Closing date

30 April 2024

Student Life Advisor; UCA

Department: School of Arts and Sciences (SAS)

Reports to: Assistant Manager of Student Affairs

Location: Khorog, Tajikistan

Deadline: April 30, 2024

Summary of Position and Key Responsibilities

UCA is seeking Student Life Advisors(SLA) who will help develop, coordinate, and maintain programs within and beyond the residence hall with the aim of providing a positive intellectual, emotional, and social living environment for students. The SLA is a peer leader to students who supervises students living in UCA’s residence halls and is often the first point of contact for students with academic, institutional, or personal questions. The main responsibility of the SLA is to provide support, encouragement, and leadership to their campus community and to help build a strong, welcoming, and inclusive campus community while encouraging an immersive English language environment.

The SLA at Khorog campus will provide academic and personal advice to students and offer guidances a helpful resource. There will be three SLAs responsible for designing and implementing various programs, including athletics, wellness, and recreational programs; student clubs and leadership programs; community service programs; and special events. All SLAs will live in the dormitories and support residence life, including resolving roommate disputes, providing after-hours emergency assistance, ensuring adherence to residence rules, and assisting with orientation for new residents. Student Life advisors are required to live on the UCA campus.

Main Responsibilities Include:

Programming:

  • Provide meaningful, education, co-curricular, experiential, and social programming to support students' growth, development, and relationship building.
  • Lead in the implementation of all athletics (e.g. intramural sports, fitness programmes, etc.), student clubs (e.g. debate club, charity clubs, etc.), student leadership (e.g. student association), and academic support programmes (e.g. tutoring programmes) on campus;
  • Lead orientation programmes for first year students to ensure they are properly settled into campus life and are comfortable living away from home.
  • Offer programmes that orient students to the university resources available to them, and those that will help students find their niche in the wider campus community.
  • Assist with organizing building-wide events and floor events (e.g. floor dinners, hikes, etc.)

Rules and Policies:

  • Encourage an immersive English language environment, which will be critical for the success of students in UCA’s academic programmes
  • Educate residents on the policies and procedures of Residential Life and the university overall.
  • Hold residents accountable for their behavior.
  • Perform as a mediator in conflicts among residents and staff.
  • Check-in and check-out of student residents

Facilities, Amenities and Administrative Tasks:

  • Keeping track of resident occupancy
  • Report maintenance and facility concerns and conduct health and safety inspections.
  • Assist residents in developing relationships with each other.
  • Promote student involvement in university activities and events. 

Student Liaison:

  • Act as a positive role model for both fellow staff members and residents by not participating in questionable and unethical behaviors and by following the highest standards of personal conduct.
  • At times required to work evenings and weekends to monitor student programming or events.

Wellness and Academic Support:Counsel residents regarding personal and academic concern.

  • Be visible, regularly available, and accessible to address residents' needs or concerns.
  • Defining the educational /professional goals, consultations for all assigned students.
  • Develop one-on-one relationships with students with the goal of helping them improve weaknesses in English, Math and/or Science.

Minimum Qualifications and Relevant Experience:

  • A bachelor’s degree is required.
  • At least two years’ experience tutoring or working with students in the upper years of high school or the first and second years of university.
  • Experience working with or leading one or more of the following programs for students: athletics programs, student clubs and/or student leadership programs, academic support programs, and residential life.
  • Event planning and logistics experience is an asset.
  • Demonstrates sensitivity to and interest in people, neutrality, respect for dignity, and open-mindedness on issues.
  • At least two years of on-campus living at a college or university is an asset.
  • Have one to three years of experience working with students in student services and/or residence life; experience as an RA or RD is preferred.
  • Self-disciplined; interested in people on an individual basis and aware of the feelings, needs, and rights of others; interested in group living and in promoting positive aspects of community life on the floor and in the hall as a whole.
  • Able and willing to fulfill all management functions; committed to student growth and the concept that student life facilitates educational and personal development; committed to a flexible work environment.

Desired Skills and Qualifications:

  • Demonstrates initiative and is a self-starter.
  • Event planning skills are highly valuable.
  • Passionate about the quality of life for all residents.
  • Approachable and accessible to residents.
  • Discreet, will always respect confidentiality guidelines, and has demonstrated tact, good judgement, maturity, and a high level of conduct when dealing with others.
  • A good listener and possesses the ability to communicate effectively.
  • Effective in helping residents understand and resolve their problems and will refer them to a professional resource or counselor as needed.
  • Works well in a team setting.
  • Convey a positive attitude towards the SLA position and its duties and responsibilities.
  • Can work in a flexible work environment.

Language:

  • Advanced English (written and spoken) is required;
  • Fluency in Russian is required;
  • Knowledge of Kyrgyz, Tajik, Shugni and/or Kazakh would be an asset.

Salary and Package:

Salary and package to attract the best candidate. The Student Life Advisor is required to live on campus in the dormitories and must be available to be on-call.

How to Apply

Please submit your application (cover letter, CV and contact information of three references) on https://bit.ly/3Ul7zUK until 30th April 2024.

Applications will be reviewed when received. Early applications are strongly encouraged.

Onlyshortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Review other job vacanciesat: https://ucentralasia.org/career-opportunities