Theme Program Resident Assistant

Theme Program Resident Assistant, Academic Year 2023-2024

This application will open on December 12th at 1 PM. See below for for the application.

Applications are due January 19th at 5 PM.

Please read the job description before submitting your application. Read more about the application procedure here and the requirements for working with us.

Please note that if you are applying to be a Theme Program Resident Assistant, you must also fill out the Resident Assistant Job Application. If you are applying to multiple theme programs, you must submit a separate application for EACH program. Application links can be found below.

UNITY	More Information	Click here for application
AATP	More Information	Click here for application
GETH	More Information	Click here for application
Bloom & SSWANA	More Information	Click here for application
NATP	More Information	Click here for application
WiSE	More Information	Click here for application
Casa Magadalena Mora	More Information	Click here for application
Transfer Living Learning Community	More Information	Click here for application

Job Description 2023-2024

The mission of Residential Life is to facilitate student transitions into the intellectual and social communities of the University of California, Berkeley and to promote personal wellbeing and respect for the community needs of all residents. Residential Life’s vision reflects a commitment to the intentional creation of effective and innovative programs aimed to empower students with the skills to become engaged campus and global citizens, and active agents of social change. The Senior Resident Directors (SRD), Resident Directors (RD), and the Live-In Student Staff will accomplish this mission through a combination of community building activities, student empowerment programs, and personal conversations.

The Theme Program Resident Assistant (TPRA) is responsible for developing and maintaining an atmosphere that promotes residential communities through excellence in academic integration and personal development opportunities for students. As an employee of Residential Life, each TPRA will adhere to, administer, and enforce policies and procedures as outlined in the Residential Life Student Staff Manual, the Residential Code of Conduct, the UC Berkeley Campus Code of Conduct, University of California Personnel Policies and Procedures, and the University of California Policies applying to Campus Activities, Organizations, and Students.

The TPRA’s role is to connect with the members of the residential community, as directed by the Residential Student Experience Model. The Residential Student Experience Model outlines the framework used by the residential staff that will engage students through one-on-one conversations, community meetings, and programs that target the needs of the community. The TPRA serves as a resource to both residents and staff while upholding the goals and policies of Residential Life. All responsibilities listed will be carried out under the supervision of the Resident Director or Senior Resident Director.

Essential Duties

Community Development (15%):

Be visible and available on the floor or building in order to understand the needs of the residential community and encourage the personal, social, and academic development of students
Throughout the semester, conduct bear chats with residents, as required by the Residential Student Experience Model under the supervision of the Resident Director or Senior Resident Director
Encourage personal, social, and academic development of residents by spending a significant amount of time getting to know students
Be available to assist students, implement activities, plan strategies, community chats, etc.
Support and encourage residents in the development and continued engagement in an effective Hall Association. This may include but is not limited to: recruitment of residents for hall association, promotion of election process, and attendance at some association meetings and events
Provide academic, personal support and referrals and demonstrate knowledge of campus resources
Work cooperatively and take initiative in engaging with students to reflect a community that displays respect for the rights and privacy of others and promotes consideration of individual needs.
Cultivate an inclusive environment in which residents feel welcomed to engage and contribute to the living community
Model ethical behavior through personal and academic pursuits and adhere to all residence hall policies
Demonstrate appreciation of differences and assist students in developing an understanding of diverse backgrounds, cultures and lifestyles
Respect and treat all individuals fairly and equitably by being open and understanding of all religious identities, abilities, sexual orientation, gender expression, cultural & ethnic identities, and citizenship status

Residential Student Experience Model Implementation & Engagement (20%)

Demonstrate an understanding of the Residential Student Experience Model learning goals and outcomes
Implement community programs as directed by the Residential Student Experience Model and the Resident Director or Senior Resident Director. Examples of these programs include but are not limited to: Community Meetings, Bear Chats, Community Activities and Bulletin Boards.
Support, promote, and attend Unit, System-wide, and Campus programs as required by the Residential Student Experience Model under the supervision of the Resident Director or Senior Resident Director.
Complete all program assessment tools as directed by both the Residential Student Experience Model and the Resident Director or Senior Resident Director for the purpose of tracking and assessing all programs
Support programs organized by the Residence Hall Assembly (RHA) and Hall Association under the advisement of the SRAs and Resident Director or Senior Resident Directors
Support and promote programs offered by Health Workers, Resident Faculty, Theme Programs, and other departments
Support and promote programs offered by Health Workers, Resident Faculty, Theme Programs, and other departments

Theme Program Implementation (15%)

Participate in the development of programs that celebrate the essence of the Theme Program and provide an opportunity for identity development and exploration.
Plan Theme Program Orientation and Retreats (Fall and Spring) in collaboration with Resident Director and campus partner(s)
Demonstrate an ability to engage all residents whether they are part of the theme community
Support and promote signature events held by the theme program, campus partners, and or Resident Director
Attend specific seminars when identified in partnership with Resident Director and Theme Program Partners

Theme Program	Seminar Date and Time*	Campus Partner
UNITY	Fall: Monday 5PM-7PM Spring: Monday 5PM-6PM	Em Huang, Director of LGBTQ+ Advancement & Equity
AATP	Wednesday 5PM-7PM	Melissa Charles, Fannie Lou Hamer Black Resource Center
GETH	Fall: Monday 5:30PM-7PM	Dr. Rob Rhew, Geography
Bloom & SSWANA	Wednesdays 4PM-6PM	Miya Sommers, Asian Pacific American Student Development Office
NATP	Monday & Wednesday 2:00PM-3:20PM	Phenocia Bauerle, Native American Student Development
Empowering Womxn in STEAM (formerly WISE)	Mondays 6PM-8PM	Caroline M. Kane, Professor Emerita in Molecular and Cellular Biology
Casa Magadalena Mora	Wednesdays 4PM-6PM	Chicanx Latinx Student Development office

*Subject to change

Golden Bear Orientation, Welcoming & Closing Responsibilities (5%)

Participation in the preparation for and implementation of opening / closing of the halls during Fall and Spring Semester which may include, but is not limited to: inspection of resident rooms and inventories, occupancy checks, administrative, programmatic, logistical, and physical preparation of floors / suites, hall / area, and unit
Facilitate welcome meetings and programs both during and following Golden Bear Orientation (GBO) to assist students in connecting to resources in residence and across campus.
During move-in and GBO, work in partnership with Orientation Mentors and Leaders to ensure that students are engaged and connected to all GBO programs and events
Identify any students in need of additional support and resources during GBO and work with supervisor (Resident Director) and the GBO staff to help connect the students
Foster a sense of belonging and connection to the UC Berkeley community as students transition to campus and throughout the academic year
Assist with and be present for the implementation of Cal Day as directed

Safety & Risk Management Responsibilities (30%)

Follow and respond to all emergency procedures as directed by the Resident Director or Senior Resident Director or outlined in the Hall Staff Manual, and potentially after consultation with Resident Director on Duty for response on site as necessary
Act as a mediator in conflict situations when needed (i.e. roommate, noise, etc.)
Respond to community concerns. Document the incident(s) within 12 hours of it occurring while following all protocols and procedures
Confront and respond to student behavior, as needed, that is inappropriate and / or is in violation of campus policies and procedures (i.e. behavior that endangers the health and safety of residents)
Perform regularly scheduled duty shifts. RAs are on night duty an average of 5-6 weeknights per month and 2-3 weekend nights per month and 4-5 day duties per semester
RAs will be provided PPE and will be expected to practice physical distancing
Hall Staff must provide coverage during some academic and administrative holidays, including, but not limited to, Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring Break. Below you will find general standards of duty shifts, however, these times may slightly shift depending on the community you are assigned to
- Weekday Night duty begins at 7:30pm and ends the following day at 8:00am
- Weekend Night duty begins at 7:30pm and ends the following day at 9:00am
- Day Duty shifts begin Saturdays at 2:30pm and Sundays at 9:00am. Day Duty shifts end at 7:30pm. This also can include weekday Holiday duty beginning at 9am and ends at 7:30pm
- Duty includes, but is not limited to, performing community walks, addressing policy violations, responding to emergencies, and checking in with the security monitor desk when necessary
- Disseminate and communicate all announcements and policies as directed by the Resident Director or Senior Resident Director on behalf of Residential Life and UC Berkeley to the residential community
Hall Staff may be expected to provide additional support and staffing during times of emergency management and crisis response as needed
- Due to ongoing public health concerns, rounds and some other duty related responsibilities may be modified accordingly. As public health guidance changes our protocols may shift in order to respond to current best practices.
- Assist professional staff on duty coordinating response and support for residents in need of isolation or temporary space

Administrative Responsibilities (10%)

Complete administrative tasks in a timely and efficient manner
Attend regular one-on-one meetings with the Resident Director or Senior Resident Director, may be conducted virtually via Zoom, etc.
Ensure that the Resident Director or Senior Resident Director is informed and updated on all aspects of your work as an RA. This entails making through phone and / or email contact and meeting regularly with the Resident Director or Senior Resident Director to share job-related information, give / receive constructive feedback, and develop job-related skills
Attend and actively participate in fall and spring student staff training sessions, and all scheduled in-service training
RAs must be available every Tuesday from 7-9pm for weekly hall staff / unit meetings. Meetings may be conducted virtually.
Participate in all individual, staff, and group evaluation processes
Participate in the hall staff recruitment and hiring process (i.e., panel and group interviews)

Additional Duties (5%)

Completed additional duties (i.e. Of The Months, Emergency Preparedness and Response, community collaterals: Residential Student Leader Council, custodial appreciation, Resident Faculty program, etc.) as assigned to meet the evolving needs of the residential community
Relay student concerns relating to Residential Life to the appropriate units of the Dean of Students and RSSP (i.e. Resident Director, Assistant Director, Dining Manager, Facilities Manager, etc.).
Perform other duties as assigned by the Resident Director or Senior Resident Director and the administrative staff of Residential Life.

Expectations

Theme Program Resident Assistants are expected to model ethical behavior for all residence hall policies and procedures. Failure to demonstrate ethical behavior may result in personnel action up to and including dismissal
Maintain positive working relationships with other hall staff, as well as staff of the Dean of Students Office and partners at Residential & Student Services Programs
Follow expectations when communicating / engaging with residents in person, in writing and / or social media as outlined in this job agreement, the Residential Life Student Staff Manual, the Residential Code of Conduct and the UC Berkeley Campus Code of Conduct
Report maintenance issues or concerns in a timely fashion in order to maintain the physical condition of the residence halls. Provide immediate follow-up on reported problems
Be responsible with special staff privileges (i.e. use of office, phones, keys, office equipment, etc.)
Maintain confidentiality and objectivity in all matters related to students and staff (including adherence to FERPA, federal and state regulations)
Perform other duties as assigned by the Resident Director or Senior Resident Director and the administrative staff of the Dean of Students Office and partners at Residential & Student Services Programs
Share feedback with peers and Resident Director or Senior Resident Director that is appropriate, constructive and solution oriented
Share feedback, needs, and / or concerns at an appropriate time and place as outlined by Residential Life
Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability when navigating changes and transitions within Residential Life
Maintain positive working relationships with fellow hall staff, professional staff, and community partners
Communicate and demonstrate an ability to hold self, peers, professional staff accountable that contributes to a solution based resolution
Provide assistance and response to Emergencies that arise in the Residential Communities as they occur
Balance academic demands and other commitments with the duties and responsibilities of the hall staff position that contributes to the success of the team dynamic

Key & Access Control Policy for Hall Staff

Hall Staff member’s job responsibilities will at times require the use of Master Keys, Staff-Issued Keys, Staff-Issued Fobs, and access via Cal1Card and / or access code. Master keys should only be used for lockouts, work-related room entry, and emergency situations. Staff keys & fobs should only be used for the work-related tasks they were intended for such as room entry and detex alarm management. Master keys and staff-issued keys & fobs should never be taken out of the Residential Unit, and should be kept secure and on your person while out of the LoxTop Box or the staff member’s assigned residential room
Hall Staff will not give any person, including other Hall Staff, access to keys from the LoxTop Box or the LoxTop Box itself. Each Hall Staff member must individually tap into the LoxTop Box to retrieve or return keys, as each key set is tied to their Cal1Card and access code. Hall Staff should not transfer key sets from one person to another person for any reason without approval of the Administrator on Call via calling the Resident Director on Duty
Failure to comply with this policy will result in the engagement of the Performance Management process

Qualifications

Required:

Undergraduate student possessing a minimum 2.300 cumulative GPA and good standing with the University at the start of position and throughout the period of employment. Please note that GPA does not round up, any GPA below a 2.300 (2.299 or below) will make you ineligible for this position
Full-time academic status (12-13 units per semester) during the period of employment

Preferred:

Strong communication and interpersonal skills
Ability to facilitate community among individuals
Understanding or willingness to create an inclusive, socially-just community
Preferred minimum of one year residence in a college or university residence hall, or a similar group living experience such as a Greek house, co-op, or theme program prior to term of employment