Graduate Assistant - Residence Life

Concordia University, Chicago•River Forest, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Concordia University Chicago invites applications for a Graduate Assistantship in Residence Life, located in River Forest, Illinois. The Graduate Assistant assists the Director of Residence Life in providing holistic, educational leadership and administering a comprehensive living-learning environment for residential communities of 150–200 students. Under the Director’s oversight, the GA directly supervises a residence hall and its staff and contributes to supervision of the overall residential community. Living on campus is required. The position is intended for someone with a vibrant personal faith in Jesus Christ who demonstrates Christ-centered servant leadership and commitment to student success. The GA integrates the university’s mission, vision, and core values into daily work, champions students’ spiritual development, and supports students’ faith. The role also includes advising residence hall management and administrative responsibilities. The average workload is 20 hours per week, with intensive full-time training in August and intermittent increases in workload during the semester. The GA participates in an on-call emergency rotation during evenings and weekends throughout the year, excluding Christmas, Spring, and Summer academic breaks. Candidates must be enrolled or planning to enroll in a Concordia University Chicago graduate program and support the university’s mission and identity as an institution of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree.
Must be actively enrolled in a Concordia University Chicago graduate program.
Concurrent acceptance and full-time enrollment in a certified graduate program for at least 6 credit hours per term, with continuous enrollment at Concordia University Chicago.
Must maintain a 3.0 GPA to remain eligible for the position.
One to two years of undergraduate Residence Life experience, or multiple years of strong leadership experience in student affairs or a related field.
Commitment to personal growth and embracing Christian values in a collegiate setting.
Mature judgment and ability to educate in a residential environment as a skilled student development educator.
Strong interpersonal and conflict management skills.
Demonstrated awareness of and sensitivity to diverse student populations.
Willingness to be a reflective learner and prepared to lead by example.
Support for and commitment to the mission and identity of Concordia University Chicago, a university of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS).
Must live on campus.

Nice To Haves

Previous residence life experience is preferred.

Responsibilities

Supervise, lead, and develop a living-learning residential community of 150–200 students under the guidance of the Director of Residence Life.
Assist the Director of Residence Life with leadership and management of all residential students.
Develop assessment practices to identify community needs and create action steps to meet intended outcomes.
Execute a community development plan focused on student learning, growth, and development.
Coordinate residential-area and departmental operations, including occupancy, facilities management, hall opening and closing, room selection, conduct issues, and housing reassignments.
Prepare accurate operational reports and communicate with relevant offices.
Help identify and resolve facility issues promptly and proactively identify ways to improve the residential environment.
Ensure compliance with university policies and applicable city, state, and federal laws.
Administer and oversee the community programming budget responsibly.
Build mentoring relationships with students, mediate conflicts, respond to needs, and refer students to appropriate resources.
Implement the departmental programming model and guide staff in achieving community learning outcomes.
Promote the institution’s core values in initiatives and public discourse.
Along with the Director of Residence Life, supervise, train, evaluate, and lead 6–8 Resident Assistants.
Assist with department-wide initiatives, including RA training and selection, room selection, programming initiatives, and committees as needed.
Provide visible community leadership, promote institutional values and services, and support residential programming.
Collaborate with university offices to create educational initiatives and improve residential practices and experiences.
Participate in the on-call emergency duty rotation during evenings and weekends, except during Christmas, Spring, and Summer academic breaks, providing crisis support and response.
Collaborate with Public Safety and other qualified persons in responding to incidents in residence halls.
Support individuals in crisis and make appropriate referrals and provide guidance.
Work with student services offices to check in on students’ welfare, follow up, and make referrals as needed.
Assist with organizing, managing, developing, and implementing residence hall government under the Director’s direction.
Serve as an active co-advisor to residence hall staff and residents.
Attend staff and executive board meetings and provide leadership and counsel as needed.
Research and seek to implement current best practices for effective residence hall environments.
Assist with residence hall programs and provide leadership support.