Living Learning Communities Coordinator

Salary range: $50,000-$60,000 depending on qualifications

Living Learning Communities (LLC) provides opportunities for first-year students with similar interests to live and learn together in a structured and supportive environment that increases GPA, retention, and timely degree completion. LLC students engage in programs, activities, and initiatives that support their academic, social, and personal growth. Each LLC provides opportunities for leadership, civic engagement, and identity development while increasing studentsâ™ sense of belonging.

The Living Learning Communities Coordinator is responsible for managing the activities of living-learning communities at the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR). This role will
work closely with faculty and staff members, as well as community partners, to establish a programming structure for each learning community and ensure that such programs are successfully implemented and sustained. This position is crucial in enhancing UMR students' academic and social success by engaging them in high-impact activities that build a sense of community and offer meaningful learning experiences. The Living Learning Communities Coordinator will provide leadership to UMR's diverse on-campus students in their LLCs through an innovative student development model that focuses on educational, social, multicultural, and personal development. This role requires the ability to build strong partnerships and collaborations with academic, community, and external partners to cultivate living-learning programs that align with and contribute to UMR's educational priority and learning goals. The Living Learning Communities Coordinator must use a framework of equity and inclusion in all aspects of their work and support the success of UMR students.

This UMR coordinator will report to the Assistant Director of Student Activities and Living Learning Communities. In addition to supporting living-learning communities, this role will also assist with planning and organizing new student orientation programs, and some functions of the Office of Student Activities; which include managing Raptor Report, UMR campus newsletter, and assisting with campus events. This role will also work closely with the Assistant Community Life Director, and Resident Assistants (RAs) to provide support for in-hall programming throughout the academic year. This role also manages the Living Learning Communities budgets.

The Living Learning Communities Coordinator is a full-time position requiring 40 hours of work each week, which may include some evening and weekend commitments. This role also serves as a member of the Professional Staff On-Call.

Duties and Responsibilities
Living Learning Community Management (65%)

• Oversee the functions of living-learning communities. Develop, implement and provide continuous improvement of all living-learning programs on campus
• Work collaboratively to develop the goals and outcomes for each living learning community
• Ensure students are aligned with their living-learning community covenant
• Supervise Living Learning Community advisory boards (with some exceptions)
• Establish strong relationships with participating faculty and Student Success, Engagement, and Equity (SSEE) team members
• Work collaboratively with SSEE staff to plan for the successful integration of learning communities within existing programming
• Assist in the promotion of Living Learning Communities during Admissions and Orientation events; effectively communicate goals/services of the living-learning community program and make oral presentations
• Communicate with incoming new students and families in preparation for their first year at UMR to meet deadlines, understand expectations, and be prepared for new
  student orientation
• Help plan and organize Living Learning Communities-focused activities during new student orientation
• Work collaboratively with the Office of Residential Life to assign first-year students to their living-learning communities
• Provide training for Resident Assistants (RAs) to understand the goals of living-learning communities and their role in fostering in-hall engagement
• Assist the RAs to successfully organize monthly in-hall LLC programming
• Manage the Living Learning Communities budgets and be in charge of purchasing items related to the LLC program and activities
• Coordinate and assess living-learning community programs and services using an evidence-based approach that results in student success with a focus on the sense of belonging
• Provide annual written reports on activities related to living-learning communities
• Collaborate with other campus leaders on important campus and system-wide initiatives 

Supporting the Office of Student Activities and Student Success Engagement and Equity team (25%)
Raptor Report (10%)

• Manage the Raptor Report newsletter; the Raptor Report is UMRâ™s weekly campus newsletter that goes out to all students, staff, and faculty during the academic year University of Minnesota Rochester
• Manage the Raptor Report email account
• Supervisor the Raptor Report Student Worker and meet regularly to prepare the weekly newsletter 

Additional Responsibilities (15%)

• Assist with organizing annual campus events; back-to-campus celebration, Campus and Community Involvement Fair, Parent & Family Weekend, end of semester de-stress activities, and Beaker Awards
• Help with purchasing items for Student Activities and club events
• Serve on the rotational Professional Staff On-Call schedule and respond to duty calls appropriately; Duty coverage is 24/7 while on-call and will include weekends, some holidays, and/or university breaks
• Attend regularly scheduled SSEE team meetings
• Attend regularly scheduled career development and diversity meetings
• Participate in special projects as needed
• Participate in campus committees as needed

New Student Orientation Planning and Collaboration (10%)

• Serve on the planning committee for the annual new student orientation programs; New Raptor Advising and Registrations (NRAR) and Raptor Ready Week
• Work with the Office of Residential Life in appointing first-year students to the Living Learning Community
• Coordinate LLC-related sessions during Raptor Ready Week
• Collaborate with UMR faculty in charge of summer programs to plan LLC-related sessions during Raptor Ready Week
• Assist the Director of Student Activities and Living Learning Communities in hiring and training the Orientation and Welcome Leaders (OWLs)
• Be present during the new student orientation dates and provide programming support
   

Appointment Details
This is a full-time, exempt position which requires work 12 months per year. Most work days are Monday - Friday with some evening and weekend commitments and an
expectation to work on campus at least 80% of the time (four days per week). Requires working on-call.
 

Qualifications:
Candidates must have the following minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in student affairs, activities, event planning, or other similar roles in higher education
• 1 year of professional full-time post-BA experience in Student Affairs that includes administrative, organizational, and budget management skills
• Experience with living-learning communities in higher education
• Experience with college freshmen and understanding of student development and issues related to retention
• Experience in supporting underrepresented student needs (first-generation, low-income, students of color, LGBTQ, and other under-served populations)

About University of Minnesota, Rochester

The University of Minnesota Rochester is located in University Square, one block away from the Mayo Clinic, seven miles south of IBM, and just 75 miles south of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. As a student on the UMR campus in downtown Rochester, you will be at the heart of one of the world?s top medical centers and at the center of an internationally known research community.

Connections working at University of Minnesota, Rochester