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.
Purple Threads is a program of the Dean of Students Office and UAlbany’s Professional Clothing Closet for Students. Professional clothing can be cost-prohibitive for students who need an interview-ready outfit for job interviews, class presentations, and job fairs. Purple Threads solicits clean, gently used professional clothing donated from the campus and larger community.
Required Qualifications:
- Enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate program at the University at Albany, SUNY (by July 1, 2024);
- Impeccable attention to detail
- 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 assist students in need of professional clothing;
- 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 and desire to assist students in meeting basic needs;
- Experience in customer service;
- Experience in and/or ability to enforce policies;
- Ability to de-escalate situations;
- Creatively address situations using available resources;
- A sense of style!
Responsibilities:
- Overseeing the physical shop and storage room/dressing room;
- Setting operating times for the shop based on GA and volunteer schedules (in consultation with supervisor);
- Managing incoming donations and designing a process that ensures donations are appropriate and do not require extra work transporting or discarding unusable clothing;
- Managing advertisement of PT, including social media;
- Liaising with Community and Public Service Programs to obtain volunteers/work-study students;
- Recruiting, training, and supervision of volunteer staff who assist students;
- Keeps careful records of items in and out of the shop within the bounds of PT policies;
- Assist with policy-making by bringing practical concerns surrounding shop usage and users to the supervisor.
- Answers all inquiries pertaining to Purple Threads;
- Manages and updates Purple Threads social media;
- Keeps shop neat, tidy, and organized;
- Assists campus department with organizing clothing drives as needed or as requested;
- Other duties as assigned to support the Dean of Students Office, including up to 5 hours per week in the main office.
- 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 Threads services.
Reporting Structure:
- The Graduate Assistant for the Purple Threads 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.