What are the responsibilities and job description for the Residence Hall Director position at University at Buffalo?
Paraprofessional Staff
- Provide orientation, training, supervision and regular evaluation of approximately 16-24 Resident Assistants. Some hall assignments will also include supervision of other student staff (i.e., College Work Study, Student Assistants).
- Participate in selection of Paraprofessional Staff and Student Assistants
- Conduct bi-weekly meetings with individual Paraprofessional Staff to develop and review goals/outcomes achieved, discuss issues, recognize contributions, provide and solicit feedback.
- Assess skills and development of Paraprofessional Staff while providing experiences, opportunities, and training, which challenge and support their development.
- Attend all departmental and divisional training sessions and workshops, as required. This may include planning and facilitating training sessions for the hall and departmental Paraprofessional Staff as a whole.
- Serve as a facilitator/instructor for the Paraprofessional Staff Leadership Class (if needed).
- Provide orientation, training, supervision and regular evaluation of one Graduate Assistant (AHD).
- Participate in the Assistant Hall Director selection process.
- Conduct weekly individual meetings with Graduate Assistant (AHD) to develop and review goals/outcomes achieved, discuss issues, in-hall programming recognize contributions, provide and solicit feedback.
- Assist with creation of Graduate Assistant (AHD) professional development plan.
- Assess skills and development of Assistant Hall Director while providing experiences, opportunities, and training that challenge and support their development.
- Create Graduate Assistant (AHD) performance program, conduit mid-year evaluation and end-of-the –year evaluation.
- Provide orientation, supervision, assist in training and evaluation of one Office Manager
- Participate in the Office Manager selection process.
- Attend various departmental meetings on a weekly/biweekly basis including, but not limited to:
- Residential Life meeting/development session (1.5 hours weekly)
- In-Hall Staff meeting (2 hours weekly)
- Area Professional Staff meeting (1.5 hours weekly)
- Meeting with Assistant Director (1.5 hour weekly)
- Meeting with Assistant Hall Director (1 hour weekly)
- Committee meeting (1-2 hours weekly plus homework)
- Meetings with paraprofessional staff (4-5 hours weekly) – generally 2x/month,
- Prepare end of semester and end of year reports in December and May.
- There is an expectation of general availability during most business hours. Evening commitments such as staff meetings, hall council and program attendance is also expected.
- Use computer programs, including by but not limited to, StarRez, Microsoft Office Suite, eRezLife, Maxient, OnGuard, EMS, and Campus Labs.
- Participate in at least one Residential Life committee.
- Attend and participate in all Professional Staff training and Paraprofessional Staff training.
- Participate in and carry out responsibilities as required by the professional staff selection process.
- Collaborate with other departmental and university offices such as University Police, Counseling, Student Life, Residential Operations, Residential Facilities or Wellness Education Services.
- Represent the department at various functions such as Nancy Welch Awards, Paraprofessional Extended Training, RHA Association Awards and other events as needed.
- Coordinate staff programming efforts in conjunction with the residential curriculum and community development .
- Encourage staff and students in planning and developing programs to meet the diverse needs of the residence hall population.
- Supervise the in-hall departmental programming model including program approval, reviewing program proposals, providing program feedback and tracking program requirements.
- Make programming purchases (shopping with Paraprofessionals Staff members and signing off on food purchases).
- Manage the programming budget including maintaining a spreadsheet/database, turning in receipts.
- Utilize eRezLife Software and UB Linked for program tracking and program advertising.
- Assist in the development, execution and assessment of educational strategies, as a component of the residential curriculum.
- Conduct outreach to designated students for academic interventions.
- Facilitate paraprofessional staff one-on-one meetings with their residents 1-2 times a semesters.
- Work with faculty and/or staff to develop community-specific programs/initiatives in Living Learning Communities.
- Maintain regular communication with learning community campus partners to ensure programmatic needs are met.
- Complete area-wide learning outcome driven programs.
- Facilitate programs and training sessions around social justice and inclusive concepts.
- Carry a cell phone provided by the department.
- Participate in the rotating “on-duty’ system for the residential area, responding to emergencies on evenings and weekends.
- Maintain a 15-minute radius of the duty area while on-duty.
- Provide on-duty coverage, on a rotating basis, during times when the university is closed/classes are not in session, etc. (i.e. Fall Break, Holidays, Winter Break, Spring Break and Summer Recess).
- Use departmental protocol to respond to crisis or emergency situations, which includes providing guidance to Paraprofessional Staff and students.
- Provide appropriate post-crisis referrals and follow-up with students and staff.
- Professional Staff On-Duty Commitments
- The RHD will participate in a rotating “on-duty” system for the residential area, which includes responding to emergencies on evenings and weekends. These professional obligations and in addition to the outlined full-time hours per week.
- The RHD will carry a cell phone provided by the department.
- Maintain a 15-minute radius of the duty area when on duty.
- Serve as a resource and referral agent for students and staff with a focus on student success.
- Advise and counsel students in crisis within the residence hall.
- Diffuse roommate conflicts.
- Serve as the hall’s primary Community Standards officer to help create a positive community environment in which students learn from their actions and assume responsibility for their actions.
- Meet with students in violation of Campus Living standards, adjudicate cases, and sanction students.
- Maintain community standards through effective use of student conduct software (currently Maxient) and accurate student files.
- Document incidents, write community standards reports, correspond effectively with students through appointment and sanction letters.
- Assist other halls and offices, including University Police and Student Conduct, to investigate and resolve student community standards concerns.
- Conduct a weekly building walk-through and report on-going facility and safety/security needs.
- Maintain a relationship with cleaning staff and maintenance staff including administrative support staff.
- Work directly with the Residential Facilities staff to resolve maintenance issues, vandalism and routine maintenance improvements.
- Work with custodial and maintenance staff to inspect rooms and determine final billing at the end of the academic year.
- Conduct inspections of apartments for damages, bill students’ accounts as necessary.
- Train staff on “Show Ready” concept of operations.
- Supervise and develop usage and scheduling procedures for first floor student services areas which include: front desk, multipurpose rooms which serve as classrooms, study and programming spaces and study areas.
- Partner with café vendor on programmatic initiatives.
- Assist in supervision of outsourced landscaping and snow removal services
- Lead Area Team comprised of a Janitor and lead Maintenance Mechanic to address facilities issues.
- Process student room changes (meeting with students, working with staff in other residence halls). Manage operations of building including room changes using the occupancy management software and databases (currently StarRez).
- Assist in the opening and closing of the residence halls. Oversee securing the building for university vacation periods.
- Prepare occupancy reports on an as needed basis.
- Assist the Housing Services office to disseminate information to students and staff about room selection and on-campus housing options.