Job Description: Residence Life Coordinator

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 Life Coordinator Position

The Residence Life Coordinator (RLC) is an integral part of the site administrative team with the On-Site Director (OSD), Academic Coordinator (AC), and the Psychological Counselor. The administrative team works together for positive facilitation of program structure and guidelines to insure a positive academic and social experience for students and a well-articulated mission for staff. The Residence Life Coordinator (RLC) assists the On-Site Director with daily program operations by directly supervising the Residence Hall Leaders, Residential Counselors, and Program Assistants. The Residence Life Coordinator is responsible for organizing student housing, leading residential staff training sessions, developing weekly and daily duty schedules, and coordinating social and recreational activities for students. The Residence Life Coordinator has one 24-hour period off during each week (Monday-Thursday only). Responsibilities include day, evening, and night commitments (24/6). The RLC will coordinate residential staff meetings and attend instructional staff meetings, assist with student supervision at meals, and oversee the completion of projects during the day. The RLC 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 4-year bachelor’s degree 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 student supervision; projects and activities; explain, support, and enforce Duke TIP rules and administrative decisions; and manage administrative responsibilities. There is a driving requirement for this position 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

  • Coordinates the Residence Hall Leaders (RHL), Residential Counselors (RC), and Program Assistants (PA) in the organization and facilitation of student supervision.

Staff Supervision

  • Supervise the RHLs, RCs, and PAs.
  • Conduct at least one group meeting with all RHLs, RCs, and PAs each week to coordinate planning and activities and discuss pertinent issues pertaining to student supervision.
  • Foster positive relationships and a sense of cooperation among the residential staff and with the instructional staff.
  • Communicate daily with each RHL.
  • Serve as a resource and positive role model for all residential staff.
  • Supervise RHL, RC, and PA committee work throughout the program.
  • Initiate disciplinary action in the event that a residential staff member fails to meet program expectations.

Staff Training

  • Read and review training materials sent by Duke TIP before the program begins.
  • Attend a four-day training session at Duke University, immediately prior to the program.
  • Organize and lead training for residential staff before each term. Training topics will include programming, counseling skills, discipline, emergency procedures, team building, and diversity training. Help prepare orientation materials for residential staff.

Program Leadership

  • Relieve the On-Site Director (OSD) on a rotating basis. (RLC’s day off may not be on the same day as the On-Site Director’s day off.)
  • Meet with On-Site Director and Residence Hall Leaders each week to discuss policies and procedures.
  • Coordinate the organization of residence hall meetings with students and assist in building a sense of community among the students.
  • Coordinate residential staff planning daily programming for students, including social and recreational activities.
  • Coordinate the organization of 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 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, including an individual evaluation of each RHL, RC, and PA.
  • Ensure that all residential staff members are fostering an environment that is supportive of students’ academic pursuits.

Student Discipline

  • Work with RHLs, 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 On-Site Director.

Administration

  • Maintain a constant awareness of risk management issues as they apply to students and staff.
  • Maintain responsibility for the safety, cleanliness, and security of the residence hall.
  • Organize work orders and maintenance requests for residence halls as needed.
  • Organize the following responsibilities:
    • Coordinate room assignments for students.
    • Coordinate and monitor room inspections at the beginning and end of each term.
    • Coordinate arrival and departure day procedures for students moving in and out of the residence hall.
    • Coordinate scheduling of all RHL, RC, and PA duties.
    • Maintain responsibility for all duties assigned to RHLs, RCs, and PAs.
    • Coordinate weekly schedules for students and assist residential staff in organizing major activities.
  • Perform other duties as assigned by the 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.