Position Title: Assistant Area Coordinator for DCL Programs
Department Name: Community Living
Reports To: Assistant Director, First Year Programs and Orientation and Area Coordinator for
assigned area.
Position Purpose:
The Assistant Area Coordinator DCL Programs will focus their efforts on assisting the
department on important initiatives performed in the Department of Community Living. These
include, but are not limited to New Student Orientation, Leader Scholar Communities
(LSCs)/Common Cause Communities (C3s), Hall Council, NRHH, and additional first year
programs. Additionally, the Assistant Area Coordinator will have the opportunity to supervise
Community Advisors directly in one of our residential housing areas. Previous experience in
housing and residential life along with experiences in student development and programming are
preferred. The ability to work both autonomously and collectively with multiple constituents
(students, parents, administrators, etc.) is necessary. This position is part-time and will work for
20 hours.
Responsibilities will include:
1. Supervision of Community Advisor team with Area Coordinator
2. Manage area specific concerns at the discretion of Area Coordinator
3. Work collaboratively with Assistant Director to coordinate effective program
management of the following
a. First Year Programs: Development of programming to last the duration of the first
semester, benchmarking on other first-year programs, and creation of additional
large-scale programs
b. LSC/C3: Assist in the management of our three LSCs and one C3, participate in
the creation of additional programs to offer most effective thematic living
communities for the department
c. Hall Council/NRHH: Aid in the development of our NRHH, assist with the
training of our Hall Council executive board members, monitor spending and
programming of hall councils
d. Orientation: Assist with duties as assigned by the Assistant Director
e. Additional duties related as assigned
4. Attendance at weekly meetings (1:1 with supervisors, departmental staff meeting, CA
staff meeting, conduct meeting, etc.)
5.
6.
7.
8.
Participate in 24/7 rotating on-call rotation
Serve as Conduct Hearing Officer
Participate and present during trainings for student staff
Attendance and participation during major departmental functions (Training,
Opening/Move-in, Closing, Recruitment and Selection of staff, etc.)
9. Development of individual supervision plan and participation in regular informal/formal
evaluations
10. Other duties as assigned and appropriate within the time constraints of the position
The Assistant Area Coordinator for DCL Programs must be a full-time graduate student in good
standing in an accredited graduate program. Good Standing is defined as:
1. Matriculated in a graduate program and meeting the minimum academic requirements
of the major department, and
2. Enrolled in 12 credit hours each semester. Permission to take more than 12 credits a
semester or less than 12 credits a semester must be obtained from the Director of
Community Living. Minimum course load permitted, with approval, is 9 semester credits.
3. Must not be involved in any violations of the Brandeis University Code of Student
Conduct and/or serving an Department of Student Rights and Community Standards
sanction greater than warning at the time of appointment, and
4. Must maintain a 3.0 minimum grade point average. Staff persons who fall below these
standards will be given one semester to raise his/her cumulative grade average to the 3.0
level.
APPOINTMENT
The term of appointment is for two academic semesters, unless otherwise noted in the
appointment letter, Vacation times are based on the professional work calendar of the
Department or as approved by the appropriate supervisor. This appointment is for 10 months
with an August 1st start date and a May 31st end date.
All requests for personal leave or vacation other than the standard vacation periods must be preapproved and authorized by the appropriate supervisor. The appropriate supervisor will monitor
the performance of the Assistant Area Coordinator as it relates to the duties and responsibilities
in the Department of Community Living. Failure to meet minimum standards in either area may
be grounds for discontinuance of the Assistant Area Coordinator’s appointment within the
Department of Community Living.
EVALUATION
The Assistant Area Coordinator for DCL Programs reports to both the Assistant Director and the
Area Coordinator for their assigned residential area. The Assistant Area Coordinator job
performance is formally evaluated each semester by their supervisors. Evaluation results will be
discussed with the Assistant Area Coordinator and placed in their position file. In the event of
poor performance, the Area Coordinator will specify the area(s) in which improvement is
needed; detail the conditions for continued employment, and follow-up the discussion with a
letter of warning. If improvement does not take place within the specified amount of time, a
recommendation may be made by the Area Coordinator to terminate the Assistant Area
Coordinator’s position. Termination may also be recommended as a result of actions that are
clearly inappropriate for an Assistant Area Coordinator and/or violation of Brandeis University’s
code of Student Conduct (Rights and Responsibilities)
RENUMERATION
The Assistant Area Coordinator for DCL Programs compensation package includes a stipend of
at least $3,900 per semester, and an on-campus apartment. The stipend will be paid on a weekly
basis and as long as all appropriate paperwork has been processed. Please note that payment will
be received only for weeks when hours are worked. Should the Assistant Area Coordinator for
not work their fully scheduled hours in a given week, full payment will not be received. A
working space will be provided for the Assistant Area Coordinator and all supplies and
equipment needed will be provided.
Staff members are required to provide their own cellular/mobile phones, however a campus
telephone line will be provided in their apartment. Each staff member will be issued a University
computer for work use.
WORK SCHEDULE
The Assistant Area Coordinator should schedule time to perform their specified job
responsibilities, as well as be available for students when called upon in emergency situations. It
is understood that a staff position in Community Living/Residential Life cannot easily be
translated into hours worked per day or per week because of the unique nature of the
responsibilities and circumstances. The position requires a genuine personal commitment and
good understanding of the dynamic nature of the actual time involved. However, an average of
twenty (20) hours per week should be allocated and scheduled by the Assistant Area Coordinator
for DCL Programs to serve the needs of his/her position. The Assistant Area Coordinator for
DCL Programs is required to submit a time sheet for approval.
STAFF MEETINGS
Besides staff training that takes place in August, the Assistant Area Coordinator is required to
attend specified staff meetings throughout the year. These include departmental and area
meetings as well as other meetings as deemed appropriate by the Director of Community Living.
Assistant Area Coordinator for DCL Programs should assume they are required to attend all such
meetings unless they are told otherwise by their supervisor. Many of these dates will be
identified in a meeting that occurs during the first week of training and the rest will be
disseminated as soon as the information is known throughout the course of the year. Community
Advisor staff meetings will be on Tuesday night and the Assistant Area Coordinator should
be available starting at 8pm.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Assistant Area Coordinator is encouraged to seek professional development opportunities, both
within and outside of the University setting. This may include on-line classes, local and regional
conferences, and organizational involvement. Assistant Area Coordinator is encouraged to speak
with their immediate supervisors regarding their interests and funding for such ventures. Limited
funds available to them through the Department of Community Living.
STANDARD OF BEHAVIOR
The Assistant Area Coordinator is expected to represent themselves and the Department of
Community Living in a professional manner in all phases of their responsibilities. A positive
influence in the residence hall community is crucial. They are classified as students and are
expected to abide by the Code of Student Conduct (Rights and Responsibilities). Anyone found
in violation of the code will be subject to disciplinary action.
SUPPORTS DEPARTMENT’S VALUE OF DIVERSITY
All students should be given respect and allowed to live in an environment free of
discrimination, harassment, intolerance, etc. It is vital that the Assistant Area Coordinator exhibit
attitudes and behaviors that show respect for all students regardless of their race, ethnicity,
religious background, gender, physical disability, sexual orientation, etc. This includes
confronting inappropriate or derogatory statements, graffiti, jokes, etc.
OTHER COMMITMENTS AND EMPLOYMENT
The Assistant Area Coordinator for DCL Programs is encouraged to participate in campus and
community activities; however, no commitment should interfere with the responsibilities of
being a student in good standing at Brandeis University, or with the responsibilities of the
Assistant Area Coordinator for DCL Programs position. They should make sure that the time and
responsibilities of the position do not directly conflict with their required program commitments.
It is preferred that Assistant Area Coordinator for DCL Programs does not have additional
employment. Request for consideration to have outside employment must be pre-approved by
the Director of Community Living. However, there is an option of having outside employment
during their vacation periods.
The Assistant Area Coordinator for DCL Programs is not permitted to act as an agent in the
residence hall for non-university affiliated organizations.
SUMMER EMPLOYMENT
Summer employment within the department is available on a limited basis when it is available.
Should the Assistant Area Coordinator for DCL Programs wish to remain on campus during the
summer, such a request must be made in writing to the Director of Community Living, cc’ed to
the supervising Area Coordinator prior to the end of the spring semester. The terms of any
summer employment will be negotiated later in the year. Assistant Area Coordinator for DCL
Programs employed during the summer may be required to relocate based on the needs of the
Orientation and Summer Conferences programs. Additionally, it should be noted that summer
employment entails working approximately 20 hours per week for room and board. No monetary
stipends are available during the summer months unless specifically stated.
ABSENCE FROM RESIDENCE AREA
One of the main components of a live-on position is being visible within the halls. While the
Assistant Area Coordinator for DCL Programs is not specifically responsible for a building on
their own, they are still an important part of the community and need to make their presence
known within the building that he/she lives. During high-activity times (i.e. move-to-from, major
sporting events, opening and closing of halls) throughout the year, the Assistant Area
Coordinator may be scheduled for additional support coverage of a residential area. Therefore, it
is vital that any vacation or extended time away from the University be approved by one’s
supervisor. The standard guideline for time away is one weekend per month.
IMPORTANT DATES (Dates subject to change)
Fall 2016
• First Day of Training for Assistant Area Coordinator – Monday, August 1st, 2016 at 9 AM
• Summer 2016 New Community Advisor (CA) Training – Sunday, August 14th, 2016 from
12:00 PM – 4:30 PM
• CA/OL Summer Training and Fall 2016 Residence Hall Opening – Sunday, August 14th, 2016
– Wednesday, August 24th, 2016
• Fall In-Service Day – Sunday, November 6th, 12 PM – 5 PM
• Fall Semester Closing – Tuesday, December 20th, 2016
Winter 2017
• Winter 2017 New Community Advisor (CA) Training – Monday, January 9th – Tuesday,
January 10th, 2017
• CA Winter Training and Spring 2017 Residence Hall Opening – Tuesday, January 10th –
Monday, January 16th, 2017
• Spring In-Service Day – Sunday, March 5th, 2017, 12 PM – 5 PM
• Spring Semester Closing – Friday, May 12th – Sunday, May 14th, 2017