Job Description: Residence Hall Leader for Summer Studies Programs

Employment

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

The DukeTIP campus-based Summer Studies Program offers academically 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 DukeTIP-designed course for three weeks of in-depth study and attend nearly 40 hours of class each week between Monday morning and Saturday afternoon. The Summer Studies Program is offered on several college campuses. The program provides young scholars the unique opportunity to experience college classroom instruction and residence hall life. Highly qualified Instructor/Teaching Assistant teams teach classes of approximately 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 team members with Residential Program Assistants, directly managing 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 (Monday-Thursday only) during each week. Residence Hall Leader responsibilities include day, evening, and night commitments. In addition to supervising students and holding programs/events from 4:00pm to 10:45pm 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

Prior to beginning employment, applicants are required to have successfully completed a minimum of two years of college. 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 is 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 students in Duke TIP vehicles (cars, minivans, and 8-passenger SUVs).

Specific Duties

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.
Organize an activity once a week specifically for the students in the RC group.
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.
Attend classes in which your students are enrolled at least once a week.
Assist and collaborate with instructional staff as needed.

Student Supervision

Serve as a Residential Counselor for a group of 12-16 students.
Get to know all students at Duke TIP, and assist with students from other 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.
Accompany assigned group of students to meals each day (attend dinner every day and breakfast frequently).
Respond to student emergency situations at all times. Utilize emergency protocol outlined in training.
Work with Instructors to provide assistance with students’ academic or behavioral issues.

Student Discipline

Work with Residence Life Coordinator, other Residence Hall Leaders, RCs, RPAs, 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.

Staff Supervision

Lead a group of Residential Counselors (RC).
Foster positive relationships and a sense of cooperation among the RCs.
Communicate daily with each RC, Residential Program Assistant (RPA), and the 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.
Consult with RLC to address performance issues among residential staff.

Staff Training

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

Team Membership

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

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 Life 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.

Program Leadership

Read and review training materials sent by Duke TIP before the program begins.
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.

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 Program Assistants, Residential Counselors, Residence Hall Leaders, Residence Life Coordinators, and On-Site Directors are required to live in program-sponsored housing, return to the residence hall by 2:00am, and sleep in assigned rooms each night. (On off-duty nights, residential staff may sleep off-campus or in assigned rooms.)
Academic Program Assistants, Teaching Assistants, Instructors, 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 rooms.
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.