STUDENTS FOR COMMUNITY SAFETY DIVISION:
RESIDENTIAL SECURITY AIDE PROGRAM

Welcome to the Residential Security Aide Program (RSP). As the three-time recipient of the Student Employer of the Year awards, we remain committed to continuous improvement, and the needs of our staff and our constituents. The Department of Public Safety (DPS) assumed responsibility for the RSP in August of 1998 and has since enhanced the program. Overall, the RSP has proven an integral component of the DPS. Together, with the DPS, the RSP remains committed to enriching safety and security services for our University community.

A Message for student residents

The RSP is comprised of several essential alliances. First and foremost are our student residents. As members of our community, student residents have a significant responsibility serving as our eyes and ears, recognizing and reporting suspicious, illegal, or unauthorized activity in our residence halls. In this role, student residents become critical to the safety and security of the members of our community since they know best who belongs in the residence halls, and who or what looks out of place.

All residence halls are equipped with automated card access systems. When an individual is authorized in a residence hall they will have an identification card that, with the correct colored sticker on it, will allow them access. Unauthorized individuals in the residence halls can threaten the safety and security of all student residents. All residents can assist us in keeping our residence halls safer when they avoid holding doors to allow others to enter. It's that simple.

Who we are, What we do, How we do it

Student employees comprise the majority of the program, serving as Residential Security Aides (RSAs). RSAs supplement the University's Card Access System which is used in Syracuse University's residence halls.

RSAs are stationed at residence hall points of entry daily from 8:00 PM until 7:00 AM, creating a non-hostile presence of authority. All RSAs wear a distinct uniform and are equipped with a portable radio that allows them to contact the DPS when they are in need of assistance.

The primary responsibility of the RSA is to monitor and control access into the residence hall. RSAs accomplish this important task by checking the identifications of all persons entering the facilities, and signing in visitors and guests who are escorted by a resident of the hall.

Supervision

The DPS has dedicated 5 staff members to provide student employees with leadership, support, and guidance. The RSP Professional Staff is as follows:

The RSP Operations Manager provides leadership to the students and professional staff members of the program. The Operations Manager is also responsible for the daily operations of the program including scheduling, discipline, and liaison with the Office of Residence Life (ORL) professionals.

The Program Administrator provides administrative support such as payroll processing, assistance with Federal Work-Study grant information, and scheduling information.

The Residential Security Area Coordinators are Peace Officers who supervise RSAs and provide liaison with ORL representatives. These three officers serve as primary contacts for questions that arise during the RSAs tour of duty.

Finally, Peace Officers assigned to the Patrol Section of the DPS also provide support for RSAs. These officers routinely patrol the residence halls and respond to incidents within the halls.

Training

The members of the DPS recognize the important role of the RSA and as you can see, we have established a number of support mechanisms for our student employees. The RSP provides RSAs with in-depth training to help them learn how to perform their duties and responsibilities in a professional, effective, and efficient manner.

All new student employees must participate in an 8-hour mandatory pre-assignment training session before working as a RSA. The pre-assignment training curriculum includes topics such as conflict mediation and resolution, the role and responsibility of a RSA, as well as several other essential areas that serve to support RSAs in their mission.

Finally, new RSAs are required to participate in a mandatory 2 hour "on post" training session with an experienced RSA before they are enabled to work independently. Similarly, returning RSA's are required to attend a 4-hour in-service "refresher" training session at a designated time during the academic year.

Mission of the Residential Security Program

The Residential Security Program is committed to controlling access to all Campus residence halls during designated hours. Residential Security Aides are responsible for observing, detecting, and reporting suspicious, unlawful, or unauthorized activity in and around residence hall entryways.

The Residential Security Program accomplishes this mission by effecting a non-hostile, authoritative presence in an effort to deter criminal activity, disorder, and the fear of crime in residence halls. This approach involves identifying potential crime hazards and taking necessary preventative measures to remove those risks from our community.

The Residential Security Program is committed to providing fair and equitable treatment for all residents and visitors, and we hold ourselves accountable to the standards of CPR: Courtesy, Professionalism, and Respect.

Vision of the Residential Security Program

The Residential Security Program is committed to providing lifelong skills through learning and leadership opportunities. Together, with the Department of Public Safety, we encourage individual personal growth by offering continuous support and guidance for all Residential Security Program members.

The success of the program focuses on three areas: training, supervision, and adequate staffing for all Campus residence halls. Since these three areas remain instrumental to the program's ability to achieve excellence, we will actively pursue strategies for continuous improvement in each area.

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Department of Public Safety. Syracuse University,  Syracuse, NY 13244.