Director of Residential Life - Fort Valley State University

FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY (FVSU), a state and land-grant institution of the University System of Georgia, invites applications for the position of Director of Residential Life.

Fort Valley State University, the only 1890 land-grant university in Georgia, is a comprehensive institution that provides an education to over 2,800 students including graduate students. The university is located in the town of Fort Valley in Peach County, the original site of the state's peach industry. Its 1,365-acre (5.52 km2) campus is Georgia's second-largest public university in area.

Fort Valley State University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate against applicants, students, or employees on the basis of race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, or marital or veteran status.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Director of Residential Life is a live-on professional who is responsible for the operation of all residence halls under the supervision of four to five resident directors and the Associate Director for Housing Business Operations. The individual in this position guides the development and supervision of the departmental programming objectives and is charged with shaping the environment and experiences of students by providing services and programs focused on the best practices in student housing, as well as student development theory. This position also coordinates the Resident Assistant program, which includes but is not limited to the job posting and interview process, and works with the Resident Directors in determining the best candidate for the position. The individual also provides guidance and supervision to the Residence Hall Association. The position reports to the Dean of Students and Executive Director of Residential Life.

Listed below are both specific job duties of the position as well as minimum professional standards of all Housing & Residential Life employees. These responsibilities encompass student and community development initiatives, both proactive and reactive, that directly influence the success of our residential students. They also detail administrative responsibilities that are foundational to this success. Finally, they delineate behaviors that connote professionalism and a commitment to the values of Fort Valley State University, the Division of Student Affairs & Enrollment Management, and the Office of Housing & Residential Life.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

Supervision

• Supervise Resident Directors, resident assistants, various work-study students, and possibly graduate assistants.
• Supervise the Associate Director for Housing Business Operations which includes oversight of housing assignments, room changes, billing summer camps
• Host weekly staff meetings to communicate upcoming events, discuss community concerns, and facilitate professional development experiences related to the overall student development goals of the Division of Student Affairs and Office of Housing & Residential Life
• Conduct regularly scheduled one-on-one meetings with staff members.
• Ensure staff members are appropriately confronting and documenting student behavioral issues and concerns.
• Provide regular formal and informal feedback regarding job performance.
• Ensure that resident assistant duty procedures are followed.
• Oversee the implementation of programs and strategies that enable student achievement, success, and engagement goals.
• Ensure the professional staff is creating and providing training for the Resident Assistants

Student Conduct and Crisis Management

• Stay abreast of best practices for judicial procedures and policies FERPA, and Title IX, as well as risk management.

• Review all incident reports and police reports (if available) for incidents that take place in the residence hall and/or involve residents living within the hall.
• Respond to residents in need, referring to other professionals, when appropriate
• Adjudicate student conduct cases, track sanction completion, refer cases or ongoing situations of concern.
• Assume responsibility for Professional Staff on-call duty and provide leadership during times of crisis.
• Assist in emergency situations as needed.
• Implement all university, division, and departmental rules, policies, and procedures.
• Provide programs and other proactive educational interventions to enhance good decision-making by residents.

Professional Development and Administration

• Perform administrative duties associated with summer projects and assignments.
• Ensure that all RD's student emergency contact cards are up to date.
• Participate in departmental and division-wide professional development activities.
• Develop, coordinate, and assess the programming objectives for the Department of Residential Life
• Coordinate the Departmental Community Service Initiative
• Create and update monthly the departmental programming calendar.
• Work closely with the Resident Directors to develop departmental programs and initiatives. Examples of these initiatives, but are not limited to the First Year Residential Experience, Residential Curriculum, Female Mentoring Program, Male Mentoring Program, etc....
• Serve on departmental committees and initiatives.
• Participate in the recruitment, selection, and training of staff members, both student and professional, for the department
• Conduct environmental assessments of the entire residence hall and communicate any major issues to departmental leadership.
• Partner with other campus departments to offer programs and educational opportunities for resident students and staff.
• Create and manage departmental residential curriculum.
• Help the department develop living-learning opportunities and program-specific residential curriculum plans.
• Help to establish hall government and other leadership opportunities for students.
• Create and promote a learning-centered, nurturing residential community.
• Work with other professionals within the department to determine a training and development program for Resident Assistants and Resident Directors
• Collaborate with academic faculty to create engagement opportunities within the residence halls.
• Help define, articulate, and promote the educational mission of the department to internal and external stakeholders.
• Have a strong commitment to student development.
• Must have a keen understanding of StarRez, Banner, Peoplesoft, Maxient and other student management systems and card access systems.

Community Development

• Cultivate a positive and engaging living environment that fosters a sense of belonging and enables students to build positive relationships with one another.
• Maintain a high level of visibility and availability, including attending community events, regularly touring the community, and interacting with residents.
• Know the residents and provide personal, social, academic, and occupational support and referral.
• Utilize institutional data to assess and respond to students' needs.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff stakeholders to implement programmatic opportunities, some of which may relate to living/learning community themes.
• Serve as the advisor to the residence hall student government boards (RHA)
• Develop and conduct monthly training for the student and professional staff.

Overarching Staff Expectations

• Serve as a role model for all hall staff and residents in personal and professional behaviors.
• Practice ethical stewardship of university resources.
• Create and maintain positive professional relationships within the department and across the university.
• Assume an alternative summer assignment such as orientation, conference housing, staff training, environmental assessment, and/or operations.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

This position requires a Bachelor's degree. A Master's degree in education, college student personnel, counseling or human development, or a related field is preferred. Successful candidates must be able to work with the populations we serve and to supervise staff. The Resident Director must be able to work independently, demonstrate initiative, display a strong commitment to student learning, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively with stakeholders inside and outside of the university. Individuals in this position must have the ability and willingness to assume shared responsibility for residence hall system-wide on-call duty and respond to crisis and emergency situations. Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills are required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Post-baccalaureate experience in residence life, counseling, teaching, and living/learning environments is desired. Strong administrative and counseling skills are utilized in this position.

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• The incumbent will be required to live on campus for 12 months per year.
• The incumbent will be required to participate in and lead the professional staff and Resident Director on-call rotation.
• Regularly required to sit and/or stand, use hands and fingers, handle or feel objects, tools, or controls, reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear; lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.
• Occasionally lift 20 pounds overhead and 40 pounds from waist to shoulder
• Specific vision abilities required include close, distant color visions, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
• Noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.