Henderson House Resident Director

INTRODUCTION  

The Henderson House Resident Director (RD), as a live-in student position, has administrative, mentoring, and community engagement responsibilities for this cooperative house and its 28 female residents. One of the key responsibilities of an RD is community building through intentional engagement with residents while maintaining safety and security for all. Community Building means getting to know residents well individually and collectively. This happens by investing time and energy to engage them through intentional in-person and virtual interactions and activities which help facilitate the development of positive and meaningful relationships. The RD should also build relationships with full-time staff members in order to strengthen connections and a sense of belonging throughout the community.  

Given the history of Henderson House, the RD and the Hall Director will have a working relationship with Henderson House Board of Governors, composed of women elected by the University of Michigan Alumnae Council, and approved by the President of the University.

TIME COMMITMENT

The Resident Director is expected to meet the expectations and responsibilities of the position through the time commitments listed below. Michigan Housing recognizes that the Resident Director has other academic, personal, and professional time commitments as well. A Resident Director’s Hall Director (full-time staff member) is available to discuss strategies to help balance the Resident Director responsibilities with other time commitments as needed.  

• 24 hours per week during the academic year.
• Prior to the official start of classes and during the end of each semester, the Resident Director can expect an additional time commitment devoted to both mandatory ResStaff Training, and Student Move-in and Move-Out. This differs from the weekly 20-hour commitment when the school year begins. 
• The appointment dates for 2024-2025 are August 2024 – May 2025. If Henderson House is open for spring and summer terms, an RD appointment will be determined during Winter term. The start date for this position is August 1st. 
• Commit to a nine month appointment which begins in August.  Resident Director will be required to be present when the community remains open to ensure resident and operational needs are met. 
  • Resident Directors are permitted a total of 18 nights away during the academic year. Nights will be prorated should a Resident Director be offered a position after the initial start date. Resident Director is expected to work with their supervisor and colleagues to ensure appropriate coverage for their communities should they need to be away from the community. There will be peak times where time away requests will not be approved such as during large move-ins and mandatory training. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the primary advisor to the eight Service Committee members as the guiding body of peers for a smooth operation of the house, in consultation with the Hall Director. Meet with Service Committee members individually once a month to check-in and provide feedback. Convene and facilitate a weekly meeting with Service Committee members to discuss resident needs, cooperative operation of the house, and interpersonal topics.  
• Being a liaison to the service committee and communicating MHousing updates to the committee and communicating concerns up from the Service committee.
• Build community in the house by participating in and encouraging social interaction, planning and implementing social programming (with Henderson House Service Committee), and demonstrating consistent availability and accessibility to residents.  
• Hold at least 3 hours a week of predictable “open hours”, to be available for residents.
• Get to know all residents and advise and respond to residents that may be struggling personally or academically and refer them to the appropriate campus resources.  Work with Michigan Housing Residence Education for advising/assistance.
• Assist in any conflict resolution and harm restoration within the community, in consultation with the Hall Director.
• Attend and co-facilitate weekly Henderson House All House Meetings and Service Committee Meetings. 
• Demonstrate a commitment to multiculturalism by striving to create an understanding and inclusive community where individuals have a sense of belonging. 
• Work with the Hall Director to assess the community needs, ensure that traditions are supported, and guide the program planning process. Work with the Hall Director to ensure the finance guidelines and the Student Life and Residence Education procurement procedures are followed.
• Maintain a presence in the House after hours and on weekends and serve in an on-duty role. 
• Maintain the Community Living Standards by addressing and documenting violations, while modeling personal behavior that is consistent with the Community Living Standards, Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities, and all State and Federal laws.
• Seek support in responding to critical incidents and significant facilities issues by contacting the Hall Director on Duty.  
• Ensure that students are aware of whom to contact regarding personal safety and critical incidents. In consultation with the Hall Director, invite University offices to give presentations to the residents. Include contact information in the House Guidelines, and posted in the building, as needed.
• Facilitate the opening and the closing of the building, in liaison with campus partners each semester.
• Encourage residents to submit fix-it requests for needed repairs in resident rooms and common spaces using established procedures.
• Share information with prospective residents and direct them to the Housing Information Office to sign a Housing contract.
• Attend all Board of Governor meetings and Board-related committee meetings. They will work with the HD to provide an update for the Board of Governors. They will also provide a report from the meeting to the HD.
• Participate in August and January training, in addition to any in-service(s) throughout the semester, to learn critical topics to support residents and build relationships with fellow ResStaff members and full-time staff. 

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Must be enrolled as a full time graduate or professional student at the University of Michigan.
• Must be in good academic standing.
  • Graduate & Professional Students (Masters/Certificates)
    • Minimum Required GPA (term & cumulative) – 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, 5.0 GPA on a 8.0 scale, or 5.5 GPA on a 9.0 scale
    • Required Credit Enrollment per Semester – 6 Credit Hours
  • Graduate & Professional Students (Doctoral candidate)
    • Minimum Required GPA (term & cumulative) – 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, – 5.0 GPA on a 8.0 scale or 5.5 GPA on a 9.0 scale
    • Must provide proof of enrollment each semester they are appointed.
• Must be in good standing with Student Life and the University. This includes upholding all policies and procedures as defined by the University of Michigan Standard Practice Guide, the Michigan Housing Community Living at Michigan, the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibility, and any other applicable University policies and procedures.
• Must comply with all institutional, local, state, and federal laws or guidance.
• Housing Student Conflict Resolution, Housing Student Employment Work Record, University Records, and the Office of Student Conflict Resolution records will be checked to determine if an applicant is eligible to be hired for a student position. Final position offers are contingent upon verification of background check.
• Must adhere to all roles, responsibilities, and expectations for the entire duration of the appointment including academic breaks where absence, including academic or personal leave, from these duties must be approved by the Hall Director.
• Must be available to attend all of the training including August and January training. There may be additional training during the on-boarding process.  
• If you apply during the 2024-2025 Resident Director selection cycle and are not offered a position, you may not apply again until the 2025-2026 Resident Director selection process begins. We are unable to make exceptions to this requirement even if the application reopens.
• Resident Director will not be eligible to hold other Residence Education student positions during their appointment.

Applicants with international visas should consult with the International Center about work permit and/or visa limitations. Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) should consult with their academic department regarding eligibility to hold both appointments.

SUPERVISION

A Hall Director directly supervises the Resident Director.

COMPENSATION

Compensation is in the form of a one-bedroom furnished apartment and one Henderson House parking permit. The Henderson House RD will receive a Henderson House board plan, and a stipend of $500 per month. 

Please consult with the Office of Financial Aid to determine how the position compensation may impact your award package.