Desk Assistants & Neighborhood Operations Assistants
Desk Assistants (DAs) are students who provide customer service to the residents, guests and visitors who approach the residence hall service center desks.Ìý
Neighborhood Operations Assistants (NOAs) perform the same functions as the DAs as well as give leadership and guidance to the DAs.
Both the DA and NOA role are vital to the operations of the residence hall communities.
The application processes for new DA applications and completing the intent to return for current DAs and NOAs for the 2025-2026 academic year ended on Friday, February 21 at 3 p.m. We are no longer accepting applications for either process.
Our team is in the process of reviewing applications and will communicate with candidates regarding whether they have been moved to the next phase of the process on or around March 10.
The required start date for the academic year isÌýMonday, August 11, 2025Ìýwith a limited number of positions potentially available to start on Monday, May 5, 2025.
Instructions to Apply During Recruiting Periods
- Click ´¡±Ê±Ê³¢³ÛÌýabove. You should use a tablet or computer rather than phone to complete the application.Ìý
- °ä±ô¾±³¦°ìÌýLoginÌýin the top right corner.Ìý
- °ä±ô¾±³¦°ìÌýÃÀ¸ß÷¹ÙÍø - STUDENT SSO LOGINÌýunder Login with an external service. Log in with your ÃÀ¸ß÷¹ÙÍø credentials. You may be asked to authenticate with the Duo application.
- °ä±ô¾±³¦°ìÌýEmployment ApplicationÌýon the left side
- Review the documents on the Welcome page as needed. °ä±ô¾±³¦°ìÌýSAVE & CONTINUE.
- ClickÌý´¡±Ê±Ê³¢³ÛÌýin the 2025-2026 Desk Assistant Term Selector box
- Carefully review the Terms & Conditions. Add your M-Number to the Signature box. °ä±ô¾±³¦°ìÌýSUBMITÌýto continue with the rest of the application.
- Review the neighborhood locations and maps. Select up to three neighborhood preferences. SelectÌýNo PreferenceÌýif placement does not matter to you. °ä±ô¾±³¦°ìÌýSAVE & CONTINUE.Ìý
- Review the summer employment dates and criteria. Check the box to indicate if you want to be considered for summer employment. °ä±ô¾±³¦°ìÌýSAVE & CONTINUE. This option is only available when completing the application during the spring semester.
- Answer each of the five short essay prompts, pressingÌýSAVE & CONTINUEÌýafter each one.
- Answer the Voluntary Self-Identification Questions (Disability and Protected Veteran Status) if desired. PressÌýSAVE & CONTINUEÌýon each page.Ìý
- ClickÌý³§±«µþ²Ñ±õ°ÕÌýto submit your DA application.
- °ä±ô¾±³¦°ìÌýINTENT TO RETURNÌýabove.ÌýYou should use a tablet or computer rather than phone to complete the application.Ìý
- °ä±ô¾±³¦°ìÌýLoginÌýin the top right corner
- °ä±ô¾±³¦°ìÌýÃÀ¸ß÷¹ÙÍø - STUDENT SSO LOGINÌýunder Login with an external service. Log in with your ÃÀ¸ß÷¹ÙÍø credentials. You may be asked to authenticate with the Duo application.
- °ä±ô¾±³¦°ìÌýEmployment ApplicationÌýon the left side
- Review the documents to learn more about the available positions. °ä±ô¾±³¦°ìÌýSAVE & CONTINUE.
- ClickÌý´¡±Ê±Ê³¢³ÛÌýin the 2025-2026 Desk Assistant Term Selector box
- Use the drop-down menu to select your 2025-2026 status. Click SAVE & CONTINUE. You are finished with the process if you are not returning. Otherwise, proceed to the next steps.
- Carefully review the Terms & Conditions. Add your M-Number to the Signature box. °ä±ô¾±³¦°ìÌýSUBMITÌýto continue with the rest of the application.
- Answer the questions on the Academics page. Click SAVE & CONTINUE.
- Answer the Voluntary Self-Identification Questions (Disability and Protected Veteran Status) if desired. PressÌýSAVE & CONTINUEÌýon each page.Ìý
- Both DAs and NOAs: Review the summer employment dates and criteria. Check the box to indicate if you want to be considered for summer employment. DAs only: Check if you would like to be considered for an NOA position. °ä±ô¾±³¦°ìÌýSAVE & CONTINUE.
- Greet/assist residents, guests and visitors
- Serve as a contact point for University Housing professional staff
- Assist with student check ins/outs at the beginning, middle or end of the semester
- Distribute and handle keys as instructed by University Housing professional staff, including loaner keys
- Check in/out hall equipmentÌýand distribute hall resources
- Provide information regarding housekeeping and maintenance work order procedures
- Answer the telephone
- Use proper communication channels, including but not limited to, ÃÀ¸ß÷¹ÙÍø emails, Teams chats, GroupMe and WhenIWork
- Document information in a timely manner
- Reporting and responding to emergency situations
- Contact on-call student or University Housing professional staff when assistance is neededÌý
- Act as a representative of the ÃÀ¸ß÷¹ÙÍø and University HousingÌýand role model for residents, guests, visitors and co-workers
- Participate in all staff meetings, trainings and in-service meetings
- Promote and foster an inclusive community in the residence halls
- Perform related duties based on departmental need. This job description can be changed at any time
- Greet/assist residents, guests and visitors
- Serve as a contact point for University Housing professional staffÌýÌý
- Create Desk Assistant (DA) schedules in WhenIWork
- Conduct monthly key audits
- Train and schedule shadow shifts for newly hired DAs
- Provide guidance as instructed by NOCÌý
- Coach DAs to help them improve their work performance
- Assist with student check ins/outs at the beginning, middle or end of the semester
- Distribute and handle keys as instructed by University Housing professional staff, including loaner keys
- Check in/out hall equipmentÌýand distribute hall resources
- Provide information regarding housekeeping and maintenance work order procedures
- Answer the telephone
- Use proper communication channels, including but not limited to, ÃÀ¸ß÷¹ÙÍø emails, Teams chats, GroupMe and WhenIWorkÌý
- Document information in a timely manner
- Reporting and responding to emergency situations
- Contact on-call student or University Housing professional staff when assistance is neededÌý
- Act as a representative of the ÃÀ¸ß÷¹ÙÍø and University HousingÌýand role model for residents, guests, visitors and co-workersÌý
- Participate in all staff meetings, trainings and in-service meetingsÌý
Desk Assistant Responsibilities Overview
Desk Assistants' Perspectives
Abby Petty
"The DA position was a dream position as a freshman in college. I was lucky enough to work in the same dorm that I was living in, so I didn’t have to worry about a commute to work. I was not stressed about balancing my life, the DA position balanced it for me. After my first year, I was excited to be promoted to Neighborhood Operations Assistant and to have more responsibility. NOAs oversee the work of DAs to ensure quality control."
I was fortunate to work while in school, which gave me spending money to do fun things without the stress. 
Abby Petty
Grace Hansen
"My housing employment started at the beginning of my sophomore year at ÃÀ¸ß÷¹ÙÍø. I was attracted to the flexible hours, opportunities to work on my homework while being paid, and to develop an on-campus connection as an undergraduate student.ÌýI grew in my organizational skills, emailing, and excel organization. All DAs will benefit from their experiences, especially those from diverse majors, in their future careers."
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Both DAs and NOAs must have the following minimum qualifications:
- Enrollment in ÃÀ¸ß÷¹ÙÍø undergraduate or graduate program
- Minimum GPA of 2.5
NOAs must also have the following previous experience:
- Previously served as a Desk Assistant (DA)
The DA application for the academic year and the DA/NOA intent to return processes will open on Monday, February 17 at 1 p.m. and will close on Friday, February 21 at 3 p.m.
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Staff are required to be available to start working on May 5 for the summer and August 11 for the fall.
- Summer DA, NOA: Monday May 5, 2025 - Sunday, May 3, 2026
- Academic Year DA, NOA (fall hire):ÌýMonday, August 11, 2025Ìý - Sunday, May 3, 2026Ìý
DAs and NOAs who wish to work over the summer must meet the following criteria:
- Currently employed as a DA or NOA in good standing as an employee
- Able to work a minimum of 20 hours per week starting Monday, May 5
- Willing and able to work evenings, weekends and holidays
Current staff and prospective staff will have the opportunity to express their interest in summer work through the intent to return or new staff application process that opens in the spring semester. There will be a limited number of opportunities for returners and new hires to work over the summer.
Support Neighborhood Operations Coordinator (or their appointee) in functions related to summer conferences as needed.
Conduct weekly inspections of residence halls to ensure that communal spaces are viewed on a regularÌýcycle and resident spaces as needed. This includes walking and inspecting stairwells, hallways, restrooms and other common spaces.
No, there is not a separate application for DAs interested in the NOA position. Please check the box indicating that you would be interested in being considered for an NOA position if one becomes available. You may be contacted now or in the future if vacancies arise during the course of the year.
No, previous experience as a DA is required for the NOA role.