Residence Life at CRISIS and Summer Studies

WELCOMEWelcome to the Duke University Talent Identification Program, and thank you for your interest in applying to be a residence life staff member with us this summer! Our residential staff positions are truly integral to our CRISIS and Summer Studies Programs. Indeed, the essential residential life job responsibility is to care about residents—and that’s a responsibility that makes TIP programs so remarkable. Our students, affectionately known as “TIPsters,” are among the brightest youth in the country.

As a residence life staff member with Duke TIP, you will sharpen your skills as an administrator, mediator, facilitator, and educator for academically gifted youth. In addition, you will gain the ability to respond to crisis situations and the emotional needs of our students. No matter how small or big the task, you will learn the value of being a team player among our instructional and residential staff—and the campus at large. As a residence life staff member, you have the opportunity to make the Duke TIP campus experience meaningful, memorable, fun, and transformative for our TIPsters!

This document provides you with a short introduction to the various residence life positions offered within our CRISIS and Summer Studies programs at Duke TIP. In the pages that follow, you will read an overview of the “TIPical” roles and responsibilities you will have as an employee with Duke TIP. It is our hope that you read this document closely and seriously reflect on its contents as you consider moving forward with our residential staff selection process.

Again, thank you for your interest in our program! If there is anything we can do to assist you as you consider this opportunity, please do not hesitate to contact us at jobs@tip.duke.edu or (919) 668-9100.

Paris Andrew Anna Martin Dean of Students Coordinator of Residential Programs

An Introduction to Duke TIP’s Residential Programs

Residential Life at Duke TIP • 2

AN OVERVIEW OF RESIDENCE LIFE AT DUKE TIPResidence life is best understood within a larger context of people, ideas, and organizations. Residence life at Duke TIP can trace its history to 1980, when the first Summer Studies Program was held on Duke University’s East Campus. Today, our staff strongly believes that the living environment for residents plays a crucial role in developing the whole student. Unlike a typical summer camp, we have the unique opportunity to work with developing an exciting residential experience for academically gifted youth. Though these students spend nearly seven hours per day in the classroom while at our summer programs, the experiences that residents have outside the classroom can be just as educational. All in all, the Duke TIP residence life program functions like a curriculum, albeit a “hidden, out-of-classroom curriculum,” that enriches residents’ academic, cultural, interpersonal, emotional, and moral growth.

OUR RESIDENCE LIFE CORE VALUES

Community BuildingBridging gaps and developing bonds is essential to the Duke TIP experience. We value developing connections across instructional and residential dynamics to promote the pursuit of scholarship and interpersonal engagement in and out of the classroom.

RespectFostering a welcoming and celebrative living and learning community, self-reflection, and positive regard toward others is encouraged.

Teamwork Be it among staff, across campus, or within student groups, we value collaboration as the stable foundation of the Duke TIP experience.

Our Residence Life Mission• To provide and maintain a safe environment that promotes an

appreciation for diversity, wellness, and innovation.• To facilitate interpersonal growth where inclusion and respect for

others are the norms for community living.• To create an environment that promotes meaningful community

building for students and staff.• To enhance students’ academic, cultural, interpersonal, emotional,

and moral development.

What our staff members say about TIP:

“The most fun you will ever have at camp”

“An amazing life-changing experience”

“Challenging, unique, fast-paced”

“Diverse nonstop action”

“The most wonderful, worthwhile, and exhausting job you will ever have!”

“A safe outlet to socialize, learn, and have fun”

“Always something new”

Residential Life at Duke TIP • 3

RESIDENCE LIFE PROGRAMMING MODEL

TIPStar Programming ModelAll programming efforts and community-building activities are aimed to cater to the varying personalities and abilities of our students. Using the TIPStar programming model, residential staff will host a series of activities that represent the five points of a star

Diversity: Understanding and embracing the differences within ourselves and the world around us.

Sample Activities: Community mural, history of hip-hop and freestyling, “salsa and salsa”, diversity cupcakes, candy sushi, tie dye

Service: Supporting the people within our own and surrounding communities through volunteerism and compassion.

Sample Activities: Project Linus (crochet making for a cause), random acts of kindness competition, cards for the troops, neighborhood clean up, park revitalization, gratitude gifts, “trashion show” for sustainability awareness, duct tape wallet-making

Leadership: Helping students grow to become stronger people while exploring and defining their own values, ethics and identity.

Sample Activities: College expo, personality tests, creative debates, LeaderTIP Academy, TIPTalks

Health & Wellness: Intentionally creating an atmosphere in which students are exposed to information that will enable them to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Sample Activities: Yoga, Ultimate Frisbee competition, nature walks/hikes, meditation, Top Chef challenges, hip hop aerobics

Fine Arts: Fostering the opportunity for students to share their originality through performing arts, creative arts, visual arts, media, and entertainment.

Sample Activities: painting without brushes, “kookies and karaoke,” improvisation, make a movie, TIPSyncpoetry slams, open mic nights, instrument playing, jam sessions, vision boards,

These five points serve as an opportunity for staff to showcase their passion areas by programming with a purpose. To this end, staff create entertaining enrichment activities, while keeping in mind the varying physical and emotional needs of their students.

TIPStar Activity CriteriaResidential activities must:

1. Involve one of the five TIPStar points of interest 2. Identify intentional goals or outcomes3. Incorporate some form of reflection

Button FlairAt the conclusion of each TIPStar activity, students will receive a button designed by the Residential Counselors exclusively for that particular activity as a tangible memory and keepsake from the experience. Students and staff will wear their buttons on their lanyards to serve as flair throughout the term and memorabilia to take home. As more buttons are accumulated, they serve as great conversation gateways as well as tokens of appreciation and accomplishment for students as they engage fully in our residential programs!

In addition to receiving buttons for attending TIPStar activities, staff can create buttons for students representing their class, their RC group, and for embodying one of the five categories of TIPStar. Furthermore, staff are encouraged to include students in the design aspects of the button. For example, if a student group wins a campus-wide event like field day, the winners can work together to create a “TIPpropriate” design for all TIPsters to wear representing that event.

*Each campus has athletic equipment, board games, arts and crafts supplies, and other items that can help you to plan activities.

STAFFINGEach summer, Duke TIP hires over 285 residential staff members to manage nearly 6,300 students across our CRISIS and Summer Studies program sites. Though the staffing varies between the CRISIS and Summer Studies Program, our residence life employees are comprised of Residence Life Coordinators, Residence Hall Leaders, Residential

Program Assistants, and Residential Counselors. The Assistant Director for Residential Affairs and the Coordinator of Residential Programs monitor all residential operations and are responsible for the overall management of the residence life program.

Diversity

Fine Arts

Health & Wellness

Leadership

Service

Residential Life at Duke TIP • 4

RESPONSIBILITIES AND POSITION DESCRIPTIONSExperience as a camp counselor, college resident adviser, or similar position is preferred; and experience with programs designed for the academically gifted as staff or as a participant is helpful. Individuals must have the ability to perform as part of a team, organize projects, and express creativity in their activity planning. Detailed position descriptions can be found via the links below.

Residence Life Coordinator (RLC) positions require a bachelor’s degree. The Residence Life Coordinator assists the On-Site Director with daily program operations by directly supervising the Residential Counselors. Within Summer Studies, the Residence Life Coordinator also directly supervises the Residence Hall Leaders and the Residential Program Assistants and is a member of the residential leadership team (along with the Residential Hall Leaders and Residential Program Assistant). The Residence Life Coordinator organizes student housing, leads residential staff training sessions, creates weekly and daily duty schedules, and coordinates the planning of social and recreational activities for students.

Residential Counselor (RC) positions require one year of college. Residential Counselors are college undergraduate or graduate students who live in the residence halls with students, organize social and recreational activities, serve as role models, visit students’ classes, support students’ academic endeavors, and enforce Duke TIP behavioral guidelines. Each Residential Counselor supervises a group of ten to sixteen students and works to create a strong sense of community.

Residence Hall Leader (RHL) positions require two years of college. Residence Hall Leaders are the senior Residential Counselors in each residence hall and are members of the residential leadership team along with the Residence Life Coordinator and Residential Program Assistant. They are responsible for advising students in their residential group as well as supporting other residential staff. Residence Hall Leaders aid the Residence Life Coordinators in three main areas: Residential Counselor training and supervision, enforcement of residential policy, and administrative duties.

Residential Program Assistant (RPA) positions require two years of college, but a bachelor’s degree is very strongly preferred. Residential Program Assistants are college undergraduate or graduate students who live in the residence halls with students, organize social and recreational activities, serve as role models, support students’ academic endeavors, and enforce Duke TIP behavioral guidelines. Program Assistants are members of the residential leadership team, along with the Residence Life Coordinator.

Watch a video on the Residential Team Positions: www.tip.duke.edu/residentialjobs

Residential Life at Duke TIP • 5

RESIDENTIAL DUTIES During class hours, residential staff are assigned rotating duties important to the operation of the program. The residence life coordinator creates the duty schedules, and some of these duties may be combined at the smaller campuses. Descriptions of specific duties are listed below.

Morning DutyAssigned residential staff will be awake and available from 7 to 9 a.m. to make rounds of the halls during the time that students are waking up, getting ready for class, and going to breakfast. Residential staff escorts students to breakfast.

Transportation DutyResidential staff will be responsible for keeping the vans fueled and serviced, running errands, and shopping for supplies. Staff should check the fuel status regularly to ensure that the vans are ready for the next trip.

Night DutyResidential staff is in charge of night duty every night that the students are on campus. This duty is assigned on a rotating basis and staff members may be on night duty several times each week. Duty lasts from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. for Summer Studies and from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m. for CRISIS. Each night, one or two RCs will be expected to be in the residence hall or office, be accessible to students, make periodic rounds, respond to the on-site office voicemail and handle any emergency situations. Regardless of night duty, at least half of the residential staff must remain physically in the residence hall each night when the students are present on campus.

Lunch Supervision (Summer Studies only)Residential staff will assist with supervision during lunchtime.

Office DutyOffice duties may include answering the phone, running errands, making copies, sorting and delivering mail, and checking on students who are too sick to attend class. Residential staff should maintain a friendly and professional attitude at all times. Be sure to keep conversations appropriate in the presence of students. A staff member must be in the office at all designated times; do not leave the office unoccupied during your shift.

Medication DutyA staff member will be in the office to hand out medications to students during scheduled times. Shifts usually occur before breakfast, at lunch, in the late afternoon, and before bedtime.

Medical Phone/On-Call DutyA residential staff member who is eligible to drive will carry the emergency phone at all times during a twenty-four-hour period and must be available to transport students to the hospital as needed. This staff member must remain on campus when not responding to an emergency.

Health Duty (Summer Studies only)Health duty residential staff members take students to the health clinic for scheduled and emergency appointments during the day. The residential staff member must remain in the residence hall during their shift to be available for unexpected transports. The residential staff member should be aware of any scheduled appointments during their shift and arrange to meet the students in the office twenty minutes before the appointment. The residential staff member is responsible for taking a copy of the health form from each student’s file to the clinic, and for returning the forms to the office afterwards. The residential staff member should remain at the clinic with the students until they are finished and transport them back to campus. This duty is usually assigned in two half-day shifts.

Residential Life at Duke TIP • 6

A DAY IN THE LIFE

RLC RHL RPA RC

7:45 a.m.

Breakfast

Stop in the office, answer questions from Instructors, TAs, and office staff

BreakfastBreakfast

Assist with transportation duties/Health care visits

Breakfast

8:45 a.m.

Teaching Assistant escorts students to class

9 a.m.

Flexible time. Make sure activity sheets are all accounted for, work on duty schedules; meet with OSD

Work on committee tasks; file action reports as needed; speak with admin team about residential concerns

Run errands as necessary for mail, supply pick-up, etc.

Work on committee tasks; file action reports as needed; speak with admin team about residential concerns

12 p.m.Lunch; be a visible presence to students and staff; be available to answer questions

Lunch; be visible to students, assist with active supervision duties as necessary

1 p.m.

Flexible time. Make sure activity sheets are all accounted for, Work on duty schedules; meet with OSD

Work on committee tasks; file action reports as needed; speak with admin team about residential concerns

Run errands as necessary for mail, supply pick-up, etc.

Work on committee tasks; file Action Reports as needed; speak with admin team about residential concerns

4 p.m. Be visible to answer questionsActively supervise students during their free time

Assist with transportation duties/Health care visits

Actively supervise students during their free time

6 p.m.Check notebook for switches, get activity attendance sheets ready for RCs

Flexible time while students are in evening study with their teaching assistant

7 p.m.

Float between all activities; make sure all kids are accounted for; communicate with RCs and the office; attend differing activities

Evening residential activities

9 p.m. Float, be in the main officeCRISIS Program—Lights out at 9:45pm Mon–Thurs; 10:15pm lights out on Sundays

(ensure the students are in bed)

Summer Studies Program—Actively supervise students during their free time

10 p.m. In the main office to give meds to late kids Conduct RC group nightly

meeting; actively supervise students until lights out

Assist with other duties as assigned

Conduct RC group nightly meeting; actively supervise students until lights out

10:30 p.m.

Do rounds to check on staff/students

Do rounds to check on staff/students

10:45 p.m.

Float around the residence hall, meet with RCs

Summer Studies Program—Lights out at 10:45pm (ensure the students are in bed)

10:45 p.m.– 11:30 p.m.

Be visible around the staff “hangout spot” for your site. After an initial check-in, you can view this as time to rest

Relax/casual staff bonding

Perform rounds around the building if on night duty

Times may vary by Duke TIP site.

Residential Life at Duke TIP • 7

TIME OFF POLICY

Days OffCRISIS: Residence life staff within the CRISIS program will have one twenty-four-hour period off during each week on Saturdays. Because the program runs for students Sunday through Friday, staff members are required to work every day the program is in session. Since no students are present on Saturday, it is considered the official day off for all CRISIS staff.

Summer Studies: Residence life staff within the Summer Studies Program have one twenty-four-hour period off during each week (Monday–Thursday only) that usually lasts from 10 a.m. to 10 a.m. the following day. The Residence Life Coordinator handles the scheduling of days off. If you have a family emergency, you must request permission to leave from the On-Site Director, who will in turn contact the Duke TIP main office.

When an RC takes a day off, their responsibilities to their RC group must be covered by other staff. Another residential staff member must meet with the students after class, escort them to dinner, and supervise them before bedtime. Be sure to make these arrangements several days in advance.

Time OffRCs are not on duty twenty-four hours a day every day, although some days may be busier than others. RC responsibilities include day, evening, and night commitments; however, there are many times when an RC is off-duty while students are in class. In addition to supervising students and holding programs/events from 4 p.m. to bedtime on weekdays and all day on weekends, RCs will attend staff meetings, visit classes, be scheduled for duties on a rotating basis, and complete projects during the day.

OVERVIEW OF CRISIS (Grades 5–6)CRISIS offers you a three-week employment opportunity to work with students who have completed fifth or sixth grade. You will work with a new group of students each week and must commit to working the entire term. As a CRISIS staff member you will help students build leadership and teamwork skills as they collaborate to solve a community crisis. Each week students spend thirty hours on instructional and research activities and an additional fifteen hours on leadership, team-building, and recreational activities. An

administrative team oversees student supervision and manages program operations. Highly qualified instructor/teaching assistant teams lead research teams of approximately fifteen students. Outside the classroom, a carefully selected staff of residential counselors supervises students during meals, free time, and planned social and recreational activities. You should possess a genuine interest in the academic, social, and emotional growth of adolescents, exhibit maturity, a positive attitude, and a willingness to serve as a role model.

CRISIS Program CalendarSUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

Student arrival

Orientation

Residential activities

(prescribed)

Full class day

Cross team task force meeting

Residential activities

(prescribed)

Full class day

Cross team task force meeting

Campus-wide residential activities (field day)

Full class day

Cross team task force meeting

Residential activities

(Wild Card Wednesday)

Full class day

Cross team task force meeting

Campus-wide residential activities (carnival)

Last class day (9 a.m.–noon)

Final presentations

Open house Wrap-up

Student departure (4–5 p.m.)

Staff day off

CRISIS Residential ProgrammingTIPStar ACTIVITIESUsing the TIPStar programming model, residential staff will have a chance to host a series of activities (see residential programming model section for details). Within the CRISIS program, TIPStar activities are embedded within an already established curriculum.

Types of Activities • Small Group Activities (Prescribed)

These group activities occur on Sunday from 4 to 5 p.m. and 7:30 to 9 p.m. and Monday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. All RC groups will participate in the same predesigned curriculum. Supplies for these activities are purchased in advance.

• Campus-Wide Activities Students will participate in a campus-wide event Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. On Tuesday this will be field day and on Thursday this will be carnival (or an equally large scale activity determined by the residence life coordinator). The residence life coordinator works in advance of the program to plan these events and to the extent possible supplies are purchased in advance.

• RC Group Activities (Wild Card Wednesday) Each Wednesday RCs will have the opportunity to design and implement their own evening programming from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The residence life coordinator will work with RCs prior to the first program week to plan and approve these events and purchase supplies. This does not have to be one pulled from the curriculum, but an original idea or hobby in which the students can participate. Students will sign up for the activity the night before during their RC group meeting. All available activities will have a limit to how many students can attend. Instructional staff are encouraged to attend any residential programming in which they wish to participate.

• Nightly RC Group Meetings RCs will lead a final group meeting each evening from 9 to 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday. The purpose of this meeting is to wrap up the day, complete any needed RC assignments, and answer any student questions. This time is built in after final free time and phone calls home to allow one more group event to help alleviate homesickness before lights out. The residence life coordinator provides training during staff orientation on the best use of this time.

Residential Life at Duke TIP • 8

OVERVIEW OF SUMMER STUDIES (Grades 7–10)

The Summer Studies programs offer you three-week opportunities to work with gifted seventh through tenth graders. You may work one term at a single site or two terms at either one or two sites. This set of programs occurs at an array of colleges and universities and provides young scholars a chance to be exposed to college classroom instruction and residence hall living. An administrative team oversees students’ supervision and manages program operations. Highly

qualified instructional teams teach classes with approximately sixteen to eighteen students while carefully selected residential teams implement social and recreational activities outside the classroom. You should possess a genuine interest in the academic, social, and emotional growth of adolescents, exhibit maturity, a positive attitude, and a willingness to serve as a role model.

Summer Studies Program Calendar Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

WEE

K 1

Student arrival

Parent meeting

Full class day

Review syllabus and rubric

Evening study

Residential activities

Full class day

Evening study

Residential activities

Full class day

Evening study

Residential activities

Full class day

Evening study

Residential activities

Full class day

No evening study

Class from 9 a.m. to noon.

Campus-wide activity for all

students after lunch

Evening dance

WEE

K 2

No class*

Afternoon and evening residential activities

Full class day

Evening study

Residential activities

Full class day

Evening study

Residential activities

Full class day

Evening study

Residential activities

Full class day

Evening study

Residential activities

Full class day

No evening study

Class from 9 a.m. to noon.

Campus-wide activity for all

students after lunch

Evening dance

WEE

K 2

No class*

Afternoon and evening residential activities

Full class day

Evening study

Residential activities

Full class day

Evening study

Residential activities

Full class day

Evening study

Residential activities

Full class day

Evening study

Residential activities

Last class day

Review completed rubrics with each

student individually

Marine Lab: Campus-wide Science Symposium.

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Talent show

Student departure

Parent conference in person or by

phone

*Students may attend a worship service if they wish.

Summer Studies Residential Programming

TIPical Evening Activities

TIPStar ActivitiesUsing the TIPStar programming model, residential staff will have a chance to host a series of activities that range from small group (Monday–Thursday) to campus–wide (Friday–Sunday). This series of programs aim to meet the varying needs of our students (see residential programming model section for details).

Campus-Wide Events and CommitteesThere are several events that are traditionally held at Duke TIP, and all RCs will be involved in small committees to plan and facilitate these activities. While the RLC and OSD have more information about these events, this is an overview of the programs. Staff members should not feel pressured to hold these events just because they are “traditions.” Assess student interest in each program before planning. Below are a few examples of committee opportunities:

TIPStar Extravaganza Typically held on either Saturday or Sunday of the first and second week of the program, this activity day serves as a fun opportunity for TIPsters to attend numerous TIPStar activities hosted by staff, and collect multiple types of button flair to add to their lanyards.

Field day (Quadfest/Summerfest/Swampfest/Pitfest/etc.)This is usually a large field day–type activity in which students participate in a number of games and competitions.

Talent ShowUsually held on one of the last nights of the program, students do skits and performances.

DancesDances are held on Saturday nights during the program.

Termbook and Parent BlogBoth the termbook and parent blog will be worked on by committees each term. Each RC group and class submits pages for a termbook, usually with pictures and memories from the session. Copies are distributed to the students at the end of the session. For the parent blog images and videos of student activities are collected by committee members and posted daily to the Duke TIP parent website, with a summary of what the TIPsters were engaged in during the day.

Special EventEach campus typically spends one afternoon or evening over the weekend engaged in a campus-wide activity in which students can connect with other students across the program. The special event is meant to give students the chance to relax and have fun while partaking in activities such as an all-campus carnival, minor-league baseball game, or WNBA game, to name a few.

Learn more online: www.tip.duke.edu/employment