of students.

• Performs other job duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Education Requirements:

• Must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; Master’s Degree in College Student Personnel/Student Affairs Administration, Higher Education Administration, or other related field highly preferred.

• A minimum of one year of work experience in Higher Education residence life, either as a student employee or a professional staff member, is required.

• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge of student development theory and best practices in student affairs and higher education.

• Must have demonstrated experience working and interacting effectively with diverse populations.

• Must have experience conducting interventions with students with mental health concerns or other personal/academic issues. 

• Must be knowledgeable regarding legal standards pertaining to crisis incidents involving students in higher education. 

• Must have experience in conflict resolution and mediation.

• Must have experience advising students in a wide range of topics. 

• Must be able to demonstrate the ability to think analytically, solve problems, and make sound decisions.

• Prior experience in adjudication is a plus.  

• Must have strong written, verbal and interpersonal skills, including training and presentation skills.

• Must have the ability to train, coach, and mentor direct reports as well as manage performance.  

• Must be reliable and dependable.

• Must be able to access all residential facilities on-campus to ensure safety/security/respectable conditions. 

• Willingness and ability to live on-campus are required.

• Willingness and ability to work a flexible schedule, including some evening, weekend, and holiday on-call hours, is required.

• Must be able to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodations.

If you require accessibility assistance or accommodation for a disability when applying for open positions, please call us at 616-632-2918.

Aquinas College, located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, an inclusive educational community rooted in the Catholic Dominican tradition, provides a liberal arts education with a global perspective, emphasizing career preparation focused on leadership, service to others, and a lifelong passion for learning. Aquinas offers an inclusive and welcoming environment. Aquinas College is committed to recruiting talented and diverse faculty and staff who are capable of exposing its students to a wide range of cultures and perspectives and whose presence on the campus will enhance the diversity of the community in which the College resides.

Aquinas College offers an excellent benefits package that includes affordable medical, dental, and vision plans, generous paid vacation each year, 16 paid holidays, paid sick time and short-term disability, and college-paid life and AD&D insurance. Additionally, Aquinas employees and their dependents are eligible for free tuition at Aquinas after one year of full-time employment.

Aquinas College has a long-standing commitment to equal opportunity and a work environment which is free of unlawful harassment or discrimination. Aquinas College provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran or active duty military status, familial status, height, weight, genetic information or any other status protected by applicable law.