The Assistant Rector
- The Residential Tradition
- The Role of the Rector
- The Role of the Assistant Rector
- Eligibility Requirements
- Salary and Benefits
- Training
- The Application Process
- Download an Application
The Residential Tradition at Notre Dame
Since Notre Dame’s founding by the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1842, student life has been a hallmark of this Catholic University. While student life has changed dramatically since the University’s early years, residence life continues to be an essential component of education at Notre Dame. Within its residence facilities, the University seeks to create an environment which will encourage the integration of the student’s religious, academic and social development.
Today, approximately 6,300 of 8,000 undergraduates live in twenty-seven single-sex undergraduate residence halls. In addition, there is a graduate student housing complex comprised of two bedroom apartments and four bedroom townhouses for single graduate students. Student-family housing is available at University Village (for married or single students with children) and Cripe Street Apartments (for married students with no children).
Each undergraduate residence hall is headed by a rector, who is assisted by one or more assistant rectors and by a number of resident assistants. The rector and assistant rector/s comprise the head staff of the hall. Graduate student housing is supervised by a head staff that includes a rector and two assistant rectors at FOG, and a rector at University Village.
Head staffs include priests and brothers of the Congregation of Holy Cross, men and women of other religious communities, and lay men and women. Though the rectors and assistant rectors have multifaceted responsibilities, their primary roles are those of educator and minister. Notre Dame’s educational philosophy is holistic. The head staffs are bridges to the many aspects of university life that touch our students.
The Role of the Rector
The rector is the principal person in charge of general administration of the residence facility and its programs. Rectors are assisted by assistant rectors, whose qualifications are described below, and, in the case of undergraduate residence halls, by resident assistants (RAs), who are seniors or graduate students. The rector is responsible for the well-being of all staff members and residents. This includes primary responsibility for assisting students in the integration of their religious, academic and social development. In addition, the rector is responsible for leadership and coordination of all residence programs, in conjunction with the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Residence Life and Housing. The rector also plays a key role in the selection and training of assistant rectors and RAs. Moreover, the rector is responsible for the condition of the residence facility and acts as a liaison to the appropriate offices for physical plant operations.
Although a number of rectors hold teaching positions or other administrative assignments which they are able to balance with their duties, the position of rector usually is regarded as a full-time job. Ordinarily, graduate and professional students are not eligible for the position of rector. At the present time, over 70 percent of our rectors are priests, brothers or sisters and just under 30 percent of rectors are lay people. Rectors report directly to the Vice President for Student Affairs.
The Role of the Assistant Rector
The assistant rector (AR) is a head staff member who aids the rector in the general administration of the residence facility and its programs. ARs play a significant role in enhancing the Christian community of the hall through example, actions, and participation in the life of the hall and its residents. Although exact responsibilities vary among residence halls, ARs are generally expected to attend weekly staff meetings, be on duty three to four nights per week, attend hall events, work with the hall government, and plan six hall programs per year. Each rector determines the specific responsibilities of the ARs in his or her charge.
Assistant rectors have a unique role in the halls. ARs are called to live side by side with undergraduate students, serving as mentors and friends while also being expected to support and enforce University policies. As a university founded in Catholic tradition, we hold our students to a high standard of conduct, based in the belief that our actions affect not only ourselves, but the community in which we live. Assistant rectors must hold students accountable for their actions.
The rector and AR work together to ensure that the hall is adequately staffed at all times. Assistant rectors will usually be required to provide coverage in the hall for Fall and/or Spring Break as well as Thanksgiving and/or Easter Break. Head staff are the first to arrive in the residence halls in August and the last to leave in May. With the rector, ARs help to create the residential community that is such a vital part of Notre Dame's unique mission.
Assistant rectors are employees of the Office of Student Affairs, colleagues with administrators and staff in the Division of Student Affairs, and vital members of the residential community. ARs receive extensive training during Hall Staff Orientation in August, at a programming workshop in October, and at a day-long workshop in January. New ARs also must attend a training session in the spring. Additionally, rectors work directly with their ARs to provide more specific training on hall procedures, individual expectations, and responsibilities. Assistant rectors, as head staff members, report to the Associate Vice President for Residence Life. The AR is primarily accountable to the rector for whom he or she works, and is expected to fulfill the job responsibilities as outlined by the rector.
Eligibility Requirements
Assistant Rectors are normally enrolled as full-time graduate or professional students. With the exception of first-year law students, Notre Dame graduate and professional students who will be enrolled in degree-seeking (masters or doctoral) programs are eligible to apply for the position of Assistant Rector. However, first-year M.Div. Program participants are considered eligible by exception only and only with the prior approval of the director of the M.Div. Program.
All applicants, and particularly graduate students who receive financial aid beyond tuition in the form of a fellowship or assistantship, may be subject to certain University academic or financial assistance guidelines that impose ceilings on the maximum support that a student may receive or that proscribe employment.
All applicants are encouraged to discuss their eligibility for employment with the Graduate School or their academic advisor. Other questions regarding eligibility may be directed to the office of the Associate Vice President for Residence Life at (574) 631-6144.
Salary and Benefits
- Assistant rectors contract for each semester. The starting salary for assistant rectors is approximately $7,000 per semester.
- Room and Board: assistant rectors are provided with a furnished room and a University meal plan during their semester appointment. Rectors (only) are permitted and encouraged to reside in the hall during the intervening summer of their appointment.
- Laundry: Limited laundry service is furnished, free of charge, for rectors and assistant rectors. Detailed description of benefit.
- Tuition:
- Rectors and assistant rectors of the halls are eligible for one 3-hour UNDERGRADUATE course each semester at 90% tuition remission (this benefit is tax-free) - OR -
- Rectors and assistant rectors of the halls may take one 3-hour GRADUATE course each semester at 100% tuition remission. Under the University's Educational Assistance Program, designed to meet the requirements of Section 127(b) of the Internal Revenue Code, this benefit is only taxable to the extent the tuition value of the course(s) exceeds $5,250 per calendar year.
- Medical: Rectors (ONLY) receive medical benefits as determined by the University’s health plan. Assistant rectors do not receive medical benefits.
- Applicants for the position of assistant rector, who are full or part-time degree-seeking graduate or professional students, may be subject to certain University academic or financial assistance guidelines that impose ceilings on the maximum support that a student may receive or that proscribe employment.
In particular, graduate students who receive financial aid beyond tuition assistance in the form of a fellowship or graduate/research assistantship should check with the Graduate School to determine whether they may also hold a position as an assistant rector. Such fellowships or graduate/research assistantships should be disclosed in Item 9 of the application.
Moreover, the Office of Student Affairs regards a graduate or professional student who accepts a position as assistant rector as making a significant commitment that may preclude acceptance of other employment within or outside the University or acceptance of major offices in campus organizations or activities. Any such plans on the part of the applicant should be disclosed in Item 9 of the application. Judgments in this regard are within the discretion of the Rector and the Associate Vice President for Residence Life.
Training
Rectors work directly with their ARs to provide specific training on hall procedures, individual expectations, and responsibilities. In addition, the Office of Student Affairs and the Office of Residence Life and Housing will provide training during Hall Staff Orientation in August, at a programming workshop in September, and at a day-long workshop in January. New ARs also must attend a training session in the Spring. All training sessions are MANDATORY. Specific dates for the 2008-2009 year are as follows:
Monday, April 21, 2008, 5:30-6:30 p.m.; 116 DeBartolo:
"Introduction to Programming for New Assistant Rectors"
Dinner is provided. MANDATORY for NEW Assistant Rectors
August 10 and 11, 2008:
"AR Days of Development"
MANDATORY for ALL Assistant Rectors
August 12-17, 2008:
"All Hall Staff Training"
MANDATORY for ALL Assistant Rectors
Late September 2008:
"Programming Workshop"
Dinner is provided. MANDATORY for ALL Assistant Rectors
Date TBA (January 2009):
"Diversity Workship"
MANDATORY for ALL Assistant Rectors
The Application Process
Applications for the position of assistant rector are available at the Office of Student Affairs, 316 Main Building, beginning Monday, December 3, 2007. Applications are also available for downloading and printing from this web page beginning December 3, 2007. Completed applications are due Friday, February 15, 2008.
Rectors will be able to look through applications the first Monday after Spring Break. Rectors will contact applicants for interviews. Assistant rector applicants should NOT contact rectors.
Information Sessions for interested applicants will be held from 7:30-8:30 p.m. on Thursday, January 17, 2008, at the Law School Courtroom and on Wednesday, January 23, 2008, in the Fischer Community Center (Fischer O'Hara Grace Graduate Residences). The same information will be presented at both sessions; a short presentation will be made by a Student Affairs administrator and rector, follwed by an opportunity for questions. Attendance on these nights is optional and will in no way affect your selection as an assistant rector. Light refreshments will be provided.
Please call the Office of Student Affairs, (574) 631-6144 with any questions:
Trudy Diamond
Office of the Associate Vice President for Residence Life
316 Main Building
Notre Dame, IN 46556
Download an Application
You can also pick up an application from Trudy Diamond in the Office of Student Affairs, 316 Main Building.
Download Acrobat Reader for free.
Click here for a blank application in Acrobat Reader (PDF file).
Applications will be linked when they officially become available on December 3, 2007.
- Fill out the application on your computer and print OR print the application and fill out neatly by hand or with a typewriter.
- Send the completed application to the address listed above.
- Contact three individuals to write recommendations.
If you have any trouble accessing the application, please do not hesitate to contact Trudy Diamond. We will do our best to work out any bugs as quickly as possible.