Upper Midwest HERC

This is an in person and overnight residential position working with high school students at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities East Bank campus. 

Description of UMD Upward Bound Vision Quest:
The Upward Bound Vision Quest (UBVQ) program is a federally funded college preparatory program for low-income and first-generation high school students that serves a total of 135 students in four high schools in Minneapolis, Minnesota and one in Duluth, Minnesota. The Upward Bound Vision Quest program works with students, parents, schools and the community to develop partnerships and provide services and support that promote participant success. Services are offered on site in the target schools and are designed to prepare students to succeed in applying for, and finishing postsecondary education.

The summer program is an exciting opportunity for high school students to experience college life by taking classes and living in the residence halls.  Each summer, additional staff are hired to help make the summer experience memorable.  The summer program needs motivated and caring staff to create an unforgettable student experience.

Description of Position: 
Residential Staff are mentors who support high school students as they get their first taste of college life while staying on the UMN-Twin Cities East Bank. For some youth, this will be their first time away from home and family. Therefore, Residential Staff play an important role of supervising youth in dorms, establishing morning/breakfast routines that set the stage for a day of successful learning, evening/dinner routines that transition to communal leisure and rest, planning and facilitating group activities and excursions, supporting youth as they consider future pathways, and cultivating environments of health, safety, and wellbeing of youth and fellow staff. 

Outline of Responsibilities:

• Reside overnight on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus to supervise, mentor, and support high school participants during programâ™s weeknight evening hours
• Engage students in activities, conversations, and learning opportunities that support their ability to envision their futures as full of agency and possibility
• Chaperone evening field trips and events in Twin Cities and on campus
• Supervise students during breakfast and dinner-time in the campus dining hall
• Coordinate with residential staff and security to monitor hallways during late-night/early-morning watch shifts
• Plan and facilitate fun and engaging culture-building activities, workshops, and game nights
• Capture the power and magic of UBVQ Summer Program in photo, video, and words
• Join the team that plans End-of-Summer Celebration, Week 6 (5-Day Trip), events and workshops
• Manage essential data and documents including, but not limited to: student evaluations, attendance, surveys, flyers, schedules, and behavior reports
• Residential staff are responsible for students from 5:00 p.m. until students leave for their morning class (including supervising students in the halls, at meals, and during evening activities)
• Residential staff reside in the hall overnight and also coordinate residential dorm night activities
• Respond to, monitor, report, and document any evening incidents
• Participate in daily check-ins and weekly meetings with UBVQ Director and staff
• Observe strict data privacy and confidentiality protocols
• Duluth staff only:
  • Ride the bus to the University of Minnesotaâ“Twin Cities campus Monday mornings and return to Duluth on Friday afternoons Week 1 â“ Week 6 
• Minneapolis Staff only: 
  • Occasionally chaperone students while riding the bus from Minneapolis high schools (South and Edison) Monday mornings and back to the high schools on Friday afternoons
• Other duties as assigned by Program Director

Staff Schedule:

• Orientation Staff & Training:
  • Monday, June 9 - Friday, June 13, 2025, 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. 
• Week 1 - 5: Student College Experience in Minneapolis
  • June 16 â“ July 18, 2025
  • Monday - Thursday 4:30 p.m. until students leave for class in the morning the next day
• Week 6: Out-of-State Trip
  • Monday, July 21, 8:30 a.m. - Friday, July 25, 5:00 p.m.
• Week 7: Debrief Week (Debrief week, participation is flexible)
  • Monday, July 28, 8:30 a.m. - Wednesday, July 30, 3:00 p.m.
• Holidays Off: June 19 & 20, June 30 - July 4, 2025

Minimum Qualifications:

• Curious, interested in learning, and willingness to try new things
• Experienced and finds value in working with high school students of diverse socioeconomic, cultural, and academic backgrounds
• Experienced and confident role model / leader who can facilitate activities, chaperone field trips, evening leisure and meaningfully engage students throughout a dayâ™s activities
• Able to work and live on the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus during the week for five weeks
• Comfort and ability to fairly intervene, support, and redirect students in moments of conflict resolution
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage and locate things in digital spaces and the physical environment
• Great communication skills, in-person and digitally
• Take initiative, be a team player, and willing to jump in to get things done
• Ability to maintain a positive mindset, sense of possibility, and communicate while problem-solving
• Available during this roleâ™s mandatory staff schedule, including 5 day out-of-state trip (see schedule below)
• Per University of Minnesota Safety of Minors policy, applicants must be at least 20-years-old upon hiring, and pass a background check

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

Connections working at University of Minnesota Twin Cities