Head Resident Advisor Staff Manual 2020-2021 - Roanoke ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Head Resident Advisor
Staff Manual
2020-2021
1INTRODUCTIONS
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Position Description
HEAD RESIDENT ADVISOR
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. This agreement must be completed in full to be valid.
2. This agreement is for one academic year or the remainder thereof unless terminated by Roanoke College
for breach of the terms and conditions stated herein.
3. The delivery of this agreement by the Office of Residence Life & Housing to the student constitutes an offer
of a Head Resident Advisor position and the signing of this agreement by the student constitutes an
acceptance thereof.
PERIOD AND TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT - The Head Resident Advisor (HRA) is a 25 hour per week appointment
and is appointed for a full academic year (or the remainder thereof), beginning with HRA training and
extending until all duties are completed following spring commencement. Full participation in Spring staff
selection process is mandatory. Full participation in fall and spring training, and staff development is
mandatory.
The HRA is to remain on campus until the day following the hall closing for each designated break and to
return to campus the day before the halls reopen, or as otherwise instructed by the supervisor. Residence
halls do not close during the Easter holiday, and full coverage of each building/area is required. Individual
staffs will determine Easter coverage for the respective residence hall/area.
The Head Resident Advisor is required to remain on campus for the first two weekends of fall semester, Family
Weekend, and Alumni Weekend.
EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES - The Head Resident Advisor will consider his/her job as priority before
extracurricular activities. If a Head Resident Advisor is not fulfilling his/her duties because of other activities,
the ADs may recommend that the Head Resident Advisor’s participation in those other activities be reduced or
cease. The Head Resident Advisor may not, without prior approval of their supervisor, be President of any
campus organization.
ADDITIONAL EMPLOYMENT - The Head Resident Advisor may hold no other outside employment (off-
campus) without prior approval from their direct supervisor. The Head Resident Advisor may not hold another
job on campus. A time schedule of outside work commitments must be submitted to your supervisor within
10 class days of the start of each term.
ACADEMIC STANDING - Academics are of the highest priority. Each term of employment, the Head Resident
Advisor must attain a 2.5 GPA and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above. If the Head Resident Advisor
does not attain a 2.5 GPA and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above any term that he/she is employed,
he/she will be placed on academic job probation. If, during his/her period of academic job probation, the
Head Resident Advisor does not attain a 2.5 GPA and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or above, his/her
employment as the Head Resident Advisor may be terminated.
2HALL/ROOM ASSIGNMENT - The Head Resident Advisor will be placed to provide the best assistance for the
Residence Life staff. The Head Resident Advisor hall assignment and placement is subject to change at the
discretion of Residence Life & Housing. It is possible that the Head Resident Advisor may be required to have
a roommate in certain placements. In the event the Head Resident Advisor’s employment is terminated during
the academic year, the Head Resident Advisor will be required to relocate to another floor and/or building
within 48 hours.
REAPPOINTMENT - Reappointment is contingent on evaluations by the professional Residence Life & Housing
staff and the Head Resident Advisor's performance during the period of employment. Prior experience as HRA
does not necessarily lead to re-hire, if eligible.
REMUNERATION - The Head Resident Advisors will be paid on a biweekly basis. Paychecks are paid via direct
deposit.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES - The Head Resident Advisor position
responsibilities may include any/all of the following items depending on housing placement and needs of the
supervisor.
Head Resident Advisor
1. The HRA will function as an RA on the assigned floor in the manner outlined in the RA job description.
2. Spend sufficient time in your respective community in order to familiarize yourself with the Residence Life
& Housing staff and residents.
3. Maintain a welcoming and non-threatening setting in your residence hall room(s).
4. Serve as peer counselors for residents and staff members within the limits of training and capability.
5. Be available to mediate low-level resident and staff conflicts as needed.
6. Serve as co-advisor for Neighborhood Council and assist with Neighborhood Council initiatives as needed.
Duty and On-Call Responsibilities
1. Shares weekly on-call duty responsibilities beginning at 6:45p.m. on through 7:00 a.m. each day.
a. The HRA must be on campus while on call.
2. The HRA on-call duty rotation is excluded from much of Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, and
Spring Break.
3. The HRA does not participate in the regular RA duty rotation unless coverage absolutely cannot be found.
Meetings and Other Scheduled Responsibilities
1. Hold monthly one-on-one meetings with Neighborhood staff members to offer guidance on job
performance and gather feedback for professional staff if applicable.
2. Attend bi-weekly HRA meetings with AD supervision and participate in Residence Life & Housing
professional development sessions, as needed.
3. Facilitate weekly Neighborhood staff meetings in AD’s absence.
4. Return in the fall for HRA training/retreat and assisting with Fall Training planning/implementation.
5. Work with the AD to develop and implement team building and staff development activities.
6. In addition to carrying out Move-In Day responsibilities on assigned floor/hall, the HRA will serve as
additional support for Neighborhood staff.
7. Assist with Residence Life & Housing functions and events as needed.
Administrative Tasks
31. Keep AD informed of any new maintenance/housekeeping requests and follow up on unresolved
problems/work orders.
2. Assist with coordinating duty schedule of RA staff in your respective Neighborhood. Responsibilities
include ensuring duty coverage and approving/not approving duty changes. The HRA will update the duty
calendar and inform the AD of any duty changes.
3. Assist in coordinating Health & Safety Inspections.
4. Assist AD with building openings/closings/fire drills.
5. Contribute to bi-annual performance evaluations with AD as appropriate.
Programming
1. Provide assistance with Neighborhood community development initiatives. Responsibilities include but
are not limited to: assisting AD with facilitating community standards, working with Neighborhood Council
in their programming efforts, monitoring Neighborhood staff efforts (program proposals & evaluations,
bulletin boards, door tags, social media), and providing creative guidance/ideas to Neighborhood staff.
2. Communicate all program spending requests from Neighborhood staff with AD for final approval.
Other
1. The HRA will perform any other duties as assigned by the Director of Residence Life & Housing or his/her
designee.
2. Unless prior supervisory approval has been obtained, failure to perform duties as assigned will result in
job disciplinary action. Supervisors will consider extenuating circumstances. However, the following
actions may be taken: 1st infraction – meeting with the supervisor and letter of warning in personnel file,
2nd infraction – meeting with the supervisor and job probation, 3rd infraction – job termination. Bi-weekly
pay will be reduced for missed activities or assignments.
NAME (please print) _____________________________________________________
Last First MI
I have read and understand the terms of the Roanoke College Head Resident Advisor Work Agreement as
follows and accept an appointment as Head Resident Advisor. I understand that by accepting this position, I
exclude myself from participation in the Off Campus and Room Selection Processes for the following year.
____________________________________________________________
HRA Signature Date
The Head RA will fulfill all expectations from the Office of Residence Life & Housing, their supervisors, etc.
The HRA will abide by and support all College policies, procedures, and State/Federal laws.
4EXPECTATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
…………………………………………………………………………………….
Having Successful Meetings
One-on-One Meetings with a Supervisor
During your time as a Head RA, you will meet every two weeks with your supervisor. These bi-weekly meetings
are meant to give your supervisor a glimpse into your performance, community, and needs, as well as the
needs of other staff members and their concerns. It is your time to ask questions, explain situations, and to
provide/receive feedback about your building/hall, staff, and Neighborhood.
One-on-One Meetings with RA’s
As a Head RA, you have a unique opportunity to be a mentor to other RA’s/GRM’s. One of the responsibilities
of your job is to conduct monthly one-on-one meetings with Neighborhood staff members. If you have
another co-Head RA, you may choose to split your staff in half and take turns alternating which RA’s/GRM’s
you meet with, or you may find some other alternative plan that best suits you and your staff.
During these one-on-ones, you are encouraged to ask about classes, homework, how they’re balancing their
role as student and RA/GRM, challenges they have faced, upcoming programs or hall events, if they need help
with anything, staff concerns, etc. These meetings do not need to be formal affairs; you can plan to meet
them for lunch or dinner, while doing door tags, in your rooms, and any time of the day you two see fit. Your
primary goal is to check-in with them, show support, provide advice and encouragement, and answer any
questions they may have. After these meetings, you should use your best judgement; if there is anything you
feel you need to report to the AD, you should.
Staff Meetings
These weekly meetings a great opportunity for dialogue, training, and discussion about things concerning our
residents and community. There may be times when your AD needs to cover formal information, but there will
be opportunities for you to lead staff meetings, as well. Your meetings could include providing advice, leading
a team builder, facilitating a conversation about a topic related to leadership, leading a developmental
activity, etc. Your AD will be able to provide advance notice of when you are asked to lead a staff meeting,
and you will have the opportunity to work with the AD beforehand to ensure you are prepared. It is also
important that you take notes during staff meetings your AD leads, so you are able to share reminders with
RA’s/GRM’s or provide answers when they come to you with questions.
In-Service Meetings
As you already know, In-Service meetings occur regularly throughout the academic year. These meetings are
mandatory, and the tentative dates for the In-Service meetings this will be announced.
If you feel there is a topic the professional staff needs to cover during an In-Service meeting, it is your
responsibility to bring it to our attention. Additionally, just like with any other meeting, it is important to come
prepared. Bring paper or a notebook and something to write with; arrive early, bring any questions or
suggestions you may have, be willing to share your experiences and knowledge, and bring a positive attitude.
5Head RA Meetings
These monthly Head RA meetings occur throughout the academic year. They provide you an opportunity to meet as a
group with the Director of Residence Life & Housing to discuss leadership, explain concerns, share information about the
happenings in your Neighborhood, and work on developing your skills and talents. During these meetings, you may also
learn of tasks or projects you can help on or lead.
Assigning Duty
As a Head RA, you are responsible you assigning RA’s duty shifts for your Neighborhood. There are a few ways
to accomplish the task, and you can do it however you prefer or at your AD’s discretion.
One way is to ask your fellow staff members to bring their dates of availability (or dates they are not available)
to a staff meeting or email you. You can use this information to create a duty calendar, and then inform them
of their assigned days in advance. Additionally, you could have the staff select random numbers, and then
take turns in numerical order picking duty days. You can also elect to assign duty on a monthly basis or do an
entire semester at once.
Furthermore, Head RA’s ensure duty coverage by approving/not approving duty changes. The HRA will update
the duty calendar and inform their AD of any duty changes if applicable.
Once you have assigned duty, your next step is to put it on our shared Google Calendar. This calendar allows
the Residence Life Pro Staff, Campus Safety, and pertinent campus partners know who is on duty and who
they should call. Each Neighborhood is assigned a certain “color” on the calendar to differentiate between
them. Be sure to include the first and last name of the RA(s) on duty and the Neighborhood in which they
work when adding the assignments to the calendar. The login information to this account will be shared with
you by your AD, but it is not to be shared with others.
DUTY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
………………………………………………………………………………….
6Duty Procedures
A duty shift begins at 7:00pm and ends at 7:00am the following morning. Head RA’s are on duty and available
to assist students, RA’s, GRM’s, Campus Safety Officers, and AD’s with emergencies and situations at night. On
these nights, the HRA will receive sign-on phone calls between 6:45-7:15pm from the RA’s, and then contact
the AD On Duty to report that everyone has signed on and is ready for the responsibilities. Should a
Neighborhood fail to call to check-in by 7:15pm, it is the responsibility of the Head RA to try to locate the
individual on duty. Head RA’s are asked to stay within the residential areas of campus and be prepared to
assist when called. HRA’s may be called upon to assist with medical emergencies, conduct situations, or when
someone has a question or needs assistance in handling something that has come up.
Duty Phone
There is one Head RA duty phone. The Head RA for Thursday night will pick up the phone in the main
Residence Life & Housing Office prior to 4:30pm. The office is closed and locked after this time, so it is
important to make time earlier in the day to pick up the phone. If there is another Head RA on Duty that takes
over during the weekend, the Head RA’s are responsible for ensuring the phone is passed over to the next
Head RA.
Head RA’s are expected to carry the phone at all times while on duty, keep the volume turned up, and return
the phone to its charger in the main office on Mondays before 12:00pm.
Common Area Checks
During your time on Head RA duty, one of your responsibilities is to do a check of common areas at some
point that evening/weekend. This includes visiting each common area in your Neighborhood and taking a
photo of each space. It is recommended you use the social media app Snapchat and include the building and
floor number in the caption line for the photo. You should save these photos and email it to the AD of your
Neighborhood immediately following your checks. The purpose of this check is maintain a record of common
area conditions and furniture inventory. Your photos will help professional staff be able to narrow down a
timeline should common area furniture go missing. Take note of missing COVID signs and distribute to
appropriate student staff to be replaced.
College Breaks and Holidays
RA’s and HRA’s are on duty during college breaks and holidays. Because each Neighborhood has a varying
number of staff members, professional staff have created a calendar that would require each Head RA to work
two break or holiday nights. These could take place during Fall/Spring breaks, Winter break, Alumni Weekend,
St. Patrick’s Day, Alumni Weekend, etc. During these times, all duty restrictions and guidelines apply. During
some of these times, Commons may not be open, and students are expected to provide their own meals.
Assignments
There will be a time with the Head RA staff where volunteers for working specific break or holidays are asked
to come forward. Any spaces left open will be filled by drawing names at random until each staff member
has two of these duty nights. If a Head RA’s name is drawn, and they absolutely cannot work the time
assigned, it would be up to that Head RA to switch duty for a different portion of College break periods or
work with the remaining Head RA’s to find somebody to cover for them. Please know that each Head RA is
compensated appropriately to cover break duties, and it is considered a responsibility to serve on duty during
7breaks. As of right now there is no break duty. As a staff, you will decide on assignments at the beginning of
each semester.
Other/Administrative Responsibilities
………………………………………………………………………………….
Throughout your time as a Head RA, you will be asked to complete or take the lead on other administrative
responsibilities. While these may seem the most mundane and monotonous, they are equally as important.
These responsibilities help Residence Life & Housing stay organized and consistent, ensure student safety,
comply with local and federal laws, and provide appropriate services to residents. They also provide support
to the AD’s, help form a cohesive staff, and strengthen the overall operation of your Neighborhood.
Bulletin Boards and Door Tags
As you already know, completing bulletin boards and door tags are a part of the RA and HRA responsibilities.
Each month, after bulletin boards are due, your AD may ask that you walk through each floor to check that
bulletin boards are complete and report back to the AD. You may also be asked to help provide advice or
suggestions to RA’s regarding door tags or bulletin boards, or physically help them create or put them up.
Care Team
As a Head RA, you may be called on to complete Care Team check-ins with residents of your area. Students are
placed on Care Team when others in the campus community report concerns. This could be because they have
stopped attending class, have failed to turn in many assignments in a row, appear disengaged from classmates
or friends, have experienced a medical problem, etc. Your AD may reach out to you and request that you find
a student to check-in.
When talking with the student, you do not necessarily need to tell them they are on Care Team’s radar, but
you should ask questions regarding how classes are going, what classes are most difficult or most enjoyable
and what makes them as such, if they have a lot of homework, if they’ve decided a major and/or why they
chose their major, etc. Based off their answers, you may be able to refer them to a campus resource or share
some advice from your own experiences. You can also ask about what clubs they are involved in, what
interests they may have, if they get along with their roommate, etc. Based off their answers, you can maybe
recommend a club or organization, help connect them with someone with similar interests, etc. For students
who have experienced a medical problem, you can check-in to see if they’re feeling better, if they need to visit
Health Services, etc. In any case, you could even go so far as to walk with them over to a campus resource
office, such as The Center for Learning and Teaching, help them make an appointment with a tutor or a
counselor, or find the meeting time and location of a club.
After you’ve checked-in with the student, you should provide a clear and thorough update to your AD, so they
can update the members of Care Team and determine how best to proceed.
Fire Drills
Fire drills are performed in each building twice a semester – once within the first two weeks of the semester’s
start, and again after Fall/Spring break.
8For these drills, your AD will likely complete the first drill of the academic year with you. Beyond that, they
may ask you take the lead on coordinating fire drills. This could involve picking up the Master Keys for the
halls in the main office, assigning RA’s/GRM’s to count at different doors or go through the halls, returning the
Master keys the next day, or completing the Fire Drill Report Form. The Fire Drill Report Form may be provided
to you by your AD. If asked to complete this task, please take time filling out the student count for each hall,
the times, the staff members present, and other pertinent information on the form.
The Fire Drill Report Form should be submitted back to your AD at their discretion.
Neighborhood Council
Each Head RA, excluding the apartment Head RA’s, has a responsibility to co-advise the Neighborhood Council
with their Assistant Director. Initially, Head RA’s should encourage participation amongst their residents and
help run Elections. Additionally, they should plan to attend most of the Neighborhood Council General
Meetings each semester. You may be asked to help provide programming advice or physical help at programs,
communicate resident needs or wants to the Council, and help them stay within the parameters of their
Constitution and achieve their goals. Your AD may also have specific needs or tasks that you can assist with.
RA/GRM Selection
One really fun aspect of being a Head RA is the opportunity to assist with RA/GRM Selection each spring. As
you know, these students are primarily hired at the beginning of the spring semester for the following
academic year. Each spring, you will have an opportunity to help evaluate students who have applied during
the Group Interview round. Additionally, you will be asked to help the Residence Life & Housing professional
staff conduct in-person interviews and share your thoughts and input.
Roommate Agreements and Mediations
Roommate agreement forms will be distributed to you by your AD during Fall training, but are also available in
the Residence Life & Housing main office. These forms should be given to each of your residents, and
especially to freshman students, to complete. There may be times when either the AD or another RA asks you
to help facilitate a roommate mediation. As the facilitator of these conversations, your role is to help find a
solution that the disputing parties feel they are able to uphold. You can reach a solution by asking open ended
questions, discussing each residents needs vs. wants, and trying to put things into perspective for everyone
involved. If you feel the problem is unable to be resolved, beyond your scope of abilities, or you cannot serve
as a neutral party due to personal bias or friendships, please notify your AD to ask for their assistance.
The “Shack”
Each Head RA has a key to the Resource Room, or the “Shack.” RA’s/GRM’s are asked to contact Head RA’s if
they need access to the Shack after hours. You can work with the RA/GRM to schedule a time that best suits
each of you to let them into this space.
Additionally, the Head RA in Afton Hall has an additional responsibility to ensure the “Shack” is always
stocked, clean, maintained, and supplies are in order and present. If there are any needs that this Head RA
notices or are brought to their attention, it is their responsibility to communicate these needs to the Program
Coordinator in the main office at their earliest chance.
9Social Media
Because the HRA in Afton Hall is responsible for maintaining the Shack, the HRA in Liz Hall is responsible for
the managing the department’s social media pages – this includes Facebook and Instagram. The Head RA
should try to post at least once per week on each social media account, although there are peak times of the
year when posts may need to occur more frequently. Throughout the year, the Head RA should attend
programs in each Neighborhood to take photos of events and upload them to the social media accounts. (S)he
is also responsible for disseminating information regarding housing selection, RA/GRM applications and
interviews, hall opening/closing dates, fliers for events, and other pertinent information via social media.
Lastly, the HRA should reach out to other student staff members and AD’s to learn of important happenings in
each Neighborhood that they can capture and share information about.
Residence Hall Association (RHA)
The two apartment Head RA’s also have a unique opportunity to co-advise RHA. This organization is a
governing body for all residential students that provides programming and events and also serves as a voice
and liaison of residential students. The RHA Executive Board provides training, leadership opportunities,
support, and guidance to Neighborhood Councils and their members; organizes campus-wide residential
programming and community service initiatives; and provides funding to Neighborhood Councils or RAs for
programming. The apartment Head RA’s should plan to attend their meetings, trainings, assist with elections,
provide support and advice, and work with an AD to help co-advise the organization.
Opening and Closing the Halls
At the beginning and end of each semester, the halls must all be either opened or closed. To open or close the
halls, your AD may have specific responsibilities for you, but generally this means making sure the hall is
prepared to receive students and the RA’s of your staff understand their role and responsibilities. During
openings or closings, your AD’s may have additional tasks for you or call upon you to help. For example, this
could mean picking up the Masters keys the day prior from the main office for closing. This could also mean
helping other RA’s close their halls or checking to ensure the halls look ready to welcome residents. Your AD
will communicate their needs and your tasks before opening/closing.
During closings, most student staff members cannot leave until the halls are clear of students, thus we always
encourage making sure your residents and RA’s are up early and leaving on-time the day of check-out or
checking rooms to ensure people have left. Because there is much to do when opening and closing a hall, you
are usually asked to arrive/stay at least a day or two earlier/later than other students to help prepare the
halls. It is important to note this when planning and preparing for vacations or making other plans.
Walk-Throughs
There may be times during the academic year when your AD cannot complete their weekly walkthrough due
to calendar scheduling or being out of town. You may be called upon to complete a walk-through of your
Neighborhood. This consists of walking through each hall to check for any work orders, trash concerns,
damages, common area furniture, etc. You may even stop to speak with the housekeepers to introduce
yourself and see if they have any concerns about the halls that you can help address or bring to the attention
of the RA of that floor or AD. Below is a list of things to look for when completing a walkthrough.
Ensure all hallway, common area, and stairwell lights are working
10 Check to make sure kitchens are clean and trash does not contain personal trash or
leftover containers
Look for damages on walls and ceilings, or spills and stains on flooring
Ensure all fire doors shut properly
Check to make sure common areas and laundry rooms are tidy and free of personal
items/clutter
Look to make sure all common area furniture is present
Completing a thorough walk-through of the Neighborhood may require you to become a problem solver. This
could mean knocking on a door when someone has placed their trash in the hall and asking them to take it to
the dumpster. This could mean taking pictures of damages and emailing your AD with the picture so the
problem can be addressed. This could also mean forming a list of work orders and submitting work orders at
the end of your walkthrough. It is still important to communicate any concerns to your AD after you finish a
walk-through.
Advising Styles
………………………………………………………………………………….
As mentioned, Head RA’s have a unique opportunity to be an advisor to other students – both residents and
RA’s/GRM’s alike. This may be a new experience for you, and you may be unsure of how best to do this. There
are many different roles to take when advising, and many styles of advising. Below you will find information
on each topic. You will need to utilize your best judgement when deciding how best to advise a particular
student.
Advising Roles
Team Builder
When leading a staff or advising residents, you may want to assist the students in getting to know one another, as well
as aid in goal alignment for the community. Team building is an important part of any group because it can enhance the
relationship between those participating. It often helps break the initial moment of awkwardness for group members
and gives all participants a similar experience they can share. Team building may come in many forms, including: fun
and easy get-to-know-you activities, game nights, developmental activities, meals, retreats, and much more. Teampedia
(www.teampedia.net) has a wealth of resources for team building activities. Additionally, your AD is a great resource
when deciding on team builders and likely has books and binders full of ideas.
Policy Interpreter
In addition to Residence Life & Housing policies, RA’s/GRM’s have a further set of guiding values, code of
ethics, or behavior guidelines. At times students may be unsure of these policies and how it applies to them
and will act in a manner that is in violation of these policies and guidelines. The more knowledgeable you are
about these policies, the better you will be able to guide them.
Motivator
At times students will become discouraged for a variety of reasons. They could have had a negative
interaction with a resident, feel like they are not doing important work, have a bad day, etc. During these
times, you may play the role of their biggest cheerleader to keep them excited and engaged when they feel
they have hit a wall and want to quit. Encouragement comes in many forms, and it is important to be aware
11that each student is receptive to and appreciates encouragement differently. Getting to know how they like
to be appreciated/motivated will help you tailor your interactions with the staff member or resident.
Educator
This role will often come from guiding students and RA’s/GRM’s with reflection of their actions, role modeling
behavior, and being available to answer questions they may have. One of the most difficult actions of being
an educator may be to do nothing; however, this at times can be a very powerful action. Allowing students to
find success or failure on their own can teach them many valuable lessons. You may be called upon to be an
educator as you lead staff meetings, give suggestions to staff members, help develop their leadership, lead fire
drills, or enforce a policy violation.
Reflective Agent
Reflection is an essential component to learning. As an advisor you may have an opportunity to help the
Residence Life community reflect on how they are performing in many different aspects of their lives. You will
do this through your one-on-ones with your fellow staff members. You may ask them how they believe they
are accomplishing their goals, what their strengths are, and what their areas for improvement are. Be honest
when providing feedback. Let them know when you agree with them, and be considerate when you disagree.
When delivering criticism, it is important to provide concrete examples of times their actions have
contradicted their perceptions.
Mentor
Many students may see you as a mentor and a role model. This relationship may last beyond your years at
Roanoke College and be very rewarding for both of you and is strengthened when there is a genuine interest
in their personal and academic pursuits, as well as a willingness to aide in the student’s development.
Depending on the mentoring relationship, students may want to discuss their personal development. In this
role it is important to actively listen to both the students verbal and nonverbal communication, challenge
ideas and emotions when appropriate, and provide support to meet said challenge. You can also be a mentor
through the way you lead, the way your speak, the way you respond, and the way you act.
Advising Styles
Developmental
This style provides guidance in decision making and in helping students take responsibility for their decisions
and actions. This style focuses on helping students think about and articulate what is important in their
academic and personal lives.
Administrative
This style focuses on providing guidance and assistance with the administrative aspects of the staff or
Neighborhood Council organization such as structure of events, policies, forms, and budgeting.
Coach
This style focuses on directing and closely supervising task accomplishment. This is often done through
building rapport; assessing tasks; providing feedback; assisting in implementation and planning; and providing
evaluation and follow-up. This style is effective when the group has a few leaders at a higher level of
readiness who may need some assistance with a particular task or with the rest of the group to get things
12accomplished. You may choose to implement this style when assessing bulletin boards, leading fire drills, or
coordinating opening/closing of the halls.
Supporter
This style of advising tends to be more hands on. Advisors typically help facilitate and support efforts towards
accomplishments, and shares responsibility for the decision making process with the students. This style can
be effective when working with a relatively new group or a group that is starting to understand the concepts
that will lead to group success. A good time to utilize this style is when leading team builders or
developmental activities or when facilitating staff meetings.
Director
This style of advising is very hands on and may work best with new groups or groups that are struggling to
work together effectively. Advisors typically provide instructions and work closely supervising tasks and
projects.
As an advisor you may assume various roles, and the list above does not include all roles that an advisor may
undertake. A key idea is to remember an advisor is there to provide advice, and not assume the lead position.
You are there to help provide guidance, suggestions, knowledge, and insight to students as they complete
projects. It is important not to do the work for them. Students will learn through failures and successes if
they were the ones who put in the effort.
13You can also read
