Engelhart Community Assistant

Overview of the Position

The Community Assistant (CA) is a student staff member in Residential Services and serves as an integral member of the Engelhart Hall community. The principal CA duties involve three main areas: programming/community development; administrative duties; and departmental/collegial obligations. The CA reports directly to a Residence Director (RD).

Community Development/Event Planning Responsibilities

CAs are expected to create a sense of community amongst residents in Engelhart. CAs will become familiar with the interests and needs of residents. As leaders of the on-campus graduate population, CAs are responsible for creating social and educational opportunities for residents. This may be achieved through hall events and programming, student interaction, or duty conversations when responding to incidents. Specifically, each CA will perform the following tasks:

• Develop, advertise, implement, and evaluate building-wide programs throughout the year.
• Work as a team with the other CAs, the Senior CA, and the Residence Director to plan and implement programs throughout the year (typically six to 10 events per quarter).
• Serve in a duty rotation to address residence concerns and emergency situations.
• Support fellow staff members through attendance at all programs and activities.
• Publicize campus events by posting fliers, banners, or posters.
• Other duties as assigned.

Administrative Duties

As representatives of Residential Services, CAs will regularly meet with students and staff, communicate resident concerns to the Residence Director (RD) and University policies to the residents, and offer suggestions for improving the residential community. CAs are expected to respond to building safety and security concerns, report policy violations, address resident concerns, and be available and visible to residents. Specifically, each CA will perform the following tasks:

• Participate in an on-call building duty rotation. While on duty, the CA will carry a university issued cell phone and remain within a 10 minute radius of Engelhart to respond to the needs of the residents.
• Perform on-call duties, including: lock-outs, assisting residents with maintenance concerns, confronting policy violations or inappropriate behavior, and CA Office Hours (distributing mail and equipment from the lobby office).
• Assist with ongoing check-in and check-out processes.
• Complete all reports including duty logs, program reviews, and a quarterly report in a timely manner.
• Assist with duty coverage at Seabury and McManus graduate residence halls as needed.
• Perform at least one of the following tasks:

1. Update the bulletin board in the lobby on a regular basis.
2. Communicate regularly with residents through a building-wide listserv, Facebook page, announcement flyers, and a quarterly newsletter.
3. Contribute an article to the newsletter each quarter.

Departmental/Collegial Obligations

CAs are part of a team of professional and paraprofessional staff who are concerned about the fair, efficient and convenient delivery of services to residents of Engelhart Hall. CAs serve as liaisons between students and various administrative offices and student groups on campus and must build relationships with constituents in order to effectively execute their duties. CAs are expected to complete assigned projects in a timely and accurate manner and assist other team members as needed. As students and staff members, CAs will provide support and awareness to all Engelhart residents. Specifically, CAs will perform the following tasks:

• Attend and participate in all fall training
• Be available and attend all major check-in and check-out weekends
• Meet weekly with the Engelhart staff team.
• Participate in one-on-one meetings with the Residence Director.
• Enforce rules and regulations such as noise concerns, property damage, fire safety, and other policies in a consistent and professional manner.
• Ensure the security and safety of the building by aiding with fire alarm evacuations, educating residents on security protocol for the building, and maintaining an alert and engaged community.
• Accept full responsibility for building keys and access to privileged/confidential information. Maintain the integrity of building keys and privileged/confidential information should be a high priority at all times.
• Assist with the selection and training of new CAs as needed
• Maintain a good working relationship with all related University staff
• Provide suggestion and recommendations to Residential Services staff in order to improve the living experience for Engelhart residents and their families.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• CA positions are available for students enrolled at Northwestern University full-time. Post-Doctoral students are also encouraged to apply. You must be in good academic and conduct standing with Northwestern.
• Live in Engelhart for at least one academic year.
• CAs must support and abide by University policies and regulations.

Working Conditions

• CAs must maintain a high level of accessibility and availability for residents and staff members. Employment is based on satisfactory performance. If terminated from the position, all compensation will cease as well.
• Period of employment begins in late August through late June (exact dates will be announced when applications are being accepted). A mandatory training period will occur one week before employment begins.
• CAs are expected to live in their Engelhart apartment during the time of their employment.

Compensation

• CAs receive a one-bedroom apartment in Engelhart which includes utilities, cable TV access, and voicemail.
• CAs requiring a two bedroom apartment will be provided rent credit comparable to a one bedroom. The CA is  responsible for paying the difference in rent.

Application Process

Applications are not being accepted that this time.