Renison is hiring for Winter 2025!

Friday, November 1, 2024

Renison University College is a great community for part-time student job opportunities. We are currently hiring for a couple roles within our Renison community this Winter 2025 term...

Residence Experience Peer Leader (SDS) (1 Position)

Are you an outgoing senior Waterloo student who loves to help others and wants to enhance the student experience? A job as a Residence Experience Peer Leader may be the right fit for you!

Renison Student Experience and Housing is recruiting one (1) senior Waterloo student to serve as a Residence Experience Peer Leader (SDS) from January to April 30, 2024. The chosen student staff will work approximately 4-6 hours per week both in person and occasionally virtually.

The Residence Experience Peer Leader will be a part of the Renison Student Experience and Housing Team, which is tasked with building a strong Renison community, enhancing the student experience and fostering student development through targeted programming. These programming initiatives include Living Learning Communities (SDS, Warrior Academic Leadership Community & BASE), Residence events, and Student Experience events. As a team, Peer Leaders will work in collaboration with other student leaders under the operational guidance of the Student Experience Coordinator. This specific position would provide leadership for support and programming for the Social Development Studies (SDS) Living-Learning Community that supports SDS students who live in Residence.

As a Residence Experience Peer Leader, we need you to:

  • Be outgoing: you will be working with the Student Experience and Housing Team to deliver variety of programming initiatives. We need you to feel comfortable facilitating both in-person and some virtual events. During this, you will demonstrate a warm, welcoming attitude for every student. You will need to feel comfortable communicating with students to invite them to participate in events or engage in small talk conversations.
  • Build a sense of community: Provide opportunities for students to participate in leadership and volunteer initiatives by developing opportunities for student leaders to be involved in such as student councils (i.e. Renisix etc.). Support the concept of community living by encouraging cooperation, respect, and community spirit through their interactions and example. Foster and help develop interpersonal connections amongst all members of the Renison community.
  • Be a positive role model: we need you to possess the skills needed to be a successful student, both personally and academically. You must exhibit awareness and knowledge of strategies for academic and personal success as a student.
  • Be legally able to work in Canada: you must have a Social Insurance Number to fulfill the position

Role and Responsibilities

Connect with Students

  • Encourage an inclusive and welcoming environment by being a positive, supportive individual for students to approach with questions or concerns.
  • Be accessible to students to assist in meeting their social and academic needs. This includes helping with questions related to life at the University of Waterloo and provide appropriate campus referrals when needed.
  • Build prosocial relationships with students to identify issues/challenges they may be facing.

Social Development Studies (SDS) Living-Learning Community Support 

  • Build a community of SDS students and provide support in navigating the academic landscape.
  • Develop relationships and connect first-years with upper-year SDS students, SDS alumni, and others who can heighten their learning.
  • Provide opportunities to participate in leadership and volunteer initiatives that help to raise the profile of our SDS students.
  • Provide academic and wellness-related programming that enhance student wellbeing.

Renisix Student Council Support

  • Help organize and run student council elections.
  • Collaborate with student leadership councils and groups for programming initiatives. 
  • Help train and mentor student leadership council members.
  • Attend student leadership councils regularly to plan programming initiatives.

Volunteer Management

  • Maintain regular communication with volunteers via formal (meetings) and informal (cafeteria conversations).
  • Be available to support volunteers when they need help to understand or complete a task.
  • Get to know each student well enough to be able to recognize behaviour that is out of character, and so that they feel comfortable approaching you with questions or problems.

Administrative

  • Monitor and submit administrative documents such as proposals, reports, expenses, and receipts to the Student Experience Coordinator.
  • Keep the Student Experience Coordinator informed in a timely manner and respond to his/her communications as soon as possible.
  • Attend regular team meetings, one-to-one meetings, and in-service training sessions scheduled by the Student Experience Coordinator.
  • Check e-mail and social media accounts daily to correspond with students, the Student Experience and Housing Team, and administrative staff.
  • Participate in evaluation processes in an honest and constructive manner.

Confidentiality

  • As an employee of Renison University College, a Peer Leader must respect confidentiality as per their training. This includes disclosing information of significance to the Student Experience Coordinator and respecting the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.

Compensation

In exchange for accepting the position, a Residence Experience Peer Leader will be compensated for $17.20 per hour, in addition to vacation pay, by Rension University College. Extra-curricular excursion costs including transportation and entrance fees will be provided. For any trips or excursion that exceeds six hours in length, a flat rate of $100 will be paid to all student staff who participate in the trip. Regular meals, bus transportation, and ticket charges (ex. Canada’s Wonderland ticket) will be paid, in addition to meal per diems.

Qualifications

  • Registered Waterloo student in good academic standing with a minimum average (in both semester and cumulative) of 65% (preference will be given to students in their 2A term or higher). Peer Leaders must maintain good academic standing as per their faculty definition, as well as abide by academic integrity policies. Failure to adhere to these conditions may lead to remedial action, up to and including dismissal.
  • Experienced student leader with a strong knowledge of the University of Waterloo campus, Faculties, services, and resources.
  • Awareness and knowledge of strategies that encourage personal and academic success.
  • Experienced in event management and execution.
  • Excellent communication skills, ability to take initiative, ability to work independently and as a member of a team, good judgment, detail oriented.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and good judgment; ability to think on your feet and navigate difficult discussions or situations with diplomacy and tact.
  • Creative and adaptable under pressure.
  • Strong customer-service orientation.

To Apply

To apply to this role, please send your resume and cover letter via email to Stefany Kraft, Student Experience Coordinator at s2kraft@uwaterloo.ca by Friday, November 8 at 12:00pm.

Questions?

Contact Stefany Kraft for more information through email, one-on-one meet-up, or in-person in REN 0206.

English Language Institute (ELI) Peer Leader (2 positions)

Are you an outgoing senior Waterloo student who loves to help others and has an interest to build their intercultural skills? A job as an ELI Peer Leader may be the right fit for you!

Renison Student Experience and Housing is recruiting two (2) senior Waterloo students to serve as an English Language Institute (ELI) Peer Leader from early January to late April 2025. These student staff will work approximately 8-10 hours per week both in person and virtually.

In the Winter term, the Renison English Language Institute (Renison ELI) offers the BASE program, the EFAS program, the GOALS program, and the GEAR program:

  • The Bridge to Academic Success in English (BASE) program is Waterloo’s English language foundation program that helps students improve their skills in reading, writing, and speaking English before they begin their degree at the University of Waterloo in any of the six Faculties. 
  • The General English at Renison (GEAR) program is a 4-week English language program designed to enhance students’ knowledge and sharpen their English skills, with classes in reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar, innovation enrichment and cultural studies. The GEAR program is expected to be offered once or twice during the Fall term.
  • The English for Academic Success (EFAS) program. This program is designed to sharpen students’ English skills and prepare for university life. Each year, we welcome approximately 40 students into our 12-week academic English program that will include students interested in pursuing undergraduate or graduate education in Canada, students who wish to come to Canada for a study abroad experience, as well as students who just wish to improve their English.
  • The Go Abroad: Learning for Sustainability (GOALS) program. This term long, study abroad program is designed to help students enrich their 21st Century Learning Skills so they can effectively engage in academic and professional contexts across cultures.

Role and Responsibilities

Connect with Students

  • Encourage an inclusive and welcoming environment by being a positive, supportive individual for students to approach with questions or concerns.
  • Be accessible to students to assist in meeting their social and academic needs. This includes helping with questions related to life at the University of Waterloo, life in Canada, their language program, and provide appropriate campus referrals when needed.
  • Interact in person with students on a weekly basis (including one-on-one meetings, check-in meetings, events, workshops, etc.).
  • Build prosocial relationships with students to identify issues/challenges they may be facing.

Social/Cultural Student Development Programming

  • Support in the coordination and delivery of social programming to support students in their transition to Waterloo, and work with Student Experience Coordinator to determine appropriate event programming that match students’ needs and interests.
  • Research events and student development opportunities hosted by other campus services that may be suitable for students to attend and assist in encouraging students’ attendance at these initiatives. Promote these events through social media and other methods to students.
  • Provide additional support in the coordination of volunteer programs, called the ELI Leadership Team, who meet weekly or bi-weekly to develop their communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills by working to organize an on-campus event for the Waterloo community.
  • Plan opportunities for students to engage socially with other students in their respective faculty, if appropriate.

Advising Support

  • Meet one-on-one with students as needed to assist in the development of personal and academic skills, including social integration, note taking, textbook reading, problem solving, academic integrity, and procrastination.
  • Offer solutions during one-on-one sessions with students to best meet their unique needs.
  • Make referrals to the Student Experience Coordinator, Student Advisor, or other campus services as needed for complex student issues.
  • Facilitate programming to support students in their academic success while studying in the program.
  • Actively recruit students for one-on-one advising meetings.

Documentation, Administration, and Communication

  • Work with the Student Experience Coordinator  to document relevant programming approaches, logistics, event/program attendance, outcomes, and record case notes following student appointments.
  • Utilize social media platforms (e.g. Facebook, WeChat, WhatsApp, LINE, KakaoTalk) almost daily to interact with students and promote specific events several times each week; interact regularly with students via social media groups, including during unscheduled off-hours.
  • Respond to all communications from students and your supervisor within one business day. Please note you may have to reply earlier for issues that need immediate attention.
  • Seek out students who have missed information meetings or for whom there is a specific concern.
  • Attend any events and team meetings scheduled by the Student Experience Coordinator.

Compensation

The ELI Peer Leader will be compensated $17.20 per hour, in addition to vacation pay, by Renison University College, and will work approximately 8 - 10 hours per week. For any off-campus bus trip or excursion that exceeds six hours in length, a flat rate of $100 will be paid to all student staff who participate in the trip. Bus transportation and ticket charges (ex. Canada's Wonderland ticket) will be paid by Renison, including meal per diems.

Qualifications

  • Registered Waterloo student in good academic standing with a minimum average (in both semester and cumulative) of 65% (preference will be given to students in their 2A term or higher). Peer Leaders must maintain good academic standing as per their faculty definition, as well as abide by academic integrity policies. Failure to adhere to these conditions may lead to remedial action, up to and including dismissal.
  • Must have access to a strong Internet connection and a data plan, with access to a computer/microphone/camera to host virtual events. Must also have a smartphone to access apps such as WhatsApp, WeChat, KakaoTalk to communicate via text messaging groups with students.
  • Experienced student leader with a strong knowledge of the University of Waterloo campus, Faculties, services, and resources. Previous experience in a student coaching role considered an asset.
  • Knowledgeable about the first-year international student experience; awareness of the needs of first-year international students and English Language Learners.
  • Awareness and knowledge of strategies that encourage personal and academic success.
  • Experienced in event management and execution.
  • Excellent problem-solving skills and good judgment; ability to think on your feet and navigate difficult discussions or situations with diplomacy and tact.
  • Experience participating in international or cross-cultural living and learning opportunities; ability to approach cross-cultural communication and inter-group dynamics with sensitivity and respect.
  • Creative and adaptable under pressure.
  • Strong customer-service orientation.

To Apply

To apply to this role, please send your resume and cover letter via email to Allison Marlowe, Student Experience Coordinator at asmarlowe@uwaterloo.ca by Friday, November 8 at 12:00pm.

Questions?

Contact Allison Marlowe for more information through email, one-on-one meet-up, or in-person in REN 0209A.