Resident First-Year Mentor Position

Student and Community Development

Establish a personal relationship with each first-year resident at the start of the academic year in order to gain an awareness of personalities, attitudes, academic goals, challenges, and health concerns.
Spend the first two weeks of school visiting first-year suites daily and continue regular visits throughout the academic year.
Help students develop relationships with each other so that a cohesive and respectful community is formed on the floor/first-year area.
Encourage residents to participate in regular floor meetings and programs throughout the year by seeking out their input and tailoring programs to their interests and concerns.
Recognize that it is important to be visible and available to students.
Function as an advocate for students by recognizing the problems, concerns, and opinions of individuals and groups. Present the students’ viewpoints to the appropriate University staff, through the appropriate channels. Advise and assist students in their efforts to present their views in the most effective and constructive manner.
Convey to the residents that living in the residence hall is a privilege, not a right.
Help residents develop respectful relationships with the students who live on their floors and in their building. Students should respect other students’ rights with regard to privacy, noise, cleanliness, and other considerations.
Advice and counsel students within the limits of training and capability in academic, personal, and social matters. Utilize Fordham Administrators, such as Resident Directors, University Health Services, the Counseling Center, Dean of Students, Academic Deans, Campus Ministries as resources and references for residents.
Notify the Resident Assistant and Resident Director for First-Years of any roommate conflicts and assist in their mediation.
Develop a strong working relationship with fellow Resident First-Year Mentors, Commuter First-Year Mentors, and the First-Year Resident Assistants that will be serving the first-years you are assigned to during the academic year.

Administrative Responsibilities

Serve under the direct supervision of the Resident Director for First-Years.
Communicate with the supervisor regularly, via daily contact, weekly staff meetings, and regular individual meetings.
Participate in office activities such as Recruit & Select, In-Service Training, and Staff Developments.
Staff members are expected to be present and available for the needs of their floor and the community. Obligations other than the Resident First-Year Mentor position may not exceed 38 hours per week. This includes registered course hours, academic/non-academic internships, and all extracurricular activities. With the exception of academic course-work, no one activity outside of the residential life position should exceed 20 hours per week. Using these guidelines, it will be the responsibility of the supervisor(s) to evaluate the availability of the First-Year Mentor.
Provide a schedule outlining classes, extra-curricular activities, internships, and jobs must be submitted to the Resident Director for First-Years and any changes must be communicated as they arise.
Attend weekly staff meetings of two hours in length possibly within an academic activity period or in the evening.
Assist the Office of Residential Life in implementing all ongoing assessment efforts.
Additional responsibilities and expectations as assigned (primarily determined by, but not limited to, the needs of the staff, resident population, and or the Central Office.

Policies and Responsibilities

Uphold University regulations and act as a role model at all times, on and off-campus. Each Resident Freshman Mentor should be familiar with University and Residential Life expectations with regard to all policies, including drugs and alcohol. Each Resident Freshman Mentor is responsible for his or her own behavior and aware of how it influences the behavior of his or her peers.
Develop an atmosphere in the residence hall in which students have concern and respect for the rights and privileges of others. Help students develop methods for effective enforcement of rules regarding behavior necessary for an atmosphere conducive to study and community living.
Be available 24 hours a day during the first week of the semester. The Resident First-Year Mentor may be asked to assist in the Central Office during the opening.
Resident First-Year Mentors will be expected to return at least two days prior to the opening of the residence hall in January for training. The First-Year Mentor contract terminates 24 hours after Spring Commencement. All Resident Freshman Mentors are expected to work up until then.
Leave time must be made in consultation with the Resident Director for First-Year students.

Programming

Plan, execute, and evaluate a minimum of 3 programs per semester based on the needs and/or interests of the students in the residence hall. Establish a balance between collaborative and independently executed programs for the academic year.
Develop a working relationship with the Residence Hall Association in order to develop programming goals for the building and enhance the residential community.
Maintain a positive working relationship with Jesuits-in-Residence and Faculty in Residence, including incorporating them into the community through involvement in programming within the residence hall.

Duty Responsibilities

All staff will be required to work weekends that involve large events or high activity including, but not limited to opening and closing. Specific staffing decisions will be made by the Resident Director for First-Year students.

Operating Procedures

Disseminate information regarding lottery, move-out, and general housing information.
Be present for and participate in the opening and closing of the building each semester.

Training and Development

Resident Freshman Mentors must be available during the last two or three weeks in August and a few days before the start of the Spring Semester in January. Training is a 24-hour commitment. These dates will be reviewed and updated each year by the Assistant Director of Residential Life on the basis of the academic calendar. Resident Freshman Mentors must attend one out of three/four in-services during each semester. There will be a mid-year Evaluation of the Freshman Mentor job performance.
The Director of Residential Life, the Assistant Director of Residential Life and/or the Resident Director for Freshmen reserve the right to terminate a Resident Freshman Mentor at any time during the year if a Resident Freshman Mentor’s performance is inadequate and contrary to reasonable expectations.