RDs lead the implementation and assessment of the curriculum across their community

RDs connect our curriculum's three learning aims of self-awareness, relationships, and leadership across their community

RDs engage in lesson plan designs that student staff implement that aim to build community and foster learning

RDs develop connections with residents and are present and available in the halls as leaders of the community

RDs serve as a positive role model for their staff, residents, and colleagues 

RDs may engage in other community development for specific residential student populations such as for Break Housing, RAPs (residential academic programs), and DRCs (defined residential communities; Asian/Asian American, Disability, El Barrio, Harambee, and Spectrum)

RDs serve in the professional on-call rotation (aka RDOCs = RDs On-Call)

• • On average, RDs work around 30 on-call days annually

  • Office hours are still worked by RDs who are currently on-call

Currently, on-call shifts are 2-4 days long 

RDs respond in-person to higher level incidents such as, but not limited to:

• • Suicidal Ideation / Mental Health Crises

  • Bias Incidents

  • Major student safety concern 

  • Anytime a staff member needs assistance in person

RDOCs have an additional layer of support known as RLLOC (Residential Life Leadership On-Call) to consult with or seek further aid

37.5 Hour Work Week

• • University business hours are 8:30am – 5:00pm; Residence Directors generally work two evenings per week and set 37.5 hour work week with their supervisor to include evening and weekend commitments 

  • 1 hour lunch 

  • 2-hour student staff meeting (typically held in the evenings due to the student staff schedules where time is flexed accordingly)

  • 2-hour department-wide/area-team meetings for full-time professional and graduate students

  • 2-hour committee meetings. Here is a list of committees (but not limited to):

    • Student Staff Training, RD Search/Full-Time Training, Grad Search/Graduate Student Training, IMPACT (Curriculum), Student Care/Incident Response, Professional Development/Recognition, Break Housing, and Assessment

"Typical" day may look like the following:

• • Community Engagement

    • • Walking throughout your residential building(s) to connect with residents and observe any community issues 

      • Utilizing student staff and house council members to create events for residents

      • Building relationships with residents whether during incident response, curricular initiatives, or happenstance!

      • Maintaining relationships with facilities staff, maintainers, and other housing staff

  • Meetings 

    • • Weekly Area Meetings -- colleagues of your campus area

      • Monthly Unit Meetings -- all of Residence Education

      • One-on-Ones: student staff, direct supervisor, and (if applicable), graduate assistant

  • Administrative Tasks

    • • Reviewing residential curriculum initiatives

      • Evaluating student staff performance/behavior

      • Tracking your community's budget

      • Following up on noted concerns from RAs' community duty logs and incident reports

      • Emailing campus partners, student staff, supervisors, and residents

  • Project Work per Assigned Committee

  • Everything else that a Residential Life professional expects...

    • • Student crisis

      • Student staff and incident response reporting

      • Facilities issue

      • Heightened roommate conflict

      • Community issue

      • etc.