Student Life Advisor

Background

The University of Central Asia (UCA) is a private (not for profit), secular University whose charter has been signed by the Presidents of Tajikistan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan, and His Highness the Aga Khan, ratified by the parliaments of the founding states and registered with the United Nations. UCA is the first internationally chartered university in the world. UCA’s mission is to foster the socio-economic development of Central Asia, particularly its mountain societies, while helping the peoples of the region preserve and draw upon their rich cultural heritages as assets for the future.

Summary of Position

UCA is seeking Student Life Advisors (SLA) who will help develop, coordinate, and maintain programmes within 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 his/her campus community and to help build a strong, welcoming, and inclusive residence community, while encouraging an immersive English language environment.

The SLA will help to serve as a supportive and helpful resource, providing academic and personal advice and support to students. UCA will have three SLAs per campus and each will be responsible for the design and implementation of one of the three programme areas on campus: (1) Athletics, Wellness, and Recreational Programmes; (2) Student Clubs and Student Leadership Programmes, and (3) Academic Support Programmes. The particular emphasis for this SLA will be a focus on student clubs and leadership programmes. All SLAs, however, will participate in each of these areas and support Residence Life. In terms of residence life, each SLA will help to resolve and/or mediate roommate disputes; provide after-hours emergency assistance to residents; ensure adherence to the Residence Rules and Regulations; and assist with orientation of new residents.

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, serving as teaching assistants for faculty in the English, Math and Science Preparatory Programme) 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.)
• In some instances, support academic programmes as a tutor or as a lab supervisor and technician for the science courses offered by UCA

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 behaviour
• Perform as a mediator in conflicts among residents and staff

Facilities and Amenities

• Student Life Advisors are responsible for the following administrative and collateral tasks:
• Check-in and check-out of residents
• Keeping track of resident occupancy
• Document policy violations
• Report maintenance and facility concerns and conduct health and safety Inspections

Student Liaison

• Assist residents in developing relationships with each other
• Promote student involvement in university activities and events
• Act as a positive role model for both fellow staff members and residents by not participating in questionable and unethical behaviours and by following the highest standards of personal conduct
• Counsel residents regarding personal and academic concerns
• Be visible, regularly available, and accessible to address residents' needs or concerns

Academic Support

• Develop one-on-one relationships with students with the goal of helping them improve weaknesses in English, Math and/or Science
• Provide support related to study skills, research, quantitative reasoning, debate and argumentation, academic writing, test taking, IT literacy, etc.
• Develop learning plans for individual students

Minimum Qualifications and Relevant Experience

• At least two years of on campus living at a college or university
• At least two years’ experience tutoring students in upper years of high school or the first and second year of university
• Experience working with or leading one or more of the following programmes on campus:

- Athletics Programmes
- Student Clubs and/or Student Leadership Programmes
- Academic Support Programmes

• Event planning and logistics experience is an asset
• Demonstrates sensitivity to and interest in people, neutrality, respect for dignity and open-mindedness on issues
• Have one to three years of experience working with students, in student services/government 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 residence halls can facilitate the educational and personal development of the residents; committed to developing and managing a team
• Having experience supervising lab exercises, or serving as a lab technician in an academic environmental would be an asset

Desired Skills and Qualifications

• Strong IT skills
• Demonstrated initiative
• Event planning skills are highly valuable
• Passionate about the quality of life for all residents
• Approachable and accessible to residents
• Discreet, will respect confidentiality guidelines at all times, and has demonstrated tact, good judgement, maturity and a high level of conduct when dealing with others
• Good listener and possesses an ability to communicate effectively
• Effective in helping residents to understand/resolve their problems and will refer them to a professional resource/counsellor as needed
• Works well in a team setting
• Convey a positive attitude towards the SLA position and its duties and responsibilities.

Language

• Advanced English is required.
• Fluency in Russian is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of Kyrgyz, Tajik, 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 in the community for which he/she is responsible and must be available to be on-call on multiple events two to three evenings/nights per week (Monday –Thursday), plus two weekends per month (Friday night through Sunday night).