Graduate Assistant for Leadership Development

The graduate assistant for leadership development serves as an operational advisor to the Residence Hall Association, providing primary leadership and overall advising of the student governance initiatives within Housing and Residential Services. This is a 10-month graduate assistantship supervised by the complex coordinator for RHA. This position involves a level of accessibility and accountability to all students and staff and includes, within the context of using a residential curriculum model, assisting hall staff in the development and operation of all Residence Hall Association, community councils and student committees for our 3,500-student Housing and Residential operation. The position requires day and nighttime responsibilities and the ability to have direct interactions with multiple campus constituencies. The graduate assistant will assess current community council operations, committees and groups and make recommendations about changes, modifications and additions in how those groups function and operate as a part of our residential services team. This individual will advise the recruitment, development and attendance of delegations attending the IRHA, GLACURH and NACURH conferences. There is potential to advise the National Residence Hall Honorary and any additional developed system-wide groups. The GA for leadership development shares on-call duty responsibilities within the Neptune and Gilbert halls and attends weekly staff and area meetings.

Duties and Responsibilities

Advising

  • Using the context of the residential curriculum, coordinates, assists and evaluates the Residence Hall Association and all community councils.
  • Attends regularly scheduled RHA meetings and other student organization meetings as an advisor.
  • Assists the complex coordinator for RHA in the administrative, developmental and operations management of residential student governance committees and groups. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, serving as advisor to the Residence Hall Association, developmental programs or academic success/support endeavors.
  • Counsels, advises and/or refers residents on personal and academic matters.
  • Serves as delegation advisor as requested by the department.
  • Meets with executive board members to aid in the student developmental process.

Leadership

  • Actively participates as a member of the residential services team to assure active productive and constitutionally sound student committees and groups.
  • Participates in student conferences and other student excursions away from campus to coordinate safe, organized and administratively sound movements from campus including overseeing purchase order processing, transportation acquisition and contacts with other institutions.
  • Supports the mission and all policies and procedures of the department and the university.
  • Become familiar with the rules, regulations, resources and constitutions of floor, hall, area and system-wide student organizations.
  • Using the residential curriculum, promotes the development of a civil, welcoming, just and diverse residential community.

Crisis Management

  • Responds to crisis and emergency situations and communicates necessary information appropriately.
  • Participates in area on-call duty rotation including weeknights, weekends and break periods when the university may be closed.
  • Serves as a campus security authority and assists with the process of reporting crimes to maintain accurate and timely crime statistics and to increase the overall safety of the campus.

Time Management

  • Establishes and maintains regularly scheduled office hours.

Collaboration

  • Actively participates as a member of the residential services team to assure active, productive and constitutionally sound student committees and groups.
  • Assists in the instruction of leadership classes, if offered.
  • Participate in departmental recruitment, training, and development initiatives.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.

Develop and Present Training

  • Develops and participates in scheduled staff development sessions and/or retreats.
  • Trains our RHA executive board and related organizations regarding the residential curriculum.
  • Develops and demonstrates some understanding of student development theory.

Organizational Skills

  • Reviews all administrative paperwork from those groups under their supervision (e.g., purchase orders, contracts, reports, registration forms, reimbursements, etc.).

Position Requirements

  • Admitted to Northern Illinois University graduate school and enrolled in a graduate course of study.
  • Preference will be given to graduate students pursuing a degree in counseling, adult and higher education, but those pursuing degrees in a closely related field or discipline at NIU will also be considered.
  • Successful background check clearance.

Compensation

10-month, 20-hour-per-week position

  • Start Date: Mid-July.
  • Salary: $1,500 per month.
  • Housing in residence hall: furnished one-bedroom/one-bathroom apartment with local phone, cable services and high-speed internet.
  • Meal plan when Campus Dining Services is in operation.
  • Other benefits: Tuition waiver, professional development funds and reserved parking at a reduced rate (taxable benefit and domestic partnership benefits available). Summer employment may also be available.

Contact Information

Search Committee Chair
Housing and Residential Services
Neptune East 145
Northern Illinois University
DeKalb, IL 60115

residence_life@niu.edu
Office: 815-753-1526
Fax: 815-753-9226

Contact Us

Housing and Residential Services
Neptune East 101
housing@niu.edu
815-753-1525

Additional Contact Info


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