UHDS Admin

UHDS Employment

A Message from our Director of Student Life & Assistant Director for Residence Life

Photo of Jessica Butcher

Jessica Butcher
Director of Student Life

Greetings!

Thank you for considering Western Illinois University and University Housing and Dining Services as your next home to unleash your potential! Our team is composed of dedicated professionals who are motivated to build strong communities, enhance relationships throughout campus, and find innovative ways to best serve our student population.

You can learn more about University Housing and Dining Services by exploring our mission and values and current staff serving our students.

Western Illinois University and Macomb, Illinois is a fantastic place to call home. You can learn more about our campus population, facts, and the local community here. Our Complex Directors and Assistant Complex Directors lead the creation of an inclusive, welcoming, and academically driven on-campus experience for all of our residents across six diverse complexes. We hope you will consider becoming a Leatherneck and allowing Western Illinois University to become a part of your success story!

It's a great day to be a Leatherneck!

Employment Opportunities

Full Time/Professional

Complex Director

The Complex Director is an integral part of University Housing and Dining Services at Western Illinois University. Complex Directors oversee functions of residential complex including supervision, community development, administrative, and crisis response. The Complex Director collaborates closely with other members of the University Housing and Dining Service team, numerous Student Services departments, as well as faculty and staff throughout Western Illinois University.

Supervision
  • Direct supervision of 2-3 graduate assistants
  • Indirect supervision of 20-30 undergraduate staff members and full-time Residence Hall Clerk
  • Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate graduate and undergraduate staff members.
Community & Student Development
  • Provide leadership in promoting an atmosphere of inclusion for diverse student body and staff within the complex that supports academic achievement and fosters responsible decision-making.
  • Coordinate community and student development through service learning initiatives, social and educational programming, human issues education, faculty involvement programming, and the development of living learning communities.
  • Provide advice and counsel for individual students, student leaders, and student groups.
  • Educate residents through judicial conferences on the Student Conduct Code and Housing Policies.
Administrative
  • Coordinate the administrative functions of a residence hall complex, which include: facility management, maintenance, information desk operations, student employment, and payroll budget.
Crisis Response
  • Provide crisis intervention and emergency response by participating in an on-call duty rotation for complex.
  • Ensure effective follow-up and referrals when necessary.
Additional Opportunities Include
  • Serve as a chairperson/member to departmental and campus committees.
  • Instruct a credit-bearing training course for Resident Assistants or University 100 Course for first-year students.
Recruitment Timeline
  • January - February: Applications accepted and reviewed
  • February - March: Telephone interviews scheduled
  • April: On-campus interviews begin
  • June - July: Complex Director start date

Questions? Contact Jessica Butcher at JJ-Butcher@wiu.edu or 309-298-2293

Graduate Students

Assistant Complex Director

The Assistant Complex Director is an apprenticeship in the operation of a residence hall program and involved various administrative and management functions as well as all areas of student development. As an assistant to the Complex Director, the ACD position provides opportunities to learn and develop the expertise and skills needed to function effectively in a residence hall environment, a student services division, or any similar organization. Assistant Complex Directors directly supervise student staff, provide advice and guidance, participate in departmental committees, and have opportunities for ongoing professional development.

Oshkosh Placement Exchange Recruitment Timeline
  • October 25, 2023- March 1, 2024: To be considered please contact Jessica Butcher at JJ-Butcher@wiu.eduu or 309-298-3320
  • July 26 2024: Assistant Complex Director start date

Questions? Contact Jessica Butcher at JJ-Butcher@wiu.edu or 309-298-3320


GFH Resident Manager
GFH Resident Manager

As a member of the Graduate and Family Housing staff team, the Resident Manager will strive to create a community that will enhance a student’s academic, developmental, and personal lives, and that will support the purposes and goals of University Housing and Dining Services and Western Illinois University. The Resident Manager must understand and relate to the unique needs of married students, single-parent students, married students with children, non-traditional students, and international students. This is a live-in position with a general understanding of 24 hour coverage, but with general daily hours of 8:00 am - 6:00 pm. The Manager reports directly to the Director of Residence Life.

Questions? Contact Jessica Butcher at JJ-Butcher@wiu.edu or 309-298-3320

Undergraduate Students

View student employment opportunities as an undergraduate student.

Benefits

Supervision

Our Complex Directors and Assistant Complex Directors are exposed to multiple opportunities to supervise and develop teams. Complex Directors directly supervise between two and three graduate practitioners who are supervisors to student staff members. Complex Directors also supervise a full-time residence hall clerk who assists with the administrative operation of the complex. Assistant Complex Directors have opportunities to supervise Resident Assistants and Desk Assistants, as well as work closely with the overall complex team.

Teaching Experience

Complex Directors and Assistant Complex Directors have opportunities to teach a credit bearing course in the spring semester focusing on the development of new staff members for University Housing and Dining Services. Staff teaching are paired in teaching teams to deliver engaging course materials designed to prepare our students for success in their future leadership positions.

Professional Development

University Housing and Dining Services is committed to the ongoing professional development of our full-time and graduate staff members. Through on-campus developments, departmental professional development sessions, and opportunities to attend regional professional organizations, Complex Directors and Assistant Complex Directors are able to develop their skills and interests beyond their positional responsibilities.

Committee Involvement

Complex Directors and Assistant Complex Directors have options to serve on departmental, unit, and campus-wide committees based off their interest and departmental need. Departmentally, team members are involved with options including recruitment, training, social justice education, academic initiatives, large-scale initiative development, and many more. Options for involvement are found throughout Western Illinois University and staff are encouraged to have multiple experiences.

Additional Information
Complex Director candidates can find more information on university benefits associated with being a full-time staff member on WIU’s Human Resource Webpage.

Assistant Complex Director candidates can explore information on the Graduate Studies Webpage for more information about benefits and funding for graduate school.

Potential Unleashed

Working with University Housing and Dining Services can lead to great things! See what our current and former staff members have to say about WIU and working for UHDS. 


Photo of Zachary Potts

"Transitioning to my first professional role at WIU, I had a lot of areas of growth as a professional within University Housing and Dining Services. Our staff members ranging from Student Employees all the way up to our Directors, have always pushed me to grow not only in my professional life, but also in my personal life as well. Having this level of care from UHDS to see me as an individual, not just an employee, has truly inspired me to use the same level of care with the students and staff members that I get the opportunity to work with each and every day!"

-Zachary Potts, Complex Director, Western Illinois University, 2023-2024


 

Photo of Brooke McDaniel

"I would not be where I am today without Western Illinois University.  At WIU, I found the mentors that guided me towards a fun career in Student Affairs and beyond."

-Brooke McDaniel, Complex Director, Western Illinois University, 2022-current


Photo of Todd Clark

"WIU and UHDS set the professional foundation for a lifetime of professional and personal networks. There are very few colleges and universities that do not have some type of ‘seven degrees’ of WIU, and to be a part of that network is a honor and privilege."

-Todd Clark, Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students at Guilford College


Photo of Edwin Darrell

"WIU and the CSP program provided me with an amazing foundation of knowledge, experience, and mentorship. The WIU community routinely challenges and guides my career in student affairs and I am lucky to have such great friends and colleagues."

-Edwin S. Darrell, Associate Director of Residential Education at San Diego State University


Photo of Jacque Bollinger

"WIU opened my eyes to possibilities I did not know existed. Who knew college students could be a career – a career that continues to challenge and reward me daily!!"

-Jacque Bollinger, Director of Residential Life at Indiana University

Leatherneck Life

Residence Hall Communities

Western Illinois University currently provides housing for students in six different residence halls buildings, with a 2 year live-on requirement (or 60+ credit hours). The halls are broken into 3 different communities: Corbin & Olson Halls (COOL), Lincoln, Washington, & Grote Halls (Linc-Wash-Grote), and Thompson Hall. From move-in to graduation, the residence halls at WIU provide students a place to build friendships and memories that last a lifetime. Each residence hall is more than a building; it's a community for students to connect and flourish.

If you want to learn more about each hall, please visit wiu.edu/residencehalls.

Staff Apartments

Each staff apartment is different and unique in its own way. Below is an example of two of our staff apartments.

Photo of Apartments

Themed Communities

We pride ourselves on providing a supportive environment within the halls that encourages academic success and collaborative learning experiences. WIU students have the opportunity to live in supportive communities where they can learn and connect with other students who share the same interests or major. Our current Living Learning Community (LLC) offerings are Agriculture, Broadcasting & Journalism, Business Studies, CLASS (Community of Liberal Arts and Sciences Students), Education, Fine Arts, Honors, ROTC, and STEM. and Transfer Year Experience. Our Interest Communities include International, Open Housing, Transfer Year Experience and 21 Plus. 

For more information about our LLCs, please visit https://www.wiu.edu/student_success/housing/themed_communities/index.php.

Live-In Staff

All of our Assistant Complex Directors and Complex Directors are considered live-in staff. Hear from our past and present live in staff members below.

Karlee Herman

"WIU has opened up a world of new opportunities for me since I have begun my job as an Assistant Complex Director.  Living and working on campus has allowed me the privilege of meeting and connecting with students and staff in a way I would not have been able to living off campus. Despite having been on campus for only a year, I genuinely feel like a valued part of the WIU community. The UHDS staff are some of the most supportive and kind people I have ever worked with and made WIU feel like home to me almost immediately. The experience and relationships that I have gained through my position as an ACD is something that I will carry with me long after I have graduated WIU."

-Karlee Herman,  Assistant Complex Director, 2024-2025


 

Deoquase Williams

 "Western Illinois University (WIU) has truly become my home away from home. I came to WIU in 2019 as a wide-eyed freshman from Chicago. Nothing could've prepared me for the amazing people I would meet and the impact those connections would have on my life. I officially joined the University Housing and Dining Services (UDHS) team in my sophomore year when I became a Resident Assistant (RA). I built a floor community based on growth, trust, and inclusion.  The most valuable takeaway from my three years as an RA was meeting many students from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and communities. Now, in my second year as an Assistant Complex Director (ACD), I am now able to give back to the community that helped nurture that young city boy into the leader I have become. I am forever grateful to WIU and UHDS for giving me a chance to grow!"

-Deoquase Williams,  Assistant Complex Director, 2024-2025


 

Photo of Herb Sommer

"WIU Housing for me was always a second home. After being a Resident Assistant for 2 years at Western. I knew it would only make sense to come back and be an Assistant Complex Director. I have been able to learn so much already whether it be about conduct or supervising resident assistants and so much more. I at least know wherever I land up at a future career, I will know that WIU has prepared me"

-Herb Sommer,  Assistant Complex Director, 2022-2023


Photo of Mariah Slaughter

"I have loved all of the different experiences that are offered to Assistant Complex Directors. There are a variety of committees, collaterals, and advising opportunities available. One of my favorite experiences has been having the opportunity to advise the National Residence Hall Honorary Chapter here at WIU and working with students outside of the Resident Assistant role that I otherwise might not have gotten the chance to meet!"

-Mariah Slaughter,  Assistant Complex Director, 2020-2021

 
 

Why Macomb?

Take a tour and learn more about Macomb here. Macomb is situated in McDonough County, or what some call Forgottonia, Illinois. There is so much to do, see, and be a part of in the area. Everything you could want to know about Macomb and the surrounding area can be found at visitforgottonia.com.