Area Coordinator

The mission of The University of Bridgeport is to promote academic excellence, personal responsibility, and commitment to service. Distinctive curricula in an international, culturally diverse supportive learning environment prepare graduates for life and leadership in an increasingly interconnected world.

 

Position Description Summary/Purpose:

The Office of Housing and Residential Life invites applicants for the position Area Coordinator.  Reporting to the Director of Housing & Residential Life, or designee, the Area Coordinator is responsible for providing overall management and leadership in one of our two residential neighborhoods, graduate or undergraduate respectively. They are responsible for the operation of one or more residence halls, houses or apartment complexes. This role involves directly supervising one or more Graduate Resident Directors (GRD) to ensure their assigned area runs effectively and provides a positive student experience. The Area Coordinator plays a pivotal role in shaping the environment and experiences of residential students by guiding the implementation of services and programs that align with the Office of Housing and Residential Life's mission and values. 

 

Responsibilities for the Area Coordinator will include, but not be limited to, the following:

 

Administration

• Responsible for the administration and management of a residential neighborhood made up of 3-17 buildings, housing students during the academic year.
• Serve as a resource person for students and staff.
• Ensure timely and accurate documentation of hall incidents and referrals.
• Conduct regular rounds of the neighborhood to ensure the cleanliness, maintenance, and security of facilities.
• Collaborate with the Director of Housing and Residential Life, ensuring the accurate and timely update of all information in the department housing software.
• Serve as the primary contact for concerns from parents and family members of residents.
• Serve on committees based on departmental needs, including summer projects as needed.

 

Supervision and Training

• Directly supervise two to three graduate staff members (GRD’s and/or HSS’s), each of whom oversees at least one residence hall, apartment complex or set of houses in the residential neighborhood.
• Supervise and train a team of 8-20 resident assistants.
• Host weekly staff meetings to coordinate upcoming events, discuss community concerns, and facilitate professional development experiences.
• Conduct bi-weekly one-on-one meetings with staff members.
• Ensure staff members are appropriately confronting and documenting behavioral issues and concerns.
• Provide regular formal and informal feedback regarding job performance.
• Assign and oversee collateral duties as needed.
• Assist in the recruitment, selection, training, development, and evaluation of paraprofessional and professional staff members.

 

Community Development:

• Cultivate a positive and engaging living environment that fosters a sense of community and belonging and enables students to build positive relationships with one another.
• Maintain high visibility and availability, including attending community events, regularly touring the community, and interacting with residents.
• Meet with resident’s one-on-one to provide personal, social, academic, and occupational support and referral.
• Oversee and implement programming in the residential community as prescribed by the department
• Coordinate neighborhood programs.
• Budget, manage, expend and reconcile programming funds.

 

Emergency Response

• Advise, counsel, and develop residents in alignment with the department's mission, vision, and goals to create and sustain a supportive living environment.
• Respond to crises and other facilities, safety, and security issues.
• Provide leadership during times of crisis in and adjacent to the community
• Assume shared responsibility for campus-wide on-call duty, year-round.
• Provide individual and small group support, advising, and roommate mediations as needed.
• Some evening and weekend hours will be required throughout the year based on the schedule for student activities and programs.
• Serve as a hearing administrator as needed, including but not limited to adjudication of individual hearings and/or serving as a member of a university hearing board.
• Serve as an advisor for up to four Student Programming Board activities a semester, as requested by the Director of Student Involvement

 

Student Conduct:

• Meetings with students regarding disciplinary cases
• Assist in the enforcement of policies; assignment of sanctions
• Maintenance of the student conduct database
• Respond to student behavior that is inappropriate, in violation of campus policies and procedures, and/or negatively impacts other residents.
• Appropriate follow-up to ensure sanctions have been completed.
• Other duties as assigned.

 

Knowledge-Skills-Abilities     

The incumbent has the ability to engage and motivate and will demonstrate:

• Demonstrated commitment to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, and work in an environment in which all members of the University community are treated with respect and dignity

• Effective, professional oral and written communication skills;
• Effective organizational and analytical skills;
• Effective policy implementation skills;
• Effective public speaking, presentation and Training skills.
• Willingness to work independently and as a member of a larger team;
• Demonstrate sound, independent judgement skills;
• Ability to work within diverse groups;
• Develop new methods and procedures;
• Able to interpret and apply practical solutions to issues as they arise consistent with University policies;
• Confidently make decisions or recommendations whose impact may affect larger department or assigned group.

Qualifications

Requirements:

This position requires the proven ability to effectively work with diverse populations and to supervise staff. The Area Coordinator must be able to work independently, demonstrate initiative, display strong commitment to student learning, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively with stakeholders inside and outside of the University. Individuals in this position must have the ability and willingness to assume shared responsibility for campus-wide on-call duty and respond to crisis and emergency situations.

Post-baccalaureate experience in residence life, counseling, teaching, and living/learning environments is desired. Strong administrative and counseling skills are utilized in this position.

 

Special Requirements:

• Valid driver's license
• Able to work for extended periods, often more than an eight-hour day, such as during the closing of each semester.

 

Physical and Mental Requirements: 

Work Environment

	None	Under 1/3	1/3 to 2/3	Over 2/3
Outdoor Weather Conditions	X
Work with fumes or airborne particles	X
Work near moving mechanical parts	X
Risk of electrical shock	X
Vibration	X

 

Physical Activity

None

Under 1/3

1/3 to 2/3