Job Description

The Student Engagement Center provides services, support, and co-curricular programs for undergraduate and graduate students. In the Student Engagement Center, professionals and student leaders provide educational programs and activities to help students connect to our community. The Area Coordinator for First-Year Experience works to support an educational, residential, and professional environment where all community members feel valued and respected.

The Area Coordinator for First-Year Experience is a 10-month, live-in position, responsible for supporting the departmental mission through the supervision of 13-20 paraprofessional staff members and the administration of a residential neighborhood(s) of approximately 500-600 students. Special emphasis is placed upon the role of the Area Coordinator of First-Year Experience as an educator, promoting a meaningful integration of academic and residential life. The position has a focus on the first-year experience, supporting students through their transition to college and enhancing their residential experience for their first year on campus.

The Area Coordinator for First-Year Experience reports to the Assistant Director of Residence Life or their designee.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Supervise, evaluate and develop 13-20 Community Assistants, which includes 1-2 Lead Community Assistants.
• Actively participate in recruitment, selection, training, and evaluation of paraprofessional staff.
• Oversee first-year residences ranging from 500-600 undergraduate students.
• Serve as a first-level judicial hearing officer for students referred for policy violations.
• Coordinate openings and closings, maintain occupancy records, develop building inventories, facilitate room changes, and manage damage billing for the area.
• Respond to students and parents with issues and concerns.
• Serve as a mediator for roommate conflicts.
• Perform duties pertaining to fire safety including fire drills, fire safety checks, building walkthroughs, etc.
• Work closely with students in your neighborhood to get connected on campus.
• Perform organic check-ins with students to ensure they are feeling supported by the larger campus community.
• Participate in the first level on-call rotation for after hour crisis response.
• In collaboration with AD, design, implement, and assess a First-Year Residential Curriculum.
• Lead structured early-semester check-ins with first-year students.
• Coordinate residential programming aligned with LLC academic themes.
• Create intentional experiences and opportunities for first-year students to connect with each other and with campus resources.
• Perform the requirements as a Campus Security Authority pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (20 U.S.C. §1092 (f) (Clery Act).
• Other duties as assigned.

Other Information:

This is a full-time, 10-month, live-in, benefits-eligible administrative, non-exempt position. Compensation includes salary, a furnished two-bedroom apartment, assigned parking space, campus gym membership, and the Colleges’ comprehensive benefits package. The Colleges allow a partner/spouse to reside in housing and allows for one approved pet (one dog, cat, caged bird, or maximum 50-gallon aquarium). Professional development funds are also available. This position description is not all-inclusive, as other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned. Salary: $52,856

About HWS

A liberal arts and sciences institution, Hobart and William Smith is known for consistent success in preparing students for meaningful lives and fulfilling careers through an outcomes-based focus on their futures. Our nationally ranked faculty are accessible teachers and scholars known for the impact of their research and distinguished by the depth of their mentorship. World challenges are studied in the classroom where critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills are honed. In the field, knowledge turns into discovery. In office hours, plans are carefully crafted to tie interests and talents to an academic path that motivates beyond graduation.

Our location in the heart of the Finger Lakes allows faculty, staff and students to live and work collaboratively on the banks of a resource-rich lake. Student-athletes play for 30 varsity teams boasting 24 national titles, including the 2023 and 2024 NCAA DIII Men’s Ice Hockey Championships. With three graduate programs, students can build on their undergraduate degree with a Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership, Master of Arts in Teaching, or a Master of Science in Management. Together, the experiences and mentorship at HWS prepare students to lead lives of consequence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education. Master’s preferred in Higher Education Administration, College Student Personnel, Counseling or a related field.
• Experience working in higher education, including an understanding of a residential liberal arts college.
• Energy and enthusiasm for working in a collaborative, vibrant, and creative environment.
• Possess strong communication skills and be willing to take initiative.
• Strong customer service orientation; positive, helpful, resourceful
• Sense of humor and flexibility with the day-to-day activities and demands of a residential campus.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The Colleges are an equal employment opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment in their programs and activities against employees or applicants based on race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, caregiver status, military status, including past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, social class, or any other category or characteristic protected by applicable law.