Work Where You Learn: Build Experience, Grow Skills, and
Contribute to Your University Community. This position is
available only to enrolled American University students.
Most student positions at American University are eligible to
use Federal Work Study (FWS) awards, with a few exceptions. FWS
funds cannot be applied to janitorial, construction, partisan or
sectarian positions. For information or questions regarding FWS
funds, please contact American University's Office of Financial
Aid.
Important guidance for current American University employees:
American University current employees, including those employed in
student positions, must apply through their employee Workday
account. If you are a current employee at American University,
please log into your employee Workday account and select the
Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career
listings. Applying outside of your employee Workday account may
cause delays in a hire process.
Department:
Residence Life Training Leadership Programs
Time Type:
Part time
FLSA Status:
Non-Exempt
Job Description:
Summary:
The Night Desk Assistant (NDA) is a part-time student staff member
of Housing & Residence Life and a member of the University’s
Division of Student Affairs. The Night Desk Assistant fulfills a
vital role in the residence hall system by helping ensure the
safety of the halls, assisting residents with concerns, and
welcoming guests and visitors. The Night Desk Assistant works
exclusively during the hours of 11:00 PM – 7:00 AM.
The NDA is supervised by a Residential Operations Coordinator with
the support from the Assistant Director for Residential Operations
and Finance and is expected to work closely with other staff
members (other DAs, Resident Assistants, Desk Coordinators,
Community Directors, Facilities Management staff, etc.) within the
building, as well as across campus.
Essential Functions:
1.) Community Facilitation and Customer Service
- Support efforts of front desk staff in creating a safe living
environment for the residents.
Answer questions from students, families, faculty, staff,
prospective students, and alumni in person and over the
phone.
Follow proper protocol to check in and out guests of
residents.
Treat the concerns of all customers with attentiveness and
seriousness.
Serve as a liaison between students and the supervisor.
Maintain a working knowledge of the University’s facilities,
services, and resources.
Ensure that the desk is clean, all binders and logs are in
appropriate locations, and all supplies are stocked.
2.) Role Modeling and Policy Compliance
- Monitor and enforce access to the residence hall.
- Be well versed in, personally abide by, and help enforce
University policies including the Housing License Agreement.NDAs
must also abide by all regulations in federal and local
jurisdictions.
- Confront, document, and follow through on violations of
published University and Housing & Residence Life policies,
regulations, and procedures in an accurate and timely manner.
- Understand that all actions of an NDA (including those engaged
in outside of the residence hall) are observed by residents, other
NDAs and staff members. NDAs must hold themselves to a higher
standard in all actions.
- Follow outlined emergency response protocol, when necessary, at
the desk.
3.) Facilities & Operations
- Assist in the opening, closing, and staffing of the residence
hall desks at break times.
- Check residents in and out of their housing assignments using
the StarRez housing assignment management software system.
- Issue and track mailbox keys to residents. Submit Mail Key
Replacement Forms when residents need replacements.
- Follow lockout protocol to assist residents with regaining
access to their rooms when locked out.
- Create temporary access cards for residents that need
them.
- Check out administrative keys to groups that have residence
hall room reservations.
- Follow proper key distribution procedures to maintain accuracy
and security. NDAs must not create or issue keys to anyone,
including themselves, without following proper documentation
procedures.
- Maintain positive relationships with fellow Desk Assistants,
Desk Coordinators, Resident Assistants, Community Directors, HRL
staff, Facilities Management, and Program Associates.
- Participate in DA surveys to schedule desk shifts.
- Maintain ongoing communication with Residential Operations
Coordinators, fellow Desk Assistants, and Housing & Residence
Life office by checking phone messages and e-mail messages
daily.
- Attend all scheduled shifts on time. Follow proper
communication protocols when seeking emergency shift
coverage.
- Follow proper communication protocols when communicating with
on-call staff and emergency personnel.
4.) Other Duties
- The nature of the NDA position does not allow for all duties to
be explicitly described.There will be times when hall staff are
requested to assist in an emergency or other unforeseen
circumstance.These situations will be presented as thoroughly as
possible at the time of need.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
- Part-time.
- 8 - 24 hours per week.
Salary Range:
Required Education and Experience:
- Full time enrollment as an undergraduate student at American
University (minimum 12 credits and a maximum of 17 per semester).
If a Desk Assistant wishes to drop below the minimum credit hours,
they must receive written permission from the Director of Residence
Life in order to retain the DA position.
- Cumulative GPA at, or above, 2.50 and term GPA at, or above,
2.50 (GPAs must be maintained from the date of application until
the date of separation).
- Must be in good conduct standing with the university.
- Participate in the Desk Assistant interview process.
- Turn in completed HR and payroll forms to your supervisor or
the Assistant Director for Residential Operations & Finance.
Also, submit appropriate HR paperwork via Workday.
- Be timely and professional in all written and verbal
communications with Housing & Residence Life staff and AU
community members.
- Compile accurate and timely reports for supervisor as requested
(shift logs, digital systems management.).
- Complete and submit bi-weekly online timesheets on time via
Workday.
- Treat information concerning staff and/or students with the
utmost confidentiality.
Additional Eligibility Qualifications:
- Required Participation: All staff are required to
participate/attend the following: All Night Desk Assistants must
attend and fully participate in staff training in August and
January prior to the start of the academic semester.
- This is a 10-month position from August through May.
- All Night Desk Assistants are expected to work during the
opening of residence halls. The residential front desks at American
University are a 24-hour operation throughout the entire academic
year.
- This position works during the hours of 11:00 PM-7:00 AM
only.
- Night Desk Assistants are expected to work a minimum of 8 hours
(maximum 24 hours) per week, including some weekend shifts.
- Night Desk Assistants are required to work one break
(Thanksgiving Break, Winter Early Arrival, a portion of Spring
Break) over the course of the academic year.
- Night Desk Assistants are required to work during Finals and
hall closing periods.
- Resident Assistants, Desk Assistants (Day), and Desk
Coordinators are not eligible to serve as Night Desk
Assistants.
- Staff are required to be present and participate in all DA
training and residence hall opening and closing dates.
- All dates are subject to change.
- Applicants are required to attend one Desk Assistant
information session.
Other Details
- This position is available only to enrolled American
University students.
- Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or
contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or
responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job.
Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time
with or without notice.
- American University is an
E-Verify employer.
- Visit https://www.american.edu/hr/
for additional information about American University employment and
benefits.
Current American University Employees
American University current employees (including those employed in
student positions) must apply through their employee Workday
account. If you are a current employee at American University,
please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will
take you to our internal career listings.
Contact Us
For more information or assistance with the American University
careers site, email
theworkline@american.edu
.
American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action
institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and
regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy),
age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal
appearance, gender identity and expression, family
responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran
status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases
under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its
programs and activities.
