<Back

High RLC turnover actually a myth

by Brian Perbix

At times, Grinnell’s Residence Life Coordinator apartments seem to have revolving doors. The RLC’s go in one year and come right back out the next.

In the past two years, seven RLC’s have left: Don Weston, Mandy Fox, Amy Kuiper and Tim Bosler in 2004, and Jennifer Cobb, Travis Wilson and Lucy Hubble in 2005.

It might appear that Grinnell’s Office of Student Affairs is having a problem retaining its Residence Life Coordinators. Student Affairs staff and current RLC’s insist that this is not the case.

“RLC turnover is no different than it’s ever been,” says Tom Crady, vice-president of Student Affairs. “If anything, they have stayed on a bit longer, on average, in recent years.”

Cobb and Hubble were the only RLC’s to stay for fewer than two years.

At the beginning of the 2004 school year, when four new RLC’s were hired to replace those who had left, Student Affairs began to emphasize a new three-year rule. This came after two RLC’s, Weston and Fox, left after a four-year tenure, the limit is intended to ensure that RLC’s do not burn out.

The RLC position is an entry-level job that usually leads to upper level positions in Student Affairs or other departments within three years. Generally, RLC’s will move on to be assistant deans of student life, area coordinators or other positions that do not involve living with students.

Grinnell RLC’s are salaried at $24,000 a year. According to Sheree Andrews, they also receive free rooms, 14 meals a week free in the dining halls, free laundry, professional experience and academic advising for those who plan to return to school.

“Overall [there is] generally a lack of understanding of what our jobs are like at other places and how staying for one to two years is actually the norm,” Stephanie Masta, RLC for Cowles, Norris and Dibble said. “Staying for three years is really the exception.”

As for those who only stay on for a year at Grinnell, Clark, Langan, Gates and Rawson RLC LeAnne Jones said, ”when people leave, it’s often [that Grinnell is] just not a good fit.”

While reasons for early departure vary from person to person, Crady stresses that Grinnell RLC’s are probably sought out more frequently than on other campuses, citing self-governance as a major factor.

“It’s a high stress job,” Crady said. “Basically, you live in a fishbowl.”

<Back