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Cornell University

Housing & Residential Life

Resident Language Fellow Position Description

2024-2025 Residential Leadership Position Description: Resident Language Fellow (RLF)

A Resident Language Fellow (RLF) is a live-in student leader who is a Cornell undergraduate or graduate native and heritage speaker of one of the target languages in the Language House. RLFs work to carry out the mission and values of Cornell University and Housing & Residential Life (H&RL) within a residential community. RLFs must commit to enhancing the overall residential experience of students at Cornell University by supporting the H&RL Pillars (Belonging at Cornell, Social Responsibility, Academic Empowerment, Culture of Care, and Navigate Transition). RLFs accomplish this by building community through linguistic immersion in an informal, welcoming environment conducive to language and cultural learning. In addition to the RLFs, there are two Resident Advisors (RAs)  on the floor to support additional needs of the students beyond what the RLF is tasked to provide.

Time Commitment

  • RLFs can expect to be actively involved in the role as an RLFs for an average of 5 hours per week. The 5 hour per week commitment includes, but is not limited, to:
    • Building connections with residents
    • Facilitating activities and interactions amongst residents to enhance their  linguistic, cultural, academic, and social development
    • One-on-one meetings with their supervisor during business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
    • Attendance and participation in a weekly team meeting held on Wednesdays, 5:15 PM – 6:45 PM
  • Prior to the start of classes, RLF’s are to actively participate in Student Leader training and resident Move-in
    • This time commitment varies from the weekly average of 5-hour commitment when the classes begin.
    • Specifics around training and Move-in and Move-out times and dates will be shared within the Student Leadership Positional Agreement.
  • RLFs commit to a one (1) academic year commitment (both Fall and Spring semesters).

The 2024-2025 RLF appointment dates will be included in the Student Leadership Positional Agreement and are as follows:

  • August 8, 2024: RLFs move in between 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • August 9, 2024 – December 22, 2024: Dates of appointment
  • December 22, 2024: RLFs depart the community by 2:00 PM
  • January 13, 2025: RLFs return to the community between 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • January 14, 2025 – May 18, 2025: Dates of appointment
  • May 18, 2025: RLFs depart the community by 2:00 PM

Note: These dates are subject to modification in accordance with academic calendar     changes.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and maintain ongoing relationships with residents through leading programs and activities that encourage the residents to broaden their linguistic, cultural, academic, and social development.’
  • Develop and maintain ongoing relationship with residents through active presence and engagement within the community.
  • Demonstrate a commitment to inclusion and sense of belonging by supporting educational awareness and fostering a sense of community, ownership, and respect.
  • Assess and respond to the needs of residents through community engagement, informing supervisors of needs, and connecting residents to campus resources.
  • Inform RAs of resident concerns and critical incidents with a restorative approach (listening, discussing impact, repairing harm), while being supported by full-time staff (Residence Hall Director, Area Coordinator, Assistant Director, Cornell University Police Department, etc.)
  • Maintain the Community Living Standards, Student Code of Conduct, and Housing License through timely communication with Residential Life staff, while role modeling personal behavior consistent with all university, state, and federal laws, guidance, and policies.
  • Maintain timely communication with full-time staff, the RLF team, the RA team and residents.
  • Complete administrative responsibilities of the role within the provided deadlines.
  • Attend and participate in mandatory one-on-one meetings with their supervisor and weekly team meetings on Wednesdays from 5:15 PM to 6:45 PM.
  • Attend and participate in August and January training (prior to the start of classes), in addition to any continued development sessions (occurs during weekly team meeting) throughout the semesters. During these periods, RLFs receive training on critical topics to support residents as well as build relationships with fellow team members and full-time staff.

Supervision

RLFs receive direct supervision from the Toni Morrison Residence Hall Director, a full-time staff member, to support the H&RL mission, values, goals, and objectives. RLFs also receive indirect supervision from an H&RL Assistant Director.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be a native speaker of the target Language.
  • Prior to the position start date, applicants must have completed at least two (2) semesters (not including Summer or Winter semester) of college or university coursework, post-high school graduation.
    • Incoming transfer students will be asked to present their official or unofficial transcript from their previously attended institution(s).
  • Applicants and current RLFs must maintain a minimum semesterly and cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5. GPA checks are conducted during the selection process and throughout the RLF appointment to ensure good academic standing.
    • Applicants who fail to meet the minimum GPA requirement will not be eligible to continue in the selection process.
    • Applicants who are in their first semester at Cornell and do not have a GPA at the time of application, are able to submit an application. GPA requirements will be checked at the end of Fall and Spring semester.
    • Applicants who are extended RLF offers and fail to meet the GPA requirement at the end of the Spring semester will no longer be eligible for the position.
    • Incoming transfer students will be asked to present their official or unofficial transcript from the previously attended institution(s).
    • If a current RLF fails to meet the minimum GPA requirement, they will have one probationary semester to work towards meeting the GPA eligibility requirement. At the end of the probationary semester, RLFs must meet the GPA requirement in order to retain the position.
    • It is the responsibility of the applicant and RLF to notify the H&RL Student Leader Selection Committee at hrl-sl-selection@cornell.edu regarding any special circumstance that may influence the GPA requirement (e.g., incompletes, grade changes, etc.)
  • RLFs must be a full-time enrolled student, completing at least 12 credits each semester throughout the dates of appointment.
  • RLF appointments are for one (1) academic year and applicants must be able to commit to a full academic year, both Fall and Spring semester.
    • RLFs who have the intent to return to the position for subsequent years are required to participate in an application and evaluation process annually.
  • Applicants and current RLFs must be in good standing with the Community Living Standards, Student Code of Conduct, Housing License, Policies 6.3 and 6.4 and must comply with all university, local, state, and federal policies or guidance.
    • Conduct status will be checked regularly by Housing & Residential Life, Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, and the Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX.
    • Applicants who are offered a position must successfully pass a criminal background check in order to maintain the position.
    • It is the responsibility of the applicant and RA to notify H&RL Student Leader Selection Committee immediately of any changes to their status by emailing hrl-sl-selection@cornell.edu. Should inappropriate, negative, or prohibited conduct arise, appropriate follow-up will be taken, up to and including, removal from the position.
  • Applicants within the 2024-2025 RLF Selection Process who are not offered a position or an alternate status will be removed from the 2024-2025 RLF Selection cycle. Applicants within the 2024-2025 RLF Selection Process who are offered a position or an alternate status which they decline, will be removed from the 2024-2025 RLF Selection cycle. These applicants will need to apply during the next cycle: 2025-2026 RLF Selection Process, to be considered for an RLF position during the academic year (Fall and Spring Semester).

Remuneration

RLF position remuneration includes a single room, a stipend distributed semi-monthly throughout the semester. Stipends are subject to taxation. The remuneration may not be adjusted or allotted in other ways.  

Please consult with the Office of Financial Aid to learn how the position remuneration grant may impact your financial aid package. It is encouraged that you speak with the Office of Financial Aid prior to accepting the position.

The stipend amount is $2,550 for the 2024-2025 Academic Year.