UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO COLORADO SPRINGS
Job Description
Graduate Assistant
Residence Life and Housing
Position Number: TBD
Nature of Work
The mission of the Office of Residence Life and Housing ("Residence Life") is to provide our students
with a positive residential environment conducive to learning and personal growth, including a
commitment to the maintenance and operation of the physical facilities of all student residential areas.
The Office of Residence Life and Housing is part of the Auxiliary Services Team and administratively
reports to the Executive Director of Community and Learning Initiatives.
Most positions within Residence Life can be considered as “generalist” because there is such a wide
variety of skills and growth areas within the work. However, this position will most directly allow the
Graduate Assistant to gain experience in the following ACPA/NASPA Student Affairs professional
competencies:
Advising and Helping (including Crisis Management)
Human and Organizational Resources (Recruiting, Hiring and Conflict Resolution)
Leadership (including Community Building and Planning)
Student Learning and Development (including Wellness and Goal Setting)
Professional Field
Student Services/Business Administration.
Supervision Received
This position reports directly to the Assistant Director, Residence Life and Housing and receives
additional day-to-day supervision from the Director of Residence Life. The appointing authority of
this position is the Director of Residence Life and Housing.
Relationships
 Position works closely with the Assistant Director of Residence Life and Housing, the Program
Assistant, and the Resident Experience Coordinator to collaboratively support operations,
office programming, desk management, training and staff development and the resident
experience.
 As directed, position works with the Associate Director of Residence Life and Housing and the
Office of the Dean of Students on student conduct and appeal issues.
 Position will work closely with Residence Hall Managers with the implementation of office
operations.
 As directed, position works with a variety of campus departments as it pertains to resident
concerns.
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Examples of Work Performed
Housing Operations: The Graduate Assistant will seek to facilitate the resident experience through a
variety of housing operations that range from prospective student programs, contacting, move in to move
out:
 Assist Assistant Director and Resident Experience Coordinator (REC) with the
housing software management.
 Assist coordination of prospective programs with Student Recruitment and
Orientation program with the REC.
 Facilitate operational procedures to include but not limited to fall and spring check in,
winter break and spring closing as well as the room change process.
 Assist with occupancy management and non-enrollment issues.
Staff Supervision: The Graduate Assistant in conjunction with the REC will supervise student staff front
desk operations:
 Assist with training of the Front Desk Assistants (FDA).
 Assist with ongoing training of FDA
 Assist with recruitment and selection of FDA.
Community Policies: The Graduate Assistant will assist with the management of housing facilities by:
 Knowing and using emergency procedures. Educating students with regard to safety.
 Interpreting and enforcing Resident Handbook and university rules and the student
code of conduct.
 Educating students of the rights and responsibilities they share within the community.
 Confronting students who violate community standards and/or university policy.
 Providing general supervision of resident conduct in the community, both Summit and
the Village at Alpine Valley.
 Assisting with check-ins and check-outs as required.
 Being available to staff through designated office hours.
 Providing oversight for general maintenance needs and reporting them to the
Residence Life and Housing Office.
Programming: The Graduate Assistant monitors the social programming conducted by the Resident
Assistants in conjunction with the Assistant Director for Residence Life by:
 Serving as liaison for various campus departments as directed, to provide routine
updates to Residence Life professional and student staff on various updates, events,
etc.
 Providing support and development of programming for resident retention.
Resident Conduct, Behavioral Education and Crisis Response: The Graduate Assistant is responsible for
working with residents found to be in violation of the Resident Handbook by:
 Facilitating student conduct hearings as requested.
 Assisting with the development of other forms of behavioral education.
 Responding to crisis situations in a timely and efficient manner, while maintaining
appropriate levels of confidentiality.
Staff Inservice Training:
 Plan three department inservice trainings for Fall semester (September, October,
November) and three inservice trainings for Spring semester (February, March,
April), with content based on feedback obtained by RA and professional staff.
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Identify learning outcomes and invite presenters/facilitators and coordinate all event
logistics.
Conduct assessments for all inservice trainings, and provide a written summary after
analysis of feedback.
Assessment:
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Review previous years’ EBI survey results and help prepare the annual dissemination
of the survey to resident students.
Create an RA training evaluation for both Fall and Spring RA training, as well as RA
inservices, and present a summary of the data collected to all professional staff to be
used to enhance future trainings.
Conduct other assessment (surveys, focus groups, etc.) as needed or requested to learn
more about the needs of the residential community.
Assist the Executive Director of Community and Learning Initiatives with additional
assessment research/analysis as needed.
Miscellaneous Duties:
 Attend all staff trainings, inservice programs and staff meetings.
 All other duties as assigned by Assistant Director or Director.
 Serve on department and campus committees as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
 Considerable skill in planning and implementing educational and social activity programs in a
higher education setting.
 Knowledge of personal computer software applications, including Microsoft Office and
StarRez, and other online capabilities is a plus.
 Skills in providing training to individuals or groups; oral and written communication; and skill
in establishing good working relationships and working across departmental boundaries.
 Ability to work effectively with ambiguity and in a fluid work situation.
 Basic knowledge of residential housing in higher education.
 Familiarity with theory and practice of student affairs and student development and the
organization of higher education helpful but not required.
Minimum Requirements
 This is a two year commitment.
 Maintain full time enrollment in a graduate program at UCCS.
 Maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA, cumulative and semester.
 Bachelor’s degree required.
 At least one year of experience as a student living in residential housing at an institution of
higher education and involvement in campus life. Previous experience working in on
campus housing or in hall government is preferred.
 Excellent interpersonal skills.
 Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
 Required to live on campus in a single occupancy apartment.
Compensation
Compensation for this position is comprised of the following:
 Position will begin July 1st and will end May 31st each year.
 Stipend of $6000.00 for 11 months of work, paid on the last working day of the month
from July to May.
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On-campus apartment (as designated by the Director of Residence Life and Housing)
complete with kitchen, phone, internet service, laundry and cable. Valued of apartment
and amenities is $1000/month.
The one 30 Meal Plan, one each fall and spring semester, valued at $200 a semester.
Meal plans are only valid during the fall and spring academic term.
Tuition and fees assistance up to 15 in-state resident graduate credits per year.
Compensation for this position does not include benefits, and the GA may not work, on
average, more than 25 hours a week. The GA may not hold any other paid employment
on any University of Colorado campus, including UCCS. Additional off-campus
employment must receive prior approval.
Source of Funding
Housing Speedtype 42021401
Background Check
Successful candidate must pass a background check to include license and educational verification,
prior employment verification, sex offender registry check, criminal history, driving history and credit
history.
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