The Department of Residential Life at Loyola University New Orleans is committed to the academic mission of the University by providing a residential environment that fosters the development of the whole person in a community grounded in the Jesuit tradition. The Residential Life program integrates a learning-centered development model which fosters academic excellence and student success; teaches responsible citizenship, interpersonal development, and critical thinking skills; and encourages healthy behaviors and self-management.
The Community Director, as an educational practitioner, provides leadership through the residential curriculum for academic success, community development, and management of a residence hall of 600 students. Community Directors are 12-month, live-in professionals.
Community Directors cultivate student learning opportunities through a residential curriculum and are tasked with creating a welcoming community for students within the residence halls. Community Directors are committed to ensuring a residential environment that supports our Catholic and Jesuit mission, developing dynamic academic living and learning communities, and supporting students of diverse backgrounds and experiences. Successful staff members demonstrate a focus on educational practices that strengthen students’ abilities to think critically and communicate effectively with peers, colleagues, and supervisors.
- Student Development & Community Standards
- Create a living-learning environment that supports a growth mindset and encourages the holistic development of students.
- Foster a sense of community in the residence hall and engage in one-on-one contact with the residential community.
- Implement the residential curriculum centered on the development of the student within the framework of Jesuit values.
- Create an open and safe environment that encourages residents to grow and examine topics including values development, decision-making, problem-solving, leadership, and individual growth.
- Manage and administer residence hall programming funds.
- May advise Residence Hall Association or other student leadership organization(s).
- Provide counseling and referral for personal, developmental, judicial, and/or academic concerns of students.
- Serve as a student conduct hearing officer.
- Collaborate with Living Learning Community Partners to support student belonging and engagement.
- Partner with students and family members to support student success and retention.
- On-Call Responsibilities
- Respond as Community Director on Call (CDOC) for crisis situations, including non-business and weekend hours.
- Respond to students and families regarding Residential Life issues or concerns.
- Assist in shelter in-place, hurricane evacuations, or other types of emergencies that affect campus.
- Staff Supervision
- Meet with each staff member individually on a regular basis.
- Facilitate student staff development through weekly individual meetings, weekly staff meetings, performance feedback conversations & evaluations that support the mission and values of Residential Life. Plans and implements staff development programs.
- Advise staff on appropriate student and floor interventions.
- Address concerning trends or behavior and recognize positive trends or behaviors. .
- Plan and conduct weekly RA staff meetings.
- Complete formal written evaluations of RA staff.
- Motivate staff to plan and execute curriculum initiatives and implement programs that meet student needs and interests.
- Supervise, train, and evaluate desk assistants of residential community.
- Hold student staff accountable in a timely manner for upholding Residential Life policies and meeting position requirements and responsibilities.
- Facilitate various meetings: one-on-ones, staff meetings, staff development activities, department meetings, etc
- Collaborate with other pro-staff members in building regarding supervisory matters.
- Department and University Relations
- Develop and implement one to two departmental protocols including but not limited to student staff selection, resident assistant training, desk assistant training.
- Select and train part-time student employees, including Resident Assistants, desk assistants, office assistants, and summer staff; assist with recruiting and interviewing staff and other student employees, as needed.
- Work with the Associate Director of Residential Education to design, facilitate, and evaluate educational staff development and training experiences for the Resident Assistant (RA) staff including fall and winter training.
- Attend and participate in weekly professional staff meetings and meet regularly with the Associate Director of Residential Education.
- Participate in department and University committees, as requested or desired.
- Collaborate with campus offices to develop and facilitate programs that support student belonging and engagement.
- Collaborate consistently with the Resident Minister for assigned area to engage students in topics surrounding Jesuit values.
- Assist in University/Office events as designated by the Director of Residential Life.
- Operations
- Manage and enhance the physical aspects of the residence hall (signage, cleanliness, maintenance, safety, and security) including completing residence hall inventories and health and safety inspections; engage in ongoing facilities assessment and management, including participating in the planning for general and preventative maintenance.
- Respond to written and oral communications in a timely manner.
- Assist in managing room changes and vacancies.
- Interpret and implement processes, policies, and procedures.
- Engage in ongoing, data-driven, outcomes-based assessment and use results to inform future decision-making.
Additional Responsibilities:Other duties as assigned.
- Minimum Master’s degree in College Student Personnel or related field
- Experience with teaching, learning outcome development, learning assessment and curriculum development preferred
- Previous experience in housing or related field preferred
- Demonstrated ability to work and interact within a diverse environment
- Understanding and supportive of Loyola’s Catholic and Jesuit mission and values
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:- Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.
