Job Description: Residence Hall Leader

Get an Insiders Look

To learn about this position from the perspective of some former Residential Counselors, please see TIP RCs Settle in for Summer. This was originally published in The Chronicle, Duke’s student newspaper, on June 15, 2006.

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 Residence Hall Leader Position

Residence Hall Leaders (RHL) assist the Residence Life Coordinator with daily program operations by working as a team member with Program Assistants (PA), directly supervising Residential Counselors, and supervising a group of 12-16 students. Residence Hall Leaders organize student housing, lead residential staff training sessions, organize duty schedules, and plan social and recreational activities for students. Residence Hall Leaders have one 24-hour period off during each week (Monday-Thursday only). Residence Hall Leader responsibilities include day, evening, and night commitments, although there are times when a RHL 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, RHLs will attend staff meetings, assist with student supervision at meals, and complete projects during the day. The RHL and other administrative staff must arrive 3 to 4 days before other staff to begin campus preparations. Detailed responsibilities include, but are not limited to, items listed under Specific Duties.

Qualifications

A minimum of two years of college is required. Experience as a staff member of a residential program or institution is preferred; Residential Counselor experience in a Duke TIP Summer Studies Program or similar residential program is helpful. Leadership and/or supervisory experience are essential. 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; lead staff in organizing projects and activities; explain, support, and enforce Duke TIP rules and administrative decisions; and manage administrative responsibilities. 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

  • Serve as a Residential Counselor for a group of 12-16 students. (See Residential Counselor job description.)

Staff Supervision

  • Supervise a group of Residential Counselors (RC).
  • Conduct at least one group meeting with all RCs each week to coordinate planning and activities.
  • Conduct two individual meetings with each RC in your group during each term.
  • Foster positive relationships and a sense of cooperation among the RCs.
  • Communicate daily with each RC, PA, and Residence Life Coordinator (RLC).
  • Serve as a resource and positive role model for all residential staff.
  • Complete an evaluation form for each RC at the end of each term.
  • Participate as the chair or head of each residential committee.
  • Initiate disciplinary action in the event that a residential staff member fails to meet program expectations.

Staff Training

  • With RLC, organize and lead training for RC staff before each term. Training topics will include programming, counseling skills, discipline, emergency procedures, and team building. Help prepare orientation materials for RCs and PAs.

Program Leadership

  • Meet with Residence Life Coordinator and other Residence Hall Leaders each week to discuss policies and procedures.
  • Organize residence hall meetings with students and build a sense of community among the students.
  • Coordinate daily programming for students, including social and recreational activities.
  • Organize campus-wide events, including space reservations, event preparation and management, and transportation (if needed).
  • Foster relationships between residential and academic staff.
  • Serve as a positive role model for all staff and students.
  • Inform the On-Site Director and Residence Life Coordinator of all disciplinary, personal, or medical matters relating to students and staff.
  • Complete a program evaluation after each term. Submit a comprehensive report at the end of the summer.
  • Ensure that RCs are fostering an environment that is supportive of students’ academic pursuits.

Student Discipline

  • Work with Residence Hall Coordinator, other Residence Hall Leaders, RCs, PAs and the On-Site Director to establish appropriate methods of articulating program expectations and enforcing program rules.
  • Establish residence hall policies, such as guidelines for laundry room and lounge usage.
  • Enforce Duke TIP rules consistently and fairly. Facilitate the resolution of student behavior problems, including appropriate disciplinary action, in conjunction with the Residence Life Coordinator and On-Site Director.

Administration

  • Maintain responsibility for the safety, cleanliness, and security of the residence hall.
  • Submit work orders and maintenance requests for hall as needed.
  • Assist the Residence Hall Coordinator with the following responsibilities:
    • Coordinate room assignments for students.
    • Coordinate and monitor room inspections at the beginning and end of each term.
    • Coordinate weekly schedules for students and assist RCs in organizing major activities.
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the Residence Life Coordinator, On-Site Director, Coordinator of Educational Programs, or other Duke TIP administrative staff.

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.