OVERVIEW

Carleton College provides housing for approximately 1850 students in eleven residence halls, twenty-six houses, and nine townhouses.  The Area Director is a live-in staff member who works with staff and students to develop a safe, comfortable, living and learning environment and assists individuals with their personal development while supporting the mission and values of the College.  As a member of the Residential Life Staff within the Division of Student Life, the Area Director will serve in many capacities including the roles of a community builder, educator, adviser, supervisor, and administrator. In these roles the Area Director helps ensure inclusivity and equity in residential experiences for students.

As a valued member of the Residential Life team, Area Directors provide input and feedback to help lead the development and vision of the Residential Life program.  Area Directors individually take leadership with internal processes such as Student Staff Training and Development, Assessment projects, Diversity and Equity Working Groups, Resident Assistant Recruitment and Selection, and more. While serving in the Area Director role, staff can expect to have a cumulative professional experience with additional leadership opportunities over their time on the team.  In addition to work with the Residential Life Office, Area Directors will have the opportunity to work closely with other divisional offices in collateral and project assignments to expand their functional knowledge and skill set.

In order to reach these goals, specific responsibilities of the Area Director during the academic year include:

SUPERVISION

• Directly supervise a team of 14-18 undergraduate student staff Resident Assistants by providing on-going feedback, development, and support through consistent one-on-one meetings as well as formal feedback through performance evaluations.

• Conduct weekly staff meetings with Resident Assistants to provide information, coordinate initiatives, assist with residential issues, and provide on-going training and development.

• Assist in the creation and facilitation of the Resident Assistant Training and Development program, including pre-academic year orientation, pre-term trainings and on-going development throughout the year.

• Share in the responsibility for the recruitment, interviews, and selection of Resident Assistants.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

• Be visible in the residential area and viewed by residents as available and approachable.

• Assess student needs and interests on a continual basis.

• Follow-up on student needs as determined by CARE team discussions or other interactions.

• Assist students in developing personal responsibility for their actions and respect for the rights of others.

• Establish an atmosphere conducive to academic success.

• Develop, encourage, and participate in activities and programs in the  residential areas.

• Assist students with individual problems through advising, counseling, and referral.

• Provide oversight and investment in interest housing communities.  

ADMINISTRATION

• Attend and actively participate in weekly departmental meetings, monthly divisional meetings, and quarterly College meetings.

• Participate in the Residential Life 24/7 rotating on-call system including managing crisis situations and troubleshooting scenarios outside of College business hours.

• Complete weekly reports, term reports and end of the year reports.

• Communicate with Custodial Services, Facilities, Campus Services, and Security Services regarding building issues.

• Manage 2-3 traditional residence hall buildings and multiple houses including opening and closing for 3 academic terms and summer.

• Assist the department with the coordination of fire drills, fire safety inspections, and safety related issues.

• Provide assistance to the central office regarding accurate building occupancy, room changes, key distribution and collection, and other administrative processes.

• Develop, manage, and provide oversight of area programmatic budget of $4800-$6000 utilizing College purchasing guidelines and reconciliation process.

• Assist in the hiring processes of Area Directors and other professional staff in Residential Life, and occasionally serving on divisional search committees.

• Collaborate with other Residential Life staff on assessment initiatives.

  Perform other duties as assigned within the scope of Residential Life and Student Life.

CAMPUS LIASION

• Work collaboratively with College offices and processes to initiate collaborative programming, services, and support for students.

• Be familiar with campus resources for student referrals.

• Establish a working relationship with other student support staff to prevent and resolve student concerns.

• Work within the Division of Student Life on committees, task force groups, and special projects.

CONDUCT AND COMMUNITY STANDARDS

• Serve as a resource regarding department and College expectations and policies.

• File and review reports through the reporting system Advocate as appropriate.

• Act as a conduct hearing officer upholding College Community Standards.

• Meet with students to discuss situations that are not in accordance with our community standards and assign sanctions in line with College guidelines and individualized student scenarios.

Outside of the Academic year, an Area Director can expect to focus on:

• Supporting students on campus through follow up as necessary with conduct and CARE reports.

• Providing support of student and campus needs by serving in an on-call rotation.

• Creating and scheduling training and development plans for student staff for year long cumulative growth.

• Participating in the housing assignment process for students, including reviewing questionnaires and roommate matching.

• Continued work with College and divisional committees.

• Foundational aspects of committees within Residential Life.

• Creating structure and foundation with other offices through collateral projects

• Analysis and implementation of assessment project findings.

Carleton College Residential Life seeks candidates with a master’s degree and previous residential life experience.  All Area Directors must be committed to working with individuals and groups of traditional aged college students in a residential setting.  In addition, the Area Director must be available to work on some evenings and weekends.  Area Directors are required to live in campus housing.

About Carleton College

Carleton College seeks to attract, develop and retain the highest quality diverse group of faculty, staff and administration who are committed to providing a true liberal arts education, a curriculum that challenges our students to learn broadly and think deeply. Founded in 1866, Carleton is a private, residential, highly selective liberal arts undergraduate college with approximately 2,000 students located in Northfield, MN. Residential Life strives to provide a safe and supportive residential environment which complements and extends the educational experience of students. Student-centered programs and services are developed and implemented with an emphasis on holistic individual and community development, student leadership, individual responsibility, advocacy of academic inquiry, and freedom of thought, opinion and expression in the spirit of mutual respect. These are the hallmarks of the Carleton residential experience and provide the essential foundation for a quality liberal arts education within a diverse and dynamic community. Residential Life Goals Assist residents with their adjustment to living with roommate(s) and floor/house residents. Help residents learn to ...accept responsibility for self and personal actions. Assist with the development of self-management, health and wellness skills. Assist with the development of balancing life’s pleasures and responsibilities. Encourage residents to get involved with and provide leadership to residential activities. Work with students to develop a sense of respect for self, others, and property. Help residents to learn civility and gain an understanding of diversity. Supporting Students The Residential Life staff consists of the Director, Associate Director, Area Directors, Resident Assistants (RAs), and office staff. Each community has one or more RAs. RAs are upperclass students who play a primary role in developing social and educational programs, and serve as peer advisors and campus resources. These student leaders are the first people residents can contact with concerns about anything related to their residential experience. A full-time professional Area Director is connected to each living area. The Area Directors supervise and work closely with RAs. Additionally, they help develop residential programs and activities and serve as resources to students. They coordinate room changes, facilitate roommate discussions, and collect and disseminate Residential Life information. They also participate in the Residential Life emergency on-call system and work with student crisis. These professionals live in apartments within the Carleton community.

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