Graduate Residential Directors

Position Description

The Department of Residential Life and Housing is charged with providing safe, supportive, living and learning environments for approximately 4,800 VCU students on the Monroe Park and MCV campuses.

Students receiving instructions during a training session.

The department is composed of six residential areas. Each area is managed by full-time Residence Life and Housing staff.

Graduate Resident Directors (GRDs) assist our Area Coordinators in promoting a community within the residence halls through staff supervision and development, programming activities, counseling, referral and behavioral interventions. They supervise a Resident Assistant (RA) or Community Assistant (CA) staff, ranging in size from 8 to 17. RAs are undergraduate or graduate students who live on an individual student floor/unit and have responsibility for that living area.

RDs live on campus in an apartment within a residence hall area. The GRD is responsible for a particular residence hall or group of residence halls and serves as our front-line, live-in professional for after-hours referral, crises and emergency response.

Qualifications

1. Bachelor's degree required
2. Must be accepted into a graduate program at VCU by fall 2009
3. Academic studies preferably limited to nine (9) hours per semester
4. No other employment
5. Previous residence hall experience preferred

General Information

General Responsibilities

1. Graduate Resident Assistant/Community Assistant Supervision

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   1. Provide feedback for Resident Assistants in individual meetings on a bimonthly basis.
   2. Assist in the evaluation of Resident Assistant staff.
   3. Provide opportunities for personal and education growth for Resident Assistant staff.
2. Peer Counseling/Resident Advocacy

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   1. Provide support for residents who may be in need of assistance. Make appropriate referrals and follow up.
   2. Mediate roommate conflicts, as referred by Resident Assistants.
   3. Serve as a resource or referral for information concerning Residential Life and Housing and general university life.
   4. Promote residents' involvement in the planning and implementation of activities, maintain student contact and visibility.
   5. Provide opportunities for personal and educational growth for residents.
3. Discipline

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   1. Conduct individual interventions through educational conferences with residents, as necessary, and maintain disciplinary records consistent with the policies and procedures of VCU Residential Life and Housing.
   2. Maintain a proactive approach with residents and staff concerning the policies of VCU Residential Life and housing.
4. Crisis Intervention

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   1. Act as first-line resource/referral in crisis and emergency situations and relaying appropriate information to necessary staff members in a timely manner.
   2. Maintain contact and relay of information with area supervisor.
   3. Facilitate appropriate psychological referrals when necessary.
5. Programming Resource Coordinator

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   1. Act as a resource and adviser for Resident Assistants as they plan and implement hall/area programs that focus on the educational and personal growth and development of VCU students.
   2. Identify, encourage and assist student leaders to formulate and advise hall government.
   3. Assist hall council in planning and implementing programs that focus on the educational and personal growth and development of VCU students.
   4. Facilitate the training and development of Hall Council executive board members and maintain appropriate records for historical account.
   5. Maintain listing of programs planned and implemented in building and how the related to the educational and personal growth and development of VCU students.
6. Administrative Responsibilities After Hours

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   1. Represent Residential Life and Housing after hours to residents, staff members and other members of the community.
   2. Assume evening "on-call" responsibilities for building as scheduled with Coordinator of Residence Education.
   3. Assume area "on-call" responsibilities approximately three weekends per semester.
   4. Live in the appointed residence hall apartment. Be generally available two weekends per month.
   5. Attend meetings and programs that occur at time periods that are not during normal business hours.
7. Residence Education Office

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   1. Attend area and departmental Graduate Resident Director meetings as scheduled.
   2. Assist in planning and presenting RA Training in August and January.
   3. Serve as a Teaching Assistant for the RA class (spring/fall)
   4. Actively Assist in RA Recruitment and Selection: Group process, Interviewing, recommendations, and staff selection (January-April).
   5. Assist in preparing and presenting regular in-service, opportunities for RAs to assist with their own educational and personal growth and evaluations of RA staff.
   6. Assist in GRD/CRE selections(s).
8. Area Office

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   1. Hold a minimum of 10 posted office hours a week.
   2. Meet weekly with Coordinator of Residence Education for supervision.
   3. Plan, participate and facilitate area-wide RA staff meetings.
   4. Assist in all building operations including openings and closings.
9. Housing Office

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   1. Coordinate monthly collection of rosters and deliver to Assignments clerk.
   2. Facilitate room changes as appropriate after attempted mediation and educational intervention.
   3. Meet weekly with area desk staff to update rosters/room changes.
   4. Maintain regular contact with Assignments Clerk to review rosters, room changes, and related paperwork.
   5. Assist Housing Manager and Housing Office personnel, as appropriate with student related issues.
10. Miscellaneous

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    Vacation times are arranged with Coordinator of Residence Education to include Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Spring Break, except for "openings" and "closings" of the residence halls.

    Other duties as assigned by Coordinator of Residence Education, Associate Director of Residence Education, or Director of Residential Life and Housing.

    These responsibilities break down into the following approximate weekly time commitments:

    10 hours	Office availability to students
    10 hours	Supervision of Resident Assistants
    5 hours	Administrative meetings/follow-up
    5-10 hours	Evening/Weekend availability

How to Apply

• Cover letter of interest;
• Resume; and
• Contact information: three references that include names, addresses and phone numbers.

Application package may be forwarded electronically to: Theresa Mack at tdmack@vcu.edu

The cover letter must indicate the graduate program to which you are applying or are enrolled as well as your anticipated date of acceptance.

Applications review will begin April 1, 2009, and will continue on an ongoing basis until all positions are filled. The candidate should indicate his/her graduate program and admission status. Final candidates must be accepted into a graduate program at VCU.

For more information, contact:

Melissa Jones, Associate Director of Residence Education
301 W. Cary St., 1st floor
P.O. Box 842530
Richmond, Va 23284-2530
(804) 828-7666