Community Assistant Information

We are no longer accepting applications. Please check back in fall semester 2008 for more information. If you would like to be notified when this site is updated, please email: nancy.abohatab@uconn.edu

Table of Contents

NEW: Are You a Past UConn CA?

If you have worked as a CA for UConn Residential Life and wish to re-apply, please contact: nancy.abohatab@uconn.edu.

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Ethics

Being a CA means doing the right thing, being a person of integrity and values that are in-line with wanting to help others. CAs are peer educators and student leaders, and, as such, have a responsibility to behave in ways which will have a positive effect on students, the Department of Residential Life, and the University community.

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Position Requirements

• NEW On-campus Living Experience: Candidates must have lived on the Storrs campus for one full semester at the time of application. This change means that students transferring into UConn from other universities or from UConn’s regional campuses cannot apply prior to having been enrolled/attended and lived on the UConn Storrs campus. This change is effective immediately and includes students applying for fall 2008-spring 2009 positions.
• Grades: All candidates must have a 2.5 CUM Grade Point Average. This means that we will check your Spring 2007 grades to determine eligibility for an interview. Should the candidate's grade point average fall below the 2.5 at any point during the process, s/he will no longer be eligible for an interview. Note that while a candidate’s CUM Grade Point Average may meet the requirement, Scholastic Probationary status, as indicated by the TERM GPA, may supersede the CUM GPA and render the candidate ineligible. Winter and Summer Sessions coursework/grades will not be considered to determine eligibility.
• Once appointed to a position, CAs must maintain the 2.5 CUM in order to remain in the position. Grades will be checked throughout each process, as well.
• Community Standards: Students who are on University Probation at the time of application review, are not eligible to interview. Students who were found responsible for any incidents in the current academic year may not be eligible to interview. Students with any conduct history, other than University Probation, will be subject to review by the CA Staffing Committee. The review includes all decisions such as University Warning, Letter of Warning, etc. Student conduct status will be checked throughout the process; even if a candidate has been screened into the process as 'eligible' during the initial screening. All decisions made by the Committee will be final.
• Candidate Disclosure Statement: The application includes a statement indicating what information is checked by Residential Life in order to determine the candidate's eligibility to interview. The Disclosure states:

  I hereby authorize the release, to staff of Residential Life at the University of Connecticut, any and all employment and/or personal information about me that is maintained by the University of Connecticut. This release includes, but is not limited to, records with regard to my employment history, disciplinary or judicial actions, academic performance and any information which I publicly display on my own behalf. I acknowledge by this authorization that I release all parties concerned from any liability based on the disclosure of the contents of such files.

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CA Assignment

CAs are hired for the Department of Residential Life; not a specific assignment. However, since we have academic and other special interest assignments that require not only the desire to work with those populations, but that the CA possess the background, experience, affiliation, and, in some cases, the academic major, to work in these assignments, we ask candidates to indicate if they are interested in being considered for those assignments.

1. Graduate Residences
   Graduate Residences CAs must either be a graduate student, or non-traditional age undergraduate (23 years of age or older). Please indicate your birth date:
2. Husky Village
   Husky Village CAs must be a member of a Greek social organization. Please indicate which one:
3. Honors Housing* CAs must be a part of the Honors Program
4. First Year Learning Communities/Academic Clusters* (Please review the website: http://www.livelearn.uconn.edu/communities.htm)

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Training Requirement

The 'training period' is defined as the move-in/return to campus date specified in the CA's offer letter through the official first day of classes. The move-in date for spring 2008 will be January 13, 2008 after 2:00pm. The date and time for 2008-2008 August training has not yet been determined, but will be posted when it is available. Students who accept their offer of employment cannot expect to have any other time commitment during that period. Other time commitments include, but are not limited to: winter or summer session classes, internships, practica, vacations, family trips, training for other organizations, etc. It is imperative that the CA candidate pay close attention to the contract date and time in their offer letter.

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Contract Period

CAs are typically hired for one academic year (or the Spring semester). The contract period consists of the move-in date for training in August and/or January through the day after commencement in May.

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EPSY 3235: The Community Assistant

Excerpted from the full policy available to newly-hired staff

The Course Overview: This course sponsored by Residential Life and is designed specifically for new Community Assistants. The course is offered through the Department of Educational Psychology, Neag School of Education. It focuses on issues that impact the educational and personal development of college students (especially students who live in residential facilities or on-campus housing) through the theory and practical application that support human and student development.

Course description: The course consists of a weekly one-hour lecture and a small-enrollment, two-hour discussion group. This design allows the student to learn the content and then apply this knowledge to their job in the discussion group.

Students: All new CAs are required to enroll in the Community Assistant Class during their first semester of employment. It is a condition of employment for first-semester CAs.

Registration: New CAs are notified in their appointment letter of the requirement to enroll in the class and how to do so.

Exemptions: CAs who have transferred to UConn from another institution and who have:

1. Served at least one full academic year as a Community Assistant (or equivalent position), and
2. Successfully completed a similar course at their previous institution, may request to be exempt from enrolling in the course. Similar is defined as covering a significant portion of the content modules in EPSY 3235. CAs requesting exemption must present a sample syllabus and proof of successful completion (Grade of “C-” or higher). Students should address requests for exemption to the instructor-of-record.

Graduate Student CA: Graduate student CAs do not register for EPSY 3235. Instead, graduate student CAs are required to attend and participate in the weekly lecture and discussion session. They must indicate their lecture and discussion preference before the start of the semester as directed so that they can be manually added to the discussion and lecture rosters. GSCAs participate in the class and submit all portions of the Community Development Plan (CDP). GSCAs also complete the weekly journal assignment. GSCAs are not required to complete any of the course’s other formal assignments (journals, exams, quizzes or projects). GSCAs do not receive a grade for the course. Graduate student CAs may elect to officially enroll in the course. In this case, s/he is responsible for all course evaluations and assignments per the syllabus.

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Outside Commitments

CAs wishing to participate in co-curricular activities or hold jobs outside the CA position must talk with their supervisors to determine if this will be possible. The supervisor will ensure that the combination of the CA's course load, the requirements of the position, and the requested activities or outside work, will not impair the CA's academic progress or ability to perform the CA position. The total number of hours that may be requested is 30 per week and includes all academic coursework/credits, proposed co-curricular activities, and outside work. The request can be made only for one semester at a time, and will not include training periods as noted in the Training Requirements section.

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Academic Progress

• Newly-hired CAs are not eligible to participate in any academic course, program, internship, practica, student teaching, fieldwork, etc. that would require their absence from campus 5 days per week during their first semester of employment. Requests for subsequent semesters must be made and approved the semester before the 5 days per week commitment is scheduled to take place. No guarantees will be made that a CA may remain in her/his position while participating in this commitment. Candidates are advised to look carefully at their academic plan of study when applying for the position.
• Refer to the section above "EPSY 3235: The Community Assistant" for information about taking this class during the first semester of employment as a CA.
• CAs must be full-time students (graduate or undergraduate) on the Storrs campus during the entire contract period.

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CA Staff Structure

• CAs are typically supervised by a Community Director (CD), Hall Director (HD) or Graduate Hall Director (GHD). The CD and HD are full-time professional staff. The GHD is a graduate assistant and enrolled in the Higher Education: Student Affairs Master's program.
• CAs are assigned to one of the following: apartments (Charter Oak, Hilltop or Mansfield), Suites (Charter Oak or South Campus), traditional 9-month housing (North, Northwest, Towers, East, Buckley, Alumni, West, McMahon, Hilltop Halls), 12-month housing for graduate students (Graduate Residences), First Year Learning Communities/Academic Clusters/Special Interest Housing. Although candidates may request specific housing types, no guarantee is made about final placement.
• The CA to student ratio is approximately 1:40; some communities are a bit smaller, some a bit larger.
• CA staff sizes range from 8-24 with an average of 12 CAs to one supervisor.

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Compensation

• ResLife provides housing, and CAs live in single rooms. If housing situations dictate, some CAs may be asked to temporarily take roommates. CAs in apartment housing will share an apartment with 1 – 3 other students.
• CAs also receive a cash stipend of $2000.00 per semester. The stipend is typically paid out 4 times per semester (depending on when the staff member's contract begins and when s/he submits her/his employment documentation paperwork).
• Those CAs who are assigned to areas where students must purchase a meal plan must also purchase a resident student meal plan. The meal plan must be purchased during the time line set forth for all students. It is not possible to pre-pay the CA her/his stipend to facilitate purchase of the meal plan.
• CAs must be students in good standing with the University; fee bills paid in full (or have appropriate deferment documentation) by the deadline set for all University students. Bursar Holds, or other indicators of being subject to dismissal from the University due to financial matters may render a student ineligible for the CA position.
• A local phone with voicemail is provided, along with basic cable and internet connection (except in Northwood Apartments. CAs may purchase their own internet connection in Northwood Apartments).
• CAs must pay for their own parking if they are eligible to have a parking pass based on regulations set by Parking Services.
• CAs do not receive a tuition waiver or health benefits. Questions about how the stipend may impact financial aid packages should be directed to a Financial Aid Counselor.

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Eligibility to Work

International Students - Per U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services regulation, failure to comply with the following policy is a violation of the student's F-1 visa status that could ultimately result in removal from the United States.

• During the fall and spring semesters, international students may not work more than twenty (20) hours per pay week, Friday through Thursday, in all jobs combined (including graduate assistantships).
• During intersession, spring break and summer, if the international student is eligible and intends to register for courses for the next semester, the student (maintaining F-1 visa status) may work full time, up to, but not more than, forty (40) hours per pay week, in all jobs combined.

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Terms and Conditions of Employment

Excerpted from official job description

• The Community Assistant must be available for the stipulated contract period as outlined in her/his appointment letter. The contract period is typically one full academic year. These contract dates include August and January pre-service training periods, opening and closing of the residential areas, designated ‘required weekends’, and applicable on-duty periods. Additional contract periods are based on job performance and will be reevaluated near the conclusion of each contract period.
• CAs will be notified of their status. Graduating Community Assistants must be available for the closing of the residential areas. Supervisors will determine the specific assignment for the CA considering the staff member's skills, abilities and information gained during the interview process. Every effort will be made to place CAs who are of a respective academic major or who have experience or an interest in the special community to the appropriate assignment. The supervisor reserves the right to change the location of the CA’s assignment if needed. Based on the need for student housing, CAs may be temporarily assigned a roommate.
• During their first semester of employment, CAs cannot hold any academic commitment five (5) days/week (practicum, internships, co-op, student teaching, etc.). CAs must maintain a 2.50 cumulative Grade Point Average throughout the term of employment. Grades will be checked at the conclusion of each semester. Staff members on scholastic probation or subject to dismissal (as indicated by the Term GPA) may also be ineligible to continue in the position. Winter session and summer session(s) coursework will not be figured into the previous semester’s grades for the purposes of maintaining the required grade point averages
• The CA's performance will be periodically evaluated in keeping with the duties and responsibilities of the job description, the University's Responsibilities of Community Life: The Student Code, The On Campus Housing Contract and her/his behavior in accordance with ethical guidelines and departmental expectations. Involvement in situations which demonstrate a lack of understanding of The Student Code may affect the staff member's ability to remain in the position. This holds true for any position for which the CA works during her/his employment at the University; including summer and other recess periods.

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First Year Learning Communities, Academic Clusters and Special Interest Housing

Candidates interested in any of the Special-Interest Housing Communities should indicate their interest on the application. It is important to note that staff for these communities will be specially selected. We are looking for students who have a strong desire to work with the specific community and population (first year students, particular majors, life styles, etc.). Indicating your interest means that you will be asked specific interview questions to determine your interest, skills and background. It also means that, if selected, you will take part in specialized training for that population, as well as, be expected to work closely with faculty and staff in programming for your community.

• Special Interest Housing Communities
• First Year Learning Communities

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The UConn Creed

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