North Residential Village Team Expectations

2020-2021
General 🌀
● Have fun with your work! Smile!
● We are here to grow and experience new things together, so let’s make the most of it!
● We will all make mistakes, we are human. When mistakes happen be honest and solution
oriented. Mistakes are a part of life and we will learn from them!
Academics 🎓
● You are a student first and an RA second, prioritize your education, it is why you are here
at Merrimack.
● Your community should be an academically focused place that encourages students to
succeed.
● Serve as a role model; study in public, go to class regularly, and actively pursue your
academic goals.
Teamwork 👯‍ ♂️
● Know the requirements of your position. This includes but is not limited to on-call
requirements, mandatory dates, programming, and any other duties as assigned.
● Include each other as much as possible. This team is your support system, nobody knows
what you are going through like the rest of us.
● Step up and help if you notice a team member struggling.
● Remember that you share your resources with each other and other RA teams. Be
respectful of these resources. Return supplies used clean and in the correct place.
● Know that I care about each and every one of you. You have a very important job in the
department and I am here to support you in any way I can.
● Understand that being on a team does not equate to being friends. Although friendships
may happen, it is not required that everyone become friends with one another. What is
required is kindness to one another. Have empathy for your teammates, help each other,
recognize one another, and build each other up.
● Gossip, bullying, or any other related activities will NOT be tolerated. Focus on doing
your job well!
On-Call 🔦
● Please be familiar with the on-call components of your position.
● Begin duty rounds on time. This is crucial!
● Never hesitate to call the AC on call if you are unsure about any situation, we are here to
help you! I would rather you call and ask then make a mistake. A true leader admits what
they don’t know.
Documentation ✏️
● Appropriately and professionally document everything in a timely manner (ASAP).
● All documentation should be thorough, grammatically correct, and detailed (time, date,
exact location, names, specific behavior, etc.,).
● Submit all incident reports within 24 hours of the incident occurring (certain situations
may require that the incident reports are submitted in less than 24 hours)
 ● Keep me informed—if there are large issues that I should know about, contact me
immediately.
● Submit all facilities concerns within 24 hours (or earlier, if the situation demands it).
Attitude 😊
● Lead with integrity.
● Choose your attitude, choose positivity.
● Gossiping, bullying, or any other related behavior will not be tolerated - treat others as
you would like to be treated.
● Have Respect for one another, myself, the other ACs/GRDs, our residents, MCPD,
Custodial Staff and other housing or Merrimack staff.
● Be open to change, suggest new ideas, always look for ways to grow, and be open to
feedback.
● Something to think about: “watch your thoughts, for they become your words. Watch
your words, for they become your actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become your character. Watch your character, for it becomes
your destiny.”
Safety ♀️
‍
● Observe, model, and ensure that others and yourself follow Residence Life and
Merrimack College Policies.
● Never speak to the press in your capacity as an RA. Refer questions to me, and I will
make sure they get in touch with the appropriate person.
● Emergency situations may arise. Please be flexible when they do.
Community 🤝
● Be friendly and welcoming! Get to know your residents. Remember: you have the power
to change someone’s life. Leave a daily legacy.
● Get residents to meet each other! Facilitate diverse interactions!
● Strive to make your community fun, supportive, and respectful.
● Be kind and friendly with the custodial staff. This is a must for me. Disrespect for
custodians will not be tolerated.
● Be intentional, educational, and civil in all interactions with residents.
● There are many residents in our buildings. Remember that this means there are many
different perspectives, intentions, religious, political beliefs, and identities in the hall.
Respect the physical, personal, and ideological diversity in the community.
● Be present and accessible for your residents. Treat all residents equitably and
professionally.
General Communication 🗣
● Listen: seek first to understand.
● Effective communication is a hallmark of any effective staff.
● Keep communication timely, do not wait or hesitate to communicate things to me.
● Never be afraid to ask questions or seek guidance, get help when you need it!
● Keep your AC & GRD current on all things happening in your community. Not
everything needs to wait until your 1:1 time.
● Check your RA mailbox daily, flyers should not be stacking up in your mailbox.
 ● Read and respond to all email, voicemail, and text messages in 24 hours (business hours)
or less.
Staff Communication 🗣
● Group Text
o Do not mute the the group message.
o Do not remove others from the group text.
o If I send something in the group text, I expect that you’ve read it.
● Email
o I can be reached via email at barryb@merrimack.edu and Jeremy can be reached
at hynsonj@merrimack.edu
o Feel free to email us at any time about anything.
▪ Be aware that email should not be used for something pressing or urgent.
o Check your email at least once a day, this will be a major form of communication.
▪ Respond within 24 business hours if necessary.
o Read all emails thoroughly.
● Texting/Phone Calls to AC or GRD
o AC or GRD personal numbers should not be given out to anybody outside our
staff - this includes parents and residents.
o After 10 PM, you should only be texting or calling for emergency situations.
o Just like you all, your AC & GRD also have a life outside of work. Please be
aware that we will always try to respond to texts or calls within a timely manner,
but cannot guarantee a timely response. Remember that the AC on call number is
available 24/7 and someone will be available to assist immediately if contacted.
o On the weekends, I will try my best to respond quickly, but do not expect a quick
response.
● Share your google calendar with me. Keep this updated with classes, programs, meetings,
and personal appointments, etc. This is a life skill- learn to use your calendar!
Staff Meetings 📝
● Be on time! - if you are going to be late you must communicate that to me.
● Expect to stay the whole time.
● These meetings are mandatory. Talk with me if there is an extenuating circumstance and
you are unable to make it.
● Actively participate.
● Be willing to step up and take charge when asked.

Alcohol 🛑
● Don’t drink if you are under 21. Don’t drink with residents. Don’t drink with RA’s who
are not 21. Don’t drink the day of or while on duty. Don’t confront anything after
 consuming alcohol. Don’t allow your friends to drink in your room if you are under 21.
Role model appropriate and safe behavior around alcohol.

Respect for Brendan 👍

● Please respect my time, as I will respect yours. We all have work/life balances.
● My apartment is my home, and it should be respected as such.
● If you have an issue with me, please speak to me directly about it in a private and
professional manner.
● At times, you may work with supervisors of other buildings. It is my expectation that you
treat them with the same amount of respect that you treat me.
● Please bring any concerns about your job, your expectations or about me as a supervisor
to myself as soon as you have them; I’m always ready to have a discussion.
● Understand that I am new to this campus, and still have a lot to learn - I am certainly not
perfect so don’t expect me to be.
● Please understand that I am also a student, and that I have limited free time; if you need
something that isn’t an emergency please contact me during office hours
○ On that same note: I am a student, but I am also a supervisor. Please respect me in
this role and understand that I am in professional standing.
Expectations of me:
● Open communication
● Relationship of trust- you can always come to me if needed!
● Flexibility
● Setting priorities and communicating that with everyone
● Meeting Agendas- going over what we are discussing so you know what to expect
● Being open to new ideas
Expectations of each other:
● Flexibility
● Reliability- support each other when someone needs help
● Discreteness what is said in this group, stays in this group