Desk Assistant (Student)

American University; United States; On-site; USD 21,000 - 30,000; Part time

Job summary

American University is seeking a part‑time Desk Assistant (DA) within Housing & Residence Life. The role supports residence hall safety, resident concerns, and guest welcome, reporting to Residential Operations staff.

It involves front desk shifts from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM and requires close collaboration with other staff across campus. Position is available only to enrolled AU students with a minimum 12 credits per semester, a 2.50 GPA, and completion of required trainings.

Qualifications

• Full‑time enrollment as an undergraduate or graduate student at American University (min 12 credits, max 17 per semester).
• GPA at or above 2.50 and term GPA at or above 2.50 (GPAs maintained from application to separation).
• Must be in good conduct standing with the university.
• Participate in the Desk Assistant interview process.
• Desk Assistants are expected to work a minimum of 12 hours per week, including 3 hours on Saturdays or Sundays.
• Desk Assistants are required to work during one break and during Finals and hall closing periods.
• All Desk Assistants must attend and fully participate in staff training in August and January prior to the start of the semester.

Responsibilities

• Administration: Turn in completed HR and payroll forms and submit HR paperwork via WorkDay; maintain confidentiality of staff and student information; prepare reports and timesheets.
• Community Facilitation: assist residents, answer questions in person/phone, check in/out guests, maintain desk area and supplies.
• Role Modeling and Policy Compliance: enforce Housing Agreement and university policies; document violations; follow emergency protocols at the desk.
• Facilities/Operations: assist in opening/closing, use StarRez to check in/out housing assignments, follow lockout procedures and key distribution.
• Communication: maintain positive relationships with staff; attend DA meetings; communicate with on‑call staff and emergency personnel.

Skills

Communication skills

Customer service

Confidentiality

Teamwork

Education

Enrollment as undergraduate or graduate student at American University

12 credits per semester (min) and up to 17 (max)

GPA 2.50 or higher

Good conduct standing with the university

Desk Assistant interview process

Commit to 12 hours per week

Attend staff training in August and January

Must be able to work evenings and weekends

Tools

StarRez housing software

Job description

Work Where You Learn: Build Experience, Grow Skills, and Contribute to Your University Community. This position is available only to enrolled American University students. Most student positions at American University are eligible to use Federal Work Study (FWS) awards, with a few exceptions. FWS funds cannot be applied to janitorial, construction, partisan or sectarian positions. For information or questions regarding FWS funds, please contact American University's Office of Financial Aid. Important guidance for current American University employees: American University current employees, including those employed in student positions, must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into your employee Workday account and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings. Applying outside of your employee Workday account may cause delays in a hire process.

Department: Residence Life Training Leadership Programs Time Type: Part time FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Job Description

Summary: The Desk Assistant (DA) is a part-time student staff member of Housing & Residence Life and a member of the University’s Division of Student Affairs. The Desk Assistant fulfills a vital role in the residence hall system by helping ensure the safety of the halls, assisting residents with concerns, and welcoming guests and visitors. The DA is supervised by a Residential Operations Coordinator with the support from the Assistant Director for Residential Operations and Finance and is expected to work closely with other staff members (other DAs, Desk Coordinators, Resident Assistants, Community Directors, Facilities Management staff, etc.) within the building, as well as across campus. This position staffs the residence hall front desks from 7:00 AM - 11:00 PM daily.

Essential Functions

• Administration Turn in completed HR and payroll forms to the Residential Operations Coordinator or Assistant Director for Residential Operations and Finance. Also, submit appropriate HR paperwork via WorkDay. Be timely and professional in all written and verbal communications with Housing & Residence Life staff and AU community members. Compile accurate and timely reports for supervisor as requested (shift logs, digital systems management). Complete and submit bi-weekly online timesheets on time. Treat information concerning staff and/or students with the utmost confidentiality.
• Community Facilitation and Customer Service Contribute towards the safe living environment for the residents. Answer questions from students, families, faculty, staff, prospective students, and alumni in person and over the phone. Follow proper protocol to check in and out guests of residents. Treat the concerns of all customers with attentiveness and seriousness. Maintain a working knowledge of the University’s facilities, services, and resources. Ensure that the desk is clean, all binders and logs are in appropriate locations, and all supplies are stocked.
• Role Modeling and Policy Compliance Monitor and enforce access to the residence hall. Be well versed in, personally abide by, and help enforce University policies including the Housing Agreement. DAs must also abide by all regulations in federal and local jurisdictions. Confront, document, and follow through on violations of published University and Housing & Residence Life policies, regulations, and procedures in an accurate and timely manner. Abide by policies and procedures aligned in the protocol manual regarding building evacuations. Understand that all actions of a DA (including those engaged outside of the residence hall) are observed by residents, other DAs, and staff members. DAs must hold themselves to a higher standard in all actions. Follow outlined emergency response protocol at the desk.
• Facilities/Operations Assist in the opening, closing, and staffing of the residence hall desks at break times. Assist residents with checking in and out of their housing assignments using the StarRez housing assignment management software system. Follow lockout protocol to assist residents with regaining access to their rooms when locked out. Check out administrative keys to groups that have residence hall space reservations. Follow proper key distribution procedures to maintain accuracy and security. DAs must not create or issue keys to anyone, including themselves, without following proper documentation procedures.
• Communication Maintain positive relationships with fellow Desk Assistants, Desk Coordinators, Resident Assistants, Community Directors, HRL staff, and Facilities Management. Attend DA meetings to schedule desk shifts and receive additional training. Maintain ongoing communication with Residential Operations Coordinators, fellow Desk Assistants, and Housing & Residence Life office by checking phone messages and e‑mail messages daily. Attend all scheduled shifts on time. Follow proper communication protocols when seeking emergency shift coverage. Follow proper communication protocols when communicating with on‑call staff and emergency personnel.
• Other duties as assigned The nature of the DA position does not allow for all duties to be explicitly described. There will be times when hall staff are requested to assist in an emergency or other unforeseen circumstances. These situations will be presented as thoroughly as possible at the time of need.

Position Type / Expected Hours of Work

Part-time. 12 hours per week. Salary Range: $18.40 per hour.

Required Education and Experience

• Full-time enrollment as an undergraduate or graduate student at American University (minimum 12 credits and a maximum of 17 per semester). If a Desk Assistant wishes to drop below the minimum credit hours, they must receive written permission from the Director of Residence Life to retain the DA position.
• Cumulative GPA at, or above, 2.50 and term GPA at, or above, 2.50 (GPAs must be maintained from the date of application until the date of separation).
• Must be in good conduct standing with the university.
• Participate in the Desk Assistant interview process.
• Desk Assistants are expected to work a minimum of 12 hours per week, including 3 hours on Saturdays or Sundays.
• Desk Assistants are required to work during one break (Thanksgiving Break, Winter Early Arrival, Spring Break).
• Desk Assistants are required to work during Finals and hall closing periods.
• All Desk Assistants must attend and fully participate in staff training in August and January prior to the start of the academic semester.
• All Desk Assistants are expected to work during the opening of residence halls.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• This is a 10-month position from August through May.
• Staff are required to be present and participate in all DA training and residence hall opening and closing dates. All dates are subject to change.
• Applicants are required to attend one Desk Assistant information session.
• This position has “nontraditional” business hours making it likely staff will work evening and early morning hours.

Other Details

This position is available only to enrolled American University students. Please note this job announcement is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. American University is an E-Verify employer. Visit https://www.american.edu/hr/ for additional information about American University employment and benefits.

Current American University Employees

American University current employees (including those employed in student positions) must apply through their employee Workday account. If you are a current employee at American University, please log into Workday and select the Find Jobs report which will take you to our internal career listings.

Contact Us

For more information or assistance with the American University careers site, email [e-mail].

American University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action institution that operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, disability, marital status, personal appearance, gender identity and expression, family responsibilities, political affiliation, source of income, veteran status, an individual’s genetic information or any other bases under federal or local laws (collectively "Protected Bases") in its programs and activities. American University is a student centered research institution located in Washington, DC, with highly-ranked schools and colleges, internationally-renowned faculty, and a reputation for creating meaningful change in the world.