About the role#
The Desk Assistant (DA) is a part-time student staff member within the Division of Student Affairs. DAs serve as the primary point of contact at residence hall front desks, ensuring building safety and providing support to residents and visitors. This role requires a commitment of 12 hours per week, including weekend shifts and mandatory availability during break periods, finals, and hall opening or closing dates.
What you'll do#
- Ensure the safety of residence halls and monitor building access.
- Assist residents with concerns and answer questions from students, families, faculty, staff, and alumni.
- Welcome guests and visitors while following check-in and check-out protocols.
- Enforce University and Housing & Residence Life policies.
- Manage administrative tasks including submitting HR and payroll forms, compiling shift logs, and completing bi-weekly timesheets.
- Assist with room lockouts and check out administrative keys.
- Use the StarRez system to check residents in and out of housing assignments.
- Follow emergency response protocols and attend staff meetings or training sessions.
What you'll need#
- Full-time enrollment as an undergraduate or graduate student at American University (12-17 credits per semester).
- Cumulative and term GPA of 2.50 or higher.
- Good conduct standing with the university.
- Participation in the Desk Assistant interview process.
- Attendance at one Desk Assistant information session.
- Full participation in staff training held in August and January.
Location & details#
- Location: Main Campus, Washington, DC.
- Term: Rolling, 10-month position (August through May).
- Work Modality: On-site.
- Schedule: Residence hall desks are staffed daily from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM; includes evening and early morning hours.
About American University
American University is a higher education institution based in Washington, DC. Founded in 1893, the school holds a charter from Congress with a focus on public service. It operates several academic divisions including the School of Public Affairs and the Washington College of Law. The university employs between 1,001 and 5,000 people.
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