Welcome!

I am pleased that you are considering joining the Residential Life staff at UConn. I have worked in the department for many years and find it to be both a supportive and ever-changing environment. Our focus is on students and our goals include helping them: achieve personal success, become interpersonally competent, and to become intellectually engaged as a University student.

In order for students to be successful and achieve their goals, professional staff who help to facilitate this need to work in an environment that is both supportive and provides appropriate challenges.

If you join the UConn staff you will be provided with a meaningful and well thought out on-boarding and training program. Our training has been designed and will be carried out by staff who understand what is necessary to make a transition to a new role go smoothly. You will also have the opportunity to work with an experienced supervisor who has been at the institution for several years. This is someone who can guide you in our daily work and can work with you to design a developmental plan that will focus on skill acquisition and development related to jobs you may want to consider in the future.

Although UConn is a land-grant institution located in a rural part of Connecticut there are many opportunities for fun and relaxation within the state and throughout the surrounding states, which are only a short distance away.

I hope that you have a chance to learn more about UConn and that you find the opportunities we have to offer you. We look forward to learning more about candidates who are interested in UConn’s residential life program!

Thank you for your interest in our Residence Hall Director (HD) position at the University of Connecticut! It is an exciting time in the Department of Residential Life and I am thrilled that you are considering UConn as a next step in your career.

The primary purpose of the HD is to support the health, safety and well-being of residential students. Residence Hall Directors are also responsible for the overall student learning and community development in the residence halls by implementing our Residential Learning Model. The HD supervises Resident Assistants (and may supervise a graduate level Assistant Residence Hall Director) in an area of approximately 400-700 residents.

As the state's flagship institution, UConn Residential Life enhances students’ personal, interpersonal, and intellectual growth by creating safe and inclusive environments, producing innovative programs and services, and fostering meaningful relationships. Our comprehensive, student-centered, residential program houses over 12,000 students. Approximately 70% of the undergraduate student population resides in university-managed housing. We offer our students an array of housing facilities and options to enhance their learning experience, including a variety of learning communities.

Residential Life is committed to providing support and encouragement for individual staff members’ professional development as it relates to the mission and goals of Residential Life. An example of some of the opportunities that our staff have been involved with include ACUHO-I, NASPA, ACPA, NEACUHO, NASPA Region 1 and ASCA. If you join our team, you will work with your supervisor, an Assistant Director of Residence Education, to map out professional development opportunities that best suit your goals and the vision of the department.

Thanks again for your interest in the Residence Hall Director position at UConn!

Go Huskies!

Nate Gordon
Assistant Director of Residence Education
Search Chair

• Development Plan - Each Hall Director meets individually with their direct supervisor to develop an intentional professional development plan. These plans are designed around the needs and interests of each HD and the needs of the department.
• Opportunities at UConn - Learning Communities, Themed/Specialty Housing, Traditional Housing, Suite-style Housing, Apartment-style Housing
• Professional Development Funds - Funding is available to participate in regional or national conferences, local events, visit other institutes or purchase books and materials. ResLife also supports HD involvement in leadership roles in other organizations within the Division of Student Affairs.
• The Residential Learning Model (RLM) - The RLM is an intentional way of promoting learning in college and university residence life programs, often referred to as Residential Curriculum
• 12-month Contract with competitive benefits package
• Unionized Position - the University of Connecticut Professional Employee Association Union (UCPEA) offers benefits such as child care reimbursement, professional development funding, work place support. Learn more: http://ucpea.ct.aft.org/
• Hall Director Accommodations - 1-2 bedroom furnished apartments with washer/dryer; family-friendly, live-in partners, pet policy, paid campus parking
• 27 Total Residence Hall Directors - working in team-led areas with other HDs or in solo-led areas

The interview experience starts the day before - all candidates are housed on-campus the night before their interview and will check-out in the morning before breakfast. If candidates are flying in for interviews, transportation will be provided to and from the airport by our HD Search Chair.

Diversity statement - UConn is committed to providing an environment that is open and welcoming to all students. Candidates must prepare a Diversity statement to express their view and commitment to diversity issues on a college campus. Please do some research on organizations/universities/college diversity statements to help formulate and structure your own. Statements are usually about half page, single spaced, and will be shared and discussed during a brief 30min interview with a small group.

Sample Interview Schedule:
Each candidate will have a host from the Search Committee present during their interview day.

• Dinner at a dining hall (night prior)
• Breakfast at a dining hall
• Interview session 1: Residence Education Assistant Directors
• Interview Session 2: UConn student leaders
• Interview Session 3: Residential Life staff
• Lunch with Dr. Pam Schipani, Executive Director of Residential Life, and Nate Gordon, HD Search Committee Chair
• Driving campus tour with host
• Interview Session 4: Diversity Statement
• Interview Session 5: Residence Education Associate Directors
• Interview Session 6: Director of Residence Education
• Wrap-up with Search Committee Chair