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Job Description / Duties

Wilfrid Laurier University’s Department of Residence is committed to creating safe, supportive learning environments for academic and personal success in all residences. The Residence Education team includes the Associate Director of Residence Education, the Residence Manager, Student Learning, the Residence Coordinator of Academic Initiatives, the Residence Coordinator of Experiential Learning, two Residence Education Student Coordinators, and over fifty student staff. The Residence Education unit is responsible for the overall coordination of initiatives that promote student learning and academic success for thirty-five hundred students living in residence buildings on our Brantford and Waterloo campuses. Each staff member in the Department of Residence’s four functional units (Administration, Facilities, Residence Life, and Residence Education) are dedicated to the total growth of residence students, aiming to enhance existing co-curricular learning opportunities as well as create new ones that promote holistic educational experiences.

Reporting to the Residence Manager, Student Learning, the REC is a live-in professional that dedicates 75% of their time to the creation and supervision of:

1) First Year Leadership Program, which includes: Campus Councils, House Councils, and the Leadership Certificate
2) Living-Learning Program, which includes: Residence Learning Communities, Learning Clusters, and the first-year residence curriculum (FYRE)
3) Residence-wide academic initiatives
4) Residence-wide experiential learning opportunities that connect students to the broader community and support the educational mandate of Wilfrid Laurier University
5) Participation in some of the multi-unit, multi-campus portfolios which include assessment, connections and staff recognition, hiring and performance management, marketing and communication, and student staff training and development

The remaining 25% of the REC’s time is dedicated to shared on-call responsibility with the Residence Life Area Coordinator (RLAC) on the Laurier Brantford campus, and works closely with staff in the Residence Life unit to maintain Laurier’s standards of community living. Successful professionals in the REC role approach the position as a lifestyle, regularly interacting with students and staff in educationally purposeful ways.

The Residence Education Coordinator should possess:
• The ability to work in a collaborative team environment with other coordinators, para-professional staff, student staff, first-year student leaders and the Laurier residence community
• The desire to remain current and apply student development, leadership, followership, team-based, and instructional theories in order to better guide and direct student development
• The ability to act as a liaison with campus partners, stakeholders and the Laurier community
• The desire to support the “co-curricular development of the whole student” as stated in Laurier’s values, vision, mission and guiding principles.

This position has a university-wide mandate and is situated on Laurier’s Brantford Campus. The incumbent provides subject matter expertise to all campuses, requiring regular interpersonal interactions and collaboration with departments at the Waterloo Campus and Brantford Campus, and with external partners. Special attention is given to ensure equitable service delivery across all locations.

Accountabilities:
On-Call and Associated Responsibilities (25% of role)

• Shares an on-call rotation with Laurier’s Brantford Campus Residence Life Area Coordinator (RLAC) as assigned by the Residence Life Manager (RLM)
• Each full-time residence coordinator assumes on-call responsibilities beginning in Orientation Week and concluding at the end of the winter term exam period (September – end of April). There are no on-call responsibilities from May until the end of August
• Each residence coordinator will assume on-call responsibilities for the duration of Orientation Week, and will then participate in a rotating schedule. Other peak weekends will be supported by all of the residence coordinator team. (E.g. Homecoming, Halloween, and St. Patrick’s Day)
• On-Call responsibilities are intended to provide ongoing support to student staff working in residence buildings
• While on-call, residence coordinators will respond to residence situations as identified by residence student staff, and triage accordingly based on the severity of the situation
• Each residence coordinator will be provided with and is expected to participate in training that ensures a thorough understanding of On-Call Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), crisis management techniques, and emergency management

Development and Management of Learning Opportunities in Residence (75% of role) In partnership with the Residence Coordinator of Academic Initiatives

Residence Learning Communities (RLCs) & Learning Clusters (LCs)

• Recruit, hire, develop, support and manage approximately five RLC Dons who staff Laurier’s Residence Learning Communities and Learning Clusters
• Coordinate the recruitment, selection, and placement of approximately fifty students into RLCs and Learning Clusters. Frequent and accurate communication with numerous departmental and campus partners including the Registrar’s Office, Department of Residence, Learning Services, the Recruitment Office and all faculty at Laurier is required
• Guide and support the development of individual RLC and LC curriculums to meet the needs of residents in each RLC and LC
• Work closely and collaboratively with deans, department chairs, and faculty to solicit instructional support for RLCs and LCs and to identify new opportunities for additional RLCs and LCs
• Chair weekly staff meetings and coordinate regular one-on-ones with RLC and LC Dons to facilitate information distribution, staff development and program development
• Coordinate the marketing and promotion of RLCs and LCs, working collaboratively with the Department of Residence staff to ensure accuracy and detail are effectively communicated to current and future residents
• Promote presence and success of Laurier RLCs and LCs external to the Department of Residence, including but not limited to; academic conferences, recruitment fairs, campus partners, local organizations, etc.

Residential curriculum (First Year Residence Experience model or FYRE)

• Write and continue to develop/modify the First Year Residence Experience model and associated lesson plans based on prominent literature in higher education and assessment data collected at Laurier. The First Year Residence Experience model will address four areas of development for our residence community including: Emotional Intelligence, Community Integration & Participation, Life Skills, and Academic Curiosity and Success.
• Recruit, hire, develop, support and manage two Residence Education Advisors; the student staff position in the Department of Residence responsible for the ongoing delivery of the First Year Residence Experience model in residence
• Develop and deliver the First Year Residence Experience staff manual and associated training modules for all one hundred and twenty-two Residence Life Dons and eleven Residence Education Advisors so that they will be able to carry out lesson plans developed for First Year Residence Experience model
• Consult with residents, student leaders, professional staff and faculty to identify shifting developmental needs of residence population
• Refine residence’s curricular response to the changing needs and trends of all thirty-five hundred residence students in order to support the retention and success of students at Laurier
• Chair weekly staff meetings and coordinate regular one-on-ones with Residence Education Advisors (REAs) to facilitate information distribution, staff development and program development
• Coordinate Residence Education’s efforts to integrate students’ curricular and co-curricular experience

Residence academic initiatives

• Actively seek out and develop new initiatives with campus and community partners (faculty, staff and students) in response to developmental needs of residence population. Examples: Career Services workshops, Library Services drop-in research support, and student-faculty networking events
• Coordinate academic advising and an academic mentor program in residence in partnership with Laurier faculty and the Centre for Student Success
• Develop an academic information resource program which will be accessed by staff and students alike to gain access to important academic information
• Facilitate residence-wide academic programming that supports the academic mission of the university and help facilitate increased retention rates among residence students

In partnership with the Residence Coordinator of Experiential Learning

First Year Leadership Program (FYLP)

• Recruit, hire, develop, support and manage approximately five senior undergraduate student staff (FYLP Advisors) who coordinate the residence and off-campus first year student program’s (LOCUS) Campus Councils and House Councils
• Co-coordinate the recruitment, selection, training, and functional supervision of approximately four hundred first year student leaders involved in the FYLP. Frequent and accurate communication with numerous departmental and campus partners including the Diversity & Equity Office, Department of Athletics & Recreation, Sustainability, Centre for Community Service Learning, the Student’s Union, and the Centre for Student Success is required
• Guide and support the development of individual Campus Council and House Council mandates to meet the needs of the residence community
• Guide and support the development of FYLP programming to meet the needs of five hundred residence and one hundred off-campus first year students on Laurier’s Brantford campus
• Research trends, issues and best practices in student leadership development and assessment; conducting regular reviews of programs and making improvements in relevant areas
• Based on results generated from ongoing assessment and review processes, adjust the focus and scope of the FYLP to meet the needs of the residence community. This may include creating or re-purposing a council
• Develop and manage the FYLP programming budget intended to enhance residence-wide programming for first year students
• Promote presence and success of Laurier FYLPs external to the Department of Residence, including but not limited to; conferences, recruitment fairs, campus partners, local organizations, etc.
• Chair weekly staff meetings and coordinate regular one-on-ones with FYLP Advisors to facilitate information distribution, staff development and program development
• Coordinate the marketing and promotion of the FYLP, working collaboratively with the Department of Residence staff to ensure accuracy and detail are effectively communicated to current and future residents

Residence community-based leadership development

• Provide leadership education to residence student groups, adopting an experiential learning pedagogy that places value on self-discovery and self-authorship. Examples include: community/team challenge workshops, skill development workshops, and reflective exercises that lead to developmental breakthroughs

Campus-wide leadership development

• Act as a Department of Residence representative on campus-wide leadership education opportunities being developed and delivered for undergraduate students. Examples include: Laurier Leadership Summit, workshops coordinated by partners including the Development and Alumni Relations, and by Laurier’s faculties

Broader community leadership development

• Coordinate leadership education opportunities beyond the Laurier campus community with a focus on experiential learning opportunities accompanied by educationally meaningful exercises to help find meaning (e.g. pre and post-reflection). Examples include: local, provincial, national, and international service learning

Student staff leadership education

• Researcher, contact, and coordinator for all student staff leadership education opportunities beyond the Laurier campus. Examples include: Residence Life Conference, Canadian Conference on Student Leadership, and opportunities available through professional associations (OACUHO, ACUHO-I, CACUSS, ACPA, NASPA)

Training

• Serve as a primary contact for Laurier’s residence community to coordinate training and development opportunities that require an experiential and/or curricular approach
• Continuously develop and deliver training content for all student staff that support academic initiatives and leadership education in residence
• Coordinate ongoing training and development for all first year students in leadership roles
• Co-coordinate ongoing training and development alongside Residence Education and Residence Life professionals for all Residence Dons and Residence Education Advisors
• Support the training and development of professional staff in the Department of Residence

Assessment

• Aid in the development and coordination of assessment efforts for residence programs
• Assist in the development and evaluation of student learning outcomes for Residence Education’s efforts
• Co-coordinate RLC, LC, FYLP, and FYRE assessment efforts continuously

Administration

• Supervises two Residence Education Student Coordinators and other student staff based on the needs of the Residence Education unit
• Create and maintain curricular and co-curricular resources for the residence community
• Assist in supporting the Department of Residence’s website, e-mail account, social media feeds and promotional material
• Maintain student staff personnel records and student leadership development files with attention to detail and confidentiality
• Respond to internal and external requests in a timely manner
• Manage all expenditures related to curricular and co-curricular initiatives in the Living-Learning Program, First-Year Leadership Program, and the First Year Residence Experience model. Monitor annual expenditures relative to budget allocation
• Keep supervisor informed of professional and program successes, challenges, and concerns through regular written reports (as necessary) and one-on-one meetings

Multi-campus support

• Work as a team member with Residence Education unit staff on the Brantford and Waterloo campuses to develop learning experiences that have a multi-campus impact
• Serve as the principal resource and point person for guiding and sustaining all Residence Learning Communities, Learning Clusters, First Year Residence Experience model, campus support integration, and the First Year Leadership Program on Laurier’s Brantford campus
• Inform Laurier’s Brantford Campus residence staff of best practices related to assessment and support the implementation of assessment tools
• Collaborate with Laurier’s Brantford Campus residence staff to enhance Laurier residence website, e-mail account, social media feeds and promotional material

Qualifications / Required Skills

• An undergraduate degree with a minimum of one year (12 months) of professional or para-professional experience in a residential environment at the post-secondary level
• Demonstrated success in organizing large scale programs and events
• Knowledge and demonstrated application of student development, leadership, followership, team-based, and instructional theories
• Demonstrated ability to establish and nurture partnerships with colleagues across divisions in a post-secondary context
• Proven ability to develop and deliver presentations, workshops, guided reflection and training modules
• Understand assessment principles and practices
• Demonstrated creativity, initiative and an ability to complete independent and team tasks
• Experience coaching/mentoring students and/or staff; handling confidential information, monitoring budgets effectively; and developing and teaching training sessions and workshops
• Ability to regularly work weekday evenings and weekends for programs and events

Contact Information

Hiring Manager: Melissa Pratt, Residence Manager, Student Learning
Email: mepratt@wlu.ca