Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

As a residential college with over 96% of its students living in campus-owned housing, the Office of Student Engagement (OSE) supports the mission of Swarthmore College by fostering living environments that value shared responsibility, consensus decision making, and personal accountability. The Office of Student Engagement aspires to create and support an engaged, evolving, and inclusive campus community by fostering holistic student development and success. Combining the Office of Residential Life with the Student Activities & Leadership office in 2014, the Office of Student Engagement aims to link learning inside the classroom with learning outside of the classroom. The OSE expects that students will actively participate in their residential co-curricular experience and will take ownership for creating the communities in which they want to live.

The opportunity:

The Area Coordinator (AC) will work with the Office of Student Engagement (OSE) to supervise the residential community, which includes student staff supervision and training, crisis response, and community development. The AC will also provide substantial support to Student Activities programming through a collateral assignment and programming support.

The AC is a 12-month live-in position that collaborates with students, faculty, and staff in developing residential experiences that foster a sense of community and opportunities for the personal growth of community members. As a member of the Office of Student Engagement, ACs commit to developing student leaders who are ready to engage in a diverse, global world.

The AC position reports dually to the Director of Residential Communities for position aspects related to residential life and to the Director of Student Activities position for aspects related to student activities and collateral assignments.

The AC will serve in many capacities including: community builder, educator, supervisor, event programmer, and collaborator. In these roles, the AC helps shape the quality of the co-curricular experience for all students.

Essential Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

Staff Supervision

• Actively participate in student staff selection process, training processes, and staff development activities.
• Supervise residential and campus-wide programming efforts by Resident Assistants.
• Assist with recruitment, training, and supervision of student Resident Assistants in coordination and accordance with the Office of Student Engagement guidelines. Monitor work performance for accuracy and completeness in accordance with OSE goals and guidelines.
• Assess the performance of Resident Assistants staff members on a regular basis and formally once a semester in a departmental evaluation.
• Advise students and staff on proper procedures and policies, in order to ensure appropriate requirements are met.

Community Development

• Promote leadership development, self-governance opportunities, as well as civic engagement through resident involvement.
• Serve as a support resource for staff and students in dealing with specific residence hall problems, including roommate conflicts, personal and emotional problems, diversity issues, and other developmental concerns.
• Answers common student, staff, faculty, or parent questions in order to provide correct and timely information, guidance, and assistance. Appropriately refers to, or seeks assistance from, other OSE, dean’s staff members, administrators, or faculty members in order to ensure that students, staff, faculty members, or parents’ complex or unusual questions are answered in a correct and timely fashion.
• Adjudicate student conduct issues and cases within the residence halls and those associated with student events on campus.
• Maintain regular office hours and visible presence within the assigned residential community.
• Coordinate and administer the Office of Student Engagement program for a residential community cluster under the co-supervision of the Director of Residential Communities and Director of Student Activities as outlined in the Residential Communities Coordinator Manual.
• Meet weekly with directors to receive guidance feedback and discuss pertinent issues pertaining to the residential communities and/or student activities.
• Oversee residential conflict mediations.

Facilities Management

• Provide leadership and direction for a residential area and collaborate with maintenance, custodial, dining, and administrative staff
• Carry-out move-in and move-out procedures
• Communicate and follow-up on facilities related concerns in residence halls
• Conduct weekly building walkthroughs and inspections and assist in monitoring and completing individual Facilities and Maintenance requests and overall building management
• Assist with the opening and closing of residence halls
• On-Call Responsibilities
• Participate in the Division of Student Life on-call crisis response rotation (typically Tier 1, approximately once every 4 weeks). Respond promptly and appropriately, often in-person, to security, behavioral and crisis situations.
• The AC will be considered essential personnel and may be required to help carry-out the College’s emergency preparedness plans
• Coordinates student support with the Deans Staff
• Serve on a crisis duty rotation and take part in the crisis response team. When needed, respond in person to campus after-hours to assist students or campus partners with on-call needs.
• Provide event programming in their residential community that is open and welcoming to the entire campus.

Office of Student Engagement Support

• Support campus-wide OSE and dean’s division programming initiatives, with particular attention given to large all-campus event weekends including Orientation, Welcome Weekend, Winter Formal, Halloween Large Scale Event, Worthstock, Senior Week, and Alumni Weekend
• Perform campus event checks during on-call weekends, to support SwatTeam and student hosts with successful program management
• Maintain a collateral assignment within the Student Activities and Leadership Office, in order to support divisional programming and departmental initiatives across campus and within the residential community clusters.
• Provide administrative, purchasing, and budget reconciliation assistance to Student Organizations, Student Government, and the Student Budget Committee.
• Serve as a mandated reporter for Title IX issues and Clery Act violations.

Who you are:

• Demonstrated commitment to personal and departmental development, professionalism, diversity, equity and inclusion education, creativity, collaboration, and initiative.
• Discretion and sound judgment required in dealing with confidential and sensitive student issues and communication with all campus constituencies and outside constituencies (including parents).
• Strong attention to detail; strong organizational skills; ability to handle multiple tasks, often under deadlines; ability to work as a team member to build strong working relationships within the OSE and greater the Dean’s division, across campus and in the broader community; ability to write clearly and concisely with great attention to detail.

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• Master’s Degree
• Preference will be given to individuals with previous demonstrated student leadership experience within a college liberal arts setting, training in intergroup dialogue, and/or conflict mediation.

Preferred Qualifications

• A degree in counseling services, higher education administration, social work, or a related field is very strongly preferred.
• At least two (2) years of experience in residential life or managing residential spaces or with student development in a college/university setting, with a preference for a liberal arts setting.

Physical Demands

• Frequently required to move about inside the office and throughout residence halls.
• Must be able to sit for extended periods of time and work in a standard office environment.
• Must be able to occasionally lift, move, or transport objects weighing up to 20 pounds.

Working Conditions

• 12 month live-in position.

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus, and a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications with pay expectations, including a resume and cover letter, by March 24, 2024.

PA Criminal Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

Education Verification Required by Position

An education verification is required for this position because a college degree is a required qualification for this position.

Review the 2024 Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)*

Holiday Schedule

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.