The Community Assistant (CA) is a graduate student part-time position with the Office of Residential Services. The role is responsible for programming, community development, crisis intervention, and fostering a supportive and productive living environment that supports the mission and goals of our office and Teachers College, Columbia University.
There are currently no scheduled Information Sessions for the next academic year. Please check back around November 2024.
Fill out our Mailing List Form to receive emails when the hiring process opens again.
Applications were due January 23, 2024, at 1 pm EST. No applications submitted after this time will be considered.
First Round Interviews
The anticipated dates are January 29, 2024, to February 9, 2024.
Second Round Interviews
The anticipated dates are February 19, 2024, to March 1, 2024.
Position Offers Sent
The anticipated date for sending position offers is March 11, 2024. The offers will be sent via email.
If you'd like to be notified by email when we open our Community Assistant hiring process again, please fill out our mailing list form.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Community Assistant (CA) is a graduate student part-time position with the Office of Residential Services (ORS). The role is responsible for programming, community development, crisis intervention, and fostering a supportive and productive living environment that supports the mission and goals of our office and Teachers College, Columbia University.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Community Development
CAs will play a crucial role in fostering a vibrant and inclusive residential community. CAs are expected to be proactive, engaging, and knowledgeable about the needs and concerns of our residents, creating an environment that supports personal, social, and academic growth.
Programming
CAs are assigned the responsibility of organizing and carrying out a minimum of six individual and four large-scale programming events for each fall and spring semester. They will also take charge of implementing three programs during the summer. CAs play a crucial role in supporting departmental assessments and are required to follow the appropriate protocols in submitting supporting documentation on programming events.
Engagement
The position involves active participation in community engagement initiatives, some examples include:
Staff Development and Training
The CA position requires being on time and fully participating in person in all training sessions and meetings, especially during fall and spring training periods. CAs must attend weekly staff meetings and engage in one-on-one sessions with their supervisor every two weeks. CAs may also be required to hold and attend emergency meetings. Additional responsibilities involve participating in departmental committees and contributing to the ORS staff recruitment and selection process.
The weekly staff meetings are scheduled for 4 pm on Tuesdays. However, the timing may be flexible if necessary, with full agreement from Community Assistant staff and management.
The following table outlines the typical fall and spring training commitment:
Fall: August 1st - August 25th, 9am-5pm (some weekend and after 5pm requirements)
Spring: January 8th - January 10th, 9am-5pm (some weekend and after 5pm requirements)
Duty and On-Call Coverage
CAs will participate in the on-call duty system, adhering to a rotational schedule determined by the CA staff team. CAs are expected to collaborate with the CA team to ensure the equitable distribution of shifts, taking into consideration holidays and peak travel times. CAs are also expected to collaborate and assist each other by coordinating the rearrangement or exchange of on-call responsibilities when it is both necessary and possible.
The following table outlines the typical on-call shift times:
Weekdays: 5:00 pm to 9:00 am
Weekends: Friday from 5:00 pm to Monday at 9:00 am
Summer Fridays: Friday from 1:00 pm to Monday at 9:00 am
A CA is on call 24/7 for college holidays and any unexpected college closures.
Training and role expectations will be provided to CAs. The following are mandatory requirements for being on call for the position given the responsibilities of the role.
Duty Phone & Bag Expectations
Incident Response
CAs are responsible for promptly addressing a variety of incidents, including emergencies, safety concerns, security issues, policy violations, facility concerns, roommate conflicts, gender-based misconduct, and bias-related incidents.
Weekend Community Tour
When on call over the weekend, CAs are expected to conduct one community tour. CAs may be required to conduct additional tours.
Reporting Responsibilities
Thorough incident documentation is mandatory, with reports to be completed immediately post-incident. CAs are required to put in additional Information and Incident Reports as requested. CAs must report any incidents they become aware of, irrespective of their on-call status. Additionally, CAs are required to follow up on incidents and ongoing situations as requested, ensuring proper documentation as needed.
Safety and Security
The CA should possess a comprehensive knowledge of ORS policies, procedures, and services to effectively assist residents as needed. This involves actively guiding residents to understand and uphold community standards and encouraging residents to take responsibility for their actions, emphasizing the importance of common courtesy and consideration for others. Key responsibilities include:
Housing Processes
The CA is required to provide essential support by participating in year-round move-in, move-out, and room transfer processes as well as other departmental needs as requested. Additionally, the CA is expected to be actively involved in associated ORS Welcome Week programming and orientation.
Typical fall and spring housing process commitments include Move-Ins, Move-Outs, Room Transfers, Opening Preparation, Orientation, and Welcome Events.
Administrative
Other Responsibilities:
TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT
Enrollment Status
The CA must be enrolled in a degree program at Teachers College and registered for classes. The CA must meet all housing eligibility enrollment requirements as outlined in the student housing contract. The CA must be enrolled and registered for a minimum of 1 billable credit or full-time equivalent course each fall and spring semester to reside in campus housing. In order to be eligible for rehire, the CA must be registered for a minimum of 12 billable credits or equivalent during the Term of this Contract (6 billable credits if Start Date is in the spring semester).
Residency
CAs must live in and be present in their assigned unit in Teachers College residence halls during their term of appointment. This position is not a remote or hybrid position.
Teachers College Standing
CAs must remain in good standing with Teachers College and the residential community. CAs may receive a verbal or written warning, be placed on job probation, or be terminated from the CA position for failure to meet job functions.
Period of Appointment
The residence halls are open year-round, with the appointment period including all holidays, winter break, spring break, and summer. CAs who are selected to return to the position will have their position renewed on August 1st. New CAs will work with their supervisor to establish a start date. Graduating CAs work with their supervisor to establish an end date that must occur after graduate move-out.
Time Commitment
The CA role requires an average of 20 weekly hours for various responsibilities, including duty responsibilities, daily email communication, committee participation, resident interactions, meetings, training, program planning and events. While the standard commitment is approximately 20 hours per week, peak periods like training and move-in/move-out may necessitate additional time. CAs also rotate to cover evening, weekend, holiday, and central office closure duties.
The CA position should be the student's primary non-academic activity. CAs should notify their supervisor of any work, internship or outside position commitments. Any commitments of more than 20 hours per week must be approved. All CAs must provide documentation for all academic work commitments necessary for their degree if requested. Full participation and presence in staff training, housing processes, and meetings is a position requirement. Unexcused absences may result in termination.
Availability & Personal Days
The CA role is allowed 25 personal days to use during their appointment term for flexibility in managing their personal and academic time away from the CA position. CAs should use their personal days for time away from the position for weekdays, weekends, and holidays. Personal days do not carry forward to the next appointment period. The CA is expected to be available in the residential community nights and weekends. If a CA plans to be away from campus for two or more nights, they must obtain approval from their supervisor and use their personal days. All requests must be approved. Personal days cannot be used during training or during housing process dates. Personal days will be prorated should a CA begin the position during the academic year.
Reappointment
Reappointments are not guaranteed and depend on job performance and staffing needs. CAs are not eligible to return to the position if they have not met enrollment requirements, exceeded or will exceed housing eligibility, or are not in good academic or financial standing with the college.
Compensation
Studio apartment in either Whittier or New Residence Hall, a one-bedroom apartment in Sarasota Hall, or a one-bedroom unit in Bancroft Hall with another smaller room that could be an office or bedroom. Each unit has its own private bathroom and kitchen.
The Office of Residential Services reserves the right to change or amend all portions of this position description at any time.
2024-2025
Can a newly admitted TC student apply for the CA position?
New students are welcome to apply. If offered a position, you must meet eligibility requirements.
Do I need experience working in housing or living on campus?
No experience living in TC housing or working in housing is required for the position.
If I'm already a resident on campus, can I continue living in my current unit as a CA?
No, you are required to live in one of our pre-assigned staff units.
Can international students apply?
Certainly! International students are welcome to apply. For more specific answers to any additional questions about employment, feel free to contact the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS).
How will this affect my financial aid?
It is best to consult the financial aid office for personalized guidance as each situation is unique.
How many positions will be open, and in which buildings?
We expect annual openings and details of available vacancies will depend on departmental needs and returning staff.
Is it possible to submit an application after the deadline has passed?
Unfortunately, after the application process is closed, you will need to wait for the next cycle.
I hope that new CAs bring a novel set of experiences and skills to the team. It is awesome being able to work with people from all over Teachers College's different departments and the world writ large. I have learned so much about so many disciplines that I never would have encountered through my work with ORS, and it has made me a better scholar too!
If you have any questions, please contact orshiring@tc.columbia.edu.