Resident Assistant (Summer)

About the Organization
At Vaughn College, our mission is to educate and train future leaders in the futureproof fields of engineering and technology, management and aviation. The college strives to provide a dynamic learning environment built on our aeronautical heritage that inspires a diverse and committed community of students to achieve success as leaders in the industries we serve. Just minutes from Manhattan, Vaughn College is in the heart of New York City in Queens, NY, adjacent to LaGuardia Airport. Queens is one of New York's most fascinating boroughs and has been ranked as the 'number one' US travel destination and the nation's single most diverse county.

What separates Vaughn College from other institutions is our uniquely committed faculty who come to the classroom with extensive experience in such fields as engineering, manufacturing, aviation, management and communications. Working closely with the industries we serve, Vaughn has developed rigorous curricula that incorporate the latest technology as well as the knowledge you need to succeed in your chosen profession.

We provide traditional degrees as well as professional, technical and certification programs that prepare our graduates for successful careers. Most importantly, a degree from Vaughn College provides the critical, analytical and communication skills that form the foundation for a lifetime of success. Our graduates have gone on to become leaders in many major industries. More than 98 percent of our graduates are employed or continue their education, 78 percent in their field of study, within one year of graduation.

Vaughn College has a six-acre campus and is convenient to major transportation routes. As part of the institution's strategic plan, a 200-bed residential hall has been built, enabling students to live and pursue their chosen field of study on campus.

Description

Position purpose

Summer Resident Assistant (Summer RA) provides leadership, service and assistance to all summer resident students and guests, assists in the daily operations of the College Residence Hall, and must possess exceptional customer service skills. The Summer RA must be knowledgeable about and able to implement college policies as well as serve as a resource regarding inquiries related to the campus and local community, providing referrals to appropriate offices/departments as needed. Summer RA are the face of Vaughn College to all occupants of the residence hall during the summer and must serve as a positive role model. The Summer RA is expected to, through effective programming and proactive outreach, create a sense of community in alignment with the College's Core Values (Demonstrate Integrity, Embrace Diversity, Practice Collaboration, Achieve Impact, Choose Courage).

The Summer RA position requires genuine personal commitment, flexibility, and a good understanding of the imprecise work hour description.

General Dates of Position: early May through mid-August.

The demands of summer programs cannot easily be translated into hours worked per day or week because of the unique nature of the responsibilities and circumstances. This job requires the utmost flexibility in every aspect but mainly with desk shifts, on call nights, and check-in/outs.

Position Overview

The Summer RA has a variety of job duties throughout the summer (including but not limited to):

• Administrative tasks- preparing keys, preparing door tags, completing paperwork, making copies, completing on call logs, compiling and submitting information reports, distributing pertinent information to residents
• Facility tasks- room arranging, suite inspections, entering work order requests, linen collection, linen sorting
• Operation tasks- weekly desks shifts (between 9AM - 6PM), check ins, check outs, on call duty shifts including holiday periods, and rounds in the hall
• Customer service tasks- answering general questions, troubleshooting issues, conducting tours, following up with customers, and providing overall excellent customer service
• Safety and risk management tasks- initiating emergency protocols, reporting all issues and concerns, referrals to appropriate parties, and knowledgeable of policies surrounding risks to minors on campus

Major Responsibilities/Duties/Functions/Tasks

• Assist in the management of the residence hall, responding to all requests and emergencies during assigned duty hours (nightly/weekend).
• Attend and participate in staff training sessions held prior to the beginning of each semester and throughout the year.
• Serve as a resource to residents and escalate/refer issues to the appropriate administrator as needed.
• Have a general presence within the residence hall demonstrated by availability and approachability.
• Attend and participate in weekly staff meetings.
• Attending all scheduled in-service training offered during non-meeting times.
• Attend scheduled one-on-one meetings with the Director of Residence Life and Housing.
• Advise residents regarding campus resources to address concerns.
• Assist residents in their acclimation to community living and in living with room/suite mates.
• Design and implement experiences for floor members that enhance the social, educational, community, and personal development of residents and connects them to the floor, living learning community (if applicable), building, and College community.
• Conduct periodic floor meetings for the purpose of planning experiences, disseminating information, and explaining the residence hall policies and procedures.
• Relate well to individuals of all ethnic, racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds, encouraging better understanding of cultural diversity and individual differences on the floor and in the residence hall.
• Respond to all witnessed violations of Residence Life and College policies occurring in Vaughn College residence hall. Prepare and submit the appropriate report to the Residence Life staff within 24-hours (with pictures for evidence as applicable)
• Attend and participate in College judicial hearings when requested.
• Demonstrate commitment to development of living-learning communities through building positive relationships with campus partners, creating and implementing experiential opportunities that support the theme of your community and inspiring residents to be active participants, if applicable.
• Contribute to, and assist in the gathering of, assessment, both to understand levels of satisfaction and to gauge if learning outcomes have been attained.
• Promote an atmosphere characterized as inclusive with a high degree of civility exhibited by all.
• Assist with the management of summer camps, and support Summer Housing Assistantships (SHAs) in their daily work with camp participants.
• Perform other tasks as required to manage a residence hall.

Basic Expectations

It is expected that the Summer RA will fulfill all the duties outlined in this position description with enthusiasm and commitment. Failure to uphold any basic expectation may result in job disciplinary action or immediate dismissal.

1. The Vaughn College Residence Hall is expected to be the primary residence of each Summer RA, to ensure effective community building and, as essential staff, availability for emergencies.
2. The Summer RA position is expected to be the Summer RA's primary and/or sole job, and their priority after their academics. Any other employment such as an internship or other job, whether on-campus or off-campus, needs to be approved in advance by the Director of Residence Life and Housing.
3. The Summer RA staff members are expected to maintain a consistent, regular presence in the hall and have flexibility to assist with unexpected community issues that may arise. The Summer RA who needs to spend more than 2 consecutive nights away from the residence hall must request advance approval from the Director of Residence Life and Housing. No more than 1 full weekend away per month will be approved.
4. The Summer RA must be present and available before the start of each semester on the date specified by the Director of Residence Life and Housing, to participate in training and assist with building preparations for move-ins. The Summer RA also must be present and available until after each semester ends to assist with closing the residence hall and other related tasks.
5. The responsibilities of the Summer RA position include, but are not limited to, being a resource person, programmer, policy enforcer, administrator, and role model.
6. As a representative of the College and the Residence Life staff, the Summer RA are expected to maintain a high level of job performance and to always behave in an ethical manner and a manner which upholds College and departmental policy. It is implicitly understood that the Summer RA will respect confidential issues appropriately.
7. As a representative of the College and the housing staff, the Summer RA are expected to abide by and enforce all Vaughn College Community Standards, Human Resources policies, and Federal/State/Municipal Laws anywhere on campus or in Vaughn College owned or leased property.

Academics and Behavioral Good Standing:

Vaughn College is committed to seeking applicants with strong academic skills to serve as peer leaders. Candidates must have a minimum of 2.5 cumulative grade point average to be considered for the Summer RA position. Students with serious judicial violations will not be considered for the Summer RA position . click apply for full job details