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Are you considering joining the Residence Life team at Penn State? There are many opportunities for energetic leaders to become a part of a vibrant, dedicated Residence Life community.

Staff Positions in Residence Life

Penn State Residence Life is comprised of a central administrative office and a variety of distinct residence hall areas at 10 different campuses across the Commonwealth.

The Coordinator is a full-time, professional staff member responsible to the Assistant Director for Residence Life.  They assist with the supervision and administration of a residence hall community.  The Assistant Director, in consultation with the Coordinator, interprets the Coordinator’s job description according to the particular needs of the residence hall area.

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Responsibilities

  • Supervises Resident Assistants, conducts regular individual and group supervision meetings, evaluates Resident Assistant performance, and provides support and training for Resident Assistants.
  • Assists with the planning, implementation, and evaluation of a residential education program for the area and with the development and implementation of campus-wide programs.
  • Advises student groups in the area. Advises individual students with academic, career, and personal concerns.
  • Makes referrals to University agencies when appropriate. Acts as an advocate for students by communicating their concerns and issues to the appropriate agency.
  • Encourages student involvement and their programming efforts and promotes area government and their programming efforts.
  • Interprets and enforces University and residence hall policies and procedures.
  • Mediates conflicts between and among students.
  • Assists with the daily operation and organization of the area and the area office.
  • Handles requests for room changes and contract releases.
  • Assists in promoting the safety and security of area residents.
  • Assists in developing and maintaining effective working relationships with Housing and Food Services, Safety and Security, New Student Programs, etc.
  • Provides on-call duty coverage over breaks on a rotating basis.
  • Demonstrates a commitment to students and the quality of their life in the residence hall environment.
  • Encourages Resident Assistants to become well-acquainted with students in the area. Assists the Resident Assistants in developing and promoting a positive living environment. Plans and implements programs in conjunction with Resident Assistants and students.
  • Demonstrates a commitment to human relations/diversity/social justice issues. Demonstrates a commitment to staff and student retention and recruitment efforts, particularly as they impact members of underrepresented groups.
  • Participates in committees and task force groups.
  • Assists in the recruitment and training of professional staff and the development and implementation of goals for the area and the residence hall system.
  • Performs other duties as assigned.
Penn State has opportunities around every corner and taking advantage of them is only matter of choosing which to engage in first. With time and effort, one’s Penn State experience can be the beginning of a path towards greatness.
Suraju Jolaoso, Residence Life Coordinator

Job Descriptions

Penn State Residence Life offers many different positions throughout the department. Some may not be available right now but we want you to know about the opportunities for excelling within the department.

Residential Education Specialist 1
(Coordinator) 

  • 10-12 month appointments 

Responsible to an Area Coordinator/Assistant Director of Residence Life for assisting with the supervision, administration, and promotion of a diversified residential experience within a residence hall community.  

Residential Education Specialist 1
(Living Learning Communities Coordinator) 

  • 10 month appointments specifically working with Living Learning Communities 

Responsible to an Senior Assistant Director of Residence Life for assisting with the supervision, administration, and promotion of a diversified residential experience within a residence hall community.  

Residential Education Specialist 2
(Senior Coordinator) 

Responsible to an Assistant Director/Associate Director of Residence Life for assisting with the supervision, administration, and promotion of a diversified residential experience within a residence hall community. Position also includes supervision of full-time professional staff.

Residential Education Specialist 3
(Area Coordinator, University Park Campus) 

Responsible to an Assistant Director of Residence Life for supervising a staff of up to five coordinators, as well as overseeing the daily activities of a residence hall area housing up to 4,400 students.  

Residential Education Specialist 3
(Assistant Director, Commonwealth Campuses) 

Responsible to an Associate Director/Director of Student Affairs for supervising a staff of up to two coordinators, as well as overseeing the daily activities of a residence hall area housing up to 2,000 students.  

Residential Education Specialist 4
(Assistant Director) 

Responsible to a Senior Associate Director of Residence Life for assisting with the administration of a residence hall community housing up to 4,300 resident students. Assist in the development and implementation of the Residence Life strategic plan.  

Administrative Support Assistant 2
(Staff Assistant/Office Manager) 

Serve as primary receptionist. Schedule appointments on staff calendars. Print rosters and find student information using E-Living. Attend professional development sessions. Manage area office and supervise wage and work-study employees when office manager is out for the day. Serve as back up for the Housing Office when needed.  

Student Services Associate 5 (Senior Associate Director)

The Senior Associate Director is a full-time, professional staff member responsible to the Senior Director, Residence Life. They are responsible for assisting with the supervision and administration of a comprehensive residence hall program housing 14,000 students. The Senior Associate Director supervises and oversees the tasks of the Assistant Directors at University Park and the Associate Director for Student Conduct. The Senior Director, in consultation with the Senior Associate Director, interprets the Senior Associate Director’s job description according to the needs of the Residence Life program.

Residence Life at Penn State

Penn State is one of the nation’s premier land-grant institutions. With 11 residential campuses across the Commonwealth, Penn State residential living has something for everyone. From the small-town feel of State College to the city life at Greater Allegheny or Abington, our campuses offer a wide range of opportunities, experiences, and comfort.

Abington

Penn State Abington is in a suburban campus, just minutes from center city Philadelphia. It is nestled in a quiet, residential, neighborhood and the campus has a charming and historical feel. Current enrollment is around 4,000 students and the residential population will be approximately 400 students. 

Altoona

Penn State Altoona is located in central Pennsylvania, just a 45-minute drive to State College a 2-hour drive to Pittsburgh; and a 4-hour drive to Philadelphia, PA. Penn State Altoona has an enrollment approaching 4,000 students and the residential population is approximately 900 students. 

Beaver

Penn State Beaver is located just 40 minutes from downtown Pittsburgh. It is a quiet campus located in the suburb of Monaca, PA. One of our smaller campuses, Penn State Beaver enrolls about 700 students and the residential population is approximately 200 students. 

Behrend

Located on a wooded 854- acre campus, Penn State Behrend is just minutes away from the heart of Erie, PA. Penn State Behrend is one of the largest Penn State campuses with an enrollment just over 5,000 students and a residential population of approximately 1,700 students. 

Berks

Penn State Berks is set on 258 beautifully landscaped acres next to Gring’s Mills Recreation Area near Reading, PA, about 60 miles from Philadelphia. Penn State Berks enrolls around 2,800 students with the capacity to house around 800 students. 

Brandywine

One of our brand new facilities, Penn State Brandywine opened in Fall 2017. The campus is Philadelphia’s “next door” neighbor - just 20 miles west of the center of the city. Penn State Brandywine has an enrollment of about 1,600 students and the residential program houses approximately 250 students. 

Greater Allegheny

Penn State Greater Allegheny is a cozy campus located in McKeesport, PA - the closest campus to Pittsburgh. Close-knit partnerships exist between faculty, staff, and students here. One of our smaller campuses, Penn State Greater Allegheny enrolls about 600 students with the capacity to house 200 residents. 

Harrisburg

Penn State Harrisburg is a 218-acre campus located in Middletown, PA, just eight miles east of Pennsylvania’s capital, Harrisburg, and about 2 hours from Philadelphia. Penn State Harrisburg enrolls around 4,600 students and has a capacity to house approximately 400 residents. 

Hazleton

Penn State Hazleton is a 125-acre scenic campus overlooking the Conyngham Valley. This dynamic community is mostly first-year students but upper-division students are also part of the engaging environment. Penn State Hazleton enrolls around 900 students and has a capacity to house around 450 residents. 

Mont Alto

Penn State Mont Alto is a 103 acre campus located near Chambersburg, PA. The quaint campus borders the beautiful Michaux State Forest and is within driving distance of many historical tourist areas and metropolitan cities. Penn State Mont Alto enrolls about 1,000 student and has a capacity to house approximately 450 residents. 

University Park

Penn State University Park is located in quaint State College and is home to over 45,000 students. Located in the heart of Central Pennsylvania, Penn State combines the academic focus, culture, diversity, and excitement of a Big 10 University with a small town setting. 

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