Resident Directors

A Resident Director (RD) is a paraprofessional staff member that is an essential component of the Housing and Residential Life Program at MTSU. RDs are MTSU students that are selected on the basis of the following criteria: (1) previous residence hall experience (2) academic achievement (3) leadership skills (4) interpersonal effectiveness and (5) the ability to serve as a positive role model for residential students.  RDs play a critical role in the hiring and supervision of student staff, overseeing of the area Programming Council, and serving as on-duty personnel. 

Roles and Responsibilities:

Community Development

• Availability and accessibility to staff and residents
• Enhancing the student learning experience through attendance of area events
• Advising Programming Council participants with a balance of challenge and support
• Building appropriate relationships with residents throughout the area
• Maintaining knowledge about and promoting upcoming events
• Taking an active role in advancing the Living Learning Communities within their assigned area

Supervision

• Exhibits knowledge about area desk operations
• Remaining fair and consistent when supervising employees
• Appropriately addressing employee issues and concerns using appropriate paperwork
• Keeping the supervisor informed of disciplinary issues and concerns
• Working with employees to establish personalized goals and monitoring their progress
• Providing regular feedback to employees
• Providing a formal evaluation at the end of fall and spring semesters for each employee
• Ensuring all policies and procedures are completed and enforced at the desk

Professionalism

• Keeping open and regular communication with the supervising AC
• Practicing professionalism is all written and verbal communication
• Attending professional development opportunities
• Supporting the department through work on committees and/or collateral assignments
• Maintaining a neat and appropriate office and desk area
• Asking questions as needed

On Call

• Consistently on time for all on call shifts and responsibilities
• Accurately submitting on call log emails in a timely manner
• Appropriately requesting and documenting on call changes
• Enforcing policies in a fair and consistent manner
• Appropriately confronting and documenting all incidents or policy violations
• Notifying the appropriate on call personnel when situations arise
• Following protocol and using sound judgement when responding to incidents

Ethical Behavior and Modeling

• Maintaining privacy and confidentiality as required by department, university, local, state, and federal policy and law
• Displaying a positive attitude about the area, the department, and the university.
• Displaying appropriate attention to academics
• Participating in positive role modeling for the MTSU community

Administrative

• Consistently on time for all meetings and appointments
• Completing assigned tasks in a timely manner
• Responding to email, office phone, and mailbox messages promptly
• Maintaining productivity during scheduled office hours
• Participating in the opening and closing of the area
• Following emergency protocol when necessary
• Maintaining and distributing a complete desk schedule to all employees and the supervising Area Coordinator in a timely manner

Interpersonal Skills

• Building and maintaining rapport with all staff members
• Collaborating in an equitable manner with the team
• Supporting all team members
• Actively participating in team building activities
• Giving clear, concise, and constructive feedback to peers
• Taking personal responsibility in promoting a positive team dynamic

Requirements and Compensation:

Requirements for Applicants

• Must be enrolled as full-time student at MTSU; graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree seeking
• Must possess and maintain a semester and cumulative GPA of 2.75 if undergraduate or non-degree seeking, 3.0 if graduate
• Have previous residence hall leadership, and/or supervisory experience
• Be in good standing with MTSU and Housing and Residential Life
• Must pass a criminal background check administered by Housing and Residential Life
• Must go through entire interview process including application, resume, references, and interview
• Must attend both Fall and Spring Training and be present for Fall and Spring Opening and Closing

Supervision and Job Requirements

• Will report directly to the Area Coordinator in their respective area and will be subject to the supervision of the Housing Central Staff.
• Must participate in assigned “on call” hours each week and occasional weekends, must remain on campus while on call, and are required to make themselves available to residents, Desk Assistants, and/or staff members as directed.
• Required to advise the assigned Area Programming Council
• Required to supervise and coordinate Desk Assistants and Desk Schedule, and maintain and manage area front desk.
• Required to assist in staffing campus during Fall Break, Thanksgiving, Spring Break, and university holidays/closures, as needed.
• Required to attend all pre-service training sessions, staff development programs, and staff meetings as directed.

Compensation

• A furnished apartment including all utilities and laundry service within apartment or area.
• A stipend of $8,000, dispersed in ten (10) equal payments.
• A scholarship provided of $2,500 per semester, for a total of $5,000 for the academic year.
• A Housing Parking Sticker for parking accessibility on campus and in area.

Comprehensive instruction concerning the various facets of the position, opportunities for professional development that are not available to the general student population, and practical and applicable work experience to support efforts to gain full-time employment upon graduation or departure from MTSU

The following guidelines have been created to be as transparent as possible about the conditions of employment and expectations for the MTSU Housing and Residential Life Resident Director (RD) position. It is imperative that these conditions and expectations are read and understood in order to maintain employment as a Resident Director. Failure to abide by the following conditions and expectations may result in probationary status or termination of the RD position. RDs will be required to sign a Statement of Understanding prior to each contracted period of employment. This document will be reviewed and updated, as needed. Any changes made during a period of employment, after the document has been signed, will be communicated to the RDs through their Area Coordinator or the Associate Director of Residence Life.

1. Period of Employment and Time Commitment
   1. RDs are employed for a preferred period of 10 months, beginning on the first business day of August and ending on the last business day of May. May be extended to 12 months per RD availability and Housing and Residential Life need.
   2. The RD position requires on average 25-hour per week commitment.
      1. Roughly 15 hours of office hours
      2. Roughly 5 hours for meetings
      3. Roughly 5 hours for Duty Calls
   3. To ensure successful work performance and availability, commitments beyond the RD Position (student teaching, internships, off-campus jobs, on-campus jobs, student leadership positions, and etc) must have prior approval by the supervising Area Coordinator.
   4. Peak work periods require additional work hours, especially during the Opening and Closing of the halls during each semester. These are considered All-In Staff Availability and will require availability of the hall’s staff prior to and following Openings and Closings to assist the Department’s with completing any tasks related to check-in, check-out, and building/area closing procedures.
   5. To provide accessibility, availability, and security to the residents, RDs are required to submit an Out of Area request to their supervising Area Coordinator prior to the night requested. Area Coordinator and Resident Director cannot be out of area on the same night or weekend.
   6. RDs are required to check their RD Mailbox in KUC 303 and MTSU Email each weekday and respond, as needed.
   7. RDs are required to attend Department Staff Meetings, Area Staff Meetings, and one-on-one meetings with their supervisor. All meetings will be based on staff members’ academic schedules and will be set at the beginning of each semester.
2. See Training Section and Staff Duty section for time commitments related to those requirements.
3. Compensation
   1. Due to the requirement of RDs to live in the residence area they are assigned, a free, furnished apartment will be provided within said area. Laundry machines are provided for free in area, along with full utility coverage by the department. All RDs receive their assigned apartment as a benefit to the position. The value of the room is not taxable income and is not subject to income tax withholding. This benefit is provided as a condition of employment. While the apartment will till be afforded during closings, breaks, and holidays, it may not be afforded if made unavailable due to emergences or other unplanned disruptions. The benefit will also not be made available upon a resignation or termination of the RD position.
   2. Monthly Stipend as stated in the RD Contract.
   3. To ease RDs access to their assigned residential area and access to other areas during On Call situations, RDs will receive a parking pass with a Housing Parking Sticker in order to be able to park in all reserved Housing Spaces on campus.
   4. A semesterly scholarship of $2,500 dollars will be awarded for both the Fall and Spring semesters.
4. Training
   1. RDs are required to attend and actively participate in the following training and professional development activities:
      1. RA Orientation
      2. August RD Training
      3. August All Staff Training
      4. January RD Training
      5. January All Staff Training
      6. Area Staff Meetings
      7. Department Staff Meetings
      8. Area Coordinator/RD One-on-One meetings
      9. Periodic Professional and Leadership development sessions
      10. Programming Council Meetings
   2. Meals and/or meal stipends will be provided during August and January Training periods for Breakfast, Lunch, and some dinners.
5. Staff Duty
   1. Each RD is required to provide on duty coverage to the residential campus. The number of duty nights required per RD will vary by Departmental need.
   2. Failure to serve on duty when scheduled may result in termination.
   3. Duty Hours are from:
      1. 4:30pm-8am on Weekdays – Sunday night through Friday Morning 
      2. 24 Hours on Weekdays – Friday at 4:30p to Sunday at 4:30p
   4. RDs are required to respond to Duty Calls regarding maintenance issues, escalated roommate issues, and desk issues
   5. Additional duty assignments may be required at other times (tornado warnings, fire alarms, emergencies, etc)
   6. RDs must complete Incident Reports and Duty Reports in a timely and accurate manner as directed by professional staff and Housing policy.
   7. RDs not on duty are expected to report incidents or situations which they observe or are reported to them to the appropriate staff, regardless of if it is in their assigned area or not.

VI. Position Expectations

1. Housing and Residential Life RDs must abide by all Housing Policies.
2. RDs are expected to complete and pass a background check and complete all HR Paperwork before their first date of employment.
3. RDs must successfully perform the requirements of the position as documented in the RD Position Description, RD Expectations, and RD Manual.
4. RDs must abide by the expectations set forth by the AC of their Area, the AC On Call, the Associate Director of Residence Life, and the Director of Housing and Residential Life.

Key Usage

1. Access to room keys and Housing ID Access are issued for the sole purpose of performing work and/or services of Housing and Residential Life in the Housing Areas. 
2. A room key may not be loaned to anyone other than the occupant(s) of that room.  
3. RDs are required to receive authorization from their Area Coordinator before entering any student room without the student present. RDs are also required to have a fellow staff member accompany them when keying into any student room. 
4. Housing ID Access should only be used to access floors or buildings other than their own when performing duties of a Housing Staff Member. 
5. Any misuse of keys may result in termination from the Resident Director position.

Rehiring Process

1. All Resident Directors must submit their intent to return to their position or to leave their position yearly at the request of the Associate Director of Residence Life.
2. Resident Director Evaluations from their supervisor will be taken into account as consideration for their return.
3. Additional factors for consideration are the RDs academic status and disciplinary status at the University.

Terminations and Resignations 

1. Job reprimands, up to and including termination, may result at any time due to an RD’s misconduct or failure to abide by any stated expectations or policies. 
2. RDs who are terminated or resign will not be eligible to stay in their assigned apartment upon the completion or dismissal of their contract. 
3. RDs who plan to resign should provide the Area Coordinator with a minimum of a two-week notice. 
4. RDs who resign or are terminated must make all necessary arrangements to begin to pay for room and board. However, if there are no available spaces on campus, the student must plan for their own off-campus housing.

MTSU and Housing Policy 

1. All RDs are expected to abide by all federal, state, and local laws; abide by all rules and regulations of MTSU, Student Affairs, and Housing and Residential Life, including, but not limited to, the Housing Contract, Student Code of Conduct, RD Work Agreement, and all RD expectations 
2. Academic Standards
   1. RDs must maintain a 3.0 or better cumulative and semester GPA at MTSU in order to be hired, remain an RD, and in order to be rehired. 
   2. RDs must be registered, full-time students at the University. Approval from Associate Director of Residence Life must be granted prior to dropping below full-time status.
3. Use of Alcohol and Tobacco Products
   1. MTSU is a Tobacco and Alcohol-Free Campus 
   2. No matter the RDs age, RDs should never have alcohol or tobacco products on their person or in their room. 
4. Online Trainings
   1. RDs must complete all assigned Online Training and abide by the policies set forth by the University and Housing and Residential Life. 
5. Candidates for the RD position must be in good standing with the Housing and Residential Life department and remain in good standing during their period of employment. 
6. Candidates for the RD position must be in good financial and disciplinary standing with the University and remain so during their period of employment. This includes all standards set by the Student Code of Conduct. 
7. The academic, financial, and conduct-related standing of RDs will be checked at the end of each semester and as needed throughout the year by professional staff of the Housing and Residential Life Department to ensure compliance with the above guidelines. 

This is a rough outline of the RD Recruitment process. Due to changes in the academic calendar, dates change each year, so this is only a general idea of the timeline. Detailed and updated information will be released on the MTSU Housing Facebook, MTSU Housing Instagram, and on all marketing materials during each recruitment season. 

• January – RD Applications for the following Fall Semester open the week after school starts
• March – RD Application closes week before Spring Break
• March – Application Review and 1^st Round Interview Selection Opens
• March – 1^st Round Interview Selection closes
• Late March, Early April – 60 minute, 1^st Round Interviews with current AC/RD Staff
• Early April – 20 minute, 2^nd Round Interviews with Director of Housing and Associate Director of Residence Life
• April – Decision Emails are sent in early-mid April
• April – Accept/Decline due around a week before classes end
• Late July – RDs move into their apartment with guidance from supervisor
• August – RDs begin training the first week of August

Requirements

• Enrolled as a full-time student at MTSU; graduate, undergraduate, or non-degree seeking
• GPA
  • Undergraduate or Non-Degree Seeking Applicants
    • 2.75 semester and cumulative
  • Graduate Applicants
    • 3.0 semester and cumulative
• Pass a criminal background check
• Clear conduct record with MTSU and Housing
• One year of residence hall leadership OR one year of supervisory experience
• All Application Materials and Interviews completed

Application

• Our application can be found in the Housing Portal (https://mtsu.erezlife.com/). Login with your MTSU credentials.
• Application Requirements:
  • Full application submitted before deadline
  • Current resume submitted before deadline
  • 3 References (former/current supervisor, advisor, professor, RA, RD, AC, etc.)
  • Participation in both interviews
    • 1^st Round Interview
    • 2^nd Round Interview

• MTSU Housing Student Staff Recruitment Office
  • Gracy Hall, Room 114
  • 321 Friendship St.
  • Open M-F from 8a-4:30p
  • Front Office: 615-904-8310
  • Assistant Director of Housing Staff Resources & Guest Management
    • Stephanie Alderson
    • [email protected]