1. The Community Advisor Carnegie Mellon University Student Life

2. Agenda What is the Community Advisor Role?
What is the Community Advisor Role not?
Critical Questions to Ask Before Applying
Qualifications
Application Process
Questions

3. What brings you to this info session?
Why are you interested in the CA role?
What are you hoping to learn today?

4. What is the CA Role?
A Community Advisor (CA) partners with a professional Housefellow to provide overall leadership for the vision, direction and daily activity within one of the fifteen residential house communities on campus. The CA is responsible for developing a strong sense of community among house residents, facilitating resident involvement in the life of the house, and fostering an environment in the house which enhances the personal and academic success of all who live there. Toward this end, the CA provides leadership to a team of Resident Assistants who provide resources and support to all residents while maintaining community standards and offering individual and group opportunities for personal growth.

5. What is the CA Role?
Developing meaningful 1:1 supervisory, mentoring and advising relationships with all RAs in the house
Leading house staff and residents in the development of a shared vision for the house community
Ensuring that an active programming agenda of appropriate breadth and depth exists within the house community
Serving as an active point of interface between the house community and the broader community
Assisting the Housefellow in providing direct support to residents who are experiencing immediate medical or personal circumstances
Coordinating various administrative tasks in support of house activities

6. What is the CA Role Not?
A strictly administrative, behind the scenes role.
“An RA to the RAs” or “a senior RA”
Automatically the best next step for someone who has been an RA for a year (or 2)

7. Critical Questions to Ask Yourself
Am I truly passionate about the kind of work that CAs do?
Do I want to make a university-wide impact?
Have I talked to my HF, CAs I know, and other trusted peers about my aspirations for next year?
Am I open to any and all types of CA experiences? Or am I committed to one specific vision or type of community?
Can I articulate what I’ll personally contribute to the community?
Have I thought about what skills/ experiences I wish to get out of serving as a CA?

8. Expectations
CAs must be enrolled full-time undergraduate or graduate students
A cumulative and Fall 2016 semester QPA of 2.5 or higher to apply and serve
CAs will be expected to work a minimum of 26 hours per week during the academic year, and 4 hours per week between February and May 2017.
Participate in pre-service training during the Spring 2017 semester
Collaborate with HFs in RA selection
Plan and facilitate Spring 2017 training for RAs.
Live in designated housing assignment, and maintain a housing license agreeing with Housing Services

9. CA Selection Process and Timeline
Written Application Materials
Cover Letter
Resume
Recommendation (not from current HF or CA)
Several Essay Questions
Online CA Application
Available now at life/raselection/index.html
All Materials Due January 12, 2017

10. CA Selection Process and Timeline
Presentations and Interviews
January 18, 19, and 20, 2017
15-minute presentation
"What are the core values that you posses that you believe will be most influential in your work as a CA? How would those values influence your work with: Members of your residential community, The RA’s on your staff, Your fellow CA’s , and Members of the broader campus community?”
20-minutes of Q&A
Time for candidates to ask questions of HFs

11. CA Selection Process and Timeline
Decision Letters will be available via on January 24, 2017.
Deadline to accept offers is January 27, at noon.

12. CA Position in the Words of Current CAs
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13. Homework Talk to an array of student leaders / CAs
Meet with HF or a mentor and talk through your skills/interests
Reflect on your experience at CMU
Put time into the application
Prepare for the interview/presentation