Residence
Hall Staff Position Descriptions
Somewhere along the way between your
first days on campus and graduation, you may encounter obstacles
to your academic success or personal peace of mind. Be assured
that support is available from the entire Residence Hall Staff.
Resident Assistants, Apartment
Living Advisors and Peer Mentors
Closest to your campus home, on your
own floor and in your own residence hall, you can look to undergraduate
Resident Assistants (RAs), Apartment Living Advisors (ALAs) or
Peer Mentors (PMs) for peer guidance. Peer Mentors are upper-class
leaders in Epoch residence halls who are a great resource for first
year students’ academic success. RAs and ALAs assist students
in creating safe, caring and inclusive communities in the residence
halls. Additionally, RAs and ALAs serve as a campus resource referral
and educate residents about appropriate behaviors outlined in this
booklet. However, reading through the contents of the Residence
Hall Manual, and abiding by the regulations described, are your
responsibility.
First Year Experience
Specialist
First Year Experience
Specialists are full time professional staff with previous
residence life experience and master’s degrees dedicated
to connecting first year students with academic resources on
campus.
The mission of the First Year Experience program
is to facilitate and support a smooth transition for first year
students to UMass
Amherst, to enhance student success and satisfaction with their
residential experience, and to foster a sense of connection and
pride with
the University
community. To fulfill this mission, the FYES directs the development
of a comprehensive program intended to meet first year students'
residential, transitional, and academic success needs. The FYES
offers programs
and resources for 1,500-3,200 first year students
within a designated residential community.
Leadership Education Specialist
The Leadership Education Specialist is responsible
for student leadership development activities of student leaders
including
Residential
Leadership
Association, house council and area government representatives,
and community leaders; conducts need assessment, evaluates activities,
and directs the development of a comprehensive program intended
to develop the leadership knowledge and skills of students.
Residence
Directors, Assistant Residence Directors, Apartment Complex Coordinators
and Apartment Managers
Professional Apartment Complex Coordinator
(ACC), Apartment Manager (AM), Residence Directors (RDs) and graduate
student Assistant Residence Directors (ARDs) are responsible for
the leadership, programming, and student conduct of specific residence
halls or small hall clusters. They are available to help resolve
academic or social concerns and provide referrals to other campus
agencies as needed. Contact your cluster office to get in touch
with these staff members.
Area
Directors
Area Directors (ADs) oversee ACC, AM,
and RDs as well as the overall operation of an entire residential
area, coordinating educational, social, and cultural programs,
the judicial process, and collaborating with area student governments.
First Year Experience Specialists supervise the Peer Mentors in
the Residential First Year Experience halls and assist with first year students’ academic
success and transition.
Operations
and Assistant Operations Managers
Operations Managers (OMs) and Assistant Operations
Managers (AOMs) work closely with residence hall and area staff
to manage building maintenance and custodial duties.
If you lose your key or UCard, have an emergency
maintenance request, or need information about making a room change,
you’ll consult the staff at your cluster office. They are
available to answer all of your questions about living in your
residence hall and can refer you to other housing staff if necessary.
Although most of your needs will be met through the cluster office,
billing appeals and claims for damages to your property are handled
by the area office.
Residence Life staff are here for you to make
your living environment pleasant and conducive to learning. Share
your ideas with us, let us know how we can help, and from all of
us in Housing and Residence Life, have a great year!
