College Houses - Hostelling Coordinator

Co-op / Organization: 
College Houses
Location: 
Austin, TX
Type of Organization: 
Housing
Brief Description of Organization: 
College Houses is a non-profit student housing cooperative owned and managed by its student residents.
 
The original College House was formed in 1964 as a student government project with help from a sustaining grant by the Hogg Foundation. The purpose was to create a housing facility for University students with many of the features of a residential college. College Houses was to have the convenience of a dormitory with a rich program of intellectual activities.
 
In many ways, the College House organization worked well for a number of years. College House was known as a place where discussions were held between students, faculty, and community people. We had a resident faculty professor and his family lived with us from the years 1964 to 1972. During the 60’s, we had a very diverse community and it became known as a gathering place for radicals even though we had people on both sides of the radical/conservative fence.
 
Until 1969, we continued the original system of having an outside business provide the housing and food services. Costs for housing and food were climbing and we needed a cheaper alternative. As we gradually increased our own work load to run the house, the academic orientation lost some of its focus. In 1973, with a HUD loan, we purchased our first two buildings and built the 21st St. facility. In 1983 we added the last two.
 
Since 1964, College Houses membership has grown tremendously. What began as an experiment for a small number of student scholars to interact with faculty and staff has evolved into a housing cooperative that seeks to provide a unique living experience for its 532 members at the most affordable price. We have survived the Austin real estate ups and downs and now have a strong cooperative community providing every necessity for the college student in an environment that the members control and enjoy.
Website: 
http://collegehouses.org/
Number of Members: 
400
Number of Staff: 
6
Dress Code: 
Casual
Internship Position Title: 
Hostelling Coordinator
Internship Position Duties: 

The Hostelling Coordinator will be responsible for marketing our hostelling rooms, communicating with potential and current hostellers, completing paperwork and criminal background checks for potential hostellers, checking people in and out of rooms, preparing and cleaning rooms on an ongoing basis, laundering linens and towels on a regular basis, purchasing travel toiletries to provide to hostellers, taking payments, managing our online presence, managing HOT tax requirements, and other duties as they arise pertaining to the hostelling program.

Position Training: 
On staff, the Membership & Development Director and the Administrative Coordinator will train the intern. The Hostelling Coordinator will work with house officers from each co-op that will be participating in the hostelling program to gain a greater knowledge of the house culture, rules and desires for their hostelling program.
 
The first week of the internship will be training and preparation for the position in our administrative officer. From that point, staff and officers will be available for training when necessary or desired.
Skills Development & Learning: 

The Hosteling Coordinator will develop their ability to work independently, while still communicating with and working in concert with a variety of stakeholders (staff, members, officers, and hostellers). Additionally, marketing muscles will be flexed and attention to detail will be exercised.

Other details of working conditions: 
Will mostly be working at our houses, but will have some time in our administrative office each week.
Compensation ($): 
The intern will earn 15% of total cost per traveler per night. Single occupancy room and board valued between $1,220- $1,585. Wages payable bi-weekly.
Is Room Included?: 
Yes
Working Hours: 
Our office is opened from 10:00 am- 6:00 pm Monday-Friday. This position requires flexibility in scheduling.
Total Hours of Work Per Week: 
Will vary throughout the summer depending on the number of travelers. We estimate between 25-40 hours each week.