Residence Life Coordinator

Title: Residence Life Coordinator

VP Area: Student Affairs

Department: Housing

Published Salary Range: 41,000 + Housing and Meal Plan

Job Summary/Basic Function:

SUMMARY

Reporting to the Senior Director of Student Affairs, the Residence Life Coordinator supports the student experience for students living on campus at Lake Superior State University. This entry-level position focuses on building residential community, supporting student development, supervising Resident Assistants, coordinating residence hall programming, and helping create safe, welcoming, and engaged living environments.

The Residence Life Coordinator serves as a visible and approachable professional staff member in the residence halls. The position works directly with students, Resident Assistants, campus partners, and Student Affairs staff to strengthen belonging, personal responsibility, academic success, and connection to the LSSU community.

This role is designed for a developing student affairs professional who can build relationships with students, lead student staff, manage multiple priorities, respond to student concerns, and support the day-to-day needs of residential communities. The position requires strong communication, sound judgment, organization, follow-through, and a student-centered approach.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Residential Community Development and Student Experience

• Develop and support residential communities that promote student connection, belonging, respect, accountability, and engagement.
• Maintain regular visibility in assigned residential areas through hall presence, student conversations, community meetings, programs, and campus events.
• Create opportunities for students living on campus to connect with peers, build healthy relationships, learn campus expectations, and participate in the broader LSSU community.
• Support students through common transition issues related to living with others, navigating campus resources, adjusting to college life, and developing independence.
• Promote a residential environment that supports student learning, personal growth, academic success, and retention.

Residence Hall Programming and Engagement

• Plan, coordinate, and assess residence hall programs that support student development, community building, wellness, inclusion, academic success, leadership, and responsible decision-making.
• Guide Resident Assistants in creating intentional programs, floor activities, passive engagement opportunities, and community-building efforts that respond to student needs.
• Support campus traditions, move-in activities, welcome programs, housing events, and other initiatives that improve the student experience for residential students.
• Coordinate program logistics, including supplies, communication, attendance tracking, marketing, setup, and post-program follow-up.
• Use student feedback, attendance data, and observed community needs to improve residential programming and engagement efforts.

Resident Assistant Supervision and Development

• Supervise, train, schedule, coach, and evaluate Resident Assistants and other student staff assigned to residential communities.
• Hold regular staff meetings, one-on-one meetings, and check-ins to support student staff performance, learning, and accountability.
• Help Resident Assistants understand and carry out expectations related to community development, programming, duty, documentation, policy education, student support, and role modeling.
• Assist with Resident Assistant recruitment, selection, training, onboarding, recognition, and ongoing development.
• Address student staff concerns in a timely and developmental manner, using coaching, documentation, and accountability processes when needed.

Student Support and Resource Referral

• Serve as a first point of contact for residential students seeking help, information, or support related to campus life, housing, roommate concerns, personal challenges, or adjustment to college.
• Connect students with appropriate campus and community resources, including Student Affairs, Counseling Services, Health Services, Accessibility Services, Academic Support, Public Safety, Financial Aid, and other offices as needed.
• Support follow-up with students after referrals, concerns, roommate conflicts, or residence hall incidents to help reduce barriers and encourage appropriate connection to resources.
• Document student concerns, referrals, and follow-up according to university procedures and expectations.
• Consult with professional staff when student concerns require specialized support, elevated response, or additional review.

Community Standards and Conflict Support

• Educate students and Resident Assistants on residence hall expectations, university policies, community standards, and responsible decision-making.
• Assist with low-level residence hall conduct follow-up, policy conversations, and educational interventions as assigned.
• Support roommate mediation, conflict coaching, and community conversations that help students address concerns respectfully and productively.
• Refer higher-level conduct matters, safety concerns, and complex student issues to the appropriate professional staff member or university process.
• Promote restorative, educational, and developmental approaches when responding to residential community concerns.

Housing Operations Support

• Assist with housing operations that affect the residential student experience, including move-in, move-out, room changes, room condition processes, key coordination, occupancy checks, health and safety checks, and hall opening and closing procedures.
• Work with Housing and Residence Life staff to support accurate communication with students about housing processes, deadlines, expectations, and available resources.
• Partner with Facilities, Public Safety, Dining, Information Technology, and other campus offices to address residence hall needs and student concerns.
• Help identify and communicate facility, safety, maintenance, and quality-of-life concerns that affect students living on campus.

Crisis Response and On-Call Support

• Participate in the Housing and Residence Life on-call rotation and respond to student, facility, safety, and community concerns after hours as assigned.
• Provide guidance to Resident Assistants and student staff during duty shifts, incident response, and after-hours situations.
• Follow university protocols for emergency response, documentation, notification, and escalation.
• Collaborate with Public Safety, Student Affairs staff, and other campus partners during residence hall incidents and student concerns.

Assessment and Administrative Support

• Maintain accurate records related to student staff, programming, community development, student concerns, incidents, duty, and residential engagement.
• Track participation, feedback, trends, and student needs to improve residence life programs and services.
• Assist with reports, communication, forms, calendars, student staff schedules, training materials, and other administrative work that supports Residence Life operations.
• Use university systems and technology to support recordkeeping, communication, student engagement, and housing-related processes.

Professional Practice

• Follow university policies, procedures, and expectations.
• Demonstrate professionalism, ethical decision-making, sound judgment, confidentiality, and commitment to student success.
• Work collaboratively with Student Affairs, Housing and Residence Life, faculty, staff, student leaders, and campus partners.
• Stay informed about current practices in residence life, student development, student staff supervision, community building, and residential education.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

SCHEDULE EXPECTATIONS

• This position supports residential students, residence hall communities, Resident Assistants, and campus housing operations. The standard work schedule may vary based on student needs, residence hall programming, move-in and move-out periods, training, campus events, and department priorities.
• Some evening and weekend work is required. This position participates in the Housing and Residence Life on-call rotation and must be able to respond to student, facility, safety, and community concerns after hours as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS & COMPETENCIES

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Basic understanding of student development, residence life, student engagement, leadership development, peer education, or related student support practices.
• Strong interpersonal, communication, organization, problem-solving, and follow-through skills.
• Ability to supervise, train, support, and hold student staff accountable.
• Ability to build relationships with students and support a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive residential community.
• Ability to manage multiple responsibilities, respond to student concerns, and seek guidance when needed.
• Ability to use technology to support communication, documentation, scheduling, programming, and housing operations.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule that includes evenings, weekends, move-in and move-out periods, training, and participation in an on-call rotation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, Student Affairs, Educational Leadership, Counseling, or a related field.
• Experience working in residence life, housing, student affairs, orientation, student activities, peer education, or a related college student support area.
• Experience serving as a Resident Assistant, student leader, graduate assistant, peer mentor, or student staff supervisor.
• Experience planning programs, building community, supporting students in transition, or working with student staff.
• Experience using housing software, student engagement platforms, incident reporting systems, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, or similar technology.

Professional Competencies

• Personal and Ethical Foundations: Demonstrate ethical decision-making, confidentiality, professionalism, and personal accountability in student affairs practice.
• Values, Philosophy, and History: Understand the role of residence life in supporting student learning, belonging, persistence, and the residential student experience.
• Assessment, Evaluation, and Research: Use participation data, student feedback, and observed community needs to improve programs, supervision, and residential support services.
• Law, Policy, and Governance: Apply university policies, housing procedures, and community standards consistently while consulting supervisors on matters with legal, safety, or policy implications.
• Organizational and Human Resources: Support effective use of student staff, time, space, supplies, and university resources to meet residential community needs.
• Leadership: Develop leadership skills in self and student staff through coaching, training, feedback, role modeling, and reflection.
• Social Justice and Inclusion: Create residential environments that respect student identities, support belonging, and reduce barriers to participation and connection.
• Student Learning and Development: Apply student development principles to community building, programming, supervision, conflict support, and student conversations.
• Technology: Use university systems and digital tools to communicate, document, track engagement, support housing operations, and improve student service.
• Advising and Supporting: Establish rapport with students, Resident Assistants, colleagues, and campus partners while recognizing different lived experiences and support needs.