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Hall Director

Hall Directors play a critical role by leading a team of RAs in creating a positive living-learning environment. They are responsible for between 75-330 students living in one or two residence halls and supervise 2-9 RAs. They provide oversight for building administration and serve as an advocate for their students within the residential environment. A successful HD candidate will be committed to working toward the success and well-being of students, should meet all the specifics of the conditions of employment and be matriculated in a degree granting program at the University of Delaware.

Primary Responsibilities:

General

Work collaboratively with Complex Coordinator to create and implement training programs, complex meetings, and staff retreats for Resident Assistants; solve problems and seek resolutions to situations that arise in the residence halls.
Interact with the Director of Residence Life, the Associate Directors, and the Assistant Directors, for information, advice, and/or suggestions concerning a myriad of topics, including program plan implementation, development and training strategies, judicial and crisis situations.
Seek out Residence Life senior staff members to share ideas and to express concerns regarding policies, procedures and staffing issues.
Demonstrate positive personal, academic, and job-related behaviors at all times.

Supervision and Team Development

Develop, supervise and train a team of 2-9 Resident Assistants to ensure sound operation of the hall and facilitation of programs and events.
Assist RAs in promoting responsible student behavior that benefits individual students and the whole residence hall community:

Get to know residents thereby developing positive and caring personal and community relationships.
Take a caring and supportive approach in all interactions with students.
Help residents understand their rights and responsibilities as good citizens by explaining, abiding by and enforcing policies and procedures through educational conferences and other methods.

Establish and maintain a positive and supportive working relationship with supervisor and other members of the department and the complex staff team.
Hold regular staff meetings to discuss program plan implementation, respond to job-related issues, explore student ideas and concerns, facilitate team development, work to solve community and individual student problems, provide motivation and direction to the staff, and to discuss ideas to improve the living-learning environment in the hall.
Attend weekly HD staff meetings and individual supervision meetings with Complex Coordinator.

Active Engagement with Students

Invest in students’ success. Be available to and get to know the residents in the assigned building.
Assist students with their academic and social adjustment and refer them to other University offices as appropriate. Help new students orient to college-level academics, UD, and the Newark community. Provide residents with opportunities to develop interpersonal skills and individual responsibility.
Discuss and address students' concerns and problems. Initiate dialogue about individual and group dynamics before issues manifest. When appropriate, refer students to the support services available on campus such as Academic Services, Student Services building, Student Health Service, Counseling Center, and others.
Be accessible to residents and staff at various times throughout the day, including most nights and some weekends.
Encourage student participation in Complex Community Councils, University sponsored programs, student organizations and other activities that support the mission of the University.

Facilitation of Program Plans

Offer residents educational opportunities by promoting and implementing the program plan for assigned area.
Ensure that RA staff members understand and are implementing the program for which they are responsible. Work with Complex Coordinator to create and implement training programs for RAs.
Where appropriate, develop plans with peer mentors, honors fellows and/or special interest communities to maximize the connection and educational benefits of the LIFE cluster, Honors program, Special Interest Housing communities and other living/learning groups

Leadership

Encourage and assist RAs and students in establishing and maintaining an inclusive, respectful, living-learning environment that fosters self-reflection and learning about others.
Build an inclusive community by promoting an appreciation for and celebration of diversity. Model behaviors that foster an appreciation of diversity. Encourage and empower RAs and residents to respond appropriately to acts of bias.
Assist students in establishing and maintaining an environment that will be conducive to studying while supporting campus opportunities that promote the development of study skills.
Serve in a collateral role within the complex and/or department. Examples include advising the Complex Community Council, serving as a University prehearing officer, or serving as Hall Director Advisory Team representative.
Be a visible, positive and active community member in the building and in the complex.

Student Behavior and Crisis Response

Respond to student crises, ensure that students receive appropriate care, and escalate when necessary.
Counsel students in developing individual responsibility and a sense of community commitment.
Be available to respond to issues that may arise and assist RAs as they participate in the duty rotation for the complex.
Read and be familiar with all matters in the Student Guide to University Policies. Educate students about Residence Hall Regulations and Code of Conduct policies. Confront students who violate policies. Follow up with students as necessary.
Inform and update the Complex Coordinator about any important building occurrences and of students with possible emotional, physical and/or mental health concerns.
Carry out responsibilities and maintain composure in emergency and other crisis situations.

Professional Development

Attend and contribute to all development and training programs including August training, mid-year training, on-going development programs, complex meetings, complex retreats, as well as other meetings as required. Some of these sessions occur at night or on weekends.
Maintain an active engagement toward understanding yourself and others.
Attend and participate in all weekly HD staff meetings and individual supervision meetings. Seek out feedback and development opportunities to enhance your effectiveness as a Hall Director.
Participate in the selection processes for staff members at all levels.

Administrative Duties

Promptly complete all administrative responsibilities associated with the operation of the hall so that colleagues and students can maximize their ability to benefit from the living-learning environment created. This includes completing all required paperwork in a timely and accurate manner, updating students and staff with important information.
Identify, report and advocate for maintenance concerns throughout the building and complex.
Open and close residence halls at the beginning and end of each semester as well as during vacation periods.
Work cooperatively with other University offices such as the Department of Public Safety, Housing Assignment Services, and Facilities in response to day-to-day functioning of the halls. The issues may include: safety concerns; opening and closing of halls; key, access card, and security systems management; room changes; residence hall marketing; and custodial and maintenance concerns.
Manage the scheduling of staff for distributing U.S. and Campus Mail. Supervise the operation of the mailroom and tracking of packages, etc.
Assume additional responsibilities as assigned by the Complex Coordinator or other Residence Life professionals.

Qualifications

Hall Directors must:

Have a desire to actively engage with students;

Be capable of supporting students and establishing strong communities;

Be able to self-reflect;

Have an awareness of diversity issues;

Have strong organizational and communication skills;

Be able to respond educationally to a wide variety of situations;

Have the ability to work independently and within a group setting;

Be able to lead and effectively implement program plan activities;

Be committed to the concepts of team development; and

Be matriculated in a degree granting program at the University of Delaware.

Compensation

Hall Directors will be compensated with*:

A minimum stipend of $11,631;

A furnished apartment including utilities, local phone service/voicemail and cable;

Full standard tuition (both in-state and out-of-state) for the fall and spring semesters;

All Hall Directors are eligible for reserved parking spaces (approximately $1,400/year) at the regular Student Parking permit cost (approximately $450).

*Tuition is given to those Hall Directors in Double Halls. Those halls house between 200-330 undergraduates. All graduate student Hall Directors are placed in double halls or given a hall assignment with added responsibilities to equal the workload of a double hall.

An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer The University of Delaware is committed to assuring equal opportunity to all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, veteran status, age, or disability in its educational programs, activities, admissions or employment practices as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, other applicable statutes and University policy. Inquiries concerning these statutes and information regarding campus accessibility should be referred to the Affirmative Action Officer, 305 Hullihen Hall, (302) 831-2835 (voice), (302) 831-4552 (TDD).