Housing

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. 

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.

We will be accepting DA applications for the spring semester soon. Please note:

  • The application will be open from Thursday, October 3 at 3 p.m. until Friday, October 11 at 5 p.m.
  • We encourage undergraduate students, particularly those who live in the residence halls, to apply for the DA position. Our priority for spring hiring will be undergraduate students.
  • The required start date for the spring semester is Monday, January 6, 2025 with the potential of a limited number of opportunities available to begin on Wednesday, December 17, 2024.

Instructions to Apply During Recruiting Periods

DA APPLICATION
  • Click APPLY above
  • Click Login in the top right corner
  • Click UC - STUDENT SSO LOGIN under Login with an external service. Log in with your UC credentials. You may be asked to authenticate with the Duo application.
  • Click Employment Application on the left side
  • Review the documents on the Welcome page as needed. Click SAVE & CONTINUE.
  • Click APPLY in the 2024-2025 Desk Assistant Term Selector box
  • Carefully review the Terms & Conditions. Add your M-Number to the Signature box. Click SUBMIT to continue with the rest of the application.
  • Review the neighborhood locations and maps. Select up to three neighborhood preferences. Select No Preference if placement does not matter to you. Click SAVE & CONTINUE. 
  • Review the summer employment dates and criteria. Check the box to indicate if you want to be considered for summer employment. Click SAVE & CONTINUE. This option is only available when completing the application during the spring semester.
  • Answer each of the five short essay prompts, pressing SAVE & CONTINUE after each one.
  • Answer the Voluntary Self-Identification Questions (Disability and Protected Veteran Status) if desired. Press SAVE & CONTINUE on each page. 
  • Click SUBMIT to submit your DA application.
  • Click INTENT TO RETURN above
  • Click Login in the top right corner
  • Click UC - STUDENT SSO LOGIN under Login with an external service. Log in with your UC credentials. You may be asked to authenticate with the Duo application.
  • Click Employment Application on the left side
  • Review the documents to learn more about the available positions. Click SAVE & CONTINUE.
  • Click APPLY in the 2024-2025 Desk Assistant Term Selector box
  • Use the drop-down menu to select your 2024-2025 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. Click SUBMIT to 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. Press SAVE & CONTINUE on each page. 
  • 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. Click SAVE & 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 equipment and distribute hall resources
  • Provide information regarding housekeeping and maintenance work order procedures
  • Answer the telephone
  • Use proper communication channels, including but not limited to, UC 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 needed 
  • Act as a representative of the University of Cincinnati and University Housing and 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 staff  
  • 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 NOC 
  • 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 equipment and distribute hall resources
  • Provide information regarding housekeeping and maintenance work order procedures
  • Answer the telephone
  • Use proper communication channels, including but not limited to, UC 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 needed 
  • Act as a representative of the University of Cincinnati and University Housing and role model for residents, guests, visitors and co-workers 
  • Participate in all staff meetings, trainings and in-service meetings 

Desk Assistant Responsibilities Overview

Desk Assistants' Perspectives

Abby Petty

Abby Petty Headshot

"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

Grace Hansen Headshot

"My housing employment started at the beginning of my sophomore year at University of Cincinnati. 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. I 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 UC 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 spring will open on Thursday, October 3 at 3 p.m. and will close on Friday, October 11 at 5 p.m.

 

 

Staff are required to be available to start working on May 6 for the summer, August 8 for the fall and January 6 for the spring semester.

  • Summer DA, NOA: Monday May 6, 2024 - Sunday, May 4, 2025
  • Academic Year DA, NOA (fall hire): Thursday, August 8, 2024  - Sunday, May 4, 2025 
  • Academic Year DA, NOA (spring hire): Monday, January 6, 2025-Sunday, May 4,2025

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 6
  • 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.

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 regular cycle 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.