Graduate Positions

About Student Housing

KU's Department of Student Housing is all about helping students achieve more, dream more, be more. We create ways to enhance the college experience and ensure success: academic, social, financial.

Student Housing has three types of living options: residence halls, scholarship halls, and apartment living.

All options provide residents with a friendly and academic environment, opportunities for community involvement, access to the campus computing network, cable television, academic resource centers (ARCs) with computer stations, KU card-operated laundry areas, and a trained and engaging staff with mad skills and vision (that's where you come in!)

About the University of Kansas

The University of Kansas is celebrated for its world-class academics, research, and outstanding sports traditions. The oldest and most respected college guide, Fiske Guide to Colleges 2009, gives KU four stars.

The guide lauds the university's 40 nationally ranked academic programs, a "thriving social scene," and its beautiful campus —"among the loveliest in the United States."

KU takes pride in its traditions including the Kansas Jayhawks and the famous "Rock Chalk" chant. Atop the rolling hills of Mount Oread sits KU's beautiful main campus in Lawrence.

Founded in 1854 by Free Staters, Lawrence has about 90,000 people in a multicultural, friendly atmosphere with many attractions of a big city. Lawrence is known for its art scene, specialty shops, coffee houses, restaurants, and beautiful, historic downtown. Lawrence is just 35 miles west of Kansas City which offers fine dining, the best in jazz and blues, and professional sports franchises. Welcome to Lawrence and the University of Kansas!

Position Description

Assistant Complex Director (ACD)

Description:

As part of the senior leadership team, assistant complex directors are involved in daily management of between 500 and 930 residents in our housing complexes.

Responsibilities:

  • Supervise and evaluate resident assistants
  • Foster an environment conducive to academic success
  • Facilitate development of program initiatives
  • Develop mentoring relationships with students
  • Participate in student discipline process as hearing officer
  • Respond to student crises and other emergencies

Complex-specific Duties:

  • Building management
  • Occupancy management
  • Advising
  • Budgeting
  • Collaboration with faculty and staff partners in residential learning communities

Scholarship Hall Director (SHD)

Description:

Serving as a member of the leadership team for the scholarship hall complex, scholarship hall directors directly manage and operate two cooperatives that each house about 50 undergraduate men or women.

Responsibilities:

  • Facilitate a group-centered, cooperative academic community
  • Foster program initiatives
  • Advise student government leaders with an emphasis on input, responsibility, and shared decision-making
  • Develop mentoring relationships with residents
  • In cooperation with residents, plan a balanced menu, purchase food items, and train and supervise food preparation within allocated budget
  • Supervise and evaluate the hall's proctor, an undergraduate paraprofessional
  • Monitor the physical maintenance and cleanliness of the hall
  • Respond to student crises and emergencies

Any employment with the University is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check.

Graduate School at KU

If you're passionate about student success and have an interest in KU's graduate school, these positions could be for you. Current Assistant Complex Directors and Scholarship Hall Directors are pursuing a variety of degrees, from Higher Education (preferred) to Counseling Psychology, Urban Planning, Social Work, and Law. The Higher Education and Counseling Psychology programs at the University of Kansas are well-respected and help students start on the right professional track. Higher Education masters' students are encouraged to apply for the Student Success Internship Program, which offers students in the Higher Ed program the opportunity to qualify for in-state tuition and fee rates. Scholarship opportunities are available.

For more information, visit www.admissions.ku.edu or www.vpss.ku.edu

Our Current Graduate Staff

Pictured below are some of our current graduate staff. These staff members all chose to attend and work at the University of Kansas—we hope you will, too!

Front Row (L to R): Rick Lofgren, Lyndsey Thompson, Nicole Wilburn, Michelle Smith, Brandon Blakely, Luis Aranda
Back Row (L to R): Robert Zbikowski, Chuck Ringer, Karen Nelli, Alicia Cody, Jesska Daugherty, Erin Whipkey, Phil Schaefer

How to Apply

Submit a letter of application outlining interest and relevant experience, a resume, and three references to: Graduate Staff Recruitment Committee, KU Department of Student Housing, 422 West 11th Street, Suite DSH, Lawrence, KS 66045.3312 or dshrecruit@ku.edu.

Residence Life Organizational Chart