I. Position Identification
Resident Assistant
II. Position Summary
A Resident Assistant oversees the facilities, residents, and operations of a residence hall floor to create an environment that meets a resident's needs for growth, safety, and security. The overall goal of a Resident Assistant is to facilitate the resident's adjustment to college and to on-campus living, assimilate residents into a community, and develop the students of his or her floor academically and socially.
III. Basic Qualifications
A. Be classified as a sophomore or above at the time of assuming the position (Third semester freshmen may be eligible)
B. Have and maintain a cumulative minimum grade point ratio of 2.25
C. Have lived in University Housing for at least one semester
D. Have an interest in working with students' needs and concerns
E. Enjoy relating with students, both individually and in groups
F. Have a commitment to uphold and support policies and programs of the University Housing Office and Clemson University
G. Have a commitment to take EDC 390
H. Be enrolled as a full-time student at Clemson University
IV. Remuneration
A. Rate
All positions are paid at the rate of $6.55 per hour. Stipend of approximately $2954.00 will be paid bi-weekly, at 13.5 hours per week. This amount is prorated for mid-year hires.
B. Employment Period
Resident Assistants will be paid beginning with fall training and ending on the day the residence halls close for undergraduate students in December. Pay will be suspended during fall break. For the spring semester, Resident Assistants will be paid beginning when the residence halls open in January and ending the day the residence halls close for undergraduate students in May. Pay will be suspended during Spring Break. Resident Assistants are paid bi-weekly; time sheets must be completed.
C. Benefits
Housing: Resident Assistants are provided a private room at the double occupancy rate. Resident Assistants may be required to have a roommate on a temporary basis at the beginning of the fall semester if University Housing exceeds its overflow housing capacity.
Other: Resident Assistants may participate in a reduced priced meal plan and receive a 10% discount at the on-campus bookstore.
V. Additional Employment
Resident Assistants must request permission for additional employment from their Resident Director PRIOR TO accepting any other employment.
VI. Terms of Employment
A. Resident Assistants are hired for a term of employment of one academic year.
B. Resident Directors will clearly explain the job duties, responsibilities and expectations to their Resident Assistants.
C. Resident Assistants are charged to uphold certain policies and meet certain expectations. Failure to so will result in documentation of inappropriate performance and may lead to termination.
D. A Resident Assistant may be rehired for another term of employment based on a satisfactory or higher rating on his or her performance evaluation.
E. Resident Directors will evaluate their Resident Assistants in the fall and spring semesters. If a Resident Assistant fails to satisfactorily fulfill the job duties, responsibilities and expectations, then the Resident Director will develop an action plan for the Resident Assistant to follow in order to be reconsidered for another term of employment during the following academic year. If the Resident Assistant fails to satisfactorily meet the requirements of the action plan, he or she will not be considered for another term of employment by the Resident Director.
VII. General Responsibilities
A. Understand the expectations and guidelines of any special living-learning programs that your residents participate in.
B. Meet the expectations established by the Resident Director and Area Coordinator regarding staff interactions, programs and events that relate to any living-learning programs that your residents may participate in.
C. Understand the needs of upperclassmen who reside in the residence halls.
D. Understand the needs of freshmen who reside in the residence halls.
E. Understand how to mediate roommate conflicts and work with residents to achieve mutually beneficial resolutions.
F. Understand the needs of graduate students who reside in the residence halls.
VIII. General Facilities Management Responsibilities
A. Oversee the opening and closing of the residence hall floor(s) prior to the start of the fall semester and at the end of the spring semester.
B. Work with the residents who reside in the residence hall floor(s) to report any maintenance issues that need repair to the proper person.
C. Conduct room and common area inspections on a regular basis.
D. Know and explain all safety and emergency standards and procedures to all residents who reside in the residence hall floor(s).
IX. General Community Development Responsibilities
A. Establish a positive, healthy, and helpful relationship with all residents.
B. Facilitate the adjustment of incoming residents to college issues and outgoing residents with off-campus and post-college living issues.
C. Emphasize and maintain an atmosphere conducive to academic pursuit.
D. Foster a living environment that promotes mutual respect among the residents and emphasizes courtesy, consideration, contribution, involvement in the Clemson community and adherence with established policies.
E. Assess the needs of the residents and address those needs with programs and events.
F. Understand the Community Development Standards that the Resident Director establishes for the area.
G. Help and assist residents with concerns, remaining professional in all these situations.
H. Be aware of various campus and community resources that may be of assistance.
I. Recognize when a concern or situation is beyond the ability of the Resident Assistant and involve the Resident Director, Area Coordinator or other personnel to assist in a resolution.
J. Aid in the selection of the Residence Hall Council's executive officers.
K. Actively support Residence Hall Council initiatives and events.
X. General Administrative Responsibilities
A. Understand how to respond to emergency situations that may occur in the area; know the available resources and when to use them.
B. Attend weekly staff meetings with the Resident Director and attend area meetings as needed.
C. Keep the Resident Director and Area Coordinator informed of incidents, concerns and solutions related to the residence hall floor(s) and its residents.
D. Document incidents thoroughly and punctually and provide those incident reports to the Resident Director.
E. Assist with the opening and closing of University Housing, checking in of residents, room inspections and other tasks and expectations as assigned.
F. Keep open communication with the Resident Director and Area Coordinator including but not limited to returning phone calls promptly, checking office mailbox and email daily, and maintaining a voicemail system.
G. Participate in departmental committees, such as RHA, the Resident Assistant Selection Process, and the Resident Director Selection Process, as needed.
XI. General Duty, Desk and Training Responsibilities
A. Weeknight Duty
Weeknight duty entails being accessible by phone in your residence hall or area and available for emergencies from 8:00pm to 8:00am on your assigned duty nights. All Resident Assistants will serve a period of duty each semester for their respective residence hall or area.
B. Weekend Duty
All Resident Assistants will be on duty for the first and last two weekends of each semester. All Resident Assistants will work additional weekends throughout each semester. Weekend duty will entail being accessible by phone in your residence hall or area and available for emergencies.
C. Holiday and Other Duty Times
All Resident Assistants will return to campus approximately one week before residence halls open in the fall. All Resident Assistants must commit themselves to work through the day after the residence halls close for undergraduates each semester. All University Housing remains accessible during Fall, Thanksgiving, and Spring Break. If a home football game is scheduled over Fall Break, it may necessitate Resident Assistants being on duty during this time.
D. Desk Hours
1. Resident Assistants cannot work desk hours after 8:00pm on weekends if they are on duty
2. Resident Assistants cannot work more than 20 extra hours per week (hours in addition to their RA desk hours) or 40 extra desk hours per pay period
E. Staff Training and Development
1. Resident Assistants must complete a training and development program that occurs the week before students arrive in the fall.
2. Resident Assistants will receive on-going training over the course of the academic year.
