UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH

ACCOMMODATION, CATERING and EVENTS

Job Description for Post Graduate Resident Assistant

Holyrood (North & South)

RoleDescription

The main purpose of the Resident Assistant (RA) post is to assist the Residence Life Co-ordinator, to provide advice and support for students with regards to the process of independent living. Resident Assistants are expected to get to know their students, and commitment to the job is required in order to achieve this and to fulfil their other duties as detailed below. It is essential that applicants have previous experience of university shared living, preferably at The University of Edinburgh.

Resident Assistants should encourage a responsible attitude in tenants, so that all the residents on site are able to enjoy peaceful use of their properties. Each RA will be responsible for approximately 40 students in their site, specific numbers will vary dependant upon which site they are located.

Successful candidates are offered a contract for one academic year: for Holyrood, the contract dates arethe 2ndSeptember 2016until the 1st September 2017.You must complete RA tasks and requirements until the end of your lease.

Upon successful performance reviews and successful completion of the full RA contractterms the staff member can be offered the post for another year. The post can be held for a maximum of three years in any one site. Postgraduate RAs in sites with a 12 month lease will be offered an RA contract for the duration of this lease period, therefore must complete job responsibilities throughout the entire 12 month period.

Whilst there are no set hours for the duties, it is expected that a Resident Assistant will be required to do on average a minimum of 30 hours per month in order to fulfill all their duties as outlined below.

Eligibility: Open only to full time, fully matriculated University of Edinburgh students for the entire 2016-2017academic year.

In return for a 75% reduction of rent for the assigned accommodationthe following responsibilities will devolve upon Resident Assistants:

Objectives

  1. To ensure that the site to which the RA is appointed provides an orderly and supportive environment which enables residents to gain maximum benefit.
  1. To maintain, and where necessary to enforce, under the direction of the Residence Life Co-ordinator an appropriate level of respect and discipline within the accommodation site.
  1. To ensure that an appropriate range of social activities is organised within the accommodation to which the Resident Assistant is appointed, and to contribute to the social organisation for large scale, multi-site events.
  1. To ensure that the Residence Life initiative to provide a supportive academic learning environment for residents within our accommodation is supported and to contribute to the organisation of academic focussed events and initiatives.
  1. Specific to Holyrood the Residents Assistants will have a key role in communicating with residents how to manage the shared kitchen space in the residence hall.

Contractual Dates

  • Resident Assistant contracts for 2016-2017beginat 2:00pm Friday, 2nd September 2016 prior to MANDATORY training.The appointment to the role is subject to completing compulsory e-induction modules prior to move in for training.

It is our understanding that as a Postgraduate student you might be required to be absent from your post due to academic or personal requirements. All requests for leave must be approved by your Line Manager; approval will be subject to there being sufficient cover on site during your absence. Requests should be submitted to your Line Manager at least one week in advance and will be treated on a first-come first-serve basis. In case of an emergency, you should notify your Line Manager as far in advance as possible. Additionally, when absent from your site, you are responsible for ensuring that on-call days are covered and that resident requests are redirected appropriately. During the Christmas and spring breaks, it is expected that any RAs remaining in house / on site will respond positively to any requests for assistance.

  • MANDATORY attendance at the Resident Assistant Training Programme, and extra training events required by Accommodation, Catering and Events during the year. Training takes place during day and evening hours beginning Friday, 2nd September 2016 through Friday, 9thSeptember2016including time to prepare the house prior to Arrival Weekend.
  • Welcoming of new students in September involves MANDATORY working during Arrival Weekend (10/11 September).
  • The Resident Assistants will have evening responsibilities during Welcome Week. These include, but are not limited to taking students to events on campus or hosting house events as well as being on duty.

Areas of Responsibility

Academics

  • By example and influence, encouraging responsible study habits and class attendance among residents.
  • Facilitating academic events on site e.g. study groups.
  • Working in conjunction with the Residence Life Coordinator to collaborate with colleges on study sessions in the site.

Communication

  • Keeping in regular contact with theResidence Life Co-ordinator, and fellow RAs for support and ideas.
  • Reading and responding daily to email communications from Accommodation, Catering and Events staff sent to the RA’s University of Edinburgh student email address.
  • The on call RA’s (2) must be contactable while on call and mobile phones are provided for this purpose. These numbers are given to the Security staff to use when RA assistance is required.
  • Attending regular meetings and liaising with the Residence Life Coordinatorto update and discuss the progress of the students and to bring any problems or concerns to his/her attention.
  • Informing the Residence Life Coordinator, Manager/Domestic Supervisor on a day-to-day basis of any defects in the communal areas of the building.
  • Communicating support and enthusiasm for fellow RAs, Residence Life, and Accommodation, Catering and Events.

Community Building & Event Planning

  • Residents Assistants will be required to work from the Reception Area on a rota basis to be agreed with the Residence Life Coordinator.
  • Providing assistance and advice to residents about day-to-day living in the site, in particular the use of the shared kitchens in the Residence Hall.
  • Maintaining contact with residents throughout the year by encouraging and organising events which meet the requirements established by the Residence Life Co-ordinator.
  • Role modelling and maintaining a good standard of behaviour in the house.
  • Participating in an RA Committee.

Administrative

  • To be familiar with the RA Manual, new residents information, University Policies and Code of Student Conduct, and other Residence Life publications as indicated by the Assistant Director.
  • To promptly attend all staff and training meetings.
  • To complete and return all departmental paperwork in a timely manner. This includes, but is not limited to monthly reports, Personal Development Plans and reviews, and event reports.
  • Carrying out such other duties as the Residence Life Co-ordinator may allocate to them from time to time, e.g., key hand out, assistance with information distribution, and general basic administrative duties.

Emergency Response

  • Take responsibility for the site when holding the RA Mobile, there will be 2 Resident Assistants on call working on a rota basis to be agreed with the Residence Life Coordinator.
  • Recognising and acknowledging the limits of personal pastoral abilities and, therefore, a) acting as a listener and mediator rather than as an advisor, b) referring counselling concerns to other University of Edinburgh resources, and c) keeping the Residence Life Co-ordinator aware of welfare situations.
  • Fulfilling out of hours duties. These duties may include answering questions, noting repairs, or dealing with any incidents that occur overnight, and completing the associated paperwork.
  • Work from the Reception area as instructed throughout the period of the contract.
  • The RA mobile is the contact number on which Security will call if the RAs are required to assist with a situation.

Week Nights

  • Resident Assistants will be required to work from the Reception area on a rota basisas follows:-

Monday to Friday 18.00 – 22.00

The RA’s(2) on duty then remain on call from their room/flat until 08.00 the following morning andarenot permitted to leave the site.

Weekends

  • Resident Assistants (2) will be on duty all day Saturday and Sunday and will work from the Reception area in two shifts from 15.00 – 19.00 and 18.00 – 22.00, thereafter they must remain on site until 08.00 the following morning. Out-with these hours and at the weekend only, the RA’s with the RA Mobiles, can be within a 30 minute radius of Holyrood. However, they must always carry the phone with them and respond when it rings. If it rings, they must be able to return to the site within 30 minutes.

Miscellaneous

  • All - Attending compulsory bi-monthly Team Meetings with the Residence Life Coordinators and the other staff members throughout University Accommodation (RAs, Wardens, Accommodation Managers).
  • All - Leading tours of site rooms for prospective students.
  • All - Playing an active role in assisting Accommodation, Catering and Events to operate in a sustainable and environmentally effective and beneficial way byleading by example and encouraging other residents to participate in green initiatives.
  • Ensure that mail delivered on Saturdays is distributed to the students according to the guidelines provided by the Residence Life Co-ordinator.
  • All- Keys will be distributed to RA’s that access various parts of your site. Losing keys signed for at the start of the post will result in formal disciplinary and possible financial implications.
  • All-It is a condition of your appointment as Resident Assistant that you occupy the provided accommodation for the full academic year. Any absence from the accommodation during the academic year must be with the prior consent of your line manager. Failure to occupy the assigned accommodation may be a breach of contract.

You MUST be aware of the following requirements:

  • All appointments are conditional on all financial accounts with Accommodation, Catering and Events being up to date.
  • Residence Life reserves the right to relocate staff members from one site to another when it is determined, in Residence Life’s sole and absolute discretion that the move is in the best interests of the site/RA team/residents.
  • Any leave must be approved by the Residence Life Co-ordinator prior to being taken.
  • Please note that due to the nature of this post the job description is not exhaustive and the RAs proactive initiative will often be required.
  • The role description given is accurate for current post holders, but duties may be subject to change in the coming academic year.