2.
An integral part of the Resident Success
Assistant(RSA) position
A 12 hour shift when a RSA or pair of RSAs are
responsible for maintaining the safety and civility of
the residence hall
What is Duty?
3.
Duty is EVERY night starting at 8:00pm and ending
at 8:00am the following morning
Active Duty on Weeknights is from 8:00pm till
1:00am
Active Duty on Weekends is from 8:00pm till 2:00am
When not on Active Duty RSAs are on an “on-call”
basis until 8:00am
When is Duty?
4.
Active Duty vs Inactive
Duty
Weeknights 8:00pm-
1:00am
Weekends 8:00pm-
2:00am
Doing rounds of the
building/buildings
Ensuring the safety and
civility of the residence
hall
Weeknights 1:00am-
8:00am
Weekends 2:00am-
8:00am
No Community Walks
Being available to
residents
Ability to respond to
incidents outside of
active duty
ACTIVE INACTIVE
5.
Conduct Community Walks
The formal name for a “round”.
An observation of your entire building/area
Should be conducted based on the area’s need (3 to 4
walks)
Based on the area, RSAs are expected to be in the
RSA office for a portion of the evening.
Respond to and document all policy violations
and/or area damages
Duty Responsibilities
6.
Build Community
Interact with Residents
Do not patrol around like a security guard
Take the opportunity to meet new residents
Promote university and building programs
Serve as a resource to all residents
Complete Guest Passes
Answer questions and concerns
Duty Expectations
7. Be prepared to deal with incidents that can possibly take over an
hour to resolve. This can take away from all the tasks you wanted
to complete while on duty.
Make sure that you have done your homework before duty.
Some incidents may take away from the time you were intending to
use on homework
Arrive to duty well rested
Remember you are on duty for 12 hours and even though you may
have left from your active shift, there could be a possibility that you
required to respond to an incident at 7am.
Know your duty schedule.
It is your responsibility to know your duty schedule
RSAs who are constantly late or fail to make it to duty will have a
conversation with their hall directors or someone from the central
office
Pre-Duty Preparation
8.
Come in with the Proper Attire
Wear Closed Toe Shoes!
Weekends-Wear SHU Res Life Apparel
(Polo's/Sweatshirts)
Arrive early
7:50 pm – 8 pm
Call the DOD from the duty phone
Duty Phones are located in the RSA Office
Start your Community Walk after you call the DOD
Don’t Forget to Change the who’s on Duty signs!
How to start Duty?
9.
Call the Director on Duty (DOD)
Use the RSA duty phone (not a personal phone)
When calling in say the following: “Hello, this is
RSA Suzy from Roncalli Hall and I am calling in for
duty with RSA Jack”
If the DOD does not answer the first call, please
make a second attempt
If the DOD does not answer the second call leave a
detailed message
Calling into Duty
10.
The Do’s of duty
While on active duty
you can:
Interact with residents
Homework
Work on Bulletin
Board/Doortags
Plan Programs
Read
Watch TV
While on inactive you
can:
Sleep
Separate from your
duty partner
Not required to
remain in he RSA
office
11.
The Don’ts of Duty
While on active duty you
cannot:
Leave your Area
Drink Alcohol
Of age RSAs are
prohibited from
drinking 12 Hours
before duty
Separate from your duty
partner on rounds
Leave non-res life
personal unattended in
the office
Sleep
While on inactive duty
you cannot:
Leave your Area
Drink Alcohol
Ignore knocking on
your door
Ignore the duty
phone/cellphone
Leave non-res life
personal unattended
in the office
12.
Drugs, Weapons, Assaults, Unruly Guests, Aggressive
Individuals, Large gatherings, Possible Transports, and
any situation you feel you need backup
When approaching these situations call Public Safety first
Followed immediately by calling the DOD
Crowd Control and Gathering Information are RSAs
primary responsibility in these situations
The RSA are also expect to assist the DOD and Public Safety
whenever their help is require
When to call DOD or
Public Safety
13.
Lock the RSA office door when you leave
Bring necessary materials with you (clipboard,
paper, pen, duty phone, etc.)
Make sure the residents know where to find you
Leaving the office for the
night
14.
Report all policy violations and any damage
All documentations must be submitted by 12:00pm the next day
Duty Log
New duty log system will be available on Blackboard
Report all the events of the night including documentations and MOPS
Conduct Coordinator (COCO)
Documenting any policy violations through COCO Judicial System
Detailed information of exactly what happened in a documentation
Be Specific!
Write objectively!
Specific session will occur during Fall training regarding COCO
MOPS Request
Report any Building Damage to Campus Operations (MOPS)
Duty Documentation
15.
RSAs Jack and Suzy were conducting a community
walk through Roncalli Hall when they heard loud
music coming down the hall. RSAs Jack and Suzy
approached the room and knocked on the door.
Resident Bryan opened the door, and RSAs Jack and
Suzy explained that it was past Quiet hours and
asked to turn down his music. The RSAs also gave
resident Bryan a warning, stating that they may have
to take Judicial action if they were to return to his
room.
True Stories:
Noise Violation
16.
Keep calm when entering a situation
Never assume
Ex: If you confronting a loud room, don’t assume that you are
dealing with a drug alcohol situation.
Assess the situation
Collect and record important information
Residents’ names, student numbers, area/room they live in
If necessary (drugs, alcohol, physical altercation, etc) collect the
SHU cards and guest passes of the involved parties
Record the time and date of the arrival of Public Safety,
Ambulance, DOD, etc.
Make sure to observe and collect information
Assist these individuals in dealing with the issue
How to Confront on Duty
17.
RSAs Jack and Suzy were in the RSA office in Roncalli Hall when
resident Sally approached and asked for help with a friend of hers,
who was throwing up in her bathroom. RSAs Jack and Suzy
followed resident Sally to her room where they found her friend
Bryan on the floor of the bathroom with vomit on himself and in
the toilet. RSA Jack asked if he had anything to drink tonight,
resident Sally said she he had. RSA Suzy called Public Safety for an
Alcohol Assessment. RSA Suzy then called the DOD. Within 10
minutes, both Public Safety and the DOD arrived on the scene.
Public Safety attempted to communicate with Bryan. Bryan was
mumbling too much for anything to be understood. Public Safety
called for an ambulance for resident Bryan. Fifteen minutes later,
the American Medical Response Team (AMR). Both public safety
and AMR had decided that resident Bryan should be transported
to the hospital.
True Story:
Alcohol Transport
18.
RSAs Jack and Suzy were in the RSA office during office hours
when they smelt the scent of Marijuana. RSA Jack looked out
the window to see 3 residents smoking outside. RSA Suzy
called Public Safety and the DOD . RSAs Jack and Suzy went
outside to confront the 3 residents. One of the residents
attempted to run. RSA Jack, knowing the resident and called
out for Matt. Matt then stopped and returned to talk with the
RSAs. Public Safety and the DOD arrived. After talking to the
residents, it was revealed that they all live on the 3rd floor of
Roncalli. Public Safety, the DOD, and RSAs followed residents
Matt, Mark, and John to room 313. The DOD administrated a
drug search of the residents’ room and discovered 6 small
individual bags of Marijuana and a weighing scale. The drug
paraphernalia was confiscated and the residents were brought
to Public Safety for further questioning.
True Story:
Drug Violation
19.
While there are 12 hour Duty Shifts, a RSA is always “on-duty”
Any time throughout the day a RSA is responsible for
confronting any situation that may present itself to them
By being a presence in the building allows you to be a resource
and help residence make healthy life choices
Reporting any building damages to MOPS
Let your residents know your availability
Creates boundaries
Increases Communication
When necessary call the DOD and Public Safety
When confronting a situation in which you need backup call
this number: (203) 449-1961
Do not share this number with non Res Life personnel
The 24 hour duty theory
20.
Remember you are not alone
You are on a team, you are in this together
There is no situation too big for you to handle
You can always call a fellow RSA, RHD, or Public
Safety for help
We have faith in you all and know you will be
amazing at RSA Duty!!!
Team and Support
