2023-2024 Head Resident Assistant

Job Details

Job Location

Main Campus - Edmond, OK

Position Type

Student

Salary Range

$9.00 - $9.00 Hourly

Job Category

OTRS Ineligible

Position Overview

The HRA is a unique position that is an advanced opportunity for RAs who have previously served as a Resident Assistant at UCO.

The HRA position provides leadership, career development and personal growth opportunities. The primary role of the HRA is to serve as a resource for the RAs and the HD.

Another basic function of the HRA is to be responsible for providing resource information and community development for the RA staff they are placed with.

They are also to represent UCO Housing's policies and mission statement by promoting a caring community, positive conflict resolution, responsibility and integrity.

They are to maintain an attitude of integrity. Being above reproach in actions, lifestyle practices, and leadership is an overarching expectation of this role.

The HRA is in a different (i.e. "higher") level of position than other RAs. They do not supervise RAs, but they will serve as mentors and team leaders for their designated building staffs.

HRAs are chosen for the purpose of assisting their supervising HD with some of their daily / weekly tasks, while also serving as an easily accessible mentor for the other RAs.

Head RAs will be entrusted with responsibilities that require a greater level of maturity, insight, and discernment than a typical RA might.

DESIRED CHARACTERISTICS

• Excels at time management skills
• Personable
• Approachable (can easily handle tough conversations and situations brought to them by RAs / residents)
• Excellent communicator (with peers and supervisor)
• Sets a good example for their peers academically, socially, and as an employee of Housing.
• Demonstrates commitment to their work (strong work ethic)
• Understands and implements healthy, personal boundaries for work, life, etc.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES (GENERAL)

• Work approximately 20 hours weekly (i.e. according to the approved "reasonable agreement")
• Staff / All-Staff meetings support; co-facilitation
• Supervising HD will schedule the HRA to help run / facilitate the weekly building staff meetings.
• HRAs will be asked to coordinate a team-building activity for each monthly All-Staff meetings.
• Administrative task assistance may include :
• On-call scheduling assistance - scheduling, updating, and approving all shift changes that RAs make.
• Assist in coordinating Environmental Wellness Checks (EWCs)
• HRAs will be tasked by the HD to help them check EWC responses and follow up with any rooms that had issues reported by the RA staff of the building.
• Building Event programming assistance
• Collaborate with supervising HD (see specific residence hall requirements below).

This may include up to one (1) programming event per month (depending on HD requirements)

• Team Development :
• Serve as liaison between RA staff and supervising HD
• Will contribute to ongoing healthy RA-to-RA staff relationships
• Help HD plan RA staff bonding opportunities (1 bonding activity per month - up to discretion of the HRA)
• Peer advising / mentorship
• HRAs will serve as "mentors" and "advisors" to fellow RAs, but they will not serve as "supervisors" or "bosses,"
• This means that, regarding disciplinary measures, HRAs can document but not discipline RAs. Documentation of any observed infraction of UCO or Housing policies / procedures may include writing an incident report, informing their supervising HD via phone / email, etc.
• Depending on the infraction, HRAs may be asked to speak with the RA(s) about the infraction, but they will never be asked to enact any disciplinary measures.

That will be the job of the supervising HD.

• HRAs will be asked to schedule monthly one-on-ones with each RA (details listed below).
• HRAs will attend one (1) weekly one-on-one session with their supervising HD.
• Continue to establish informal relationships with residents (this may include attending hall or apartment programming) and offer clarity regarding UCO policies and procedures.

HRAs should speak with their supervising HD for more details.

• Assist HDs with Fall and Spring RA Training planning and implementation. This may include :
• Attending RA Training Committee planning meetings
• Collaborating with other HRA's to create team-building activities for Training
• Being assigned specific RA Training presentations to facilitate
• Move-In week :
• Help HDs with building checks / walkthroughs in preparation for opening / closing buildings.
• Act as a Move-In Day "building leader" for helping troubleshoot problems that arise on Move-In Day.

Optional) Attend Res Life daily brief / debrief meetings with Assistant Director of Residential Engagement and HDs.

HRA may be required to attend these meetings if their supervising HD is unavailable to attend.

• Respond to all "yellow light" issues according to the UCO Housing "Traffic Light" response diagram.
• Fulfill all On-Call responsibilities (see below)

ON-CALL RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Holding the on-call phone :
• One night per week (Sun-Thur)
• Shifts will begin 5pm and last until 8am the following morning
• 3 to 4 weekend shifts per semester
• Shifts are Friday 5pm until Sunday 5pm
• Holidays - about 2 holidays shifts per semester
• Tasks :
• Shifts one 24 hour period of being on-call (8am-8am)

o HRAs will respond to phone calls following the UCO Housing "Traffic Light" response diagram (see supplemental document)

HRA ONE-ON-ONES :

• HRAs will be responsible for meeting with each RA on their staff one time (1x) per month.
• The HRA one-on-ones will be informal meetings designed to further relationships with RAs.
• These one-on-ones will not be to evaluate job performance and RCM requirements (unless the topic arises from the RA naturally).

HRAs do not "supervise" RAs in this way.

Note : The HD will also meet once per month with each RA to discuss formal job performance / requirements)

• HRAs may meet additionally with the RAs as individuals or group settings if desired (optional).
• This would average 8-12 hours per month (depending on the HRA building placement).

SPECIFIC RESIDENCE HALL RESPONSIBILITIES

In addition to the duties listed above, HRAs will also have the following building-specific responsibilities...

• Commons :
• Part of the Commons HRA responsibilities will be to maintain a clean and tidy living room area for the purpose of tours that will be scheduled to see a commons apartment.

The living room and kitchen will be viewed on these tours. Tours will be scheduled by the Housing Marketing team and communicated to the HRA.

• Commons HRA may also be asked to conduct more than one monthly HRA one-on-one session with each of the Commons RA staff members (pending desired requirement of Commons HD).
• Quad :
• The Quad HRA will be responsible for focusing on establishing tradition in the building. The two most successful building traditions so far have been the "Quad Underground" and "Quad Cozy Crafts" event.
• Suites :
• Assist with Sidelines scheduling and 4110 lounge upkeep. Help coordinate lounge / study space usage throughout the building.

Continue running the building tradition event : "Fear Pong".

• West :
• HRA of West Hall will be responsible for monitoring the "space reservation form" (including kitchen, study rooms, lounge spaces, courtyards, etc.)
• Murdaugh :
• Head RA of Murdaugh Hall will be responsible for helping plan and execute Murdaugh's annual spring building event ("Beachin' at Murdaugh").

Additionally, the Murdaugh HRA will conduct bi-weekly walkthroughs of the inside and outside of the building.

COMPENSATION

• Private room
• HRA's will be given a private room separate from the other RA rooms
• Full Meal plan
• Higher pay scale ($9.00 per hour rate) for extra work completed during seasons deemed "busy times". This typically results in 15 hours of extra pay per week during the two weeks of Fall RA Training in August, Closing in December, Spring RA Training in January, and Closing in May.

Enrollment Requirements

Fall / Spring Semesters : All student employees must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible to work any UCO student position.

Half-time enrollment for fall / spring semesters is considered 5 hours for graduates and 6 hours for undergraduates. International students must be enrolled full-time to be eligible to work as a student employee.

Full-time enrollment is 9 credit hours for graduates and 12 credit hours for undergraduates.

Summer Semester : Student employees working regular student positions must be enrolled in at least 3 credit hours to be eligible to work during the summer.

Students not enrolled in summer classes must be enrolled in fall classes in order to work during the summer, but they (and the department) will be required to pay FICA taxes.

Student employees working FWSP positions must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours (if undergraduate) or 5 credit hours (if graduate) in order to work during the summer in a Federal Work Study Program position.

Enrollment Exception : If the number of credit hours needed to graduate is less than the minimum number of hours required for student employment, the student must obtain a letter from their Academic Advisor (stating the number of hours needed to graduate and anticipated graduation date) and submit it to Human Resources.

This pertains to both regular and Federal Work Study Program positions. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Qualifications / Experience Required

• Must be enrolled as a full time (12 or more credit hours) UCO student at time of application submission and for the semester they begin working.
• Must be in good standing with the University while maintaining at least a 2.75 GPA.
• Must have successfully completed at least one semester as a UCO student upon starting the job.
• Must have a financial balance of less than $1,000.00.
• Must be able to attend RA selection process, which may include RA "Group Process" and individual interviews. (Exceptions will be made with prior notice for classes).
• Must be available for RA training in July / August and in January.
• Must be able to attend regular weekly RA staff meetings (typically Tuesdays @5pm).
• Must be in good conduct standing with the university.

Qualifications / Experience Preferred

• Preference given to applicants who have completed 24+ credit hours upon starting the position.
• Preference given to applicants who have lived on campus at UCO.
• Preference given to applicants who are active in their housing community.

Physical Demands

Reasonable accommodation, in accordance with ADA requirements, may be made upon request to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.