Director of Housing & Residence Life

Director of Housing and Residence Life

VUU is nourished by its African American and Christian heritage and energized by a commitment to excellence and diversity. Its mission is to: 1) Provide a nurturing, intellectually challenging and spiritually enriching environment for learning; 2) Empower students to develop strong moral values for success; and 3) Develop scholars, leaders, and lifelong learners of a global society.

Established in 1865, Virginia Union University gave newly emancipated slaves an opportunity for education, for establishing a community, and for gaining economic, political and social advancement. The University is the result of a merger among four historic institutions: Richmond Theological Seminary, Wayland Seminary, Hartshorn Memorial, and Storer College. Richmond Theological Seminary held its first classes at Lumpkin’s Jail, a former holding cell for runaway slaves. The Wayland Seminary was founded in 1865 by the American Baptist Home Mission Society in Washington, DC. Two years later Storer College was founded in West Virginia, and Hartshorn Memorial College opened its doors in 1883 as the first college for African American women in the country. After operating independently for three decades, these notable seminaries joined forces to form Virginia Union University in 1899. Hartshorn Memorial and Storer Colleges would eventually join this Union in 1932 and 1964, respectively.

Located in the heart of Virginia’s capital city, Virginia Union University, a Baptist-affiliated private institution, is best known for its world-renowned graduate school of theology. It also offers a broad range of educational opportunities in the liberal arts, teaching, research, science, technology, continuing education, civic engagement, and study abroad. VUU’s commitment to student success has included an emphasis on student engagement and retention, and close interaction between faculty and students, both of which produce synergy among scholarship, teaching, and learning.

At Virginia Union University®, we consistently search for and create growth opportunities that forge groundbreaking research, state-of-the-art technology, or a top-of-the-line curriculum. We welcome and encourage new ideas and processes that positively impact experiences. We require the following core values.

Spiritual Formation, as a faith-based University, we welcome the regular practice of prayer, worship, silence, and mediation that matures one’s relationships, values, and life purpose that lead to ongoing spiritual growth and transformation.

Integrity, we value our commitment to fairness, honesty, and truth reflected in each person’s words and deeds while holding ourselves accountable for our personal words and actions.

Diversity & Inclusion, as one of the nation’s oldest HBCUs, we value diversity in thought, perspective, and embodiment, trusting that we are stronger when various voices, traditions, and experiences are present. We value inclusivity and promote a safe with dignity, respect, and compassion.

Excellence, we provide the highest quality of experiences and interactions while remaining flexible, responsive, and open-minded in developing and delivering programs, services, and facilities committed to exceeding the standards of what it means to be Best-In-Class.

The Director of Housing and Residence Life works to create and sustain a healthy living and learning environment for students. The Director is responsible for providing leadership and direction for a growing, student-centered Residence Life program that supports student academic success. This is a 12-month position with on-campus housing.

Duties And Responsibilities

Specific duties may include and are not limited to the following:

• Performs leadership development by leading the selection, training, and supervision of Residence Hall Directors, Assistant Hall Directors and Resident Assistants.
• Establishes goals and objectives for housing programs and personnel.
• Maintaining responsibility for the programmatic development and implementation of highly engaging student-centered resident life initiative programming and activities.
• Coordinates the room assignments process for on-campus students, oversees mid-year room change requests, and maintains effective communication with stakeholders.
• Collaborates with campus partners regarding housing functions including move-in, student orientation, and programming to ensure a holistic approach to residential development.
• Oversees the periodic inspections of residential facilities to ensure safety and health conditions.
• Manages the operational and budgetary aspects of the housing and residential life department.
• Manages and monitors Student Information Database utilizing the Jenzabar Software System.
• Serves as a conduct officer for student conduct housing concerns.
• Develop long-term planning for departmental growth and staffing.
• Collaborates with campus police and other university divisions in investigating and managing student conduct and integrity cases related to policy violations of the student handbook.
• Other duties as assigned.
  
  

Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred in Student Affairs, Higher Education, Administration, Education, or other closely related field
• A minimum of five years’ experience in a supervisory residence hall position in a higher education atmosphere.
  
  

Salary: Commensurate with experience

Applications Deadline

Review of candidate materials will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Applications should include a resume with three references and a cover letter. Please email AskHR@vuu.edu should you require additional assistance completing the employment application or experience any technical issues.

The selected applicant may be required to submit to a background investigation. VUU is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, protected veteran status, or other protected class.

For more information about Virginia Union University, visit https://www.vuu.edu/about-vuu