Title: Graduate Hall Director
Employee Classification: GA
Pay Grade: GS 00
Division: Academic and Student Affairs
Subdivision: Housing Admin
Department: Student Life
Campus Location: Main Campus
General Summary
With the guidance of one or more staff or faculty members, perform a mixture of services in support of communication, technology, business operations, or student affairs activities as more than 50% of their service.
The Staff Graduate Assistant receives a stipend and tuition waiver subject to federal tax.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities
Under the supervision of a Complex Director, the Graduate Hall Director (GHD) coordinates and implements a comprehensive program for 250-400 residents in one or two residence halls. Some specific duties include: supervising, training, and evaluating a staff of 5-11 Resident Advisors, implementing the Residential Curriculum, and monitoring the staff budget. The GHD also assists the Complex Director in the implementation of administrative responsibilities for the unit(s) including but not limited to conduct, roommate mediations, crisis response, and managing hall operations in the Complex Director's absence.
Supervision Received
The Director of Housing & Residence Life at Eastern Michigan University is responsible for the vision, direction, and supervision of the department. The Director is responsible for personnel but delegates the supervision of the Graduate Hall Directors to the Complex Directors.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Staff Supervision and Training.
- Supervise between five (5) and eleven (11) Resident Advisors. Conduct weekly or bi-weekly individual meetings with Student Staff to develop and review goals/outcomes achieved, discuss issues, recognize contributions, and provide and solicit feedback.
- Lead weekly staff meetings with Resident Advisor staff on Friday afternoons between the hours of 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
- Assess and facilitate the resolutions of staff personnel issues in coordination with the Complex Director, including interpersonal conflicts and any necessary disciplinary action.
- Attend all departmental and building training sessions and workshops, as required. This includes presenting to the professional, graduate, and Student Staff as a whole.
- Work with the Complex Director to create and implement in-hall training and ongoing training/development according to staff needs.
- Assist with the coordination of new and returning Student Staff selection (for both mid-year and fall hires).
- Conduct a formal evaluation of Resident Advisor staff according to departmental guidelines.
- Maintain an active presence in the community through formal and informal interactions.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the supervisor or the department.
Community Programming
- Implement the departmental residential curriculum, which includes but is not limited to in-hall program approval, reviewing program proposals, providing program feedback, and tracking program requirements.
- Encourage staff and students to plan and develop programs to meet the diverse needs of the community.
- Regularly attend programs put on by staff.
- Make purchases for programming supplies (which may include shopping with Student Staff members).
- Manage the programming budgets, including maintaining a spreadsheet/database and turning in receipts.
- Support leadership groups within Residence Life by attending RHA meetings once a semester, attending programs hosted by leadership groups, and supporting any in-hall community representative initiatives outlined by RHA.
Administration and Operations
- Work (20) hours per week, including (10) office hours per week. Office Hours will be determined by you and the Complex Director based on student availability and need, but at least (1) office hour per weekday should be scheduled. During office hours, you may schedule meetings with students. It is permissible to schedule RA 1:1s during office hours, but the majority of time should be open for other student meetings. Missed office hours must be approved in advance and rescheduled in conjunction with your Complex Director.
- Prepare monthly student staff duty schedules in Sling or the designated departmental software.
- Prepare the end-of-year position folder at the end of the winter semester.
- Assist with the opening and closing of the buildings, including room checks and check-in/check-out processes.
- Assist with mail and package services.
- Assist the Complex Director with investigating and responding to resident concerns and complaints in a manner that provides accurate information and good public relations/customer service.
- Develop rapport with Office Manager and Desk Assistant staff and assist with holding staff accountable for desk and office procedures and policies.
- Assist the Complex Director with coordinating room changes.
- Keep control at all times over all university-issued items, such as keys and staff IDs.
Crisis Intervention
- Participate in a graduate staff duty rotation for the residential area on all days that the residential facilities are open, with the exceptions listed above.*
- Stay within a ten (10) minute radius of campus while on duty.
- Respond to crises and emergencies using the departmental protocol, which includes in-person responses and guiding student staff and students.
- Provide appropriate post-crisis referrals and follow-up with students and staff.
Counseling/Helping/Conflict Management
- Serve as a resource and referral agent for students and staff with a focus on student success.
- Advise and counsel students in crisis within the residence hall/apartments, including reporting and following up on students, who are discussed at Student Intervention Team (SIT) meetings.
- Mediate student and roommate conflicts.
- Communicate with parents/guardians who have questions or concerns regarding their students.
- Assist the Complex Director with identifying when room changes are an appropriate response to a roommate conflict.
- Assist in the adjudication of conduct cases as required by Housing & Residence Life, including holding meetings, investigating incidents, distributing sanctioning, and administrative tasks.
Maintenance and Operations
- Report on-going facility and safety/security needs.
- Work cooperatively with Gilbane maintenance and housekeeping staff to identify and coordinate staff response to maintenance concerns.
- Assist the Complex Director with inspecting rooms and determining damage billing after move-outs and at the end of the academic year.
Departmental Involvement
- Participate in at least one departmental committee.
- Actively participate in committee meetings Actively participate in committee projects.
- Contribute to upholding the charge of your committee Actively contribute to the achievement of committee goals.
- Attend various departmental meetings on a weekly/biweekly basis including, but not limited to: Residence Life Department meeting (two hours weekly).
- Meeting with Complex Director (two hours weekly) Student Staff meeting (two hours weekly).
- Student Staff one-on-one meetings (two to five hours weekly).
- Committee Meeting (one and a half hours weekly plus outside assignm
