Community Coordinator

Rhode Island School of Design•Alcoa, TN

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

This full-time, 12-month, live-in position provides front-line leadership and direction to a residence life area housing art and design residents. The Community Coordinator (CC) is responsible for fostering and developing vibrant and inclusive community primarily through the direct supervision and implementation of the co-curricular experience. The Community Coordinator position is a term position expiring at the end of each fiscal year. Community Coordinator terms may be extended on an annual basis allowing for consecutive service of up to 3 years. RISD employs four Community Coordinators with different areas of focus. These positions include: Community Coordinator for First Year Communities (2): Oversees first year students living primarily in traditional style residence halls. The Community Coordinators for First Year Communities are involved in the development and implementation of the First Year Residential Experience program, with a strong focus on the transitional developmental needs of students experiencing the high rigor of an Art and Design education for the first time. The First Year Community has two (2) CCs who split the supervision of RAs and each focuses on a different area, either health and wellness initiatives or first year experience in partnership with the Center for Student Involvement. Community Coordinator for 15 Westminster (1): Oversees this historical building and former home of the Rhode Island Hospital Trust Bank. 15 West houses nearly 550 upper-class undergraduate students throughout its 13 floors of mixed use space. Located in 15 Westminster is RISD’s Fleet Library as well as dining and office facilities. The Community Coordinator for 15 West is involved in the development and implementation of a residential experience aimed at meeting the needs of upper-class students navigating the independence afforded them by living in 15 West’s suite and apartment units. The 15 West CC also focuses on providing high quality social equity outreach and programming in partnership with the Office of Intercultural Student Engagement and Office for International Student Services. Community Coordinator for the Hill Houses and Apartments (1): Oversees RISD’s historic Hill Houses, Benefit Street Apartments, and Charles Landing Apartments. These areas house over 400 upper-class undergraduate and graduate students. The Community Coordinator is involved in the development and implementation of a residential experience aimed at meeting the needs of upper-class students living in a mix of traditional and apartment style housing. The CC also focuses on the development of a holistic sophomore experience in close partnership with the Assistant and Associate Directors for Residence Education. All Community Coordinators are tasked with developing community, and oversee and implement the co-curricular experience to meet the needs of their specific population. Community Coordinators are each responsible for supervising the daily performance of paraprofessional Resident Advisors (RA), a paraprofessional Advocate for Inclusion in Residence (AIR). CCs also assist with departmental processes, programs, and special projects as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree required.
Demonstrated success working with a diverse group of students needed.
A positive attitude and the ability to create enthusiasm, demonstrate flexibility, and maintain composure in stressful situations required.
Physical ability to respond to crises or emergency situations in all buildings necessary (many areas are not wheelchair accessible).

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in student personnel, higher education administration, counseling, or related field of study preferred.
Past Residence Life experience preferred.
Familiarity and understanding of curriculum, facilitation, and assessment best practices preferred.
Familiarity with common office software and/or college information management systems such as Workday and housing management system such as StarRez preferred.
Previous supervisory experience, an awareness of social justice principles, and an appreciation for art and design, developed through employment, education or personal interest is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

Supervision: Select, train and supervise assigned RAs, and AIR. Conduct periodic formal evaluations of RA and AIR performance and monitor progress toward goals for performance improvement. Oversee community development of area through implementation of co-curricular experience, and support RAs’ efforts to maximize resident development through provision of programs and referrals. Responsible for regular area staff meetings and assist with periodic all-staff meetings and trainings. Participate in the selection and training of all levels of Residence Life staff.
Co-curricular Planning and Implementation: Intentionally plan and implement relevant co-curricular experience through careful supervision of student staff, creation of true educational experiences in residence halls led by CC, writing of learning outcomes and lesson plans, and learning assessment. Provide continued development on the co-curricular experience to student staff and attend and support student staff programming.
Student Outreach: Develop and maintain a rapport with residents through visibility and co-curricular experience implementation. Follow up with students of concerns, facilities issues, and meet with residents experiencing issues in the residence halls. Actively engage in community, conduct regular community walkthroughs, and attend student staff floor meetings and programs.
Specialty Area + Collateral: In partnership with Student Affairs partners and the Residence Life team, provide weekly leadership for specific focus assigned to position (e.g. First Year Experience, Health and Wellness, Social Equity, and Sophomore Experience). Research, benchmark, plan, and implement innovative new strategies within residence halls associated with specialty area to meet the needs of the residential population.
Administrative Tasks: Complete day-to-day administrative tasks associated with the management of the residential community including tracking RA and AIR budget expenses and alerting to areas of need and/or opportunity; reconciling RA and AIR procurement card spending; completing and responding to email correspondence; processing room change paperwork. Manage community opening and closing. Oversee and coordinate the environmental health & safety inspections of students’ rooms/apartments carried out by RAs at least once a term.
Housing Operations: Provide support and implement various housing operations processes in coordination with the Housing Operations Coordinator, including room changes, environmental health and safety inspections, opening and closing procedures, and other tasks as assigned.
On Call Rotation: Provide, in rotation with other residence life staff, 24-hour, seven-day, Administrator-On-Call coverage for approximately 1400 residents and follow up with residents who experience crisis situations. Support residents’ academic success and personal growth through individual discussion and crisis intervention and make referrals as appropriate. Meet with student residents to resolve roommate issues. Serve as a liaison with Department of Public Safety. On call on weekends and some holidays should be expected.
Conduct: Respond to and process alleged policy violations as reported by staff, students and Public Safety. Serve as a hearing officer and develop sanctions using a restorative and educative lens. Ensure residents’ compliance with policies outlined in the Residence Life and Student Handbook. Recommend other actions to Director or Associate Director of Residence Life as appropriate. Serve as a liaison with the Coordinator of Student Conduct.
Committees: Assist in the creation and implementation, under the direction of the Assistant Director, of a departmental process or program including student staff selection, student staff training, Pre-College staff selection, curriculum development, student staff appreciation, etc.
Summer: Assume responsibility for administrative, operational and programmatic aspects of a wide variety of residential summer programs serving a complete range of age groups and levels of experience in a very active summer schedule. These groups include Pre-College, Summer Studies and Conferences. Coordinate these efforts with program sponsors such as Continuing Education.
Divisional Support: Actively support and participate in the work of the Division of Student Affairs and its different departments to realize the goals of the Division including but not limited to committee membership and presence at divisionally sponsored events.