The Placement Exchange Job Board

The Assistant Director of Student Living at Utica University is a twelve-month, full-time professional staff member in the Office of Student Living and Campus Engagement and the Student Affairs Division.  Assistant Directors are responsible for the planning and delivery of a Student Living program for the residential area they supervise as well as for the functional area that they oversee.  Each area contains one or more co-educational residential buildings, housing 200-300 students.  This position is a live-on position in which the successful candidate lives in a residence hall that they supervise to facilitate the personal, social, and educational growth of students and student staff through the application of student development theory to create significant and purposeful residential learning experiences.  Live-on requirement may be discussed with a successful candidate at the time of hire.

Through personal contact, staff supervision, and hall/campus programming, the Assistant Director assists residents in their personal development to become well-rounded individuals.   The Assistant Director is responsible for creating an active and engaged atmosphere throughout the area that they oversee.  A primary goal of the Assistant Director is to assist both the individual members and the community as a whole in building connections to the larger campus community in order to foster an enhanced living environment.  The Assistant Director assumes a joint responsibility for the administration and quality of both the Student Living and Campus Engagement programs.  Specific responsibilities include: supervision, development, and evaluation of student staff; student behavior; area/university-wide programming; development of an area-wide sense of community and pride; and serving as a member of the professional on-call rotation for the residential campus; overseeing community development/educational initiatives; or overseeing our evening support initiatives.

 

• Assistant Director of Student Living (Housing Operations):  Provide oversight and leadership for housing assignments and operations at Utica College.  This position also oversees Pioneer Village, a residential facility, in conjunction with external partners.
• Assistant Director of Student Living (Community Development):  Oversee one first-year residence hall and oversee the implementation of the residential curriculum and all educational initiatives within the student living department.  Assist with student staff retention and development of a new student staff curriculum to meet the needs of our new student staff model.  Serve as residential first-year experience chair, RHA Co-Advisor, and directly supervise the Graduate Resident Director for Community Development.
• Assistant Director of Student Living (Student Support): Oversee three upperclass residence halls totaling approximately 200 residents.  Oversee our student support staff, and supervise the Graduate Resident Director of Student Support.  Works closely with the Office of Student Conduct to monitor trends and provide follow-up and oversight of continued monitoring of after hours situations and reports.  Serve as the Second-Year Experience chair and serve as a second-level conduct hearing officer.

• Assist the professional staff in implementing, assessing, and continuously developing the recently developed student living student staff model.
• Assist in the recruitment, selection, and training of new professional and paraprofessional staff.
• Assist in presenting August, January, and on-going training for the student staff.
• Hold regular one-on-one and staff meetings to keep staff up-to-date on campus issues. 
• Use student development theory to provide support and motivation for student staff.
• Directly supervise applicable student staff and hold them accountable for agreed upon building and departmental expectations.
• Directly supervise applicable graduate level professional staff.
• Provide ongoing feedback to and conduct performance evaluations of student staff.

• Programming
  • Coordinate programming of student staff according to the current programming model, including maintaining records and holding student staff accountable for meeting programming requirements.
  • Assist the student staff as needed with programming and support staff programs by attending them.
  • Encourage student involvement and participation in programming, the Residence Hall Association, and other student organizations.
  • Coordinate and develop intentional, programmatic initiatives and services that positively impact the recruitment, retention, and enrichment of students throughout the area they oversee. 
  • Responsible for assisting the Office of Student Living and Campus Engagement with major campus events, including by not limited to: Orientation, Homecoming, and Commencement.

• Community Development
  • Do daily rounds throughout respective area buildings.
  • Initiate contact on a regular basis with students in all area buildings. Be aware of and report problems and individual concerns of residents.
  • Develop and foster a sense of community and pride throughout the area.
  • Serve as a resource person for information about campus services, events, policies, and procedures.  
  • Provide support for students concerning educational, career, and personal issues, and refer when necessary.

•  Crisis Management
  • Participate in on-call duty rotation, and respond to crises and emergencies. This duty rotation will include both first-level weekend response and second-level weekday coverage.
  • Be familiar with established emergency protocols, and be prepared to implement them when necessary.  
  • This position is considered essential and will be required to work during severe weather closings/delays or emergency situations, regardless of whether or not the University is closed. 
• Student Behavior
  • Enforce and educate students regarding University and residence hall regulations and policies.
  • Meet with students for Code of Student Conduct violations as a hearing officer and maintain appropriate records.
  • Provide direction to staff and students in communicating, interpreting, and administering residence hall and University policies and procedures.

• Facilities management
  • Work with facilities staff to ensure the facilities are well maintained.  
  • Report and track all work orders in assigned residence halls through an online work order system.
  • Work with appropriate offices and students to promote a safe and secure environment.
  • Maintain accurate records for damage billing, to be performed on a semester basis as required.
• Area Administration
  • Work with the professional staff to complete appropriate paperwork necessary to maintain accurate occupancy records. 
  • Work with professional staff to complete student check-in and check-out processes, including maintaining up to date Room Condition Reports, responsible key management, and accurate student census data.
  • Coordinate monthly Health and Safety Checks.

• Assume co-responsibility with the Director of Student Living for at least one major departmental process or activity.
• Support and encourage building staff in their large scale programming. 
• Demonstrate interest in campus life by actively participating in campus functions and events.
• Participate and engage in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and programs, including but not limited to serving on DEI committees, serving as a diversity advocate or community liaison for a job search, advising a club, facilitating DEI-related training, and engagement in institutional cultural and celebratory events and programming.
• Participate in various campus-wide committees or governing boards as assigned or requested.
• Assist with campus programming and leadership initiatives.

• Share input for policy making and implementation. Participate in the development and implementation of goals and priorities for the Office of Student Living and Campus Engagement, the Division of Student Affairs, and Utica University.
• Takes an active role in the development of the department’s strategic and operational plans as required by department leadership.   Works closely with the department supervisor to develop and implement operational goals that support departmental success. 
• Attend staff meetings and retreats.
• Responsible for working with supervisor and other team members to achieve successful results on all established individual and departmental goals and key performance indicators.
• Participate in professional staff training before each semester and weekly staff development sessions, usually held one afternoon per week.
• Hold evening office hours and/or attend events to be available to residents in the evening hours.
• Be on campus and assist with implementing all major weekends.  These will be outlined at the beginning of each academic year.
• Assist office as needed, and be familiar with office procedures.
• May perform other related duties as assigned.