Office of Residence Life

First Year Resident Educator (FYRE)

If you are interested in joining the Residence Life team as a First Year Resident Educator (FYRE) please carefully follow the steps below.  

First Year Resident Educator (New Applicants)

  1. Carefully read the First Year Resident Educator job description
  2. Ensure you meet all eligibility requirements
  3. Complete the online application
  4. You will be contacted by a Residence Life staff member to establish an interview time and location.

Please note: you may apply for both a Resident Advisor and First Year Resource Educator position, but you must fill out each application individually.

Job Description

The overall goal of a FYRE is to serve as a peer educator in order to facilitate the personal and academic growth and development of residence hall students.  FYREs are chosen on the basis of academic success, leadership experiences, communication and interpersonal skills, interest in working with students to develop an academically focused environment and willingness to be actively involved in their own personal growth and development.
 
The FYRE is expected to:

  • assume FYRE duties on August 20, 2011, ending no earlier than May 20, 2012
  • support the goals, expectations and mission statement of the Office of Residence Life and carry out their duties accordingly
  • be regularly visible and available to residents and fellow staff members
  • hold the position secondary only to family and academic requirements
  • follow the policies and regulations regarding student behaviors as stated in the Campus Code of Conduct and abide by the Department's Ethical Expectations
  • serve as a team player by embracing change, maintaining positive morale and assisting with the advancement of the department's growth to meet its annual goals and objectives
  • be willing and open to accept challenges and promote their own personal growth, including areas of diversity

Responsibilities:

  • Support, Community Development & Action Plans
    • Create an academically focused environment using passive and active programming as well as individual conversations
    • Familiarize students with individual FYREs as well as the goals of the FYRE Program
    • Familiarize students to campus and community resources and make referrals as necessary
    • Facilitate student involvement and engagement in the UMass Lowell and greater Lowell communities
    • Assist students regarding academic concerns/challenges through needs assessment
    • Ensure Resident Advisors are incorporating academic excellence into their Action Plans and in their communities
    • Inform and update the Complex/Resident Director of any student concerns in a timely manner
    • Initiate and maintain on-going contact with the residents in the building throughout the year in order to develop positive community relationships
    • Respect all confidential material and information that is delivered to you as a staff member
    • Create, maintain and implement a community-specific Action Plan
    • Encourage student participation in University and residence hall sponsored programs and events
    • Educate students in regards to the University Code of Conduct and promote student understanding of their responsibility for living within these guidelines
    • Appropriately confront students and document behavior which violates policies and procedures.  Follow up with students and keep Complex/Resident Director informed of any and all incidents
    • Promote mutual respect for all students inclusive of all races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religions, abilities, etc.

  • Administrative Duties
    • Hold 6 office hours each week
    • Promptly and accurately complete all assigned administrative duties as assigned. 
      • This includes, but is not limited to: Evaluations, Work Orders, Incident Reports, Room Condition Forms, Surveys, Interaction Logs and any other office procedures
    • Adhere to established deadlines
    • Check, retrieve and respond to your office/personal mail and email on a daily basis
    • Attend and participate in all assigned staff meetings, one-on-one meetings, All-Staff meetings, and Training Sessions
    • Assist in the recruitment, nomination and selection process of potential student staff members
    • Carry out specific procedures for closing and opening the residence halls as stated by the Complex/Resident Director 
    • Support and recognize maintenance, housekeeping and security personnel.  Alert the senior staff about any recurring issues or problems
    • The FYRE will assume other responsibilities and duties as assigned by Complex/Resident Director, Assistant Resident Director or professional staff.

Eligibility Requirements:

In order to be eligible to apply for a First Year Resource Educator (FYRE) position, you must meet the following criteria:

  • You must be a full-time matriculated student at the University of Massachusetts Lowell at the time of your application
  • You must be in good academic standing, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 at the time of your application
  • You must have completed at least one (1) full academic semester at UMass Lowell

Qualifications:

  • A FYRE must remember that as a student and as a role model s/he must be committed to academic success.  In order to reinforce this, the Office of Residence Life staff will support the academic mission of the University and will require staff members to maintain good academic standing. 
  • A FYRE staff member must maintain a 3.0 semester and cumulative GPA in order to remain in good academic standing. 
  • A staff member must maintain full-time student status, which requires students to pass at least 12 credits per semester as an undergraduate student and at least 9 credits per semester as a graduate student. 
  • Applicants must have completed one semester as a full-time student in order to be eligible for a position.