Summer Res. Director

Residential Director Position Description

General Description

The Residential Director (RD) and Assistant Residential Director (ARD) are an integral part of the professional staff team and must attend all meetings as required by the Director. The ARD reports directly to the RD, but the two share the responsibilities and expectations prescribed below for the RD/ARD position.  They should work in conjunction with the professional staff and TCs to provide a residential safe, nurturing environment designed to meet the needs of the Upward Bound participants.

The RD/ARD:

• Lives on campus and is responsible for managing 80 high school students in a residence hall setting.
• Supervises 10 Tutor/Counselors (TCs), meeting with them daily, and providing regular individual supervision sessions.
• Participate in a one-week joint training for TCs (one-week prior to the start of the summer program).
• Serve as the primary link between the TC’s and professional staff.
• Provide support and guidance for the TC’s and delegates a variety of responsibilities.

Under the supervision and guidance of the RD/ARD, TCs will provide educational, social and cultural programming appropriate for high school students.

The RD/ARD on duty:

1. Responds immediately to crisis situations; counsels.
2. Advises and promotes the growth and learning of students.
3. Ensures that community standards are maintained. The RD/ARD will contact the supervisor on duty (Director/Coordinator) immediately in serious incidents. The RD/ARD holds day time and evening office hours; and acts as on-call staff member on nights/weekends.

The RD/ARD will complete reports, document situations and interactions; initiate needed communication and ensure that TC’s also complete all necessary paperwork in a complete, concise, legible, factual and timely manner.

The RD/ARD may not enroll in classes or hold another position for the duration of their contract. The RD/ARD contract will begin in June 16, 2008 and end August 1, 2008. The dates for TC training are June 17-20, 2008. Dates for the summer program are June 22-August 1, 2008. The Resident Director position is a 24 hour a day position for duration of the six week summer component.

The Resident Director is the person responsible for ensuring that student issues within the residence halls are dealt with in a confidential and sensitive manner.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor’s Degree required in education, counseling, psychology, social work or a reasonably related field.

2. Minimum one year experience working with low-income, first-generation or disadvantaged students.

3. Experience and/or training in student assessment, career development, academic advisement and guidance, and educational planning and advisement.

4. Ability to work effectively with students, parents, community organizations, school personnel and members of the community.

5. Good written and oral communications skills with preference given to individuals who are fluent in languages other than English.

6. Experience in facilitating workshops for students, parents and community members.

7. Preference will be given to those candidates whose experience and/or background are similar to the target population.

Responsibilities of the Resident Director Position:

1. Learn, support and implement the educational and developmental goals of Upward Bound.

2. Demonstrate sensible actions and effective leadership. Display proficient oral and written skills.

3. Exhibit consistent temperament.

4. Develop an interactive relationship with TC’s and students.

5. Act as a positive role model for students.

6. Follow through with administrative duties through timely written reports, such as duty reports and incident reports, as required by the professional staff.

7. Be available and accessible to the professional staff, TC’s, and students. Be available and visibly present during duty assignments.

8. Respond to crisis and emergency situations in an appropriate manner.

9. Act as a safety liaison by responding to alarms. Participate in emergency situations or evacuations.

10. Hold group meetings to promote cohesiveness and discuss any issues the group may have. Disseminate information to students about activities, changes to current plans, and any additional information as required by the RD/ARD and professional staff

11. Uphold expectations for student behavior as outlined in Student Code of Conduct in the Handbook. Confront students if warranted, monitor and resolve roommate issues.

12. Act as an information and referral source by distributing information, and keeping TC’s and students abreast of any issues and resources.

13. Guide TC’s in the proper operation of the residential area.

14. Lead and/or assist TC’s and professional staff in activities, events, and outings, as assigned.

15. Attend all staff meetings, hall meetings, and students meetings as required.

16. Perform other responsibilities deemed essential by the Upward Bound professional staff.

Assignments will include, but are not limited to:

1. Oversee or delegate responsibility for all and any activities involving students from the Upward Bound program.

2. Schedule duties for TC and designate allotted time off. Forward duty schedule to professional staff.

3. Oversee check-in and check-out of students for the program and weekends. Ensure that all paperwork is completed by the TC staff, students and parent(s)/guardian(s).

4. Keep an accurate record of room assignments or changes, activity sign-up, and attendance at functions. Make certain that TC’s use lists and confirm visually and note in writing that all students are accounted for.

5. Report any illness, accident, or behavior problems to the professional staff. Complete all associated paperwork in a timely fashion.

6. Post and read all information, announcements or notes pertaining to students in a timely manner or delegate responsibility to a TC(s).

7. Supervise and/or delegate responsibility to TC’s for students during meals, free time, activities, trips, and other times as assigned.

8. Supervise and/or delegate responsibility to TC’s for enforcing curfew and lights out.

9. Report and/or delegate responsibility to TC’s for any maintenance issues.

10. Monitor any damage of residence halls.

11. Attend all scheduled training sessions and staff meetings.

12. Meet all deadlines for paperwork or other information requested by the professional staff.

13. RD/ARD and/or TC’s may be required to drive students to activities due to space limitations RD/ARD and/or TC may be required to pick up materials off campus. (Only if eligible to drive.)

Application available here