La Roche Student in Residence Program

JOB DESCRIPTION

Vincentian Collaborative System is seeking energetic, mature, outgoing, and compassionate students for a unique opportunity to live and volunteer with seniors at a brand-new independent living community.  Terrace Place at Vincentian, located across the street from UPMC Passavant Hospital, opened in April 2019.  This 91-unit apartment community for seniors aged 55+ is technology-forward and experience-driven. Students who are accepted to the program will commit to living in a Terrace Place apartment with another program student for one academic year (August 2024 – May 2025) and volunteer for a minimum of 4-6 resident-facing hours per week in exchange for room and board (all major utilities included).  This groundbreaking intergenerational program, the first of its kind in the area, offers students unparalleled experiences and mentorship that will last a lifetime and serve as a stepping stone to any number of careers.  Candidates are welcome from any major of study.  Successful candidates will be engaging, thoughtful, curious, and interested in making a difference on both a micro and macro level.  Join us in building the new frontier of senior living!

Check out www.terraceplace.org to see the beautiful community and apartment that you could call home.  Visit http://northernconnectionmag.com/senior-living-just-got-smarter/ to learn more about how Terrace Place at Vincentian was designed to set the innovation curve in Pittsburgh.

 

Scope of Volunteer Responsibilities:

• Engage with residents, families, and visitors daily – from a friendly two-minute hallway conversation to dedicated social time – be a welcoming community ambassador
• Assist management with planning and executing recreational, educational, and supportive programming for residents and families that address community needs and honor individual preferences
• On evenings and weekends take a community leadership role, spending more time with residents and increasing visibility in community areas
• Interact with potential residents, donors, vendors, media, etc. serving as a brand ambassador for the Terrace Place experience
• Proactively communicate and collaborate with management about any potential concerns, process improvement opportunities, or experience improvement ideas; develop resolution proposals and project plans if requested

 

Qualifications:

• Undergraduate or graduate student at La Roche
• Current GPA at least 2.5
• At least 2 years working, volunteer, and/or leadership experience (combined experience must equal at least 2 years)
• Ability to develop relationships with people, especially seniors (age 55+), from a variety of backgrounds while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries
• Ability to use discretion and independent judgment
• Interacts with others in an open, honest, collaborative, and reliable manner. Is visually and verbally articulate
• Able to lead interactive small group activities
• Able to utilize smart technology and provide education to residents and families as needed
• Ability to perform advanced functions in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), email, and electronic calendar management
• Ability and willingness to reside with another person

____________________________________________________________________________

APPLICATION

Personal Information:

• Name
• Permanent Address
• School year address
• Personal email
• College email
• Cell Phone Number
• Academic Standing as of Fall 2024
• Academic Major; Degree(s) Obtaining
• College Transcript (view all courses completed thus far and GPA)
• Expected Graduation Year
• Work and Volunteer History (create a table with room for multiple entries)
  • Position
  • Company/Organization
  • Dates Employed
  • Reason for Leaving
• How did you learn about this opportunity?
• Any previous knowledge or connection to the Vincentian Collaborative System organization?

 

Short Answer Questions:

What life experiences, leadership roles, or work/volunteer experiences do you have that you believe would make you an ideal candidate for the position of Student in Residence?

What three words would you use to describe the senior population? What are three ways in which you believe you can impact the quality of a senior’s life?

What ideas do you have for programs, activities, and outings to share with the seniors at Terrace Place? Which of these would you be most excited about leading?

 

Short Essay:

Please complete a short essay that includes responses to the following prompts:

• Why are you interested in this opportunity?
• What sets you apart from other potential applicants?
• What are some of the challenges you may anticipate encountering?
• If selected, how do you believe you can impact the lives of Terrace Place residents and their families?

 

References:

Please provide 3 references (no family members), at least 2 of which are professional (examples include from a job, volunteer or leadership position, professor, or teacher, etc.)

Reference #1

¨     Name, email, phone #

¨     Relationship to applicant (supervisor, colleague, teacher, etc.)

¨     How long you have known this reference (# of months and/or years)

Same for Reference #2 and #3

Applications are due on or before Friday, March 29th at 4:30 pm. Applicants who are selected for an interview will be notified by email and a meeting time will be arranged. For any questions related to the SIR program, or application, please email Kenna Embree at kembree@vcs.org.