Santa Clara University

Hiring Process: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the selection process for Resident Ministers?
Why would I want to be a Resident Minister?
Who can apply?
Do I have to be a Roman Catholic?
What kind of commitment would I be asked to make?
What qualities are you looking for in a Resident Minister?
What qualifies as ministry experience?
What is a Residential Learning Community?
With whom do Resident Ministers work in the RLCs?
Who do Resident Ministers report to?
Where do Resident Ministers live?
What are the official job description and qualifications for a Resident Minister?

What is the selection process for Resident Ministers?

Local candidates are highly encouraged to attend an Information Session on Resident Ministry. If you are considering the position, please plan to attend one of the following:

• Thursday, March 6, 3:00 - 4:00 PM
• Monday, March 10, 6:30-7:30 PM
• Monday, March 17, 12:00-1:00 PM

All are located in the Campus Ministry conference room, Benson 105.

Completed applications are due Monday March 28, 2008 and should include:

• Resident Ministry Information Application (including short responses); these are available at the Resident Ministry Information Sessions
• Resume
• 3 Letters of Recommendation / References, including supervisor if applicant is current Santa Clara University staff member
• General Santa Clara HR application or transfer application (go to http://www.scu.edu/hr/forms/staffing.cfm)

Tentative interview schedule: First round, April 1-11, 2008. Second-round interviews with Residential Learning Community leadership teams will take place in the week(s) following, with decisions made by early to mid-May.

Why would I want to be a Resident Minister?

Resident Ministers have the opportunity to live and work at the exciting intersections of students’ living and learning as they assist students in developing a care for the whole person in the Jesuit and Ignatian tradition. This offers unique opportunities for:

• Meaningful interactions with undergraduates, staff, and faculty
• Service to the university and its mission and values
• Personal growth in spirituality, ministry, and mentoring

Who can apply?

All Resident Ministers must have another affiliation with the university as staff or graduate students. So, the following are encouraged to apply:

• Full-time Santa Clara staff
• Part-time Santa Clara staff
• Santa Clara graduate students who are enrolled in a degree program
• Anyone applying for such positions or programs, contingent on a hiring/admission decision that fits with the selection timeline.

We welcome applications from graduates of any university. We prefer that Santa Clara graduates have spent at least one year away from Santa Clara undergraduate life. See the job description below for a more complete list of qualifications.

Do I have to be a Roman Catholic?

No. We are open to a diversity of faith traditions within Resident Ministry. We do ask that you have a commitment to growing your own religious and spiritual life, that you feel comfortable sharing your own religiosity and spirituality with students, staff, and faculty, and that you are open to dialoguing with and supporting students from a variety of faith traditions.  Most Resident Ministers are lay people (not ordained ministers) who provide an example of being a spiritual, faithful, compassionate person in everyday life.

What kind of commitment would I be asked to make?

Resident Ministers contribute 10-15 hours a week in their community and make a one-year-at-a-time commitment (August 15 through June 15). Resident Ministers also are expected to participate in a five-day summer formation (3 day training and 2 day retreat) in mid-August, biweekly Resident Minister staff meetings, and a January Resident Minister retreat (weekend).

What qualities are you looking for in a Resident Minister?

• Understanding of and commitment to Santa Clara’s Jesuit mission and values
• At least one year of ministry experience, broadly defined
• Commitment to growing in one’s own religious and spiritual life and comfort in sharing one’s own religiosity and spirituality with students, staff, and faculty.
• Mature, ability to mentor students in practices of reflection, prayer, and discernment
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and an aptitude for dealing with confidential and sensitive issues
• Able to work independently and collaboratively
• Competency in inter-cultural, ecumenical, inter-faith, and justice issues.

What qualifies as ministry experience?

Some examples of ministry experience from our current Resident Ministers include: volunteer with Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC), group leader in a faith community, camp counselor, high school theology teacher.

What does an RM actually do?

Resident Ministers support undergraduate students through Reflection, Resourcing, Mentoring, and Modeling:

• Promoting Vocational Reflection in their Residential Learning Community, facilitating weekly small groups focused on the big questions of vocation, as well as an annual vocational discernment (DISCOVER) weekend retreat.
• Serving as a Resource for spiritual life activities in the Residential Learning Community, on campus, and in the surrounding area, as well as a resource for campus referrals (e.g. the counseling center, career center)
• Mentoring Students in matters related to spirituality, discernment, and care of the whole person through regular hospitality hours in their Residential Learning Community and active participation in Residential Learning Community life
• Modeling Jesuit and Ignatian Values, especially through their own practices of spirituality, and their commitment to a faith that does justice in the world

What is a Residential Learning Community?

Residential Learning Communities (RLCs) are at the heart of Santa Clara’s undergraduate experience. The RLC helps students to connect, a) with their peers, faculty, and staff in and outside of class; b) with student programs and organizations; and c) with the Santa Clara community at large. By combining students’ living and learning experiences, RLCs are integral to Santa Clara’s goal to “educate the whole person”—academically, socially, and spiritually. Privileged to live and serve in that exciting environment, Resident Ministers are a voice and support for vocation and spirituality in the RLCs. For more complete information, see www.scu.edu/rlc.

With whom do Resident Ministers work in the RLCs?

On a day-to-day basis, RLC leadership teams are Resident Ministers’ significant partners. The RLC’s Faculty Director, Resident Director (and/or Assistant Resident Director), and Resident Minister are ultimately responsible for the vision and implementation of the Residential Learning Community and its programs. Resident Ministers also work closely with the student staff, which includes Community Facilitators and Assistant Resident Directors. Outside the individual RLC, Resident Ministers work together with fellow Resident Ministers and with Campus Ministers to share resources, connect students with campus programs, and support campus-wide initiatives in vocation and spirituality.

Who do Resident Ministers report to?

Resident Ministers report to the Director of Resident Ministry, thus working closely with both Campus Ministry and Residence Life departments.

Where do Resident Ministers live?

Resident Ministers live in the residence halls among the students’ rooms, to optimize opportunities for interaction. While the apartments vary with the residence halls in terms of age and layout, most are 1-bedroom apartments of about 500 or more square feet, including kitchens and private bathrooms. Like other live-in staff and faculty, Resident Ministers are allowed to have pets, within the boundaries of Santa Clara’s pet policy. Resident Ministers are asked to move in by August 15^th.

What are the official job description and qualifications for a Resident Minister?

The job description below is a copy of the the official Resident Minister job description posted on the Santa Clara Human Resources website:

I. General Information

1. Promoting Vocational Reflection in the Residential Learning Community
2. Serving as a Resource for the Spiritual, Personal, Social, and Intellectual Life of the Residential Learning Community
3. Mentoring Students within the Residential Learning Community
4. Modeling Jesuit and Ignatian Values within the Residential Learning Community

III. Duties include but are not limited to:

1. Promoting Vocational Reflection in the Residential Learning Community
   
   
   1. Organizing and facilitating a weekly student small group focused on vocation
   2. Serving as a staff leader for the annual DISCOVER vocation weekend retreat
   3. Supporting students in the integration of their gifts, personal interests, course of study, and extra-curricular activities as they discern vocational choices for employment, relationships, and other commitments
      
      
2. Serving as a Resource for the Spiritual, Personal, Social, and Intellectual Life of the Residential Learning Community
   
   
   1. Providing monthly prayer and reflection opportunities for students in the Residential Learning Community such as worship, meditation, and/or faith sharing
   2. Serving as a contact person, connecting students with the spiritual and religious life offerings available on campus and in the surrounding area
   3. Referring students with particular interests or concerns to the appropriate campus resources such as the Counseling Center, Career Center, Ignatian Center, etc.
   4. Attending weekly leadership team and staff meetings within the Residential Learning Community, as well as biweekly Resident Ministry meetings and biannual Resident Ministry retreats and trainings

3. Mentoring Students within the Residential Learning Community
   
   
   1. Providing regular hospitality hours once a week, being available to students especially in matters related to spirituality, discernment, and care of the whole person
   2. Participating regularly in student social and co-curricular activities within the Residential Learning Communities, supporting students in using their gifts for the betterment of the community.
   3. Offering pastoral care to students, faculty, and staff within the Residential Learning Community.

4. Modeling Jesuit and Ignatian Values within the Residential Learning Community
   
   
   1. Seeking to foster care for the whole person by making visible a regular commitment to one’s own spiritual, personal, social, and intellectual growth.
   2. Seeking to live a faith that does justice by encouraging students to participate in immersion trips and urban plunges and to offer their gifts for the betterment of the community.
   3. Seeking to see God in all things by inviting students to engage a world marked with great promise and great suffering by serving others, especially those most in need.

IV.  Qualifications 

1. Bachelor’s Degree required, MA preferred
2. Santa Clara University affiliation as a degree-seeking graduate student, faculty member, or staff member
3. One year experience in active ministry (e.g. volunteer with Jesuit Volunteer Corps (JVC), group leader or youth leader in a faith community, etc.)
4. Commitment to growing in one’s own religious and spiritual life and comfort in sharing one’s own religiosity and spirituality with students, staff, and faculty.
5. Mature, ability to mentor students in practices of reflection, prayer, and discernment
6. Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
7. Demonstrated interpersonal skills and an aptitude for dealing with confidential and sensitive issues
8. Able to work independently and collaboratively
9. Competency in inter-cultural, ecumenical, inter-faith, and justice issues.
10. Understanding of and commitment to a Jesuit, Catholic University mission.