What are the responsibilities and job description for the Residence Hall Director position at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse?
Posting Details
Position Information
Recruitment Number
1572
Number of Vacancies
3
Working Title
Residence Hall Director
Classification Title
Residence Life Manager
Proposed Salary to be Offered
$43,888 / year
Appointment Percentage (Budget)
100
Position Summary
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is in pursuit of exceptional candidates for the position of Residence Hall Director. Our Residence Hall Director position at UW-La Crosse is an opportunity for you to have a tremendous impact on the lives of college students. And our students, without a doubt, will have a greater impact on you. The culture of engagement at UW-La Crosse is phenomenal. The investment our students and staff have in developing strong communities and lasting relationships are what makes UWL Residence Life special. We are student-centered, we care, and we have fun!
Residence Hall Directors are entry level Professional Staff in Residence Life and are an integral component in achieving our mission and guiding principles. We work in a collaborative yet autonomous environment. We desire to evolve and explore innovation and change to maximize our effectiveness, while finding balance in our career and personal lives. We also enjoy a strong sense of community among colleagues from across campus.
Residence Hall Director primary responsibilities include:
- Providing vision and leadership in a residence hall with 225-425 students
- Supervising 9-13 undergraduate student staff
- Overseeing residence hall operations, including front desk services, and advising Core Team (student leadership)
- Addressing facilities needs and concerns, in collaboration with full time Custodians
- Adjudicating conduct and supporting student well-being through centering student’s individual stories
Beyond their residence hall, Residence Hall Directors contribute through various committees and advising opportunities within Residence Life. In collaboration with their supervisor, Residence Hall Directors will work through a professional development plan. In addition, we support and encourage you to enhance your experience with our campus partners through involvement on university committees and other professional development opportunities at UW-La Crosse, in the La Crosse community, in the state, region, and nation.
This is a 12-month annual appointment. Anticipated 2025-26 annual salary is $43,888. Additional benefits include a partially furnished apartment, comprehensive State of Wisconsin benefits package, department professional travel funds, digital cable, internet, reserved parking, laptop computer, and personal washer and dryer. Residence Life supports inclusive live-in requests for additional apartment occupants. We also offer a pet policy for Live-In Professional Staff.
This is a 12-month annual appointment. Anticipated 2025-26 annual salary is $43,888. Additional benefits include a partially furnished apartment, comprehensive State of Wisconsin benefits package, department professional travel funds, digital cable, internet, reserved parking, laptop computer, and personal washer and dryer. Residence Life supports inclusive live-in requests for additional apartment occupants. We also offer a pet policy for Live-In Professional Staff.
Position Type
Staff/Administrative
Pay Basis
Annual
FLSA
Exempt
Contingent Upon Funding
No
Is this position eligible for employment sponsorship, (H1B or PERM)?
No
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree or relevant professional experience may be substituted on a year for year basis in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
- Prior Residence Life leadership experience
- Interest in living in a Residence Hall with a highly engaged student population
- Commitment to learning and growing in identity development, social justice and creating inclusive communities
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s Degree in Student Affairs, Counseling, or a related field
- Experience with managing administrative and operations functions of a residence hall
- Student supervision or co-supervision of one or more people
- Understanding of students, student development, and the value of student voice
Physical Demands
Reasonable Accommodations
UWL provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact hrinfo@uwlax.edu or 608.785.8013. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.
UWL provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities who are employees or applicants for employment. Employment opportunities will not be denied because of the need to make reasonable accommodations for a qualified individual with a disability. If you need assistance or accommodation in applying because of a disability, please contact hrinfo@uwlax.edu or 608.785.8013. This job announcement and other material on this site will be made available in alternate formats upon request to an individual with a disability.
All position descriptions are required to provide physical demands and working condition/environment and may not be published in the job announcement. For information on the physical demands and/or working conditions/environment for this position, please contact Human Resources at hrinfo@uwlax.edu or 608.785.8013.
Working conditions and environment
Evenings and weekend work is expected to meet the needs of the department and to maximize our effectiveness in working with students.
Travel is necessary locally and well as occasionally to professional conferences.
Travel is necessary locally and well as occasionally to professional conferences.
Miscellaneous Information
Information about your Benefits
Your benefits add an additional 40% to the overall financial package from the university.
Highlights include:
Your benefits add an additional 40% to the overall financial package from the university.
Highlights include:
- paid vacation for 12-month positions.
- excellent flexible health insurance with low co-pays and good coverage.
- paid holidays and sick days.
- after 5 years of employment, you become vested in our retirement system which ensures income post-career.
- benefits at UWL are highly competitive with local industry and some of the strongest in state and nation.
Benefit eligibility is determined at point of hire. This information is provided for illustrative purposes only. Benefits are also pro-rated based on the appointment percentage.
Information about UWL and the Surrounding Region
Information about UWL and the Surrounding Region
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UW–La Crosse) provides a challenging, dynamic, and diverse learning environment in which the entire university community is fully engaged in supporting student success. Grounded in the liberal arts, UW-La Crosse fosters curiosity and life-long learning through collaboration, innovation, and the discovery and dissemination of new knowledge. Acknowledging and respecting the contributions of all, UW-La Crosse is a regional academic and cultural center that prepares students to take their place in a constantly changing world community.
For more than a decade UW-La Crosse has been named one of Kiplinger’s 100 Best Values in Public Universities and has appeared prominently on the U.S. News & World Report list of “America’s Best Colleges” for more than 15 years, and is ranked #4 on its list of the Best Regional Public Universities in the Midwest. UW-La Crosse ranks 6th nationally among the Top LGBTQ-Friendly Colleges for 2018-19 by AffordableCollegesOnline.org (ACO).
With a student population of roughly 10,500, the university offers 91 undergraduate programs, 21 graduate programs, and 2 doctoral programs through the following three colleges, the College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities, the College of Business Administration, and the College of Science and Health, as well as the School of Education. There are over 600 full-time faculty and instructional academic staff, 75 percent of whom hold terminal degrees. UW-La Crosse boasts a retention rate (freshmen returning as sophomores) of 84 percent, graduation rate (degree within six years) of 70 percent, and is among only 12 institutions cited nationally by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities for its success in linking campus culture and university leadership to outstanding graduation rates.
UW-La Crosse’s strategic plan Sustaining Excellence continues to move our community forward through its four pillars: increasing community engagement, achieving excellence through equity and diversity, investing in our people, and advancing transformational education. More information about the ongoing work of Sustaining Excellence is available at www.uwlax.edu/info/strategic-plan.
The UW-La Crosse campus is in southwestern Wisconsin, nestled in a residential area of the City of La Crosse and positioned as part of a larger metro area with a population close to 140,000. The area, known as the 7 Rivers Region, is famous for its exceptional natural beauty which includes the Mississippi River on one side, majestic bluffs on the other, and views of rolling farmland and forested valleys in between. Abundant water, woodlands and varying terrain provide ample opportunities for year-round outdoor recreation. Only a couple of hours from Minneapolis or Madison, La Crosse enjoys the affordability and charm of small town living with larger city benefits. Three colleges, two world-class medical institutions, the La Crosse Symphony Orchestra, a restored nineteenth century downtown business district, and a number of galleries and art centers have made La Crosse a regional center for culture, entertainment, medical care, shopping, sports and recreation. More information about the La Crosse metro area can be found here: Choose La Crosse. Learn more about UW-La Crosse here: https://www.uwlax.edu/human-resources/services/talent-acquisition-and-employment/finalist-welcome/
AA/EO Statement
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. We strongly encourage women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans to apply. UWL, in compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, or protected veteran status.
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. We strongly encourage women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans to apply. UWL, in compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, disability, or protected veteran status.
COMMITMENT TO INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE
Inclusive Excellence is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for the University of Wisconsin La Crosse. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the Universities of Wisconsin community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching and learning, research, scholarship, creative activity, community service, and diversity as inextricably linked goals.
The University of Wisconsin La Crosse fulfills this by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background – people who serve the State of Wisconsin and the public good.
Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)
For the UWL Annual Security and Fire Safety Reports (i.e., Clery Report), which includes statistics about reported crimes and information about campus security policies, see https://www.uwlax.edu/police/annual-security-report/ or contact the University Police Department at 608.785.9000.
Redbook Position
Yes
Division/College
Student Affairs Division
Description of College / Department / Program / Division / Unit
The Division of Student Affairs’ role is to enhance and support students learning experience here at UWL. We work closely with faculty, staff, community members, alumni and most importantly, students to provide quality programs and services which promote learning, leadership, involvement, service and the celebration of diversity. The Division includes a number of departments: Campus Child Center, Counseling and Testing, Student Health Center, Intercollegiate Athletics, Recreational Sports, Residence Life, Student Life, University Centers, and the Vice Chancellors Office. The staff of the Division is truly student-centered and concerned about the holistic development of the student.
Duties/Responsibilities
These are the job duties required for the position.
Responsibility Statement
STUDENT STAFF SUPERVISION AND DEVELOPMENT
Duties to Support Responsibility
- Directly supervise residence hall staff in assigned residence hall. This includes the following: Senior Staff, Resident Assistants, and Desk Assistants.
- Responsible for supervision and evaluation of residence hall staff according to their position descriptions and employment expectations agreement; including accountability for job performance that may lead to job action including termination.
- Develop and cultivate an understanding of the intersecting identities on your team. Promote opportunities to share and discuss topics of social justice and inclusion.
- Convene and facilitate weekly student staff meetings to coordinate initiatives and information exchange.
- Promote and coordinate student development and staff team development.
- Share in the responsibility of annual department recruitment, selection, and training of residence hall staff.
Responsibility Statement
RESIDENCE HALL MANGEMENT
Duties to Support Responsibility
- Responsible for the overall administration and facilities management of assigned residence hall.
- In concert with Senior Staff, provide oversight of desk operations within the residence hall ensuring quality customer service as well as efficient and effective systems in the delivery of services.
- Coordinate payroll verification and approval of student employees in assigned residence hall.
- Maintain occupancy and facilitate room change processes through StarRez and have frequent communication with the Residence Life Operations Team.
- Manage internal residence hall budgets and have frequent communication with Residence Life Operations Team regarding purchasing and adhering to UWL spending guidelines.
- Work to establish and maintain a positive relationship with Custodian(s) and Facilities Team. Coordinate with them to create safe, clean, and visually appealing residence halls with timely response to repairs and facility improvements as a foundational component in meeting our students’ needs.
- Respond to mechanical, heating, electrical and plumbing issues; assessing the situation and communicating with the appropriate university personnel.
- Responsible for all keys within the assigned residence hall and proper security of these keys.
- Advocate for processes that meet student needs; centering and addressing barriers for underrepresented students.
- Attend Residence Life team meetings, departmental meetings and professional developments as scheduled.
- Assist with departmental initiatives which may include committees and advising student organizations/delegations.
- Assist with Residence Life summer camps and conferences, a critical component of our annual operation as a revenue source to keep student housing rates low.
Responsibility Statement
COMMUNITY AND EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Duties to Support Responsibility
- Establish effective relationships with students and encourage interaction to develop interpersonal relationships.
- Implement a residence hall community development model with intentional outcomes.
- Design a system for accountability to ensure student staff are achieving expectations of the community development model.
- Create a residence hall environment that supports student success and learning.
- Provide and promote educational opportunities that focus on awareness and appreciation of cultural differences, and building an inclusive and respectful community.
- Provide opportunities for cooperative planning between core leaders, student staff and residents.
- Collaborate with campus entities in developing residence hall initiatives.
- Utilize department and UWL assessment data to develop and revise the residence hall student experience. Initiate additional assessment and feedback pathways within assigned building to determine student needs.
Responsibility Statement
Leadership Development and Advising
Duties to Support Responsibility
- In collaboration with Senior Staff, advise Core Team (in-hall student leadership group).
- Ensure that Senior Staff is meeting regularly with core leaders to assist and support them in their positions.
- Work with Senior Staff to implement orientation and training of core leaders ensuring students of all identities are able to find success in this leadership role.
- Assist core leaders in organizing and implementing events for students.
- Ensure a wide array of development opportunities are available to residents in assigned residence hall.
- Disseminate knowledge of campus resources, policies, and procedures to students to assist with their initiatives.
Responsibility Statement
Student Conduct and Well- Being
Duties to Support Responsibility
- Provide direction and accountability to student staff for the enforcement and documentation of Residence Life policies.
- Responsible for adjudicating policy violations involving students living in assigned residence hall and maintaining current records within Maxient.
- Work to establish a positive working relationship with the Student Life Office maintaining a high level of communication and consultation involving behavior of students in assigned residence hall.
- Responsible for reporting mental health and student safety concerns to supervisor. Follow up may include collaborating with Counseling Center staff, the Campus Assessment Response and Evaluation (CARE) Team, and/or other appropriate campus partners, as well as following up with students regarding care and treatment.
- Respond to reported incidents of bias with an ethic of care for all impacted students.
- Work in conjunction with University Police through incidents that involve serious student behavioral or welfare issues.
- Respond to emergencies and crisis situations providing support and resources to students including proper referrals to other university offices.
- Serve in a 24/7 on-call duty rotation for Residence Life, that will involve responding in person to situations to assist student staff, University Police and/or Facilities Staff.
Posting Detail Information
Posting Detail Information
Posting Date
01/23/2025
Continuous Recruitment
Yes
Continuous Recruitment First Review Date
02/07/2025
Close Date
Special Instructions
Application deadlines
TO ENSURE CONSIDERATION: Priority consideration is given to those candidates who apply by the listed ‘First Review Date’. Applications received after that date may be given consideration at the discretion of the search committee. Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. Incomplete and/or late application materials may not receive consideration. If you have questions regarding this recruitment, or if you are not able to complete the application online due to a disability or system problem, please contact the Office of Human Resources.
Confidentiality of Applicant Materials
UWL is a state agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWL will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.
CBC & Reference Check Policy
All candidates for employment are subject to a pre-employment screening which includes a criminal background check, work authorization, and verification of education. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.
TO ENSURE CONSIDERATION: Priority consideration is given to those candidates who apply by the listed ‘First Review Date’. Applications received after that date may be given consideration at the discretion of the search committee. Application materials will be evaluated, and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process. Incomplete and/or late application materials may not receive consideration. If you have questions regarding this recruitment, or if you are not able to complete the application online due to a disability or system problem, please contact the Office of Human Resources.
Confidentiality of Applicant Materials
UWL is a state agency and subject to Wisconsin’s Open Records Law. UWL will not, however, reveal the identities of applicants who request confidentiality in writing except as may be required by Wisconsin’s Open Records law. In certain circumstances, the identities of “final candidates” and/or the identity of the appointed applicant must be revealed upon request.
CBC & Reference Check Policy
All candidates for employment are subject to a pre-employment screening which includes a criminal background check, work authorization, and verification of education. It will also require you and your references to answer questions regarding sexual violence and sexual harassment.
Position Contact Name
Patrick Heise
Position Contact Email
pheise@uwlax.edu
Salary : $43,888
