Dormitory assistant program
The Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students and the housing department each year hire approximately 20 dormitory assistants, usually one or two in each of the upperclass dormitories. These positions requires a commitment averaging eight-10 hours per week.
Qualifications:
Applicants must be upperclass students and should possess excellent communication, administrative and interpersonal skills.
Responsibilities include:
- Serving as a liaison to the Dean of Undergraduate Students and the Housing Offices’ staff with respect to communicating with residents of their dormitory regarding living conditions, maintenance concerns, and other issues as they arise.
- Establishing a good working relationship with the custodian(s) in the building in which the DA serves.
- Reporting damage, unsafe conditions, violations of code and other residential concerns to the appropriate administrative office (Housing, Building Services, Maintenance, Facilities Customer Service Center, Public Safety, Dean of Undergraduate Students Offices).
- Ensuring proper use of common areas throughout the building, including resolving usage disputes, and scheduling and monitoring of activities held therein.
- Disseminating information from various administrative offices to residents, including holding informational meetings, posting paper, and sending e-mail notices, etc.
- Filing regular written reports and attending monthly meetings.
- Maintaining a presence in the building and holding a regular schedule (minimum of three hours weekly) of “open room hours” during which residents can discuss concerns about facilities and related issues.
- Monitoring OIT dorm printer functionality and help with inventory of consumables.
- Assisting with check-in and check-out of residents during the academic year. For check-in students must be on campus prior to the first early arrival upperclassmen. For check-out students must remain on campus through Commencement to assist in this process.
- Create and host one or two events per year to ameliorate the anonymity among the residents.
- Other duties as assigned or as needed.
Training:
Students selected to serve in the DA position will receive two half days of intensive training in August, and must therefore be available for early arrival. Failure to arrive on campus in time for training will result in the forfeiture of the position.
Remuneration
Dormitory assistants usually receive reimbursement for half of their housing fee. Students selected for this position will not participate in room draw, but will be assigned a single room in one of the upperclass dormitories. Students selected as alternate DAs will be required to attend training, but will not be compensated unless they are asked to step into the full DA position.
Application process
The application process includes completing an on-line form that contains some essay questions. In addition, DA candidates must also provide one recommendation. This recommendation must be completed through the on-line system. The process usually begins in December before the end of fall term classes, and interviews take place during reading period and finals in January. The due date for this years application is January 5, 2013. Decisions are announced in early February before the housing selection process begins.