Body
Issue/Question
What are the different types of staff that Residence Life employs? What do they do? And how do I contact them?
Environment
BHSU Residence Life; BHSU Residence Halls
Cause
You would like information about the different type of employees who work for Residence Life at BHSU.
Resolution
Please click on the positions below to learn more about the roles in Residence Life
+ Resident Assistant (RA)
- A Resident Assistant (RA) is a BHSU student leader who lives in the residence hall and helps support the students who live there.
- What an RA is:
- A peer mentor and point of contact for residents
- A bridge between students and the housing or residence life staff
- A role model for community standards and campus values
- What an RA does:
- Builds community: Organizes events and activities to help residents connect and feel at home
- Provides support: Listens to concerns, offers guidance, and connects residents with campus resources
- Maintains safety: Enforces housing policies, responds to and documents incidents, and helps in emergencies
- Supports well-being: Helps foster an inclusive, respectful, and healthy living environment
- An RA helps make dorm life safer, more welcoming, and more supportive — while being a fellow student who understands what residents are going through.
+ Assistant Complex Director (ACD)
- An Assistant Complex Director (ACD) is a student staff member who helps oversee the daily operations of one of BHSU's residential communities.
- What an Assistant Complex Director is:
- A supervisor and mentor to RAs and sometimes other student leaders
- A supports the Complex Director by overseeing the building's day-to-day operations.
- What an Assistant Complex Director does:
- Supervises staff: Trains, mentors, evaluates, and supports RAs
- Manages operations: Helps facilitate room moves, duty schedules, facilities concerns, and opening/closing procedures
- Handles conduct issues: Assists with incident response, documentation, and student conduct processes
- Supports students: Meets with residents about concerns, crises, or conflicts and connects them to campus resources
- Leads on duty: Serves in an on-call rotation to respond to emergencies after hours
- Builds community: Supports programming, engagement initiatives, and inclusive residential environments
- An Assistant Complex Director helps run the day-to-day life of one of our residence halls, supports student leaders, and ensures a safe, supportive, and well-functioning residential community.
+ Complex Director (CD)
- What is a Complex Director?
- The Complex Director is the primary administrator and leader for one of the two residential complexes on the BHSU campus.
- They supervise the para-professional staff (RAs).
- Manage the day-to-day operations in their building and oversee the work of their Assistant Complex Directors.
- A key representative and point of contact for Residence Life within the campus community
- What a Complex Director does:
- Leads and supervises staff: Hires, trains, mentors, and evaluates Assistant Complex Directors and Resident Assistants
- Manages operations: Oversees housing operations, facilities coordination, room assignments, budgets, and hall openings/closings
- Oversees conduct and crisis response: Handles serious student conduct cases, behavioral concerns, and emergency situations
- Supports student development: Creates a safe, inclusive environment that promotes academic success and personal growth
- Provides on-call leadership: Serves in a on-call rotation for campus emergencies
- Builds community and engagement: Sets vision for programming, inclusion initiatives, and community standards
- Administrative responsibilities: Maintains records, writes reports, ensures policy compliance, and collaborates with campus partners
- A Complex Director is responsible for the overall success, safety, and functioning of a residential community, balancing student support, staff leadership, and operational management
- BHSU Residence Life has two (2) complex Directors:
- West Complex Director and Residential Education Coordinator in Bordeaux Hall, who oversees Heidepriem and Thomas Hall.
- East Complex Director and Residential Operations Coordinator in the Yellow Jacket Apartments, who oversees Humbert and Wenona Cook Hall.
+ Director, Residence Life (DRL)
- What a Director of Residence Life is:
- The primary administrator responsible for the residential experience on campus
- A senior leader within Housing, Residential Education, and Residential Operations
- A supervisor of professional staff, such as Complex Directors and central office staff
- What a Director of Residence Life does:
- Sets vision and strategy: Develops goals, policies, and long-term plans for residence life programs and residential communities
- Leads and supervises staff: Hires, trains, mentors, and evaluates professional staff, and oversees student staff structures
- Oversees operations: Manages housing operations, budgets, facilities coordination, and assessment efforts
- Ensures student safety and well-being: Establishes crisis response protocols, behavioral intervention processes, and conduct procedures
- Promotes student development: Advances inclusion, engagement, and learning within residential communities
- Collaborates across campus: Works with facilities, campus safety, counseling services, academics, and senior leadership
- Assesses and improves programs: Uses data, feedback, and best practices to improve residential programs and outcomes
- The Director of Residence Life is responsible for the overall quality, safety, and educational impact of the on-campus living experience, ensuring residence halls support student success and community development
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact BHSU Residence Life at BHSUResidenceLife@bhsu.edu or call our office at 605-642-6464.