POTSDAM -- SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Canton have created a shared graduate residence director position.

SUNY Potsdam graduate student Andrew Metz is working as a residence hall director at SUNY Canton to help pay his college costs. Metz is in his final semester of graduate level study in theater education and elementary education.

Metz is the first in this position and oversees Heritage Residence Hall. SUNY Canton will be considering other applicants as vacancies become available in the college's other four residence halls.

"This is the first time SUNY Canton has been able to hire a grad student for this position," said Molly Mott, SUNY Canton's vice president for student affairs. "The new position is filling a full-time vacancy and will create substantial savings for Canton while offering Andrew the opportunity to work while completing his coursework."

Metz will be working for his room and board, his tuition for up to nine SUNY graduate level credit hours, and a stipend.

"This is a win-win for everyone: our new GRD gets to go to graduate school for free, gain work experience and earn a living. SUNY Canton saves substantially while working with its partner college," said John Kennedy, director of residence life.

The position is one of several partnerships to share services forming between the student affairs divisions at both colleges.

"We have developed a great working relationship with Potsdam and look forward to collaborating with them as we work to find ways to become more effective and efficient," Kennedy said.

SUNY Potsdam's residence life office hosted a shared training session for all of the professional residence hall staff members. Both colleges are also planning to share a guest speaker as a part of resident assistant training for the fall.