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 an undergraduate or graduate program at the University at Albany, SUNY (by July 1, 2024);
- Impeccable attention to detail, especially to the 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.
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 and/or ability to enforce policies;
- Ability to de-escalate situations;
- Creatively address situations using available resources.
Responsibilities:
- Work closely with the Graduate Assistant Manager and the Community and Public Service Program to recruit and supervise volunteers;
- Assist with the coordination of volunteer schedules;
- Assist with training and supervising volunteers; Foster a friendly, respectful and destigmatizing environment;
- Work to ensure that the pantry meets the compliance requirements of the Regional Food Bank;
- Assist with inventory management, ordering and pick up of food from Regional Food Bank and Aldi;
- Assist with timely re-stocking of the pantry;
- Assist with keeping the pantry clean and tidy;
- Assist with coordination drives for needed items with internal/external units/departments;
- Drop off and pick up food collection bins from various departments on campus as needed.
- Assist with referral to any other campus and off-campus resources for Pantry users, as needed;
- Other duties as assigned by the Purple Pantry GA or the Assistant Dean for Supplemental Support Services.
Reporting Structure:
- The Student Assistant for the Purple Pantry reports to the Purple Pantry Graduate Assistant and Assistant Dean of Students Supplemental Support Services.
Compensation: $15.25 per hour
Student Assistant positions are At-Will employment.
Start/End Dates:
Academic Year Student Assistants start/end dates: August 26, 2024 – May 18, 2025
- August 19. 2024 to August 23, 2024, for 2024-25 academic year training
- The successful candidates must attend training from August 19, 2024, through August 21, 2024.
- Office hours will begin on August 22, 2024.