The Placement Exchange Job Board

RESIDENTIAL LIFE AT PRATT

Residential Life and Housing, in the Division of Student Affairs, directs the daily operations, programs, activities and staff in Pratt's seven residence halls. The mission of Residential Life and Housing is to efficiently and effectively administer a housing program in a learning-centered environment that challenges and supports students to

• enhance self-understanding. 
• value community responsibility.
• learn from their experiences.

Residential Life and Housing at Pratt Institute holds a specific set of values to be true. These values guide the expectations the department has for itself and the students who reside on campus.  They are: personal rights and responsibilities, integrity, respect, equity and justice, open communication, and involvement.

Residential Life and Housing has, as one of its most important philosophical underpinnings, the belief that student development and learning goes on outside the classroom, as well as inside the classroom.  The policies, procedures and programs which are established and encouraged by Residential Life and Housing are those which enhance student learning and involvement outside the classroom. 

AN OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION

The Hall Director is a full-time professional staff member of the Residential Life and Housing office who is the primary administrator of an area of residence halls. Hall Directors set the tone and the agenda for their residence hall by working closely with RAs in the hall and the Hall Council.  The Hall Director is the RA’s direct supervisor.

The Hall Director lives in and is responsible for a residence hall/s.  Hall Directors work closely with the main office staff, Resident Advisors, and students to build community and to administer the housing, safety and facilities aspects of the hall.  In addition to frequent contact with students, Hall Directors act as liaisons with Institute services; encourage student leadership; and facilitate the educational, personal and social growth of a diverse student population.  The ideal for which the Residential Life staff strives is the development of a positive, engaged community in each residence hall.

The Hall Director position is an appointment for no more than four years. Hall Directors participate in extensive training in August, January as well as professional development throughout the academic year.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Training and Staff Development

• Assist in RA training prior to the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters.
• Serve as a positive role model and build a team with the staff, and provide that staff with support, motivation and feedback.
• Supervise RAs, including following up on staff progress, completing paperwork and assignments on time; assisting RAs in dealing with problems; being the second step after the RA in mediating conflicts; and in general, being available and visible to the RAs. RAs are directly responsible to the Hall Director; the residence hall staff is responsible to the Associate Directors for Residential Life.
• Supervise one 3rd year RA who has additional responsibilities for staff development and administrative tasks.
• Work as part of a team directing RAs and holding them accountable as appropriate.
• Hold staff meetings weekly and as necessary; meet regularly with Associate Directors and/or Director of Residential Life as appropriate.
• Become well acquainted with each RA, and work closely with them in the areas of community development, student conduct, problem solving and conflict resolution.
• Provide on-going formal evaluations of each staff member.
• Facilitate RA work with and attainment of RA Learning Outcomes.
• Participate in as well as create and initiate in-service training programs. This includes planning and organizing staff development programs.
• Schedule RAs for on-duty responsibilities in the residence hall.
• Participate in staff selection processes. 

Student Learning & Development

• Foster the development of an engaging and inclusive community throughout the residence hall.
• Establish a hall council including structure of the council, its representation, direction and priorities; act as the organization advisor; help to develop student input and self-governance in the hall.
• Initiate student conduct investigations based on the submission of Incident Report Forms by RAs and/or students. Serve as a hearing officer for some student conduct cases.
• As a member of the Institute staff, communicate the policies and procedures, and the reasons for them. Exhibit mature behavior, good judgment, and adhere to the Institute's rules as well as state and federal law.
• Act as a counselor and advisor concerned with the development of residents and staff.
• Serve as a resource person for information about the campus and surrounding community, particularly those offices that provide services to resident students.
• In conjunction with the RAs, main office staff and other Institute personnel, make appropriate referrals for residents needing professional assistance.
• Is knowledgeable about and provides information on departmental and institutional policies and procedures, deadlines, requirements, decision-making structures, and other sources of help for students.
• Using the Community Engagement and Learning Model, coordinate community development efforts in the residence hall with the RAs.  Community development includes: floor socials, floor community standards, roommate contracting, informal community interaction, programming, passive education and Hall Council.
• Encourage RAs to plan events that relate to the needs and interests of the resident students.  Will also participate in and assist in the supervision of the RA events.
• Facilitate frequent, on-going discussions with students and staff in the residence hall. Plan community events that foster Hall Director and resident interaction.
• Keep the Assistant Director for Residential Life informed of all incidents or conditions which may adversely affect an individual resident or floor.
• Teach the Connections leadership course.
• Plan the annual Art of Leadership conference in conjunction with Student Involvement.
• Provide support and in-hall coordination for Learning Communities and Special Interest Housing.

Residence Hall Coverage and Crisis Intervention

• Serve on-call as assigned in rotation with the Hall Director staff throughout the academic year including holiday periods. Respond to emergencies on-campus, respond to the needs of the building/area as appropriate.
• When on duty, the Hall Director is responsible for carrying a departmental on-call phone and making sure it is in working order. When the phone is in the possession of a Hall Director, that individual is responsible for its care and may be held accountable for its repair and or replacement.
• Schedule RA coverage during break periods (Winter Break, Spring Break, Thanksgiving, etc.).
• Hall Directors are required to be in the residence hall when the halls are officially open. Flex time for evening and weekend hours is established. Vacation time is approved by ADRL and coordinated to ensure departmental coverage.

Administrative

• Coordinate fall and spring semester hall preparation and building move-in.
• At the end of semesters, ensure move-out and room condition report work is completed.
• Coordinate the daily operation of the building/s for which they are responsible.
• Maintain a hall office that is used by both Hall Director and RAs.
• Be knowledgeable about the departmental policies and procedures, and communicate that knowledge to RAs and residents.
• Oversee that RAs properly complete administrative tasks, including no-show/occupancy lists, room condition reports, health and safety inspections and room change paperwork.
• Routinely survey the residence hall to assess damage and/or work needed, be visible to residents, and report as appropriate building needs to their supervisor and Facilities.
• Work in close collaboration with Public Safety and Facilities Management staffs in effective administration of the residential area.
• Maintain accurate records, floor rosters and key control.
• Manage and safeguard key systems and keep them up to date. 
• Check daily for mail, voicemail and email from Residential Life.  Distribute information to staff and residents in a timely manner.
• Correspond with residents and staff in writing as appropriate or as directed.
• Complete additional tasks and procedures as may be requested by the Associate Directors, or the Directors of Residential Life or Housing.
• Provide on-site leadership for one of the summer programs (summer housing, conference housing or Pre-College Housing)

EVALUATION

All Hall Directors are evaluated by their supervisor once during the Fall semester and once during the Spring. The ADRL will incorporate feedback from surveys by students, staff members in the building, direct supervision, and other indirect sources (such as the condition of the halls, the timeliness or quality of reports, or the sense of community in the area, etc.). Performance evaluations are part of the department’s commitment to professional development for its staff.

Applicants must meet the following qualifications:

• Completed Masters degree required
• Equivalent of one year of experience working in a residence hall administration and supervision required (two graduate or one full-time)
• Knowledge of current student needs and experience in creatively addressing those needs
• Strong administrative skills