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LIVING OPTIONS FOR OUR STUDENTS
Residence Life creates a home-away-from-home in the residence halls for our students! We work to engage our residents and student leaders to make sure that they have the opportunity to succeed academically and personally.
Living Learning Programs
Our Living Learning Program is comprised of 12 living learning communities in partnership with academic and cocurricular units on campus. Our LLPs are successful because we have residence life staff and campus partners who are invested and involved in ensuring our students get the most out of their Kentucky experience.
• Audre Lorde Social Justice
• College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (CAFE)
• CI Connect
• Community of Scholars
• Creative Arts
• EdLife Scholars
• Engineering
• First-Generation Scholars
• International Village
• Interprofessional Healthcare Residential College (IHRC)
• Leadership and Service
• Transfer Year Experience
7,000+ beds 13 suite-style residence halls
7,000+ beds 13 suite-style residence halls
1 apartment-style residence hall
1 apartment-style residence hall
12
Learning Programs
12 Living Learning Programs
Departmental Initiatives
Residential Curriculum
CATS ENGAGEMENT – OUR RESIDENTIAL CURRICULUM
Our curricular approach to student learning aims to engage and integrate students - both academically and socially - into the university. We believe a curricular approach provides greater intentionality to the work we do as educators, demonstrates educational purpose to academic colleagues, and allows for ongoing significant assessment of learning.
Living Learning Programs
The University of Kentucky Office of Residence Life has intentionally created value-based living and learning communities that empower students and staff to engage in active learning, global citizenship, and self-discovery as Prioritize Learning • Practice Engagement CORE VALUES
Academic Preparedness
Manage faculty and staff relationships
Our Living Learning Program is comprised of 12 living learning communities in partnership with academic and co-curricular units on campus. Our LLPs are successful because we have Residence Life staff and campus partners who are invested and involved in ensuring our students get the most out of their Kentucky experience.
Apply academic and career exploration skills
Illustrate an awareness of academic resources
Diversity And Inclusion
Belonging & Involvement
The University of Kentucky has partnered with Greystar with the goal of housing 7,000+ students on campus. Greystar oversees the facility maintenance and custodial needs of our halls. The Office of Residence Life continues to be a part of UK’s Office for Student Success and manages the day-to-day operations of the hall, supervising the hall staff and student population, hosting events and activities, and coordinating the security aspects of the halls. We work closely with Greystar staff to maintain the halls to for the overall benefit of our residents.
Name Residence Life staff members that care about their success
Identify as a part of the hall community
Our diversity and inclusion initiatives aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all staff. Staff participate in professional development opportunities that seek to increase knowledge and understanding of the issues their students and colleagues may experience.
Understand themselves as a part of the Lexington and UK communities Employ an appreciation for other identities, races, and cultures
Responsibility
Leadership Development
Demonstrate behaviors within the Student Code of Conduct
Develop leadership and involvement on campus and in the hall
Identify and engage in community service opportunities
Our student leadership initiatives seek to provide students with opportunities to grow and develop as leaders. We have an active Residence Hall Association, with every area on campus having its own area council. Additionally, our RA Advisory Board provides valuable student staff insight regarding departmental policies and initiatives.
Personal Wellness
Identify and utilize skills that promote a healthy lifestyle Reflect on personal wellness habits
Staff Curriculum
Theoretical Framework
Our staff curriculum focuses on our departmental goals, principles, and professional competencies. The curriculum includes structures for recognition/appreciation and influences departmental culture and experiences for senior staff.
Assessment
Our Curricular Approach to Student & Staff (CATS) Engagement is based in Schlossberg’s (2005) Transition Theory. Schlossberg’s theory provides a framework for understanding and supporting residential students’ needs as they prepare for current and future success. The residential curriculum seeks to promote students’ success by supporting students’ academic, social, and personal needs. Schlossberg, N. K., & Goodman, J. (2005). Counseling adults in transition. Springer Publishing Company.
Strategies
Our goal to continue to make a difference drives our assessment practices. We strive to make informed decisions about our curricular approach and departmental initiatives. From campus-wide surveys to engaging students in focus groups, assessment is integrated into everything we do.
SIGNATURE EVENTS/LEARNING MOMENTS – Resident Directors, in conjunction with student staff, plan events to promote student learning based on community needs and resident connection assessment.
Resident Director Position Overview
Responsibilities
The Resident Director (RD) is a full-time, livein, 12-month, professional staff member who serves as part of the Residence Life departmental leadership. The RD assumes responsibility for the overall direction, management, and leadership of a designated residence hall with 250-750 residents, and their work directly impacts their students’ academic and personal success.
• Provide supervision for multiple staff members, including an Assistant Resident Director or Senior RA, between 12-20 Resident Advisors, 4-6 Desk Clerks, and a full-time Office Assistant for the hall.
• Form positive relationships with other University departments by communicating regularly with them and following-up on issues promptly.
• Develop an inclusive residential curriculum to meet the academic and developmental needs of their residents.
• Promote an academically supportive environment by intervening with students who are at risk due to academic concerns.
• Serve as hearing officers for conduct cases, providing a supportive environment for students to grow and develop.
• Ensure that effective crisis management procedures are in place, including procedures for fire and weather-related emergencies.
• Responsible for a departmental assignment or initiative team, or teach at least one section of EDP 518 (RA Class) each semester.
Qualifications
A master’s degree in College Student Personnel, Higher Education Administration, or Counseling and experience working with leadership development programs is highly preferred. A bachelor’s degree and one year of employment experience in working with students in higher education or in a residential setting or an equivalent combination of education and related experience is required.
Successful candidates will be able to demonstrate:
1. Supervisory and administrative skills
2. Knowledge of academic support strategies in a residential setting
3. Responsiveness to safety and security issues in a residential setting
4. Application of student development theory
The University of Kentucky’s Office of Residence Life understands that candidates have many options when making decisions about the next step in their career. To assist with that process, we do our best to provide as much information as possible about the standard of living that a new staff member at UK might expect. This section is designed to provide you with answers to some important questions about salary and basic benefits. We believe that the overall compensation package for our staff positions is very competitive, and we encourage you to look closely at what we are offering when weighing your career options.
Salary Range
The official salary range is $30,722 - $49,150; most new Resident Directors salaries are between $36,500 – $40,000; tuition waiver; and comprehensive benefits package.
All full-time employee salaries are based on the level of experience in comparison to those of current employees. RDs are classified as “exempt” employees under FLSA.
All full-time staff members earn one day of sick leave per each month of employment. Staff members earn 15 days of vacation each year during the first five years of continuous service and 20 days each year following.
Staff Apartments
Full-time staff members are provided with a furnished apartment, phone, Internet, cable, and utilities. Laundry machines are in each apartment (or close by) for the staff member’s use.
Pet Policy
Full-time, live-in staff can own and keep pets in their residence hall apartments. The RD must pay a nonrefundable cleaning and maintenance fee prior to bringing the pet into the apartment. Permitted pets include fish and/or one cat or one dog.
Professional Development
The department prioritizes funding each year for full-time staff members to attend one professional conference, budget permitting. In addition to conferences, there is ongoing professional development for Resident Directors to attend. The university provides numerous opportunities for staff development, including sessions in communication, problem-solving, leadership and other topics.
Meal Plan
All full-time staff members are provided a partial meal plan that may be used in Dining facilities across campus, budget permitting. The meal plan is provided to give staff members the opportunity to eat with students and other staff members to create informal learning opportunities.
Parking
The department provides designated parking spaces near their hall for all full-time Resident Directors. RDs are required to pay for their permit at a cost of about $40 per month.
Retirement
Participation in a retirement plan is a condition of employment for all regular full-time employees. UK’s plan is designed to help you save and invest for retirement. Employees contribute a required 5% of their base salary on a pre-tax basis. After three years, the university will also contribute the equivalent of 10% of your base salary, meaning UK puts in $2 for every $1 contribution you make.
Insurance
A variety of insurance options are available for staff members, including medical, dental, vision, long-term disability, and flexible benefits, which sets aside pretax dollars for medical expenses. These options should be evaluated in terms of your individual needs before an enrollment decision is made. More information can be found at uky.edu/hr/benefits
