URF Job Description

Undergraduate Resident Fellow Job Description 2024-2025

Title:  House Undergraduate Resident Fellow (URF)

The House Undergraduate Resident Fellow (URF) lives in a West Campus House and partners with the House staff in creating a positive, vibrant and academically engaging residential community. The URF serves as a peer mentor to undergraduate residents and supports the House Professor-Dean, Assistant Dean, and Graduate Resident Fellows with a particular focus on the well-being of individual House members. In commitment to an equitable and inclusive community, and in alignment with both WCHS program goals and University learning goals, the URF helps residents foster a sense of belonging to one’s House and creates a safe, healthy, and welcoming community through the promotion of active citizenship, personal growth, and interpersonal understanding. The URF takes a leadership role in creating community by planning and promoting a variety of programs and activities. The URF provides assistance, resources, and referral information to undergraduate residents. 

Responsibilities:

I. Support Student Development and Community Building   

  • Interact regularly with house residents in the dining room including required attendance at all House Dinners.
  • Advise and encourage residents in planning and implementing programs and activities.
  • Lead/assist in the planning and implementation of resident engagement activities, including but not limited to programming, marketing, and other House or West Campus wide initiatives.
  • Actively participate in creation and implementation of programs that support and enhance academic engagement and encourage student-faculty interaction.
  • Work with Graduate Resident Fellows to promote inter- and intra-house programs and activities.
  • Communicate program, policy and other information to residents through meetings, bulletin boards, e-mail, etc.

II. Provide Peer Advising Support

  • Be generally present and accessible to house residents.
  • Advise students on Cornell’s academic programs and support services and make referrals to Graduate Resident Fellows, House Professor-Dean and Assistant Dean as appropriate.

 

III. Maintain Community Standards

  • Communicate, observe, and enforce community behavioral standards (e.g., Residential House Rules, Campus Code of Conduct, Housing Contract/Terms and Conditions, Life Safety requirements) by confronting and reporting inappropriate behavior.

 

IV. Administrative Duties

  • Attend all staff training sessions and staff meetings.
  • Assist with move-in and move-out administrative duties.
  • Assist with house orientation.
  • Assist with distribution and posting of House publicity materials.
  • Assume responsibility for other house administrative functions as assigned by the House Professor-Dean and the Assistant Dean of the House. 

V. Other

  • Be familiar with building fire alarm equipment and system, security/access systems and other safety issues and practices.
  • Assist in emergency evacuations.

Supervision:

Supervised by the Assistant Dean of the House

Employment requirements and expectations:

In order to perform the duties of the position, each URF will be provided a single room within a West Campus House.  URFs must enroll in a House Meal Plan.

  • Must be a junior or senior.
  • Strong preference will be given to candidates who live/have lived on West Campus prior to applying.
  • Must live in the assigned West Campus House.
    • Term of appointment is Monday, August 12, 2024 through Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
    • Must attend staff training in August 2024, January 2025, and periodic in-services. 
    • Must remain in residence in December 2024 and May 2025 until all residents have left and all URF administrative duties are complete.
    • May be required to be in residence prior to the reopening of the House in January 2024.
  • Observe all terms and conditions of housing contract, Residential House Rules, and Campus Code of Conduct.
  • Work an average of 10 hours per week during the academic year.
  • May take on additional employment with permission of supervisor.
  • Must be in good academic standing for the entire term of appointment.
  • Must subscribe to a House meal plan.

  • Remuneration:
    • Annual Stipend of $800 – first year, $1,000 – second year.

Recruitment, application, and selection

  • Application, with references.
  • Interview(s).
  • Required staff training program.