Reports to: Assistant Director of Housing & Residence Life
Department/Division: Housing & Residence Life/Student Development
Salary Classification: Part time (20 hours/week), 10 month contract (43-44 weeks)
Compensation: Housing, hourly wage ($15/hour)
Anticipated Start Date: July 22, 2025
About Biola University
Biola University is a nationally ranked Christian university in the heart of Southern California. As a leader in academic quality and innovation, Biola is consistently ranked among the nation’s foremost Christian universities.
Founded in 1908, Biola offers biblically centered education, intentional spiritual development and vocational preparation within a unique and diverse learning community where all faculty, staff and students are professing Christians. Biola’s eight schools offer more than 150 academic programs at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels, enrolling more than 6,000 students at the La Mirada campus, online and in distance programs throughout the world.
About Student Development
Student Development’s desire is for every student to leave Biola as a well-rounded person; intellectually, interpersonally, spiritually, and emotionally. Our department plays a role in most of the life residents live outside of the classroom. This includes through Residence Life, orientation services, chapels, ministries, student government & programming, community service, Commuter Life, Global Student Services, Student Care, Learning Assistance, Disability Services and more.
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion
Biola University affirms its value for and commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce. The division of Student Development is dedicated to being a diverse and inclusive department that will reflect the diversity of the Biola community and demonstrate intercultural proficiency.
We encourage qualified applicants who are diverse in gender, culture, class, generation, nationality, ethnicity, race, and ability to apply.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The Graduate Assistant: Apartments is a live-in residential education opportunity in an upperclassmen apartment community. The role is designed based on an apprenticeship model - Graduate Assistants are invited into many departmental processes to not only observe but be active participants. It is expected that they would finish their time in this role at Biola with a broad knowledge of Housing & Residence Life, Student Development, conduct, and student care that will prepare them for a future career in Higher Education.
Required Qualifications:
- Completed Bachelors degree at start of employment.
- Enrolled in an accredited degree-granting masters level graduate program for duration of employment.
- Knowledge of and ability to engage with one’s own personal identity and how that informs engagement with concepts and topics surrounding diversity and inclusion
- Experience with university or community college students.
- Willing and able to respond to crisis situations.
- Able to uphold university policies.
- Teachable.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience serving in a leadership role.
- Experience leading undergraduate students.
- Experience planning programs or events.
- Willingness to learn and apply student leadership and student affairs theory and best practices.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Involvement with Students:
- Develop relationships with residents in apartment community through consistent presence
- Understand and communicate the rationale for Biola University Community Standards and apartment regulations
- Develop creative programming strategies for upper division undergraduate students
- Uphold community standards through student care and conduct processes, serve as case manager for low-level conduct and student care needs
- Respond to student care and conduct issues within apartment community as needed
- Housing & Residence Life Leadership:
- Assist Resident Directors with development and implementation of Resident Advisor training cycle (Spring Training, Fall Training, and In-Service Training)
- Support Resident Advisor selection process
- Serve on Departmental Program Team
- Provide leadership and support for departmental programming and initiatives as requested
- Attend monthly divisional meetings, participate in divisional initiatives as requested
- Administration:
- Manage the use and upkeep of all physical space within the apartment community
- Oversee opening and closing of the apartments at the beginning and end of each semester
- Provide support for housing systems such as room change, move in, move out, and housing selection - expected to be present on campus and provide in office support for housing processes
- Hold five set office hours per week in the Housing Office
- Communicate custodial and maintenance needs to facilities services personnel and/or housing, and monitor progress
- Oversee apartment programming budget
- Professional Growth:
- Attend weekly Housing & Residence Life staff meetings to participate in Residence Life planning and staff development
- Attend Student Development Divisional meetings (once a month)
- Attend and participate in Student Care Cohort (weekly)
- Attend January retreat with department staff
- Schedule regular one-on-one meetings with Assistant Director of Housing & Residence Life (bi-weekly)
TIME COMMITMENTS
The Graduate Assistant is expected to be present and available for the following:
- Housing & Residence Life staff meetings, retreats and trainings, including program team meetings
- Bi-weekly one-on-one meetings with their direct supervisor
- Attend and participate in RA Training
- Maintaining scheduled office hours in the Housing Office
The Graduate Assistant is also expected to be available on weekends during which special events are scheduled (i.e. Check-in, Check-out, and August Training). It is expected that the Graduate Assistant will have a weekly schedule on file with his/her supervisor.