Overview of Residential Life

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Administration
Finance
Maintenance & Operations
Residence Education
Personnel
Technology Services
Center for Early Education and Care

Administration

The Administration unit encompasses Family Housing, and Grounds and Special Projects. The Family Housing Office administers 345 apartments housing 1000 residents. Office staff provides community programming for the families, and coordinates maintenance with the central office of Maintenance and Operations.

Grounds and Special Projects oversees the hall recycling program, assists Central Maintenance with debris removal, moves furniture and equipment for administrative staff, mows grass, creates and maintains flower beds, prunes trees and shrubs and constructs stone walls in the areas adjacent to all residence halls and Family Housing apartment units during the summer months, and removes snow from walkways and handicapped access ramps during the winter.

Finance

The Finance unit is responsible for all fiscal structures in Housing Services and Residence Education. In concert with the other units, this unit develops and revises the budgets for the two trust funds. Tasks performed by the unit include purchasing, inventory, accounting payments, accounting reports, and accounting transfers.

Maintenance and Operations

The mission of the Maintenance and Operations unit is to provide residential facilities which are clean, well-maintained, safe, attractive and available at reasonable cost; sustained through comprehensive facilities and financial planning; and supportive of the personal development and academic achievement of residential students. Well-maintained facilities are necessary platforms for resident satisfaction and successful programs.

Maintenance and Operations includes several functional areas: maintenance (routine and preventive maintenance of building systems and architectural components), operations (custodial and building management programs) and facilities services (capital planning, contract administration, project management, engineering and interior design).

The Maintenance and Operations line functions for residence halls are decentralized and are administered by Operations Managers in each residential area. The central office coordinates the centralized activities (The Facilities Operations Center and Central Services Maintenance).

Residence Education

The Residence Education Staff is responsible for and committed to empowering students and staff to create safe, caring and socially just communities. Our staff supports students in their academic, social and personal growth. We foster their personal awareness, appreciation of others and development of skills to succeed in a diverse, global society. Additionally, we provide opportunities for students to develop leadership skills and encourage them to demonstrate responsible and ethical behavior in their communities and throughout campus.

We empower students to take responsibility for themselves and for the well-being of others by upholding their residential rights and by creating an atmosphere of civility and cooperation. Furthermore, we focus on enhancing the residential experience of first year students, as it is evident in our various services, programs and initiatives. We also strive and continue to be an innovative organization, changing and growing to meet the needs of millennial students.

The Student Services Office (HAO) is charged with providing a sensitive, fair and understandable process for assigning student residents to 45 residence halls. The HAO is primarily responsible for occupancy management, assignment procedures and contract administration.

Personnel

The Personnel unit is responsible for personnel issues for approximately 300 staff members in professional, clerical, custodial, and trades positions. It includes the Labor/Management Wellness Program providing full-time employees with a supportive environment which promotes personal development and healthy lifestyle choices by offering the staff the opportunity to participate in activities that fall within the Wellness spectrum of physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and organizational concerns.

Technology Services

Technology Services consists of two units - Housing Computing and Information Systems (HCIS) and Housing Services Cable Network (HSCN).

Housing Computing and Information Systems provides, maintains and enhances networks, databases, information systems, computers and web services in Housing Services.

HSCN is a campus-based cable system that broadcasts informational, educational and entertainment programming to the residence halls. Service includes traditional cable programming, a student-run channel (UVC-19), and an academic channel (UMATV). YouMassTV, HSCN channel 78, broadcasts special notices, campus activities, art and athletic events.