The Assistant Master

 Assistant masters are Northwestern graduate students and are appointed by the director of Residential Colleges (RC), on the recommendation of faculty masters.  The RC director is responsible for recruiting a pool of applicants, from among whom the masters may select candidates for their colleges.  Though assistant masters work most closely with the college masters, assistant masters also have responsibilities assigned by the Office of Residential Colleges.  Thus, final appointment requires an interview by and approval of the RC director.

Though they differ given the nature of the college to which they are appointed and given the administrative needs of the master, the responsibilities of the assistant master include:

Serving in an administrative role by:

  1.  Performing administrative and budgetary tasks under the direction of the master and the director of Residential Colleges.  These tasks includes turning in a monthly assistant master report to the Office of Residential Colleges at the time the monthly paycheck is received, as well as compiling any portion or all of the quarterly activities report designated by the master.   In most colleges, assistant masters handle budget transactions as directed by the master.  Assistant masters also perform such duties as ensuring that executive board maintains distribution of its weekly listserv to members (including non-resident members) and ensuring that materials (e.g., names of student hosts for Admissions weekends or lists of participants in New Student Week activities) needed by the Office of Residential Colleges are delivered in a timely manner.

  2.  Assisting the master and the college executive board in implementing academic/cultural programs.  Under the direction of the master, assistant masters serve as their college's coordinator for assigned functions related to in-college tutorials, freshman seminars, as well as excursions or activities arranged for the college. 

  3.  Attending designated organizational meetings.  Assistant masters attend a system-wide meeting for the Council of Masters, as well as periodic roundtable meetings convened by the RC director. RC assistant masters should be available for his/her own RC executive board meetings.

  4.  Overseeing the use of special equipment or facilities.  Earch residential college has special RC program owned equipment (pianos, computers, A/V) which should be monitored by the graduate student. Requests for service or repair are reported by the graduate student to the Office of Residential Colleges.

5.  Promptly advising the facuty master and the director of Residential Colleges of any important issues relating to the life of the college.

 Serving as a resource person by:

 1.  Building relationships with students and faculty.  The assistant master is present at the college's functions and excursions.  Some of the work of the college takes place at mealtime.  Therefore, the assistant master is expected to eat some meals (3-4 per week) in the college campus dining facility and to take the initiative to introduce students to faculty (and vice versa).

 2.  Working with the master and the Executive Board, developing opportunities for students and faculty to come together for firesides, informal discussion (as at student-faculty receptions), cultural outings, etc.

 3.  Recommending prospective graduate associates to the master.  Once graduate associates are assigned, assistant masters are their primary liaisons. 

4.  Assisting the college's executive board in planning and executing academic and cultural programs.  While respecting the integrity of the executive board, the assistant master advises officers about dynamics related to leadership and motivation and is available to mediate conflicts.

5.  Serving as an informal adviser to undergraduates and being available to discuss graduate school and other similar issues.  As appropriate, assistant masters refer students to University offices for academic or personal counseling.

 6.  Developing constructive relationships with the area director, residence hall coordinator and community assistants (staff employees of the Office of University Residential Life). 

 7.  Being in residence at Northwestern through the academic year, from early September until the week before Commencement, with the exception of established University holidays.   An assistant master who will be absent from Evanston for three or more consecutive days (including weekends) is expected to receive the permission of both the master and the director of Residential Colleges in advance of that absence.

Information for Applicants