Resident Director, Upward Bound Program

TRIO's Upward Bound program at Wilkes University is looking for a Resident Director (RD) for our 2025 Summer Residential Program. Upward Bound is a federally funded educational opportunity program that prepares eligible high school students to enter and succeed in post-secondary education. The 6-week summer program includes academic, cultural, and various recreational activities. Every Friday is reserved for a field trip. The primary expectation of the Residential Director position is to oversee all aspects of the residence hall experience for approximately 50 high school students and act as a liaison for students and staff to faculty and administration. The Resident Director is expected to live in a Wilkes University residential hall/dormitory while they support Residential Advisors (RAs) in providing nearly 24-hour supervision for our UBWU students, Sunday - Friday.

The summer session week begins on Sunday evening and ends on Friday afternoon. The RD supports the RAs in providing creative/athletic activities, chaperoning field trips, partaking in daily hour-and-a-half-long open tutoring sessions, and general residence life programming. The Resident Director is provided a paid Orientation and must participate in a week-long, paid training before starting the Summer Semester.

DUTIES:

• Share in the overall supervision and leadership of a paraprofessional staff of approximately six residential advisors/mentors and 50 high school students.
• Enforce policy and procedures regarding student well-being and residential community living. Inspect the hall for hazards endangering life and property and the good order of the University. Make recommendations for the prevention of accidents and violations of order.
• Maintain a high level of contact hours with staff, students, and parents/guardians through visibility and availability.
• Oversee the implementation of evening programming to involve Residential Advisors and plan activities aligned with student interests.
• Assist in the management/mediation of student and staff conflicts, issues, and concerns.
• Assist in tutoring students and monitoring structured study sessions.
• The Resident Director and Resident Advisors conduct a study lab under the direction of an academic teacher(s).
• Communicate and document issues through the appropriate chain of command.
• Attend weekly meetings with the UB Director and Administrative Staff, serving as a communication link between the administration and residential staff.
• Serve as a chaperone on off-campus trips.
• Address issues as the primary point of contact within the residence hall setting. Refer students to health center appointments and hospitals in consultation with the Program Director, College Coordinator and/or Academic Coordinator.
• Approve staff coverage changes for residence hall and meal coverage.
• Approve any changes to students' daily schedules as they pertain to the residence hall setting.
• Approve student appointments and absences in communication with the Program Director and/or Academic Coordinator.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum of 2 years (or two summers) of residential advisor, or camp counselor, experience
• Must be a current or rising college junior, senior, or college graduate.
• All majors and degrees are welcome!
• Must be able to pass a comprehensive background & criminal check.
• Must complete the compensated Mandated Reporter training, and/or must provide proof of certification.
• Presents a strong academic record and drive.
• Experience working with students from low-income backgrounds, multiethnic backgrounds and/or who are potential first-generation college-bound students.
• Must demonstrate a desire to help disadvantaged youth succeed.
• Ability to interact with diverse constituencies & departments, including program & Wilkes University staff, parents/guardians and students, with professional ease.
• Be able to conduct fun & engaging cultural and co-curricular activities for the students.
• Must remain on campus during the allotted hours a Resident Director is expected to be overseeing the students.
• Must participate in the week-long training before the summer session begins.
• Other duties, as assigned by the core UB staff

COMPENSATION:

• Fixed stipend of $4,050
• Staff have off one evening each week (pre scheduled) and do not work on the weekends!
• Room & Board is provided for the entire length of the summer session
  *Weekdays & Sunday Nights only!
• All meals are provided during the active summer session!

The summer program runs from June 22nd through August 1st. Training will begin on June 16th, with MOVE IN being June 15th. This position requires living on campus, in a dormitory, from Sunday nights until Friday afternoons during the duration of the program. Free room and board, along with a competitive wage is provided.

To apply, visit https://wilkesuniversitycareers.applicantpro.com/jobs/. Please be sure to include a cover letter, resume or curriculum vitae and three references.

Wilkes University is an independent, comprehensive university dedicated to academic excellence in the liberal arts, sciences, and selected professional programs. The University has approximately 2,000 students at the undergraduate level and over 1,500 full time equivalent students at the graduate and first professional levels.

Its institutional focus is on developing strong mentoring relationships with each of its students and contributing vitally to economic development of Northeastern Pennsylvania. The University is located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a revitalized city that is located on the lovely Susquehanna River and is within two and one-half hours driving distance of New York City and Philadelphia.

Wilkes University is constantly seeking to become a more diverse community and to enhance its capacity to value and capitalize on the cultural richness that diversity brings. The University strongly encourages applications from persons with diverse backgrounds. Wilkes University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, pregnancy, sex/gender, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital or family status, military or veteran status, or genetic information.

Employment at Wilkes is contingent upon the results of a thorough background screening. PA Act 153 requires that persons working in positions with regular and unsupervised contact with minors complete additional clearances, including FBI fingerprinting and PA criminal and child abuse clearances.