The Division of Student Affairs is committed to designing exceptional out-of-classroom experiences to help Mizzou students succeed on campus and after graduation. Our priorities are student success, emotional well-being, diversity and inclusion, and healthy organization. Our work stands on the pillars of trust, compassion, stability, hope and growth.

Student Success – we deliver the highest quality of student experience. To do that, we need to examine practices and policies that affect our organization and, when they need updates, change them.

Students’ Emotional Well-Being – this is critical to student success and to the Mizzou Strategic Plan. It is why we continue to invest in the MU Counseling Center and in resources like the Dean of Students’ Care Team, and why Vice Chancellor Stackman’s door is always open to students and families with concerns.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – We want Student Affairs to be a campus leader in creating and sustaining an environment that acknowledges and celebrates diversity of all students.

Healthy Organization – stands on our five pillars of trust, compassion, stability, hope and growth. Let’s lean on these to see how they can help us work together and achieve our priorities.

• Trust- we treat one another and our students with honesty and integrity. It means we trust one another to be responsible caretakers of Mizzou’s reputation. We count on one another to represent the university in a professional manner and to provide only accurate information. It means we are respectful of one another’s time, resources, knowledge and the hundreds of unseeable differences that make us unique.
• Compassion – we demonstrate caring in large and small ways, that we acknowledge the inherent value in one another. Through compassion, we create a culture of customer service that we provide to one another and our students. We resolve disputes and address concerns effectively within our team and with students.
• Stability- we feel secure in our jobs and in our mission. We will be flexible and adapt as necessary to achieve our objectives; at times that may call for a sense of urgency. We will build on our strengths and focus our energy on programs that lead to excellence.
• Hope- we have faith in the direction we are headed as a division. We are a team, each of us with responsibilities that are essential to the important mission of the university.
• Growth- we grow stronger and more resilient as a division. It also means the professional development and personal growth of each of us as individuals. We review our policies and procedures to ensure they meet current needs. Growth means that we are learning.

Residential Life provides world-class housing experiences that engage students within an innovative and educational environment that supports best on-campus housing practices and promotes student success.

These positions are customer service centric. Administrative Desk Attendants are part of a team and represent the student spirit of Residential Life by serving as the initial contact point through various customer interaction mediums (includes information desks and email/phone communication).

Administrative Desk Attendants are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the main front desk for Residential Life. This includes receiving calls for the main office; providing consultations for potential and current students; answering emails from parents, current students, Residential Life staff and campus colleagues; assisting with contracting; providing excellent customer service and engagement; and other functions necessary for the success of the Residential Life. Administrative Desk Attendants are an extension of the Residential Life brand and are on hand to welcome visitors and offer guidance and information on Residential Life and Mizzou to residents, prospective students, visitors, faculty, staff, administrators and alumni.

Essential Functions

Administrative Desk Attendants will perform some or all of the duties listed below and may be assigned to work in one or more service areas or functions.

• Provide excellent customer service to all Residential Life visitors by being welcoming and approachable. This includes greeting people when they walk into the main office, smiling, verbally and physically acknowledging people and taking the initiative to be friendly. Have intentional interactions with customers and build relationships with them.
• Manage the front desk operations. Receive calls for the main office of Residential Life, and manage the front desk email. Guide customers through the Residential Life website. Send and sort mail. Assist customers with a variety of forms both online and in person, including, but not limited to, cancellations, purchase options, room moves, preference forms, contracts, dining plans, maintenance requests, guest housing, housing portal, etc. Keep the desk area clean and presentable. Be aware of office procedures and culture within the office, the department and on campus.
• Assist with contracting for Residential Life. Sell and market the contracts available for housing. Understand the variety of housing processes and options (returning students, new students, academic year, and summer). Provide consultation for potential and current students and families. Assist with room selection for students. Assist with the Purchase Option process. Help with the cancellation of contracts. Assist with and understand the room move process. Help full-time staff with the housing process and assignments. Work with Guest and Break housing staff by helping facilitate early arrivals, late stays and specialized housing accommodations. Work with the StarRez system to fulfil these responsibilities.
• Serve as a pulse point for communication with administration, full-time support staff and other student staff regarding concerns, suggestions and problems involving the day-to-day operations of Residential Life.
• Be a brand ambassador for Residential Life and the University of Missouri. Show passion and excitement about the Residential Life housing experience. Sell the Residential Life and Mizzou experience. Have knowledge of Residential Life and Student Affairs to be an exceptional resource. Refer students to off-campus resources as appropriate.

Additional Responsibilities

• Receive training on a wide variety of MU programs and offerings and appropriate delivery methods.
• Attend and participate in periodic staff meetings and all training sessions scheduled by the department.
• Participate in special projects to improve or expand the services offered by the Residential Life.
• As with all positions, involvement with other duties and responsibilities is expected in order to serve and maintain our departmental and Student Affairs mission.

$12.25 per hour; paid on a bi-weekly basis.

HOURS: Vary based on department needs; may include evenings and/or weekends.

Average number of hours per week: 10

To be eligible for a student title, an individual must be enrolled at the University of Missouri. Enrollment in the summer session is not required if the student was enrolled in the Spring semester and is pre-enrolled for the Fall semester. Selection is contingent upon results of a review with the Office of Institutional Equity, Office of Student Accountability & Support, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, previous MU appointment history, and reference checks.

• Prior experience working in Residential Life is preferred.
• The applicant should have exceptional communication skills, with an outgoing personality and ability to greet strangers, excitement for public speaking, passion for involvement and enthusiasm for Mizzou, strong organizational skills, good time-management skills, reliability, a sense of commitment to the work place and the ability to work with a variety of people.
• Prior customer service experience is helpful.
• Be able to work a minimum of 10 hours per week on a regular basis.

Complete application, and upload the following: résumé, class schedule, cover letter, and 3 or more references which must include at least 1 MU supervisor (if applicable).

Learning Outcomes:

Expected career readiness competencies gained and/or enhanced from this position include:

Critical Thinking/Problem Solving: Exercise sound reasoning to analyze issues, make decisions and overcome problems. The individual is able to obtain, interpret and use knowledge, facts and data in this process and may demonstrate originality and inventiveness.

Oral/Written Communications: Articulate thoughts and ideas clearly and effectively in written and oral forms to persons inside and outside of the organization. The individual has public speaking skills; is able to express ideas to others; and can write/edit memos, letters, and complex technical reports clearly and effectively.

Teamwork/Collaboration: Build collaborative relationships with colleagues and customers representing diverse cultures, races, ages, genders, religions, lifestyles, and viewpoints. The individual is able to work within a team structure and can negotiate and manage conflict.

Digital Technology: Leverage existing digital technologies ethically and efficiently to solve problems, complete tasks and accomplish goals. The individual demonstrates effective adaptability to new and emerging technologies.

Leadership: Leverage the strengths of others to achieve common goals and use interpersonal skills to coach and develop others. The individual is able to assess and manage their emotions and those of others; use empathetic skills to guide and motivate; and organize, prioritize, and delegate work.

Professionalism/Work Ethic: Demonstrate personal accountability and effective work habits (e.g., punctuality, working productively with others and time-workload management), and understand the impact of non-verbal communication on professional work image. The individual demonstrates integrity and ethical behavior, acts responsibly with the interests of the larger community in mind and is able to learn from their mistakes.

Career Management: Identify and articulate one’s skills, strengths, knowledge, and experiences relevant to the position desired and career goals and identify areas necessary for professional growth. The individual is able to navigate and explore job options, understands, and can take the steps necessary to pursue opportunities and understands how to self-advocate for opportunities in the workplace.

Global/Intercultural Fluency: Value, respect and learn from diverse cultures, races, ages, genders, sexual orientations, and religions. The individual demonstrates openness, inclusiveness, sensitivity, and the ability to interact respectfully with all people and understand individuals’ differences.

This is a student position and is not eligible for University benefits.

Diversity Commitment

The University of Missouri is fully committed to achieving the goal of a diverse and inclusive academic community of faculty, staff and students. We seek individuals who are committed to this goal and our core campus values of respect, responsibility, discovery and excellence.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Equal Opportunity is and shall be provided for all employees and applicants for employment on the basis of their demonstrated ability and competence without unlawful discrimination on the basis of their race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable state or federal law. This policy shall not be interpreted in such a manner as to violate the legal rights of religious organizations or the recruiting rights of military organizations associated with the Armed Forces or the Department of Homeland Security of the United States of America. For more information, call the Director of Employee and Labor Relations at 573-884-2577.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director of Accessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.

EEO IS THE LAW

To read more about Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) please use the following links:

• EEO is the Law English Version
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• EEO is the Law Chinese Version