Area Coordinator

Wesleyan University, founded in 1831, is a diverse, energetic liberal arts community where critical thinking and practical idealism go hand in hand.

Position Details
Working in partnership with students and collaboratively with other members of the Wesleyan Community, the Office of Residential Life strives to provide a safe and supportive residential environment that complements and extends the educational experience of students.

Student-centered programs and services are developed and implemented with an emphasis on holistic individual and community development, student leadership, individual responsibility, advocacy of academic inquiry, and freedom of thought, opinion, and expression in the spirit of mutual respect.

These are the hallmarks of the Wesleyan residential experience, and provide the essential foundation for a quality liberal arts education within a diverse and dynamic community.

Reporting to the Director of Residential Life, the Area Coordinator is part of a dynamic staff team responsible for meeting the needs of approximately 3,000 undergraduate students. All Wesleyan undergraduate students are required to live on campus, making residence life the focal point of campus life.

Each Area Coordinator oversees the management of an assigned residential area, including the direct supervision of student staff, and is responsible for the management of a specific departmental initiative.

Responsibilities include:

• Directly supervise, train and evaluate approximately 20 student staff members.
• Participate in the recruitment, selection, training, continuous development, and evaluation processes for all student staff.
• Manage and oversee implementation of a residential curriculum in support of the University’s learning goals across a housing model that promotes increasing independence.
• Maintain a visible presence in the residential area and engage in positive, professional interactions with students to promote community development and responsible living.
• Help to create socially just communities where differences are celebrated.
• Oversee the daily operational function of the student residences, including area offices.
• Manage incident follow-up in assigned residential area including but not limited to emergent situations and students of concern.
• Advise/counsel student(s) regarding personal, residential living, and other matters, and make referrals to other offices/services when appropriate.
• Adjudicate Code of Nonacademic Conduct violations, ensuring due process and timely case management.
• Manage roommate agreements and mediations, and process room changes as necessary.
• Maintain collaborative relationship with custodial and physical plant staff regarding building maintenance.
• Participate in weekly meetings and contribute to the department’s decision-making, including strategic planning and assessment efforts.
• Assist in inspections of the residences to ensure compliance with fire, health and safety standards.
• Oversee budget management for assigned residential area and contribute to campus wide residential curriculum budget planning.
• Participate in rotating on-campus duty responsibilities, responding to crises and providing guidance to student staff regarding incident response.
• Perform a variety of administrative functions to support the goals and objectives of the Office of Residential Life.
• Participate in committee and special project work both within the department and across campus to support student development.
• Complete summer responsibilities to support the department.

Each person will assume responsibility for one of the following department initiatives (not to exceed two consecutive years assignment with any specific initiative):

Student Staff Selection

• Coordinate the HR, RA, HM and CA Recruitment and Selection processes
• Oversee the HR, RA, HM and CA Evaluation Processes

Student Staff Training

• Coordinate HR and Full Staff training
• Maintain and update the student staff manual/Moodle
• Conduct on-going student staff development

Curriculum Development

• Coordinate development/refinement of the residential curriculum including, but not limited to, education plan(s) and learning goal rubrics
• Monitor the residential curriculum outcomes to ensure they align with University learning goals and outcomes

Orientation and Outreach

• Represent office in Orientation planning meetings
• Develop residential curriculum for incoming students that complements and supports the on-campus Orientation program
• Liaise with International Student Orientation ( ISO ) and the First Things First ( FTF )
• Train full staff on Arrival Day duties and expectations
• Collaborate with Parent Programs and implement quarterly family newsletter

Assessment

• Develop and implement assessment plan for Residence Life
• Administer the My Residential Experience survey
• Support the assessment efforts of the other Area Coordinators, including but not limited to training and residential curriculum.

This is a live-in position and includes a furnished on-campus apartment.

This is a full time, 12-month position.


Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 1 year of experience (professional or graduate student experience will be considered), or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Knowledge of social justice issues and passion for working in an organization that values and promotes diversity, equity, respect, and inclusion.

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with diverse community members, including, students, faculty, and staff.

Understanding of student life and knowledge of a residential campus environment.

Demonstrated ability to handle multiple tasks and manage difficult situations utilizing critical thinking, sound judgement, and creative problem-solving skills.

Excellent organizational skills with attention to detail and familiarity with budget management.

Knowledge of community development (i.e. residential curriculum, programming, or other similar activities).

Experience managing/leading groups.

Ability to work independently and collaboratively with-in the department and across the organization.

Ability to fulfill all job expectations with or without reasonable accommodations.

Willingness to work flexible schedule.


Preferred Qualifications
Some supervisory experience in a residential setting.

Budget management.

Willingness/desire to engage with a highly-motivated, and socially-aware, student population.

Special Instructions to Applicants
Application Close Date is May 13, 2022
Additional Information
Any and all offers to external applicants are contingent on the candidate’s completion of a pre-employment background check screening to the satisfaction of Wesleyan University.

Wesleyan requires all employees to be vaccinated against Covid 19 unless they meet the criteria for a medical or religious exemption. New employees must be vaccinated prior to their start date. If an employee needs an exemption for medical or religious reasons, they must submit a request to Wesleyan and be approved before their start date.

Wesleyan University, located in Middletown, Connecticut, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin, marital status, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, learning disability or physical disability, political belief, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information or non-position-related criminal record. We welcome applications from women and historically underrepresented minority groups. Inquiries regarding Title IX, Section 504, or any other non-discrimination policies should be directed to: Alison Williams, Vice President for Equity & Inclusion/ Title IX Officer, 860-685-3927, awilliams@wesleyan.edu.