2024-2025 Community Advisor--Residential Life-- Winter/Spring 2024-2025

We anticipate this position to start at the beginning of Winter 2025 Quarter. Individual(s) hired will be required to attend Winter Training starting on January 6th, 2025.

*For more information, visit our recruitment website for live updates! CLICK HERE.

PLEASE REVIEW THE JOB DESCRIPTION BEFORE ANSWERING THE SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM.

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Eastern Washington University Community Advisor Job Description 

Community Advisors (CAs) are employees of the department of Housing and Residential Life and the Division of Student Affairs. A Community Advisor is expected to strive to accomplish the primary objectives of the department of Housing and Residential Life and to help create and maintain an effective and positive community within the residence halls. Community Advisors support departmental academic success initiatives, Maintenance and Facilities staff, Dining Services, and Custodial staff and strive to maintain a flexible, customer-focused approach to their work.

Community Advisors must be committed to the development of inclusive communities in the residence halls and at Eastern Washington University. They are expected to affirm and uphold university policies that help create and maintain non-discriminatory campus and living group environments. Community Advisors must be active in pursuing opportunities to develop and grow in the area of culture/multiculturalism, sex, race, gender, lifestyle, sexual orientation, disability, etc.

The position also requires a positive attitude towards the Housing and Residential Life department and its Vision and Values. Overall job effectiveness is tied to the CAs ability to establish and maintain credibility, positive role modeling, and good rapport with residents, University Faculty and Staff. This is a quarterly contracted position.

Terms and Conditions of Employment

• Providing positive role modeling.
• Establishing and maintaining credibility and good rapport with residents, university faculty and staff.
• Helping to oversee Residential Life by helping to create and maintain an effective and positive community experience within the residence halls.
• Planning social events.
• Affirming and enforcing residence hall rules, EWU policies, and the Vision and Values of the Residential Life department.
• Providing support for departmental initiatives, coordinating and reporting concerns to Maintenance, Facilities and Custodial and Dining Services.
• Supporting inclusive communities in the residence halls and at EWU and helping to create and maintain non-discriminatory campus and living environments.
• CAs must be active in pursuing opportunities to develop and grow in the area of culture/multiculturalism, sex, race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, etc.
• Being visible and present on the floor.
• Performing other related duties as assigned or required.

This position requires living in EWU On-Campus Housing.

This position will report to the Residential Life Coordinators in Housing and Residential Life. 

This position will work an average of 19 hours per week including weekends and evenings and will not be eligible for other student employment positions at EWU while under contract as a Community Advisor.  

Working Conditions

Typically, CAs work indoors in residence hall environments. The CA position is routinely a night and weekend role with early morning and late night hours. CAs encounter the following circumstances:

• Lifting up to 10 pounds, and occasionally up to 25 pounds.
• Communicating with students during disagreements within their hall community.
• Having an unpredictable and dynamic work schedule/setting.
• Responding calmly to high risk medical and emergency situations following standardized procedures.
• Leading and managing large groups, outdoors and indoors, in all-weather at all hours, in both routine and emergency situations.
• Maintaining regular visibility and availability on their floor to address student questions, needs, and concerns.

Position Expectations

Community Building

• Commitment to inclusivity: One of our departmental values is inclusivity. You should be able to foster a community that promotes a sense of belonging, support and affiliation for all students.
• Assist students on your floor to develop, uphold and support floor community standards.
• Demonstrate empathy by supporting and understanding all residents from their perspective.
• Make weekly contact with residents on your designated floor and document intentional conversations.
• Know the names of all residents on the floor and hall leaders.
• Demonstrate awareness of the needs and values of all students.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with all residents.
• Convene floor meetings as needed.
• Create a supportive learning environment.
• Follow up with residents in matters of policy, courtesy, academic success, and the general welfare and standards of the living group.
• Facilitate conversations between residents in regards to policy, courtesy, and community standards.
• Demonstrate self-discipline by managing your time and yourself in accordance to expectations and standards set forth by EWU Housing and Residential Life.
• Knowledge of campus resources is essential so that you can refer and direct students to resources according to what is needed.
• Role model positive behaviors such as time management, going to class, abiding by policies and procedures, and utilizing campus resources.

Team Relationships

• Support and role model a team approach. You should strive to work with all team members and respectfully discuss any barriers that are getting in the away of being a successful team.
• Be a positive role model on your staff team.
• Provide support for all staff members.
• Be visible and available to staff.
• Be supportive of other staffs’ programs and activities.
• Positively confront issues or behaviors that would challenge co-workers to be ethical and responsible in their positions.
• Maintain confidentiality about student and staff issues discussed with supervisor and during staff meetings.

Administrative

• Perform administrative tasks and record keeping as assigned.
• Writing Reports for crises, conduct, Title IX, concern, crime, maintenance, or directed by supervisor.
• Completing a duty log as determined by the supervisor
• Logging programs and intentional conversations.
• Checking staff mailboxes daily and hanging up advertisements every day
• Completing a weekly report as determined by your supervisor
• Customer Service
• Maintain current knowledge of campus resources and applicable student referral processes
• CAs are required to work in the Hall Office each week. (hours are determined by building and number of Office Workers) While staffing the Hall Office, administrative tasks assigned by your supervisor will have priority over personal tasks.
• Communicate with your supervisor and peers regularly. Use texting, email (eagles@ewu.edu), phone, in person, and written communication as needed and directed.
• Community Advisors are required to check email at least once daily and respond as requested in a timely manner.
• Balancing night classes, coursework, student teaching, or internships will be challenging for students in the CA position.
• Other duties as assigned.

Assessment, Program Implementation and Referrals

• Assess needs of residents or students and plan programs accordingly.
• Assist residents with resources for personal and academic questions or concerns.
• Assess interests of students through informal and formal assessments.
• Promote Housing and Residential Life initiatives as directed.

Meetings

• Attend and participate in weekly staff meetings and monthly in-service trainings scheduled by the supervisor.
• Attend community and all-hall meetings as required by supervisor.
• Attend weekly hall or community council.
• Meet one on one with your supervisor as scheduled. (Typically weekly or bi-weekly)

On-Call

• Weekday Evening Duty (Sunday-Thursday) is 9 PM – 8 AM, during which time the CA must be in the hall and available to students. Staff are expected to do three (3) sets of rounds. The on-call phone is to be picked up by 9 PM.
• Weekend Duty (Friday and Saturday) consists of being on campus and available via cell phone during daytime hours, working office shifts, and available via standard evening duty procedures during evening hours. Staff members are expected to do four (4) sets of rounds. The on-call phone is to be picked up by 9 PM Friday and held until 9 PM Sunday.
• Expected to be part of “all staff on-campus weekends” as determined by the Office of Housing and Residential Life. (See Important dates for staff members)
• The on-call times may be adjusted 1-2 hours based on availability of Office Workers and Supervisor discretion.

Policy Education and Enforcement

• Use training tools and skills to exercise critical thinking and be able to form a judgement about how to handle situations.
• Understand, abide by, and philosophically support the guidelines for student behavior in the Residential Life Living Guide and Student Conduct Code. Communicate expectations of appropriate behavior and policy information to residents.
• Address inappropriate behavior when it occurs and take necessary follow-up measures (including completing written documentation and follow up conversations with residents within 24 hours of occurrence).
• Be aware of early signs of problems and work with department and university staff to implement preventative and remedial measures.
• CAs are required to assist with the maintenance of hall records and correspondence as directed by supervisor.

Stress and Time Management

• Effectively manage your academics, CA position responsibilities, and other involvement activities on campus.
• CAs need to successfully manage personal stress and emotions so that it doesn’t impair their ability to perform their CA responsibilities.

Training

• Required to attend all on-going training as defined by the Housing and Residential Staff.
• Dates and times of trainings will be provided before employment.



Required Qualifications:

• Applicants must have a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 at the time of hire.
• Student must maintain a quarterly and cumulative 2.5 GPA.
• Applicants are expected to maintain status as a full-time student at EWU.
• Applicants must be committed to building community within the residence halls by engaging with residents with different personalities and life experiences
• Applicants must have excellent customer service and people skills.
• Applicants must be reliable, responsive, willing to take direction and follow guidance.
• Applicants must have a professional demeanor and the ability to effectively communicate with a diverse population via phone, in person, or electronic communications.
• Applicants must have experience living in on-campus housing at EWU or equivalent community living experience.
• Applicants must have excellent time management and teamwork skills.
• Applicants must have demonstrated administrative skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in CA position at EWU or equivalent position at another University/Community College.
• Previous experience responding to crisis situations.
• Commitment to diversity and inclusion work at EWU or equivalent University/Community College.
• Experience living in EWU on-campus housing preferred.
• Experience with event planning.

This position, during the course of University employment will be involved in the receipt of, or accountability for, University funds or other items of value; as well as the unsupervised access with the developmentally disabled, vulnerable adults or children under the age of 16. The offer of employment is contingent upon successful completion and passing of a background check prior to beginning employment.

All new employees must comply with EWU immunization Policy 602-02 and provide proof of immunity or vaccination to MMR before beginning work at EWU. Waivers for the immunization requirements are available for medical or sincerely held religious beliefs. 

Student employees are subject to EWU’s employment Policies and Procedures and the EWU Student Code of Conduct. As a student employee, you are expected to adhere to both. Please be advised that violations of the EWU Student Code of Conduct may affect your employment on campus, even if the conduct occurs beyond the scope of your job responsibilities.


Required Supplemental Questions 

Please answer and submit with application materials. Responses should be in either a Word Doc or PDF and be in Question and Answer format. Please write AT LEAST one paragraph per question. You may write more paragraphs if you would like.

Question & Answer Format Example: 

1.Question

Response

2.Question

Response

2024-2025 CA Application Questions 

First Time CA Applicant, please ONLY answer the following 4 questions:

Question 1. What made you decide to apply for the CA position? What skills and experiences make you a great candidate for this position?

Question 2. Tell us about a time when you faced conflict within a group (friends, family, youth group, group project, work, etc.) and how you addressed it. What did you learn from this experience?

Question 3. The CA position focuses on addressing concerns brought to staff by residents of different backgrounds. How have you spoken up for your own needs to someone whose background, experience, and needs are different from your own? 

Question 4. What feedback (personal, academic, or work) have you received that was difficult to hear and why? What did you learn from this experience?