RESIDENCE HALL COUNSELOR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

The Residence Hall Counselor, along with the Office of Student Personnel and Housing, seeks to make residence hall life an enjoyable and integral part of the out-of-class learning experience. The Residence Hall Counselor (RHC) assumes a role of leadership, which includes broad responsibilities into all aspects of a resident's physical, social, educational and emotional well-being. As a role model, he/she is committed to their own personal growth and the development of other residents. The RHC is sensitive and concerned for others as individuals and should exhibit personal and professional commitment beyond specific job duties.
The most important and essential job function of the RHC position is attitude and includes the following: getting along with and responding politely with residents, staff, faculty and the university community; working as a team member; functioning under pressure; and responding in a positive manner to supervision. Other duties and responsibilities may include but are not limited to the following areas:

 

                  

Community Development Overall Goal: Develop an atmosphere of community where residents feel a sense of belonging, affiliation and support.

	•Establish and maintain a close relationship with each individual in his/her area.
	•Create an environment that is conducive to personal and interpersonal development.
	•Assist residents moving into the building and adjusting to campus life.
	•Encourage residents to interact with each other through icebreakers during the first two weeks of classes.
	•Be available and accessible to residents and spend adequate time on the floor / building on and off duty.
	•Encourage residents to be involved in campus and community activities and inform them of opportunities.

Programming
Overall Goal: Encourage the educational, personal and social development of residents by planning and implementing activities in the hall.

	•Communicate with residents in order to learn their interests and goals.
	•Develop, budget, implement and evaluate programs or activities in order to address residents interests, goals and needs.
	•Incorporate faculty, staff, and campus and community organizations into programming efforts within the residence halls.
	•Combine efforts with co-residence hall staff in order to implement building, area and campus wide events.

Peer Advising
Overall Goal: Serve as an active listener for residents experiencing academic and personal difficulty.

	•Demonstrate interest in students as individuals and commitment to the service of others' needs.
	•Be aware of residents' problems and concerns including adjustment, homesickness, roommate conflict, and be interested in their goals and values.
	•Discuss with residents any difficulties they are having and make appropriate referrals.
	•Develop working knowledge of overall campus and community resources and make contacts in these areas.
	•Supervise and assist residents during emergencies.
	•Identify potential problems on the floor and building and inform hall director.

Policy Enforcement
Overall Goal: Assist students in developing standards of behavior necessary for maintaining an atmosphere conducive to academic and personal success.

	•Encourage students to respect the rights of others and emphasize individual responsibility.
	•Educate residents with regard to personal safety, campus policy, fire prevention, theft, etc. (Refer to Code of Student Conduct and Residence Hall Handbook).
	•Confront policy violations within the residence hall and help students understand the realistic consequences of their behavior.
	•Document incidents by completing and forwarding appropriate paperwork.
	•Call University Police and/or Deans for any unusual happenings or emergencies.

Administrative
Overall Goal: Maintain effective building management by assisting the Hall Director, Area Coordinator, Deans, Student Personnel and Housing with administrative functions.

	•Assist the Hall Director and staff in preparation of the building (bulletin boards, message boards, signs, etc.).
	•Attend weekly staff meetings, weekend on-duty meetings, all-staff meetings and other meetings scheduled by their Hall Director, Area Coordinator or Deans.
	•Attend Staff Orientation at the beginning of each semester (usually one week prior to hall opening).
	•Remain on-campus until the day after final exams are over to assist with closing of the residence halls
	•Document all necessary incidents and maintain a neat, current and accurate log book.
	•Assist residents with maintenance problems, report and follow-up on all maintenance problems
	•Perform various administrative tasks as requested by Housing or Student Personnel including: room assessments, maintenance reports, room changes, lock-out forms, housing evaluations, housing applications, on-duty checklists, etc.
	•Share responsibility of delivering and collecting mail at the Housing and Student Personnel offices.
	•Participate in on-going evaluation as a personal and professional development tool.

Duty and Rounds
Overall Goal: Provide a safe environment by remaining accessible, visible and available to residents.

	•Work the required number of duty nights and weekends (usually 2 nights weekly, Sunday night, and rotating weekends/breaks).
	•Duty hours are from 8:00 am until 8:00 am. When not in class, staff should be available to residents and are required to be in the building at 5:00 pm. (Room door may be closed at 12:00 am).
	•Maintain contact with the desk worker and greet the Night Hostess at Midnight.
	•Remain accessible to residents by leaving room door open, leaving messages on the door when not in room, responding to pages, and being reachable by phone (no excessive telephone or internet use).
	•Establish your presence in the building, when you are on and off duty by making rounds in the halls and building, respond to noise, introducing yourself and visiting with guests and residents, handle incidents and monitoring building maintenance needs).
	•Complete all on-duty paperwork and document incidents in Log Book.
	•Assist Hall Director, Area Coordinator, Housing and Deans with situations that may occur..
	•Special coverage may be assigned for periods of increased activity on campus (finals, Greek show, home games, etc.).