Overnight Desk Assistant (Student)

Work Where You Learn: Build Experience, Grow Skills, and Contribute to Your University Community.

 

This position is available only to enrolled American University students.

 

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Department:

Residence Life Training Leadership Programs

Time Type:

Part time

FLSA Status:

Non-Exempt

Job Description:

Summary:

The Night Desk Assistant (NDA) is a part-time student staff member of Housing & Residence Life and a member of the University’s Division of Student Affairs.  The Night Desk Assistant fulfills a vital role in the residence hall system by helping ensure the safety of the halls, assisting residents with concerns, and welcoming guests and visitors. The Night Desk Assistant works exclusively during the hours of 11:00 PM – 7:00 AM.

The NDA is supervised by a Residential Operations Coordinator with the support from the Assistant Director for Residential Operations and Finance and is expected to work closely with other staff members (other DAs, Resident Assistants, Desk Coordinators, Community Directors, Facilities Management Members, and University College Program Associates, etc.) within the building, as well as across campus.

Essential Functions:

1.) Community Facilitation and Customer Service

• Support the efforts of front desk staff in creating a safe living environment for the residents.

• Answer questions from students, families, faculty, staff, prospective students, and alumni in person and over the phone.

• Follow proper protocol to check in and out guests of residents.

• Treat the concerns of all customers with attentiveness and seriousness.

• Serve as a liaison between students and the supervisor.

• Maintain a working knowledge of the University’s facilities, services, and resources.

• Ensure that the desk is clean, all binders and logs are in appropriate locations, and all supplies are stocked.

2.) Role Modeling and Policy Compliance

• Monitor and enforce access to the residence hall.

• Be well versed in, personally abide by, and help enforce University policies, including the Housing License Agreement. NDAs must also abide by all regulations in federal and local jurisdictions.

• Confront, document, and follow through on violations of published University and Housing & Residence Life policies, regulations, and procedures in an accurate and timely manner.

• Understand that all actions of an NDA (including those engaged in outside of the residence hall) are observed by residents, other NDAs, and staff members. NDAs must hold themselves to a higher standard in all actions.

• Follow the outlined emergency response protocol when necessary, at the desk.

• Assist in the opening, closing, and staffing of the residence hall desks at break times.

• Check residents in and out of their housing assignments using the StarRez housing assignment management software system.

• Issue and track mailbox keys to residents. Submit Mail Key Replacement Forms when residents need replacements.

• Follow lockout protocol to assist residents with regaining access to their rooms when locked out.

3.) Facilities and Operations

• Create temporary access cards for residents that need them.

• Check out administrative keys to groups that have residence hall room reservations.

• Follow proper key distribution procedures to maintain accuracy and security. NDAs must not create or issue keys to anyone, including themselves, without following proper documentation procedures.

• Maintain positive relationships with fellow Desk Assistants, Desk Coordinators, Resident Assistants, Community Directors, HRL staff, Facilities Management, and Program Associates.

• Participate in DA surveys to schedule desk shifts.

• Maintain ongoing communication with Desk Supervisor, fellow Desk Assistant