The Office of the Dean of Students provides Great Danes and their support network with inclusive, innovative, and impactful support services and education to promote successful scholarship through specialized resources, consultation, and, when appropriate, advocacy to help them navigate the University at Albany. Our Office serves as an umbrella for Community Standards (along with Off-Campus Student Services), Disability Access and Inclusion Student Services (DAISS), Supplemental Support Services, and Veteran and Military Student Services.
We strive to improve equity through access, develop an empowered community, promote the holistic well-being of our Great Dane community, and enhance our units and staff.
The Purple Pantry works to decrease food insecurity in our campus community. Students are our most frequent users, but the Purple Pantry is open to all faculty, staff, and students. We believe that food security is a basic human right. While we cannot provide all the food that each student requires to succeed in an academic environment, we can support students in meeting their needs for food by providing four days of food, equaling 12 meals, every 30 days, by referring to other community pantries and feeding programs, and by referring them to local partners to evaluate their eligibility for government programs such as SNAP and WIC.
Required Qualifications:
- Enrollment in a graduate program at the University at Albany, SUNY (by July 1, 2024);
- Impeccable attention to detail, especially to requirements of UAlbany’s membership with the Regional Foodbank of NENY;
- Administrative skills;
- Ability to work with a culturally diverse population;
- Ability to quickly learn new technologies and online databases;
- Ability to process complex information critically and analytically;
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
- Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality and professionalism;
- Ability to select, train, and supervise other students;
- A sincere desire to contribute to Food Security on the UAlbany campus.
- Ability to lift at least 25 pounds.
- Valid driver’s license.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Knowledge of University at Albany resources or willingness to learn;
- Knowledge of the Office of the Dean of Students units and resources;
- An understanding of food insecurity on college campuses and its impacts;
- Experience using the Regional Foodbank of Northeastern New York;
- Experience in customer service;
- Experience in policy-making and enforcement;
- Ability to de-escalate situations;
- Creatively address situations using available resources.
Responsibilities:
- Provide day-to-day management of the Purple Pantry facility:
- Keep the pantry stocked;
- Keep pantry clean and organized;
- Maintain record of pantry users and usage using PantrySoft web-based software;
- Provide usage reports from Pantrysoft;
- Manage the Pantry’s inventory and place new orders with the Regional Foodbank when appropriate;
- Collaborate with mail services on reserving a food delivery van on respective delivery dates;
- Conduct pick-ups of food from ALDI in Albany and the Regional Foodbank in Latham, NY, using University appropriated vehicles.
- Provide stewardship for Purple Pantry’s membership in the Regional Foodbank of NENY
- Ensure that the Pantry is abiding by all of the appropriate guidelines, rules & procedures outlined by the Regional Foodbank and USDA;
- Partake in any required training sessions to satisfy the Regional Foodbank membership requirements;
- Communicate and coordinate with Regional Foodbank representatives to schedule yearly inspections.
- Staffing Volunteers
- Liaise with the Community and Public Service Program (CPSP) to attend the volunteer fair;
- Recruit and train pantry volunteers (primarily CPSP and Federal Work-study Program);
- Coordinate volunteer schedules to ensure proper coverage;
- Supervise, monitor, and approve volunteer hours;
- Evaluate volunteers as per CSPS requirements.
- Pantry Users
- Foster a friendly, respectful, and destigmatizing environment;
- Ensure users are informed and assisted in RFBNENY food selection guidelines;
- Educate users about pantry policies and assist their understanding of the reasons for policies;
- Assist with policy-making by bringing practical concerns surrounding pantry usage and users to the supervisor.
- Campus Liaising
- Oversee the Purple Pantry’s social media presence (Twitter, Facebook, MyInvolvement, etc.);
- Interact with various on-campus and off-campus entities to facilitate food drives and fundraising events to benefit the Pantry;
- Coordinate or execute placement and pick-ups of on-campus collection bins.
- Ancillary Responsibilities
- Attend appropriate professional meetings (Staff meetings, 1 on 1’s with supervisor, etc.);
- Any other duties as assigned by the Assistant Dean to help coordinate/advance Purple Pantry services.
Reporting Structure:
- The Graduate Assistant for the Purple Pantry reports to the Assistant Dean of Students Supplemental Support Services.
Appointment:
- August 15. 2024 to May 21, 2025
- 20 Hours per week in person between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday.
- Evening hours may occur, while weekend hours will be rare.
Compensation: A stipend of $12,000 is paid bi-weekly in accordance with the University Payroll Schedule for Graduate Assistants. This position does not provide a tuition waiver.
The successful candidate must attend training from August 15, 2024, through August 21, 2024.