Job Description: Program Assistant

Employment…

General Information about
Duke TIP Summer Studies Programs

Duke TIP campus-based Summer Studies Programs offer gifted students in grades 7-10 the opportunity to learn highly challenging material at a rate commensurate with their advanced abilities. Students enroll in a single Duke TIP-designed course for three weeks of in-depth study and attend nearly 40 hours of class each week between Monday morning and Saturday afternoon. Summer Studies Programs are offered on several college campuses. These programs provide young scholars the unique opportunity to experience college classroom instruction and residence hall life. Highly qualified Instructor/Teaching Assistant teams teach classes of 15 to 18 students. Outside the classroom, a carefully selected staff of Residential Counselors supervises students during meals, free time, and planned social and recreational activities.

The Program Assistant Position

Program Assistants (PA) assist with all residential aspects of the Summer Studies Program, but are especially concerned with programming and student activities. PAs are supervised by the Residence Life Coordinator (RLC) and work closely with Residence Hall Leaders (RHL), Residential Counselors (RC), the On-Site Director, and other staff members to accomplish the overall mission of the program by attending to the safety, well-being, and enjoyment of program participants. Program Assistants have one 24-hour period off during each week (Monday-Thursday only). Program Assistants’ responsibilities include day, evening, and night commitments, although there are times when a PA is off-duty while students are in class. In addition to supervising students and holding programs/events from 4:00pm-bedtime on weekdays and all day on weekends, PAs will attend staff meetings, be scheduled for duties on a rotating basis, and complete projects during the day. Detailed responsibilities include, but are not limited to, items listed under Specific Duties.

Qualifications

A minimum of two years of college academic and residential experience is required for Summer Studies PAs. Experience as a camp counselor, college RA, or similar position is preferred; staff or participant experience with programs for the academically gifted is helpful. Applicants must possess a genuine interest in the academic, social, and emotional growth of adolescents, exhibit maturity and a positive attitude, and be willing to serve as a role model for students. Applicants must be able to work as part of a team; organize projects and activities; explain, support, and enforce TIP rules; and manage administrative responsibilities. Applicants who express creativity in their activity planning are highly desired. There is a driving requirement for certain positions at Duke TIP. Eligible drivers must possess a valid driver’s license, be at least 21 years old, have an approved driving record on file, and be willing to drive Duke TIP vehicles.

Specific Duties

Student Supervision

Get to know all students at Duke TIP, and assist with students from RC groups when the assigned RC has a day off.
Serve as a positive role model and resource for all students.
Be a visible and accessible presence on campus. Be aware of student concerns and problems, and immediately report critical information to your supervisor.
Eat meals in the dining halls in order to maintain a visible presence among students and staff, as well as assist other staff members with student supervision.
Respond to student emergency situations at all times. Utilize emergency protocol outlined in training.

Programming

Organize daily programs and activities for students, including evening programs and weekend events. Use creativity in designing activities that appeal to a diverse group of students.
Actively participate in committee work. Committees are responsible for organizing specific campus-wide events.
Foster an environment conducive to students’ educational goals.
Be available to help students with questions or concerns about their academic coursework.

Student Discipline

Work with RCs, Residence Hall Leaders (RHL), the Residence Life Coordinator (RLC), and the On-Site Director (OSD) to establish appropriate methods of articulating program and academic expectations and enforcing program rules.
Clearly articulate program and academic expectations and standards to students.
Enforce TIP rules consistently and fairly. Follow up immediately on student behavior problems as directed during training.

Team Membership

Attend residential staff meetings twice a week.
Meet regularly with RCs to plan and organize daily activities for students.
Attend individual meetings with your RHLs/RLC as requested (approximately two meetings per term).
Provide support and assistance to other TIP staff members.

Administration

Submit work orders and maintenance requests to the RHLs as needed.
Assist with the completion of room inspections at the beginning and end of each term.
Assist with making hall decorations at the beginning of each term.
Assist in student arrival and departure day procedures.
Participate in rotating duty schedule for various responsibilities, including Mail Duty, Shopping Duty, Health Duty, Office Duty, Transportation Duty, Medication Duty, and Emergency Pager Duty.
Occasionally assist with class field trips or other academic duties.
Complete a written program evaluation at the end of the term.
Perform other duties assigned by the OSD, RLC, RHLs, Coordinator of Educational Programs, or other TIP administrative staff.

Other

Program Assistants must be eligible drivers. Eligible drivers must possess a valid driver’s license, be at least 21 years old, have an approved driving record on file, and be willing to drive Duke TIP vehicles.
In the event that an RC must unexpectedly leave his or her position, Program Assistants may be asked to assume the responsibilities of that RC. Salary adjustments will be made as needed.

General Expectations

Arrive on your contracted start date at the specified time and location.
Perform all contractual duties at the assigned times.
Support the Duke TIP Mission and all administrative decisions.
Abide by all Duke TIP policies and procedures.
Attend all designated orientation sessions and all scheduled meetings during the term.
Residential Staff members, the Residence Life Coordinator, and the On-Site Director are required to live in program-sponsored housing, return to the residence hall by 2:00am, and sleep in assigned room each night. (On off-duty nights, residential staff may sleep off-campus or in the assigned room.)
Instructional Staff, Academic Coordinators, Psychological Counselors, Operations Coordinators, and Office Assistants may choose to live either in program-sponsored housing or off campus; those living on campus are not required to spend every night on campus. However, on each night spent on campus, staff members must return to their residence hall by 2:00am and sleep in assigned room.
Obey all traffic laws, including speed limits and seatbelt regulations, when transporting students or driving Duke TIP vehicles for other business purposes. Duke TIP vehicles may not be used for personal errands.
Refrain from the following strictly prohibited activities:

Consuming alcoholic beverages in the presence of students or at any time at the program site (including, but not limited to, housing facilities, classrooms, parking lots, athletic fields, etc.) regardless of the distance from Duke TIP's designated area.
Returning to campus in an inebriated condition.
Possessing, selling, distributing, or using illegal drugs.
Inviting guests to visit the residence halls or to stay overnight in residence hall rooms.
Using tobacco products in the residence hall or in the presence of students.
Using inappropriate language, including profanity, discriminatory statements, and sexual innuendoes.

Maintain professional relationships with all staff members. Relationships and/or conflicts among staff members should never interfere with the proper performance of duties.
Maintain professional relationships with students at all times.
Enforce all student rules fairly and consistently according to the policies outlined in training.
Abide by all policies set forth by the host institution.
This position requires a full time commitment. Holding other jobs or taking classes during the contracted time period is prohibited.