Introduction

The Community Center (formerly known as the Community Center) is at the heart of each residence hall, a place where students gather, meet peers, share good news and ask for advice. It is also seen as a center point for quality service, direction, resources and help.  Key responsibilities of the community assistants (formerly known as desk staff) involve providing excellent quality service and supporting students, staff, and visitors in the residence hall.  This community building initiatives involve getting to know residents and fellow staff members, investing time and energy into activities that will help facilitate the development of positive and meaningful relationships. The Community Development Model guides staff as they:

1. Get to know residents;
2. Help residents get to know each other;
3. Assess and address the needs of residents;
4. Develop community building activities to meet those needs; and
5. Encourage residents to take ownership for the community.

Community Assistants help students and others who come to the community center.  Supervision is provided by the Office Coordinator in partnership with the Hall Directors.

Time Commitment

Community Assistant student staff can expect to work various hours across seven days a week that insures that the community center is open to the community.  This includes working evening and weekend shifts as well as during some of the breaks such as Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, and Spring Break. Generally students can plan to work approximately 7-12 hours per week. Actual hours may be more or less depending on the needs of the community center and the staff member’s availability. Additionally students should schedule so they can be available for staff meetings on Monday nights from 6:00-8:00pm although these meetings may not occur every week. Employment will begin in mid-August 2008 and end within the first week of May 2009. 

Responsibilities

• Work in a manner that enhances a supportive community by getting to know residents, both individually and collectively, address the needs of residents, and help with community building to meet the needs of the community.
  
• Model a commitment to multiculturalism and social justice by creating and fostering a community in which all individuals are respected.
  
• Demonstrate team-supportive behavior for successful staff and building teams.
  
• Provide excellent quality service related to:
  • Answer phones and respond to inquiries with quality service skills to include follow-up with the caller as necessary
  • Take pride in serving as a resource for all inquiries
  • Sort and distribute mail and packages to students per provided guidelines
  • Problem solve as needed to reach desired outcome
  • Manage confidential information in a secure and sensitive manner.
  • Learn effective operation of any university owned equipment
  • Follow proper procedures set by Housing Security Supervisors regarding the ONITY key-card security system in distribution of key-cards during room check-in/check-out and lock-outs.
  • Attend to detail in all administrative functions and follow through to insure appropriate completion.
    
• Model personal behavior that is consistent with the Residence Education values, Community Living Standards, Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities, and all state and federal laws
  
• Comply with University of Michigan, University Housing, and Residence Education policies and procedures.

Special Qualifications

Applicants must live in the residence halls during their employment. 
Applicants must also have College Work Study to be eligible. 
Applicants must submit the online community desk student staff application and the College Work Study application.

Successful student staff will also commit to the following:

• Be friendly, responsible, helpful, community-oriented
• Place a high value on good quality service
• Be punctual and reliable
• Practice effective verbal and written communication skills
• Have an interest in working with students, staff, parents and campus visitors
• Be willing to work as part of a team

Compensation

Contact Information