Rosters & Organizational Structure
Rosters & Organizational Structure
Upon beginning employment, each employee should be provided with several rosters from their supervisor.
A full list of all staff (and their locations) is available on our Staff webpage.
Inside Phone Numbers - List of direct lines of all employees
Res Life Organizational Chart & DRL Directory
Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs Staff Directory Chart
Unit-Specific Rosters (available within units)
Resident Life Campus Map
It is expected that supervisors train their new staff on the roles of each functional unit within the department and how job roles intersect and collaborate. We are a complicated organization and new staff should have an understanding of the complexity of our work and the best resources to assist them in their jobs.
Our organization is too complex to list every position and area of responsibility here, but listed below is an overview of SOME major functions. This is NOT an organizational chart - some of these functions lie underneath others in the official organizational chart.
Communications & Marketing: Provides leadership to all efforts in communication with students and internal and external constituents. This unit (which includes Creative Services) oversees publication, press and media functions, branding, web and social media, and Resident Life presentation in physical environments. This unit serves as a key communications facilitator and liaison during crisis and emergency situations.
Creative Services: Responsible for the visual content and design of publications, posters, websites, and social media.
Assignments: Responsible for housing applications and assignments, reassignment processes, StarRez management, occupancy & room management, and customer care and inquiries.
Software Development: Oversees the use and implementation of software. This includes the development and use of StarRez and MYDRL, and the integration of systems with university mainframes.
Hardware Development: Oversees the use and implementation of hardware. This includes technical support for staff devices and room technologies.
Data Management: Oversees development and implementation of housing data architecture and policies to promote privacy and confidentiality of data.
Human Resources (HR): Oversees staffing & personnel management, search & selection, on-boarding, and payroll & benefits. This team also oversees payroll for Conferences & Visitor Services/
Research & Assessment (R&A): Conducts both research and assessment projects (e.g., program evaluation, housing market assessment, and learning outcomes), and leads efforts to advance assessment practices (e.g., data accessibility and incorporation of assessment into program development).
Deliberative Dialogue & Community-Centered Engagement: Coordinates Common Ground Deliberative Dialogue Program and community-centered engagement efforts, including curricular and co-curricular dialogues & programs, peer-led dialogue facilitation courses, and staff development opportunities
Residential Engagement Programs (REP): Responsible for the planning and production of all centralized educational, orientation, academic enrichment and support, community development, engagement, and cooperative outreach/marketing programs.
Student Leadership Development: Advises the Residence Hall Association (RHA) and the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH), and provides support to Hall/Area Council advisors. Oversees other leadership development initiatives in the department.
Budget & Finance: Oversees finances, including budget forecasting, expense reporting systems, credit card transactions, and staffing & operational unit budgets.
Sustainability Programs: Organizes and manages programs that engage students and staff to create a culture of sustainability in the residence halls.
Administrative Operations: Oversees operational functions in the halls, including desk operations, room moves & inspections, and hall opening and closing processes.
Community Staff: These staff members include our Community Directors, Resident Directors, Resident Assistants, and other staff who work most directly with our students to create community.
Case Management: Two Case Managers conduct ongoing follow-up with students with mental health concerns, provide consultation for residential staff in their work with students, and facilitate ongoing training and development on various mental health topics.
Rights & Responsibilities (R&R): Implements the conduct process and oversees the Sexual Misconduct adjudication process. R&R provides indirect supervision of community staff related to conduct functions, and provides all training on this function.
Supports the overall management and leadership of the department, manages and oversees the Department and Division's management and collaborative relationships with the campus's public-private housing partnerships, off-campus housing, and other collaborations. Liaison and coordination with UMD Living-Learning Programs.
Housing Partnerships Team - coordination with South Campus Commons, The Courtyards, and affiliated graduate housing at Graduate Hills and Graduate Gardens
Off-Campus Housing Services Office - provides resources to students and the University Community to educate them on off-campus housing topics and assist them in finding off-campus housing.
During the 2022-2023 academic year, our department created vision, mission, and value statements to guide our work. These can also be found on our website. Staff should also review the Division of Student Affairs Vision, Mission, and Values.
Department of Resident Life Vision:
We create residential experiences where all residents thrive and grow by living on campus.
Department of Resident Life Mission:
We promote growth and learning, cultivate connections through community, and create safe, inclusive residential environments to foster a sense of belonging.
Department of Resident Life Values
Community of Care - We care about our residents, staff, and campus community and provide support that is compassionate and empathetic to each person’s experience.
Discovery of Self and Others - We value and provide opportunities for community members to engage and learn more about ourselves and each other.
Inclusive and Equitable Communities - We value the diversity of our communities and create inclusive environments that are welcoming to everyone, particularly those from historically marginalized identities. We are committed to fairness and equity in treatment, rights, and access to resources.
Learning and Development - We value developmental experiences and foster academically supportive communities where residents can discover, learn, and grow.
Safety - We value safe and secure environments that involve the cooperation of all community members.
Student-Centered - Students are at the center of our work. We focus on student needs and concerns, support and well-being, and the impact of their residential experience.
There are several core documents that all Res Life staff should be familiar with. These core documents reflect departmental priorities and values and approaches to our work. These documents are readily available to all staff on this website on our Onboarding Items page.
Like any workplace, over time we develop shortcuts to describe processes, places, and units. Here are some of the more common for our department.
AD - Associate Director or Assistant Director
CA - Community Assistant (student staff who work at service desks in the halls)
CD - Community Director (supervises RDs)
DOS - Desk Operations Supervisor (student, supervises CAs)
GA - Graduate Assistant
OA - Office Assistant (student position, similar to SA)
PA - Program Assistant (student position in REP)
PDL - Peer Dialogue Leader
PIC (“pic”) - Public Inquiry Coordinator (full-time staff in Assignments)
RA - Resident Assistant
RD - Resident Director (supervises RAs)
SA - Staff Assistant (student position, similar to OA, typically supports an RD)
4-WORK (301-314-9675) - Phone number you call for residence hall facilities-related issues
ACT - Assignments, Communications, and Technology Services within Res Life
AdOps - Administrative Operations Staff
ASOH - Admitted Student Open House (spring events for admitted students)
CCC - Cambridge Community Center (a community space on North Campus)
C&VS - Conferences & Visitor Services
CTY (or Courtyards at Maryland) - Public/Private Partnership located off of Route 193 and Metzerott
DOTS (“dots”) - Department of Transportation Services
DRF - Department of Residential Facilities
DSA - Division of Student Affairs
Dyad - Counseling Center partner for a community
LLP - Living-Learning Program
"MarComm" - Office of Marketing & Communications (formerly Strategic Communications & Marketing or University Communications)
Maryland Day - University open-house during April
NRHH - National Residence Hall Honorary (Society recognizing residence hall leaders)
PRD - Performance Review and Development (staff evaluations)
R&A - Office of Research and Assessment within Res Life
R&R - Office of Rights and Responsibilities within Res Life
RCR - Room Condition Report
RecWell - University Recreation & Wellness
Res Life - Department of Resident Life (two words, both capitalized)
REP - Residential Engagement Programs
RHA - Residence Hall Association
RHEP - Residence Hall Evaluation Project
RRESD - Racial, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability
SADI (“say-dee”) - Student Affairs Diversity Initiative
SAALOG (“say-log”) - Student Affairs Assessment & Learning Outcomes Group
SALT (“salt”) - Student Affairs Leadership Team (VPSA, Director Reports, and Directors of each department)
SCC - South Campus Commons (Public/Private Partnership located adjacent to South Hill and North Hill Communities)
Terrapin Express - Debit card system on campus (aka Terp Express)
Testudo - Name of University mascot, as well as our online course registration platform
TWC - Terp Welcome Crew (A group of student volunteers who help with move-in each fall)
UMCP - University of Maryland at College Park (used to differentiate us from other USM schools)
UMD - University of Maryland
UMPD - University of Maryland Police Department
UMGC - University of Maryland Global Campus (Their primary campus is adjacent to our campus)
USM - University of Maryland System (consists of many campuses and programs across the state)
Resident Directors and Community Directors are required to live on-campus in apartments provided and furnished by Resident Life and Residential Facilities. Each live-on staff member must sign a Conditions of Occupancy document that details expectations for apartment use, including information about additional occupants.