Resident Advisor

Resident Advisor About the Organization Mars Hill University is a private, four-year liberal arts institution located in the mountains of western North Carolina. Founded in 1856 by Baptist families of the region, it is the oldest institution of higher learning in western North Carolina on its original site. Mars Hill University, is an academic community rooted in the Christian faith, that challenges and equips students to pursue intellectual, spiritual, and personal growth through an education that is grounded in a rigorous study of the Liberal Arts, connected with the world of work, and committed to character development, to service, and to responsible citizenship in the community, the region, and the world.

Category Student Opportunities

Exempt/Non-Exempt Non-Exempt

Full-Time/Part-Time Part-Time

Description

Resident Advisors are student leaders who work to facilitate a positive, inclusive living environment by fostering community, providing support, and maintaining the safety, security, and wellbeing of all residents. RAs are self-starters who are flexible enough to respond to the changing needs of residents by taking on a variety of roles and tasks. They excel at both administrative tasks and verbal and written communication.

Position Requirements

• Observing & Reporting

• Effectively and consistently hold students accountable to the Student Code of Conduct and Residence Life policies, as well as ensure the safety and security of all residents.

• Document all incidents and policy violations via Pivot (LionTrax) within 24 hours of the event. Reports should be detailed, written in third person, and in proper incident report language, formatting, and style.

• Maintain composure when responding to policy violations, crises, conflicts, and emergencies. Follow relevant protocol and consult appropriate staff members (SRA, Residence Life Professional Staff, Campus Security etc.) RAs are always expected to respond to and report these situations and assist when requested by professional staff, even if they are not on call or the issue is outside of their assigned residence hall/area.

• Report all maintenance issues using School Dude (excluding laundry machine maintenance).

• Follow up as needed with students involved in policy violations, ongoing maintenance concerns, etc.

• Assist with residence hall and departmental operations, including hall openings and closings, check-in/check-out, health and safety inspections, room change requests, room condition reports, etc.

• Communicate any concerns or issues to your Senior Resident Advisor and/or Area Coordinator, including ongoing resident conflict, staff conflict or accountability issues.

• Assist in implementing daily building operations and services as needed. (e.g., building opening and closing, break closings, Check-in/Check-out, housing sign-up, room changes, room condition reports, etc.)

• Assist Residence Life with documentation, paperwork, and other administrative tasks as needed.

• Referring Resources

• Serve as a link between your residents and the broader campus, helping them find connection, belonging, and success at MHU.

• Direct and refer students to appropriate campus resources (Counseling Center, Student Success Center, IT Helpdesk, programming contacts, etc.).

• Be knowledgeable of all resources on campus and serve as the first-line resource/referral in crisis and emergency situations.

• Cultivating Community

• Cultivate and support a positive, healthy, living-learning environment in your hall that is consistent with the mission, vision, and values of the Residence Life Office.

• Cultivate and maintain a strong, accessible, and approachable presence in your residence hall, area, and broader campus.

• Establish regular and effective communication with residents, fellow RAs, and your AC; remain reasonably approachable and accessible to your residents, area staff, and the Residence Life Office via established forms of communication.

• Act as a mediator in resident concerns and conflicts. Strive to remain professional, open, and attentive to the unique context and the individual(s) involved, thus promoting an understanding and respect for various opinions, values, and cultural backgrounds.

• Promote building, area, or campus-wide programs by encouraging residents to attend programs, posting promotional materials, and personally attending such programs whenever possible.

• Plan, promote, and facilitate engaging programs tailored to the interests and needs of your residents in accordance with programming requirements.

• Create and maintain informative and visually appealing bulletin boards in your hall or area according to bulletin board requirements.

• Modeling Engaged Citizenship

• Comply with all Federal, State, Local, University and Housing and Residence Life policies, including but not limited to the Code of Student Conduct and Mars Hill University Student Handbook. Resident Advisors are campus leaders and are expected and required to maintain the integrity of their position. Failure to comply can be interpreted as a violation of this agreement.

• Be knowledgeable of University and Housing and Residence Life procedures including, but not limited to: fire safety, accident and illness guidelines, the Housing Contract, the Student Handbook, and the Student Code of Conduct.

• Be flexible and open-minded and accept constructive criticism regarding job performance and job expectations; be committed to growing and learning.

• Recognize and accept personal limitations, and communicate to their supervisor any time constraints, personal abilities and academic commitments, in the execution of the duties required of this position.

• Consistently treat students' and staff members' right to confidentiality with the utmost respect by following the guidelines of the Office of Residence Life. Maintaining confidentiality is a priority for all housing staff members.

• Attend all staff meetings, training sessions, and other Residence Life activities, one-on-ones, and functions.

• Check voicemail, email, office mailbox, GroupMe, and any other means of communication used by the Office of Housing and Residence Life regularly and respond to any needs in a timely manner.

RA Time Commitments

• RAs are required to staff their respective areas during the hours specified by the Office of Residence Life and fill-in at other times when necessary.

• RAs must participate in the following recurring time commitments, including but not limited to:

• One bi-weekly one on one with their AC - individually

• One weekly staff meeting with the Area RA staff and AC

• All-staff Residence Life staff meetings, as scheduled

• Health and safety inspections 2-3 times a semester

• Approximately one weeknight of on-call or in-hall duties each week

• Approximately one weekend a month of on-call or in-hall duties

• Hall meetings as needed

• Residence Life programs or events as scheduled

• Because RAs assist with facilitating move-in and move-out, RAs are some of the first students to arrive and the last to leave campus each semester. At the beginning of each semester, RAs must move into their hall at the date/time designated by the Residence Life Office. At the end of the semester, RAs must remain in their assigned hall until residence halls officially close and the RAs are released by their supervisor. Arriving to campus on time and remaining in the residence hall until released are a mandatory component of the RA job.

• RAs can expect to put most of their time into their position during residence hall opening and closing each semester and should plan accordingly. RAs are required to attend all Fall and Spring training sessions and help with opening and closing tasks as assigned.

• The RA position takes priority over any other employment options and non-academic commitments. Any additional employment must be approved by your Area Coordinator prior to starting the second position.

• RAs are required to reside in their assigned residence hall full-time. Outside of extended breaks, RAs must submit a leave request in writing to their AC at least 1 week in advance when they are planning to be away from campus for more than 3 nights.

RA Qualifications

• The RA must be enrolled as a full-time student and have completed one full academic semester at Mars Hill University. RAs can participate in Internships/Practicum/Student Teaching as long as they do not interfere with the required/expected duties of the position and these obligations are communicated to the supervising AC.

• The RA's first priority as a student at MHU must be their academic success. At the time of hiring, an RA's cumulative GPA must be 2.5 or higher.

RA Compensation & Assignments

• In compensation for their services, the RA will receive:

• On Campus Housing cost 100% covered by the department

• Stipend - approximately $1,000.00 for 10 months of work (August-May) paid in monthly installments of approximately $100.00.

This compensation will remain in effect only while the Resident Advisor is employed by the Mars Hill University Office of Residence Life.

• If an RA vacates the position voluntarily or involuntarily prior to the end of the payroll period, compensation will be prorated to the date of termination of employment. The RA will be responsible for immediately setting up a meeting with the Assistant Director of Housing to determine a new housing arrangement and be completely moved from the staff assignment in 48-72 hours.
• RAs may be assigned to any hall, floor, building, or room on the Mars Hill University campus at any time, depending on university/departmental needs.
• RAs may be assigned a roommate(s) at any time, depending on the departmental/university needs.

Open Date 1/31/2024

EOE Statement We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.