SA: Campus Life Equity & Inclusion Peer Advisor (S99866)

Summary, Scope, and Responsibilities

Campus Life Equity & Inclusion Peer Advisors serve as a trusted resource for students engaged with BCSG-recognized clubs and Campus Life supported organizations. Their primary role is to serve as advisors and consultants on issues relating to equity and inclusion, including but not limited to, creating and sustaining inclusive environments, ensuring consistency in club/org constitutions across the college, club/org structure, and leadership selection and development, including leader election or selection processes. Each Equity & Inclusion Peer Advisor has a cohort of approximately 15 clubs to which they are assigned.

Leadership Development

Campus Life embeds the Bates Leads Framework into its student leadership and employment positions. The following competencies are most relevant to this position:

Consciousness of Self & Impact: Awareness of one’s beliefs, values, attitudes, and emotions; recognition that these are shaped by cultural context and other external forces. Self-awareness, including one’s inherited and positional power and privilege. Awareness of one’s impact on individuals and community, recognizing the impact of each action and inaction

  • Peer Advisors will be most successful if they know their own strengths and social positionality, and work to understand the strengths and social positionality of the club/org leaders they work with.

Commitment: The passion, energy, creativity, and follow-through one brings to ideas, pursuits, and collective goals.

  • This position involves a high level of responsibility, and requires creative thinking. Campus Life professional staff can guide and support Peer Advisors, but it is ultimately up to each Peer Advisor to manage their day-to-day workload, including coordinating meetings with club/org advisees and completing research assignments. 

Collaboration: Working reciprocally with others. Working across differences to achieve a shared goal. Bringing multiple perspectives, diverse experiences, and individual creativity to bear on a pursuit.

  • This position requires working with a diverse array of advisees, and identifying ways to collaborate is essential for success in the role.

Controversy: Acknowledging conflict, controversy, and dissent as opportunities for new insight, or new direction or deeper relationships. Disagreeing with others in a spirit of curiosity and learning. Disagreeing or dissenting from the norm without dehumanizing others.

  • This position engages with topic matter in which there is frequent controversy. Individuals in this role will learn strategies on how to educate about and be a resource for what may be considered controversial topics.

The Basics


Department:Student Affairs
Supervisor: Nick Dressler
Office Location: Chase Hall 108
Email: ndressle@bates.edu
Hours: 4
Workers: 4

Qualifications, Requirements, and Responsibilities

Responsibilities


Attending weekly peer advisor meetings, typically 60 to 90 minutes in length. Completing research assignments in between weekly meetings as necessary. Meeting at least once per semester with assigned clubs/orgs. Proactively seeking out information and education on topics one is unfamiliar with in order to have knowledge that can be applied to the work. Leading or co-leading workshops as part of an in-development leadership curriculum incorporating the tenets of the Bates Leads leadership structure, and grounded in equity, inclusion, social justice, and anti-racism. Making recommendations to Campus Life about systemic issues to be addressed, and collaborating with Campus Life staff on the best ways to implement changes.

Requirements


All class years are welcome to apply, but for this hiring cycle, Campus Life is looking for representation specifically from the class of 2026. It is preferred that applicants have experience in a student club or organization and/or a student employee position related to Campus Life (CAT, VCS, Ronj, etc.). Must be passionate and knowledgeable about social justice issues, both generally and at Bates specifically. Must be organized, responsible, personable, enthusiastic and able to work well with others. Must be able and willing to work with a diverse group of students and staff. Must be able to respond to communications (predominantly via email) in a timely manner (no more than 24 hours except under special circumstances). Should have an exceptional ability to multitask and engage in time management. Must be able to adhere to established project deadlines. Should be comfortable speaking in front of large groups, both in person and on video calls. Should have an awareness of Bates social life, and an interest in events and programming.

Reporting


The student employees will report to Campus Life staff. They will work closely with the other students hired. They may also contact other students to gather information in relation to the curriculum.

Working Conditions


The students will be expected to meet as a group weekly, though the nature of this job requires independent work outside of an office setting. Students must also be able to work remotely and independently in a timely, efficient manner.