What are the responsibilities and job description for the UB Resident Assistant position at State Fair Community College?
Program Description
The SFCC Upward Bound program is a partnership between the Sedalia #200 School District, Camdenton R-III School District, Eldon School District and State Fair Community College. Upward Bound is a federally funded college academic enrichment opportunity targeting first-generation high school students. The program motivates participants to develop the skills necessary to complete high school and successfully pursue a four-year college degree.
Throughout the academic year, participants receive individual peer-led tutoring, academic performance stipends, college campus visits, fine arts enrichment activities, cultural field trips, a financial aid seminar, leadership training, and ACT preparation instruction.
During the summer, participants take part in a college immersion experience. While living in the SFCC residence hall, students have the opportunity to attend classes in Math, Literature and Composition, Foreign Language and Culture, Laboratory Science, Computer Technology, Weight Training, Aerobics, Study Skills, Studio Art, and Theatre. After completing the summer component, participants may receive 1 elective credit and/or a ½ P.E. credit, and the opportunity to enjoy an out-of-state cultural reward trip.
Academic performance and college readiness are key aspects of the SFCC Upward Bound program. SFCC Upward Bound students, on average achieve ACT scores 15% above the state-wide average, resulting in an average Upward Bound participants ACT score of 25. The program has visited over 30 colleges, allowing students the opportunity to attain an on-the-ground experience at major colleges throughout the Midwest. SFCC Upward Bound graduates are currently attending colleges across the country.
Upward Bound provides service to 110 students attending Smith-Cotton High School, Camdenton High School, and Eldon High School. There is no cost to the participant or to the family. To qualify, applicants must meet one of the following criteria: be a first-generation college student (cannot reside with a natural/adoptive parent who has a bachelor’s degree)-or- be at-risk for academic failure -or- must meet a federally regulated income guideline set annually by the federal government. Upward Bound recruits new participants each year.
Job Responsibilities
The primary objective of the Resident Assistant position is to ensure the well-being of the program participants, especially concerning safety, morale, discipline, application to studies, and interpersonal relationships within the group.
Since UB students are minors, the program staff has the responsibility for constant and close supervision to ensure students' well-being. Beyond supervision, staff are required to do planning and preparation, to lead or actively participate in tutoring, and all extra-curricular activities. Unlike the position of a college RA, this job requires continuous interaction with students and allows little to no personal time Monday-Friday. To be most successful, resident assistant/tutors must be selflessly dedicated to working with the young people in their charge and have extraordinary patience and stamina.
A. Residence Hall
RAs live in a residence hall at the State Fair Community College campus in Sedalia, Missouri and provide 24-hour supervision for students in the program. Resident Assistants are on-call during the night hours.
Work in conjunction with other residential staff to provide personal, social, or skill development programming for 50 program participants.- Monitor conditions of the residence hall rooms and report any problems.
- Regulate student behavior and take disciplinary action according to the program Student Handbook. Communicate all problems promptly to the Program Director and/or Academic Coordinator.
- Ensure that there is no traffic between the girls' and boys' floors.
B. Supplemental Instruction / Tutoring
- Work with other residential staff to organize and provide Supplemental Instruction/tutoring for supervised study 1.5 hours each evening.
- Communicate regularly with faculty concerning Supplemental Instruction/tutoring needs and academic progress of students.
C. Activities
- Attend daily and weekly RA staff meetings.
- Provide or assist with an elective activity and an athletic activity.
- Supervise students during all meal times, free times, elective activities, athletic activities, study hours, and weekly reward trips.
- Assist instructors as needed.
- Be on call to assist with classes or emergencies.
- Transport students as needed.
- Be responsible for gathering and returning equipment, vehicles, or supplies used in program activities.
- Run errands and shop for supplies.
- Attend Resident Assistant Training, June 2 - 6, 2025.
- Work the entirety of the Summer Academy, June 8 – July 18, 2025.
- Attend the End of Summer Cultural Reward Trip, July 21 – 25, 2025.
D. Expectation for Participation
- Maintain appropriate physical proximity to students; interact with students.
- Model appropriate behavior; model participation in activities.
- Positively reinforce appropriate behavior and restrict student behaviors, which are inappropriate; respond to any student's gross motor, verbal, or emotional behaviors, which may jeopardize the safety of the student or others.
- Memorize, follow, and enforce all program and State Fair Community College policies.
- Promptly communicate needs and concerns to appropriate staff.
Qualifications
- Undergraduate student currently attending a college/university; strong academic record.
- Valid driver's license.
- Prefer experience working with economically and educationally disadvantaged youth.
- Prefer experience of overcoming barriers similar to those faced by program participants.
- Prefer prior campus leadership, residential advisor, or camp advisor experience.
Employment will require a criminal background check at College expense. Preference is given to Missouri residents.
AA Statement: SFCC is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of State Fair Community College not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ancestry, national origin, or veteran status in its educational programs, activities or employment as required by law in regard to admissions, awarding financial aid, access to courses and programs, and all student services as well as the recruitment, admission and retention of students.
Department funded positions are available for both student and non-student applicants. These positions are limited to a maximum of 600 hours per fiscal year or 550 hours per fiscal year if the candidate is a retiree of the PSRS or PEERS Missouri Retirement System. A fiscal year is defined as July 1 to June 30. In addition, a part time employee can not work more than 17 hours per week unless the position has been budgeted and approved to work beyond this maximum.
