Head Residents and Resident Assistants

1. Head Residents and Resident Assistants Staff Training, HR Staff Training, etc

2. Conditions of Staff Employment Head Residents and Resident Assistants

3. Conditions of Staff Employment • Adequately fulfilling all job responsibilities and duties of the position (see job action guidelines & the DU Student Employee Handbook) • Contract extends from: -1st training day  the day after graduation or termination • Must participate in all training sessions (summer, fall and winter) • If a staff member resigns or is terminated during a contract period: -remuneration will be pro-rated to cover only the employment period -the staff member will be relocated to a different residence hall

4. Conditions of Staff Employment 5. Staff members must follow these guidelines based on the demands placed on them from their position: a) Must be in good academic standing with the university b) Have a normal credit load (12-18) and be enrolled as a full-time student. c) Maintain a 2.5 GPA or higher d) May not hold a full time (30+ hours per week) internship or job without prior approval.

5. Conditions of Staff Employment e) must consult in advance with their supervisor prior to accepting additional employment f) co-curricular activities are encouraged, but should be limited g) must accept/fulfill all time commitments (e.g. weekly staff meetings, hall meetings, building meetings, programs, activities, and regular interaction with residents) h) must be able to commit for a whole academic year

6. Administrative Responsibilities Head Residents and Resident Assistants

7. Administrative Responsibilities • Email • Form of major communication • Should be checked daily • Should respond to emails promptly • CC • Ads on all HR correspondence to their staff members • At least HRs (when specified by HRs, ADs too) on all RA correspondence to residents • Mailboxes • Located in the service center • Must be checked daily

8. Administrative Responsibilities • Reporting Incidents • i.e. alleged code & housing contract violations • Via the Advocate database • Room Condition Reports • Student staff members are responsible for completion • Must conduct during breaks and if residents change rooms • Rosters • ADs will supply HRs with a “by room” building roster • ADs will email HRs and appropriate RAs about room changes • HRs and RAs are responsible for updating their floor/building roster if alerted of a change • HRs and RAs are responsible for making sure residents are in their assigned living space

9. Administrative Responsibilities • Community Hours • RAs must hold 5 community hours a week • HRs must hold 3 community hours a week • RAs must submit their chosen C.H.s to their HR & AD • HRs must submit their chosen C.H.s to their AD • Community Hours must be posted & residents must be made aware of these times • Must be in your room or in a visible community lounge space during hours

10. Administrative Responsibilities • Individual Meetings • RAs must meet with their HR for 30 minutes each week. If meeting ends early, both the RA and HR must do a building walk through and check for building damages and changes. • HRs must meet with their AD for 45-60 minutes each week. • Report on staff (individual reports, team dynamic, community development efforts like programs/bulletin boards/passive) • Report on building/floor (W/Os, behavior trends, successes) • Building Goals & Personal Goals

11. Administrative Responsibilities • Staff Meetings • RAs must attend one staff meeting per week • RAs must complete any requested tasks or initiatives the HR assigned • RAs must be prepared to give thorough floor/community updates • HRs must have an outline for each meeting • HRs must do 4 staff development activities per semester

12. Administrative Responsibilities • Weekends and Time Off • Staff members can take 1 weekend off per month • RAs must have their time off approved by their HR (to ensure 50% of the staff is available at all times) • HRs must have their time off approved by their AD • Time off requests must be made a week in advance (an email must be sent to the entire RA staff, the HR, and the AD) • Staff Room Assignments • Staff members are expected to reside in their assigned rooms • Staff members must be aware that roommates, significant others, and frequent guest may intimate residence from approaching their RA/HR’s room • Staff members must therefore clearly communicate that they are always available and that their roommates, significant others, and guests understand that they must leave if residents show up with questions, etc. • Staff members must clearly establish community hours and open door policies

13. Administrative Responsibilities • Key Control • Never misuse the sequence/master key • Never allow residents to use the key • If the key is lost, the staff member is charged, the staff member loses their right to use the key for a period of time, and the staff member is place on probation or terminated

14. Characteristics & Duties Head Residents and Resident Assistants

15. Characteristics and Duties:RAs/HRs • Community Development • Educational and Communicator Role • Administrative Role • Crisis Management and Policy Enforcer Role

16. Resident Assistant Characteristics and Duties

17. Community Development: RAs • Must be available and approachable • Must interact with each resident on the floor • Must encourage group interaction and social networks • Must draw outliers into the floor community • Must maintain healthy relationships between residents on floor (e.g roommate mediation) • Must conduct floor meetings • Must conduct floor programs • Must help conduct building programs • Must plan and implement passive programs (e.g. CDAs) • Must plan and construct bulletin boards • Must encourage students to engage in the overall Denison community

18. Educational Role:RA • Must assist residents to understand their rights and responsibilities both within and outside the university • Must be a role model • Must encourage & reinforce responsible and mature behaviors • Must explain & hold students accountable for University Policies • Must assist students in resolving personal & inter-group conflict • Must challenge students to evaluate personal values, beliefs, and attitudes • Must inform students about opportunities available at Denison University

19. Communicator Role:RA • Must inform residents of university services and resources • Must communicate policies, problems, and concerns to the appropriate personnel • Must serve as a liaison between residents and the administration • Must relay the needs and interests of students to the administration

20. Administrative Role:RA • Must assist in staff selection • Must assist with the housing lottery • Must assist with opening & closing of the residential facilities • Must serve on a departmental committee (especially in first year communities) • Must complete necessary reports (e.g. incident reports, program forms, community reports, RCRs, duty reports, etc)

21. Crisis Management & Policy Enforcer Role:RA • Conducting duty rounds • Confronting & documenting behavioral and psychological issues • Reporting safety concerns • Dealing with crisis situations (e.g. fights, overdoses, etc)

22. Expectations & How Tos Resident Assistant

23. Expectations Set for RAs • Promote & Support the Health & Safety of the Community • Facilitate the Development of Community • Develop Individual Relationships • Be a Productive Member of Staff • Foster Learning & Development • Develop & Demonstrate Leadership & Professional Skills

24. 1. Promote & Support the Health & Safety of the Community • On-Call rotation • Respond to crisis situations (e.g. health & safety issues, mental health issues, & policy violations) • Report security, safety, and health related issues to the appropriate professional staff (e.g. W/Os, incident reports on advocate, during individual meeting) • Provide formal & informal opportunities for residents to explore wellness topics (e.gpassive or active programs, bulletin boards, or emails) • Advise & make referrals when appropriate • Inform residents of routine health & safety checks + complete these safety checks • Communicate policies, procedures, & rational to residents

25. 2. Facilitate the Development of the Community • Create a sense of inclusion & unity among residents • Foster open communicate and respectful living relationships • Model & encourage one-on-one interactions that value the inherent worth of individuals • Encourage residents to assume leadership roles • Challenge residents to recognize and accept responsibility for the impact of individual action • Facilitate meetings/activities that establish and address community standards • Provide opportunities for positive opportunities for positive interaction • Post community hours & maintain an environment that welcomes visitors

26. 3.Develop Individual Relationships • Develop & maintain an appropriate relationship with other community members • Model & encourage one-on-one interactions that respect the inherent worth of individuals • Interact with others in a way that is fair, just, & equitable • Be visible, accessible, & approachable to community members • Respond to questions & concerns in a timely & appropriate manner • Support individuals in meeting their personal, social, & academic needs • Address the interpersonal needs of others by connecting them to appropriate resources • Know the names & room numbers of residents in your area of responsibility

27. 4.Be a Productive Member of the Staff Team • Hold self & staff accountable • Be attentive & engaged at all training sessions, in-service opportunities, & meetings • Actively work with team members to develop solutions to concerns • Communicate effectively with your supervisor & attend all individual & staff meetings • Support efforts of the members of the Res. Life staff • Anticipate how your actions & attitudes may impact others • Actively contribute to the development of a unified & productive staff team

28. 5.Foster Learning & Development Among Residents • Develop activities which facilitate student learning through interaction with others • Be familiar with campus resources & refer students appropriately • Assess the needs of your residents & actively work to meet those needs • Support & appreciate the diversity within the campus community & challenge students to consider various perspectives • Maintain a physical environment conducive to sleeping, studying, & learning

29. 6. Develop & Demonstrate Leadership & Professional Skills • Fulfill all administrative requirements • Keep up with daily correspondence • Arrive at meetings on time & participate • Assist with major office & college functions (e.g. housing lottery) • Responsibly represent the RA role • Maintain appropriate confidentiality interactions with others • Provide residents with information

30. How To Resident Assistants

31. How To: RA • Community Hours • Must have door open or be in a community space(e.g. hall lounge) • Bulletin Boards • Must be informative and relate to the values of the Denison Campus • Must encourage community cohesiveness (e.g. how to eliminate stress, how to get involved on campus, sports schedules) • Must align with the program you are doing that month • Must submit a picture of each bulletin board to your HR + the Res. Life website

32. How To: RA • Floor Meetings • Informational • Educational • Reactive • Floor Programs • Effective + Educational • Follow all program guidelines

33. How To:RA • Passive Programing • E.g. CDAs • Reactive • Educational • Encourage Engagement (within the overall DU community) • Inform • Motivate • Facilitate

34. Head resident Characteristics and Duties

35. Community Development:HR • Must be available & approachable to residents & staff • Must assist in helping residents & staff a community that reflects DU’s mission statement • Must encourage individual & group interaction between residents • Must conduct building meetings • Must supervise staff to organize educational activities with residents

36. Educational Role:HR • Must translate & embody university policies • Must assists RAs & staff in understanding their rights & responsibilities both within & outside the university • Must be a role model • Must encourage & reinforce responsible & mature behaviors • Must explain to & hold residents accountable to the university policy • Must assist assist residents in resolving personal & inter-group conflict • Must challenge residents & staff to evaluate personal values, beliefs, & attitudes • Must facilitate skill-based training • Must facilitate team building activities with staff

37. Communicator Role:HR • Must inform staff & residents of university services and resources • Must communicate policies & procedures to staff • Must conduct individual meetings with each staff member • Must conduct staff meetings • Must communicate student issues, problems, & concerns to the appropriate personnel

38. Administrative Role:HR • Must assist with staff selection • Must assist in the housing lottery • Must assist with the opening & closing of the residential facilities • Must complete necessary reports, including community reports

39. Crisis Management & Policy Enforcer Role:HR • Must ensure that the living environment in which they oversee is safe and secure • Must conduct duty rounds • Must confront & document behavioral & psychological issues • Must track behavioral issues within their building • Must report safety concerns • Must handle all crisis situations (e.g. fights, overdoses, etc)

40. Expectations & How Tos Head Resident

41. HR Expectations • Promote & support the heath & safety of the community • Facilitate the Development of the community • Develop Individual Relationships • Be a productive member of the staff team • Foster Learning & development • Develop & demonstrate leadership & professional Skills • Supervision of Resident Assistant Staff

42. 1.Promote & Support the Health & Safety of the Community • On-Call rotation • Respond to crisis situations (e.g. health & safety issues, mental health issues, & policy violations) • Report security, safety, and health related issues to the appropriate professional staff (e.g. W/Os, incident reports on advocate, during individual meeting) • Facilitate formal & informal opportunities for residents to explore wellness topics (e.g passive or active programs, bulletin boards, or emails) • Advise & make referrals when appropriate • Coordinate routine health & safety checks + complete these safety checks • Communicate policies, procedures, & rational to Ras & residents

43. 2. Facilitate the Development of Community • Support RAs & hold them accountable for creating a sense of inclusion & unity amoung residents • Foster open communication & respectful living relationships • Model & encourage group interactions that value the inherent worth of individuals • Encourage residents and RAs to assume leadership roles • Challenge RAs & residents to recognize & accept responsibility for the impact of individual actions on the staff & larger community • Facilitate meetings & other opportunities to establish, negotiate,& address staff expectations • Provide opportunities for positive group interaction among RA staff • Post community hours & maintain an environment that welcomes visitors • Be a visible member of the community • Educate the RA staff on the importance of community & ways to develop it

44. 3. Develop Individual Relationships • Develop & maintain an appropriate relationship with RAs & other community members • Model & encourage one-on-one interactions that respect the inherent worth of individuals • Interact with others in a way that is fair, just, & equitable • Be visible, accessible, & approachable to RAs & community members • Respond to questions & concerns in a timely & appropriate manner • Support RAs & residents in meeting their personal, social, & academic needs • Address the interpersonal needs of others by connecting them to appropriate resources • Know the names & room numbers of residents in your area of responsibility. Be familiar with residents throughout your area of responsibility.

45. 4. Be a Productive Member of the Staff Team • Hold self & staff accountable • Be attentive & engaged at all training sessions, in-service opportunities, & meetings • Actively work with team members to develop solutions to concerns • Communicate effectively with your supervisor & attend all individual & staff meetings • Support efforts of the members of the Res. Life staff • Anticipate how your actions & attitudes may impact others • Actively contribute to the development of a unified & productive staff team • Be a contributing member of a committee

46. 5. Foster Learning & Development Among Residents • Support RAs & hold them accountable for developing activities which facilitate student learning through interaction with others • Be familiar with campus resources and refer staff & students appropriately • Assist RAs in assessing the needs of their residents & actively work to meet those needs • Support & appreciate diversity within the campus community & challenge RAs & students to consider various perspectives • Encourage RAs & students to participate in the campus community • Assist in maintaining a physical environment conducive to sleeping, studying, & learning • Create opportunities for professional development for RA staff in group & individual meetings

47. 6.Develop & Demonstrate Leadership & Professional Skills • Fulfill all administrative requirements • Keep up with daily correspondence • Arrive at meetings on time & participate • Assist with major office & college functions (e.g. housing lottery) • Responsibly represent the RA role • Maintain appropriate confidentiality interactions with others • Provide residents with information

48. 7. Supervision of Resident Assistant Staff • Set expectations with staff & role model them • Celebrate successes of RA staff, both verbally & through planned recognition • Hold staff accountable for fulfilling job requirements & expectations • Evaluate staff & communicate areas for improvement & strengths • Be open to developing supervision skills • Facilitate weekly individual & staff meetings • Encourage staff to take on leadership roles & seek opportunities for professional development

49. How To: HR • Community Hours • Must have door open or be in a community space(e.g. hall lounge) • Must enforce RA community hours (periodically check in) • Bulletin Boards • Must be informative and relate to the values of the Denison Campus • Must encourage community cohesiveness (e.g. how to eliminate stress, how to get involved on campus, sports schedules) • Must align with the program or theme of that month • Must assign & enforce a deadline for RAs to have their bulletin board completed by each month • Must clearly set the expectations for bulletin boards • Must make sure to enforce bulletin board picture submissions

50. How To:HR • Building Correspondence • Must send a monthly email to your entire hall • Must email AD with any pertinent information • Must engage in quick email responses to AD • Must enforce quick email response from staff members • Must enforce email correspondence about serious topics between RAs, yourself, and the AD • Must enforce RAs utilizing (and CCingyourself) on floor/hall wide emails for program advertisement