Resident Assistant

Note that detailed duties and expectations are outlined in the Resident Assistant Appointment Agreement and other personnel documents. However, the following outline the general responsibilities for all RAs.

• Foster a welcoming and inclusive community within assigned residential community.
• Serve as a mentor and resource for residents, offering guidance and support.
• Plan and implement engaging social and educational programs.
• Enforce residence life policies, address, and report policy violations in accordance with staff training.
• Participate in duty rotation for assigned residential community.
• Serve as a liaison between residents and campus resources, advocating for their needs.
• Maintain open communication with residents, staff, and supervisors.
• Participate in ongoing training and development opportunities.
• Demonstrate professionalism and leadership in all interactions with residents and staff.

Students must meet the following criteria at the time of hire and maintain them throughout their employment to be eligible for the RA role.

• Has lived in University housing for at least 1 semester.
• A 2.5 cumulative GPA and a prior semester GPA of 2.0.
• Not on conduct probation or deferred suspension.
• Must complete the housing application for the appropriate academic term.
• Successfully complete a criminal background check at the time of hire.

• Room and board scholarship to cover housing and meal plan costs for assigned residential community.
• Stipend for break duty service during university closures.
• Ongoing development and leadership opportunities.
• Additional department employment opportunities. 

1. When does RA Training begin and how long is it?
   RAs return to campus in early August and typically undergo approximately two full weeks (including weekends) of training prior to move-in. Training is extensive and there will be things planned all day during those two weeks. All meals are provided. January’s training is briefer, with RAs returning to campus a few days prior to move-in for refresher sessions and time to prepare the halls for opening.
2. Do I get to choose which building I become an RA in?
   No. If you are hired to be on staff, you will be placed in the best community and staff for your strengths. Students who have preexisting housing accommodations from the Center for Accessibility Services will be accommodated.
3. How often will I need to go through training?
   Our most extensive training session occurs in August. We also have a refresher training for a few days in January. 
4. What kind of training will I receive after being hired?
   Resident Assistants are trained in a variety of different areas because they will have to respond to a variety of human behavior in the residence halls. Some of the topic areas include: conflict mediation, programming requirements, facilities and fire safety, leadership development, interpersonal violence response, safe zone training, suicide prevention, & crisis response. 
5. Can I still be involved with other organizations while being an RA?
   Yes, as long as the other organizations do not monopolize your time. RAs should prioritize their academic commitments first, then the RA position, then everything else.
6. Can I still be hired even if I’m not artsy and crafty?
   Absolutely! RAs come from all different majors and backgrounds. Bulletin boards, door decorations, and creative program advertisements are important parts of the job but there is more to creativity than just being crafty.
7. What kind of support structure and help with problems will I have after I am hired?
   One of the best support structures will be the rest of your RA staff team. Many RAs like to ask the other RAs on their staff for advice. In addition, you have your supervisor, the Resident Director. RDs can help you navigate difficult issues on your floor; additionally, RDs have a duty rotation so you can call when something happens on duty that you need help with.
8. Will I have a roommate?
   RA roommates are assigned depending based on our occupancy numbers for the fall semester. While RA roommates are intended to be temporary, we recommend planning to be assigned a roommate. RAs in University Apartments will have apartment-mates for the entire year.
9. Can I work another job while being an RA?
   As long as your RD approves it you can have outside employment. There are restrictions on the number of hours you can work and are not permitted to work overnight shifts. Additionally, there are limitations in terms of work study jobs or other on-campus employment. As with involvement in student organizations, we still expect for academics to be the first priority, followed by the RA position, followed by everything else including outside employment.
10. How many meetings will I have each week?
    Every week can be different in residence life. You may have a couple of roommate mediations or a program planning meeting with your staff. Each week you should be having a staff meeting and a one-on-one meeting with your supervisor.
11. How often am I on-call?
    On most staff teams, you will be on-call once or twice per week. There is usually flexibility at the beginning of the semester when you create your duty schedule to plan around important events.
12. I am interested in becoming an RA but I’m nervous about writing people up and getting them into trouble.
    RAs are responsible for assisting with policy enforcement and must address what they come across. Students are able to make their own choices and when a student violates a policy, RAs are responsible for documenting those situations. RAs do not charge students with conduct sanctions. All incoming staff will receive training on confronting policy violations and will have the opportunity to practice those skills during August training.