The Community Advisor Carnegie Mellon University Student Life

Agenda What is the Community Advisor Role? What is the Community Advisor Role not? Critical Questions to Ask Before Applying Qualifications Application Process Questions

What brings you to this info session? Why are you interested in the CA role? What are you hoping to learn today?

What is the CA Role? A Community Advisor (CA) partners with a professional Housefellow to provide overall leadership for the vision, direction and daily activity within one of the fifteen residential house communities on campus. The CA is responsible for developing a strong sense of community among house residents, facilitating resident involvement in the life of the house, and fostering an environment in the house which enhances the personal and academic success of all who live there. Toward this end, the CA provides leadership to a team of Resident Assistants who provide resources and support to all residents while maintaining community standards and offering individual and group opportunities for personal growth.

What is the CA Role? Developing meaningful 1:1 supervisory, mentoring and advising relationships with all RAs in the house Leading house staff and residents in the development of a shared vision for the house community Ensuring that an active programming agenda of appropriate breadth and depth exists within the house community Serving as an active point of interface between the house community and the broader community Assisting the Housefellow in providing direct support to residents who are experiencing immediate medical or personal circumstances Coordinating various administrative tasks in support of house activities

What is the CA Role Not? A strictly administrative, behind the scenes role. “An RA to the RAs” or “a senior RA” Automatically the best next step for someone who has been an RA for a year (or 2)

Critical Questions to Ask Yourself Am I truly passionate about the kind of work that CAs do? Do I want to make a university-wide impact? Have I talked to my HF, CAs I know, and other trusted peers about my aspirations for next year? Am I open to any and all types of CA experiences? Or am I committed to one specific vision or type of community? Can I articulate what I’ll personally contribute to the community? Have I thought about what skills/ experiences I wish to get out of serving as a CA?

Expectations CAs must be enrolled full-time undergraduate or graduate students A cumulative and Fall 2016 semester QPA of 2.5 or higher to apply and serve CAs will be expected to work a minimum of 26 hours per week during the 2017- 18 academic year, and 4 hours per week between February and May 2017. Participate in pre-service training during the Spring 2017 semester Collaborate with HFs in RA selection Plan and facilitate Spring 2017 training for RAs. Live in designated housing assignment, and maintain a housing license agreeing with Housing Services

CA Selection Process and Timeline Written Application Materials Cover Letter Resume Recommendation (not from current HF or CA) Several Essay Questions Online CA Application Available now at http://www.studentaffairs.cmu.edu/student- life/raselection/index.html All Materials Due January 12, 2017

CA Selection Process and Timeline Presentations and Interviews January 18, 19, and 20, 2017 15-minute presentation "What are the core values that you posses that you believe will be most influential in your work as a CA? How would those values influence your work with: Members of your residential community, The RA’s on your staff, Your fellow CA’s , and Members of the broader campus community?” 20-minutes of Q&A Time for candidates to ask questions of HFs

CA Selection Process and Timeline Decision Letters will be available via email on January 24, 2017. Deadline to accept offers is January 27, 2017 at noon.

CA Position in the Words of Current CAs https://youtu.be/nxojGDTzFcM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxojGDTzFcM&featu re=youtu.be

Homework Talk to an array of student leaders / CAs Meet with HF or a mentor and talk through your skills/interests Reflect on your experience at CMU Put time into the application Prepare for the interview/presentation