Residence Hall Staffing

Hall Director (HD)

Ferris State University Hall Directors are live-in professional staff administrators of the University. HDs have generally earned a master's degree in a discipline related to College Student Personnel Administration and provide comprehensive supervision of one or two residence halls. HDs recruit, select, train and supervise residence hall staff including an assistant hall director, 6 to 14 resident advisors, front desk and night security personnel. HDs guide residence hall life and promote an environment where students are challenged and supported to learn and grow into responsible community members. HDs actively participate on departmental and University committees, perform administrative duties, manage facilities, advise Hall Council, coordinate programming and community development and provide overall leadership in the academic, social and emotional development of students. In addition, all Hall Directors serve as judicial officers adjudicating issues of student conduct.

Resident Advisors (RA)

Resident Advisors are full-time students who assist fellow students with University life. RAs are instrumental in assisting students to reach their full potential as positive members of the residence hall and university communities. Responsible for a twenty to fifty person floor, RAs assist in educational, recreational, social, and cultural programming, as well as advising the house council, enforcement of behavioral standards, conflict resolution, and issues of diversity. The primary role of the RA is to engage students in, and facilitate the process of building community based on mutual respect and academic excellence. RAs are student advocates and are familiar with campus resources to assist students in meeting their needs.

Desk Services Managers (DSM)

Desk Services Managers (DSMs) assist in the overall management of the residence hall desk and night security operations including staff scheduling, establishing an atmosphere of service-oriented assistance, management of KRONOS Payroll System, and performing other administrative duties. These are upper-class student employees who have usually served in the role of a Desk Services Assistant. Training is provided for all DSMs, both at the department level and at the hall level, to help create a resident, faculty, and staff friendly environment. The immediate supervisor to the Desk Services Managers is the Hall Director of the hall for which they have been hired. There are a total of 16 DSM positions on-campus; one is assigned to each residence hall desk operation.

FYE Peer Mentors (PM)

FYE Peer Mentors are second year students who have participated in the First-Year Experience (FYE) program and who are interested in supporting incoming FYE students in Clark Hall. They will offer support, patience, and enthusiasm as they share their knowledge and experience with those they mentor. Peer Mentors are assigned a small cohort of students to discuss academic, personal, and social concerns on a regular basis during the school year. They assist with FYE Orientation events, run informal study groups, plan and implement programs in the First SIX Series, and are visible members of the Clark community. There are 10 FYE Peer Mentors living on the first and second floors of Clark Hall.

Desk Services Assistants (DSA)

As a representative of the University and the Office of Residential Life, desk staff are responsible for the operation of a 24 hour desk that meets the needs of a specific community. Each staff member will maintain a positive customer service attitude. DSAs act as a source of information and welcome agent for all residents and visitors. Some of the DSA responsibilities are maintaining a detailed equipment use log, answering the telephone, taking accurate messages, keeping work area organized and clean, and reporting maintenance or facility concerns to the Hall Director. Desk Services Assistants provide office support to the DSM and Hall Director, sign for and receive packages delivered to residents, sort and distribute mail, and participate in a Fall customer service workshop and regular staff meetings. In the night security component of the DSA position, they complete rounds of the building between midnight and 8:00 a.m., check identification of everyone who enters the building after hours, confront inappropriate behaviors and report violations of policy to the Resident Advisor (RA) on duty, and provide additional safety and security for residents living in a specific building.