Community Resource Assistant - NYU Accra

The Community Resource Assistant (CRA) is an integral part of the NYU Accra staff. This is a live in full time position. The CRA lives at the students’ residence and acts as the first resource for students on cross-cultural adjustment issues, providing information, assistance and support. The role encompasses a broad range of responsibilities including serving as a role model, peer counselor, resource and referral person, NYU policy enforcer, activity programmer and leader for NYU Accra students. The CRA provides support to NYU Accra regular semester students as well as students on special programming such as J-Terms, Intercession and summer programs. Under the supervision of the Programs Manager, Student Services, the CRA is expected to assist in the development of community, organize and supervise various student activities, and report inappropriate behavior, creating in the dorm an environment that is conducive to the academic and personal growth of students. CRAs work with other NYU Accra staff to provide 24/7 emergency responses to students. This is a position where you will be called upon to respond to changing needs and situations. It is a position that requires flexibility, adaptability, enthusiasm, and commitment, as well as strong administrative and peer counselling skills, and crisis management. The CRA should expect to work non-traditional working hours, including evenings, weekends and occasional holidays. 

Principal Duties and Responsibilities: 

Events and Community Development 

• Encourage a cross-cultural living and learning environment that promotes student academic growth, personal responsibility and a strong sense of community through activities such as CRA meetings, student events, individual student check- ins, etc. 
• Conduct student information sessions, including the presentation of housing rules, safety and alcohol/drug guidelines, fire safety awareness, information on diversity, community respect, housemate/suitemate agreements during orientation and later in the semester as needed. 
• Ensure that the residents’ living situation is a suitable environment with regards to cleanliness of communal areas (living room, kitchen, stairways, balconies and the courtyard). 
• Take an active role in the creation, planning and implementation of cultural events and activities held at either the residence or at the Academic Center. 
• Provide guidance for the appointed Student Ambassadors (SSC, GEF, Wasserman Peer) in their programs and other social events. 
• Help to provide student immersion into the local community through volunteering events, collaboration with local student groups, creating connections between students and local opportunities. 
• Chaperone and lead students (regular and special programs) during outings such as walking tours, night outs, performances, day trips, and/or weekend excursions. 

• Participate in mediation procedures during roommate, suitemate and student community conflicts. 
• Assume pastoral responsibilities, such as checking in with students on an individual basis who are not mixing or who may be dealing with issues of homesickness, etc. 

• Report all cases of students having difficulties or experiencing distress to the Nurse, or the Programs Manager, Student Services for referral to the Site Counselor. 
• Report medical and mental health/wellness related problems to the NYU Accra Nurse and the Programs Manager, Student Services and provide follow up information when student is taken to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment. 

Administrative Responsibilities 

• Take a lead role in pre-semester and orientation planning and preparations. 
• Take a lead role in checking in and out students at the beginning and end of each semester (including taking of inventory at the end of the semester). 

• Participate in all orientation activities and events during the first week of students’ arrival each semester, including airport pick-up. 

• Assist in the preparation of the dormitories and the Academic Center for opening and transitions between academic terms. 

• Report housing problems, maintenance issues and residents’ concerns to the Assistant Manager, Facilities & Security. 

• Assist with the facilitation of fire and other evacuation and safety drills each semester. 

• Administrative duties including use of Microsoft MS Office, filing, photocopying, scanning, report writing, answering inquiries via phone, email and in person regarding all aspects of NYU Accra programming. 

• Day-to-day administrative tasks such as tracking student maintenance requests, monitoring independent student travel, checking on meals served by the restaurants and reporting any complaints by students to the Programs Manager, Student Services. Keeping meal plan restaurants informed of student numbers during mid semester breaks. 

• Sorting of students’ letters and packages received from the post office and delivering them to the recipients. 
• Participate in staff meetings to exchange ideas regarding student programming, the CRAs’ role, and students’ concerns. 
• Assist in the organization and coordination of all student life activities/events including the provision of content for the NYU Accra newsletter- Atumpan. 

• Assist in some academic programming such as helping students with their course registration at the University of Ghana and any other tasks assigned by the Academic Department. 
• Work closely with the finance office on specified tasks (fuel coupons, invoices, budgets, vendor forms, receipts, populating google sheets, purchases, etc) 
• Participate in training programs as and when required. 

Emergency Coverage and Policy Enforcement 

• Understand, communicate, enforce, and abide by existing NYU Accra policies and procedures. 
• Be familiar withall University and community resources and make appropriate referrals. 
• Assist the Programs Manager, Student Services with the student judicial process and submit written reports to document cases. 
• Know all emergency contacts NYU Accra, NYU in NY, ambulance, hospital, police, other site staff; and be familiar with all emergency procedures such as hospital visits and the NYU Accra fire safety evacuation plan. 
• Monitor and ensure adherence to housing policies; solve problems as needed. 
• Provide on-duty emergency and weekend/holiday coverage, shared with the other CRA. 
• During on-duty period CRA is expected to be available at all times by cell mobile phone and within 30 minutes travel time of the residence. 
• Accompany sick students to the hospital as advised by the nurse. 
• Carry out other duties as assigned by Programs Manager, Student Services 

Qualifications 

Required Education 

• Successful completion of a bachelor’s (first) degree. 

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• A valid work permit to work in Ghana
• Fluency in English
• Excellent writing skills in English
• Excellent intercultural and interpersonal communication skills
• Service excellence and delivery of high-quality solutions
• Strong ability to prioritize and multi-task with a creative approach to problem solving. Strong abilities in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and Powerpoint) 

NYU's Global Programs & University Life organization is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to being a welcoming campus community that reflects and enacts the values of inclusion, diversity, belonging, equity, and accessibility that inform academic excellence. Employees in this organization are expected to contribute to diverse, equitable, inclusive, and accessible learning and working environments for our students, staff, and faculty