POSITION HIGHLIGHTS:
The Graduate Community Director position is a live-in graduate assistantship reporting to a full-time Community Director, Coordinator, Program Manager, or District Assistant Director. This is a 10-month, 20-hour a week position, and may require evening and weekend commitments. The Graduate Community Director is a member of the Residential Education team providing residents and student staff with support and leadership, promotes an inclusive community, educates residential community standards, and provides crisis response and management. Position may require driving university vehicles and/or golf carts.
About the University of Arizona:
Located in the heart of Tucson, the University of Arizona is one of the top-ranked research universities in the nation. Surrounded by mountains and the high Sonoran Desert, the campus boasts a distinctive southwestern look and enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine each year. Approximately 40,000 students are enrolled at the University of Arizona, coming from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. The UA offers more than 100 academic and professional degree tracks, taught by some of the nation’s preeminent scholars, and a vibrant campus atmosphere at a cost well below most other colleges and universities in the United States.
Accepting a new position is a big life step. We want potential candidates and their families to be able to make informed decisions. Candidates who are considering relocation to the Tucson or Phoenix area, and have been offered an on-site interview, are encouraged to use the free services offered by Above & Beyond Relocation Services (ABRS). Ask your department contact to be introduced to ABRS prior to your visit.
Housing & Residential Life (Housing), a self-funded auxiliary housed within Campus Life at the University of Arizona, operates 23 dorms and 1 graduate apartment complex that houses over 7,800 students annually on the University of Arizona Main Campus. More than 80% of on-campus residents are first- year students. Our dorms range in style from historic to modern and range in size from 60 to 1000 residents. While the University does not require students to live on campus, more than 70% of all incoming first-year students choose to live in UA housing to help their transition to university life.
Housing & Residential Life plays a critical role in achieving institutional and divisional goals. We are proud of the supportive environment we provide our students, our vibrant academic partnerships and our high-quality facilities.
Our Mission: Helping Students Build a Foundation for Success
Our Core Values:
- Excellence-Excellence is performing at an extraordinary level and exceeding expectations
- Respect – Respect is treating others courteously and professionally in all situations; valuing and honoring diversity in others; being honest, direct, and courteous in all communications and loyal to all, including those not present
- Integrity – Integrity is doing the right thing, being honest with oneself and others, being authentic, and being transparent in intent
- Caring – Caring is being welcoming, kind, compassionate, and willing to help others; showing concern for a person’s needs; listening more and talking less
Graduate Assistants for the 2026-2027 year include the following benefits:
- On-campus furnished apartment which includes all utilities and high-speed internet and WiFi
- Pet policy, up to 2 pets can reside in the assigned on-campus apartment
- Live in policy, one other person cam live with you on campus
- Stipend of $23,154
- Tuition Remission (a reduction in the tuition amount that is charged to the student and dependent on FTE, enrollment and dates of appointment contract. Tuition rates for nonresident GAs will be automatically recalculated at the resident rate)
- Health Insurance, premium dues will be covered during appointment of GA position
- Family Medical Leave under certain circumstances
- GA Parental Leave (up to 12 weeks)
- Deferment Plan available for remaining applicable fees
- 10% UA Bookstore discount on select items
- Professional development funds
For more details on Graduate benefits go to: https://grad.arizona.edu/funding/ga/benefits- appointment
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Supervision of Resident Assistants and Lead Resident Assistant(s)
- Supervision of student Office Assistant
- Select, train, and evaluate Resident Assistant Staff
Community Development:
- Oversee daily operations for a dorm of up to 253 residents or co-manage a dorm of up to 1,000 residents.
- Create an environment where all students can learn and be engaged in the life of the institution
- Implement and evaluate the department’s Wildcat Living Residential Curriculum
- Meet regularly with and provide feedback to the Front Desk Manager and Coordinator for Desk Operations
- Assist with various activities during August student move-in
Advising:
- Serve as the Advisor or Co-Advisor to Hall Council, which includes attending meetings, supporting the on-going leadership development of the students and supporting program initiatives
Behavioral Education Management:
- Educate residents about Housing and Residential Life Policies, University Code of Conduct, regulations, rights and responsibilities, and promote student accountability
- Serve as a conduct hearing officer for Residential Policies violations
- Provide crisis intervention and serve as a resource or referral agent for staff and residents
- Participate in a campus-wide on-call duty rotation
Administration and General Expectations:
- Perform a variety of administrative duties including, but not limited to, reports, room assignments, check-in/out procedures, dorm transfers, occupancy management, assessing dorm damage charges, facilitating weekly RA staff meetings and individual one-on-one meetings, meeting with and keeping supervisor informed of dorm conditions
- Monitor physical condition of dorm, working collaboratively with maintenance and custodial staff, dorm staff and residents to report and follow up on work requests, damages and facility emergencies
- Manage assigned Hall Account funds, which include Programming, Staff Development and Hall Council
- Attend weekly Residential Education team meetings
- Serve on department committees
- Assist the Assistant Director and Associate Director in completing assigned projects as necessary.
- Perform related duties as assigned to meet Housing & Residential Life and University goals and objectives
Training/Presentation Responsibilities:
- Provide educational presentations to residents, RAs and residential education staff
- Participate in scheduled departmental training and professional development opportunities
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Acceptance to a University of Arizona graduate degree program; candidates accepted into the Higher Education master program are given priority. Students enrolled solely in Certificate or non-degree seeking programs are not eligible for GA appointments. Law, Medicine and Pharmacy (PharmD) students are not eligible for GA positions unless concurrently enrolled in a regular graduate degree-seeking program
- Minimum GPA of 3.0 (If a student is newly admitted, the admission GPA is considered for this requirement. A student must also maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 during their appointment.)
- Enrolled in at least 6 graduate level units
- Experience working in residence life or related area
- Experience working with multifaceted populations
- Available to work evening and weekend commitments
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Word, Teams and Zoom
- Valid Driver’s License and ability to drive according to the UA Fleet Safety Policy*.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS,AND ABILITIES:
- Ability to participate as a positive team player
- Skills necessary to respond to internal and external constituents’ needs in a timely, accurate and professional manner
- Ability to collaborate effectively with multifaceted populations
- Communication skills, including interpersonal communication, writing, public speaking and presenting, teaching and instruction
- Basic knowledge of formulating and interpreting policy
- Ability to make effective decisions
- Ability to act as a liaison between campus administration and students
- Basic knowledge of advising and motivating student groups
- Knowledge of campus resources
- Ability to set goals and strive for continuous improvement
SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Housing & Residential Life is a security sensitive department, and this position requires a finger-print criminal background check and Motor Vehicle Division check
*UA Fleet Safety statement:
2.2 Minimum Age and Experience Requirements: The following minimum age and experience requirements apply to all individuals (employees, students, and volunteers) authorized to drive any vehicle on university business: a. Drivers of standard vehicles (sedans, pickups, golf carts, etc., that do not require special licensing) must be at least 18 years of age and have been licensed for a minimum of two years prior to driving on university business. b. Drivers of high occupancy vehicles (HOVs as defined in Section 4.0) must be at least 19 years of age and have been licensed for a minimum of three years prior to driving HOVs on university business.
2.3 Driver Licensing Requirements: a) University employees (faculty, classified staff, appointed personnel) who drive on the job must have a valid Arizona Driver’s License, of the classification appropriate to the type of vehicle being driven (typically Class D Operator). b) Students (including student employees) and volunteers who have Arizona residency and who drive on university business are required to have an Arizona Driver’s License. c) Foreign Driver’s Licenses and International Driver’s Licenses are not acceptable for driving on university business. Individuals with non-U.S. driver’s licenses must obtain an Arizona Driver’s License prior to driving on university business.
For the entire policy, go to: University Fleet Safety Policy.
