What is it like being a Commuter Assistant?
The Commuter Assistant (CA, also formerly known as Community Ambassador) position is a fairly new role and has been established for roughly 2-3 years on the UMass Boston (UMB) campus. I wouldn’t say there is only one way to define what being a CA is like, so I’ll try my best to describe this role in the way that I have perceived it over the last few years. Generally, I believe everyone on campus can be a CA because we are representing the UMB community in one way or another, the main difference is that this is a job for me and there are certain responsibilities that I need to take on outside of my class time.
First, CAs are responsible for helpng students as they search for roommates and apartments. CAs also assist in coordinating events for off-campus and commuter students for educational and campus involvement purposes. It can be easy and hard at the same time. Easy, in a sense, because I am also a student on campus, an upperclassman especially, therefore, I can understand what off-campus and commuter students at UMB are looking for in an event. Due to my other experiences with student clubs and organizations on campus such as the International Professional Business Fraternity Delta Sigma Pi, Women In Business, and the Global Student Success Program; I can tailor the events in the way that students from those groups have shown interest or done similar things. However, it can be a struggle due to the changing demographics at UMB as a new class of 1st-year students comes in every summer. I must admit that my interaction with them is very limited which can be a huge drawback because my events might not be in the new students’ interests which eventually might leave them out.
As a CA, I try to keep in mind the inclusion factor when I am helping students and putting an event together but it can be challenging because you can’t always have a one-size-fits-all event and you will eventually reach the conclusion that there is always a group of students being left out. Learning the information is important so I can share information accurately with students and family members. I attempt to plan a workshop series on different dates and times of the week, one in the morning, one in the afternoon, etc., for students who have more time and would like to learn more about finding housing in a more formal way. Mixing it up and diversifying what we offer helps me target different needs.
Second, I must also maintain my role as a student leader whether I’m on or off duty as a CA. I’m not just talking about getting a 4.0 GPA and being involved in everything on campus but also maintaining professional behavior whether I’m working or not. Not only will little things like showing up to classes/work early, paying attention in class/during meetings, and taking notes to help display a professional image as a CA for the office of Off-Campus Living. but they will also benefit individuals once they begin to work full-time. Getting into the habit of being professional gives off the impression that even though CAs are students, we are also working professionals on campus and we are wholeheartedly dedicated to this job along with what we do for our students.
Third, as a CA, I think you must show a great amount of care and interest in bettering the UMB community in general. Otherwise, it will be very difficult to stay in this role. A lot of times, this job requires you to have a great amount of knowledge in terms of the resources on campus, the neighborhoods in Boston, general advice regarding conflict situations between landlords and tenants as well as the tenant to tenant, etc. The experiences can come from personal encounters but a majority of them require some research in order to do this role well because students can come up to you with all sorts of questions. Sometimes they are unsure of what they are looking for. Hence, the more I know about general Off-Campus living issues the better I can advise students with their needs. In addition, I believe it’s also beneficial for me as a student to brush up on my knowledge of the resources on campus so that I can better prepare myself if I am ever in need of anything.
To sum up, there are lots of requirements for this role but it’s also very rewarding knowing that you can fulfill all of them. I’d say my role as a student does assist my growth as a CA and vice versa. I learn a lot more about my campus and meet up with people that truly enhance my student experiences and involvement on campus. I tend to view myself, still, as a normal student at UMB who would like to step up and learn more about resources that I can share with my fellow colleagues and promote opportunities that perhaps might be in their best interests. We, as CAs, are still your normal fellow classmates walking amongst you hoping to assist you with your daily concerns. So–just come up and say hi whenever you can!
Meet your CA’s here: About Us & Contact Info – UMass Boston (umb.edu)