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The Resident Advisor position is designed to provide a trained staff member to help build, develop and maintain a unique community for the students living in the residence halls and houses. The RA does this by providing support, programs and leadership opportunities for the residents of that community. Each staff member is there to assist in maintaining a peaceful learning environment and to promote social interaction and understanding. Each RA has a floor, section, wing, or house for which they are responsible. The RA serves as an information resource for the Department and campus. The RA position is also responsible for reporting maintenance concerns to the appropriate department and keeping up-to-date records on all maintenance requests.
Minimum Expectations:
Availability
You are expected to get to know your residents on a first-name basis and be available for them on a regular basis.
Three out of five week nights (Sunday - Thursday) and two out of four weekends (Friday and Saturday) each month you are required to spend the night in your room. "Night" begins at midnight Sunday - Thursday and 1:00 A.M. Friday and Saturday. Nights Out are limited to only half the staff each night. In other words, there must be half the staff staying in the building each night. There will be no nights out allowed during finals week.
Extracurricular Activities
Limit extracurricular activities. The RA position is to be the principal, non-academic activity. Outside activities should be strictly limited for the duration of employment by the department. No new commitments may be added during the first semester as an RA. This may include, but is not limited to, pledging or participating in the recruitment process for a social, service, or professional fraternity or sorority; holding an executive officer position in an organization; or any other extended commitment. After the first semester of employment as an RA, such commitments may only be added with the approval of both your Resident Manager and the appropriate Area Coordinator. At no point during employment will an RA be allowed to participate in the sorority/fraternity recruitment process or act as Recruitment Counselors during Fall Training. Each semester you are required to complete a commitment form, which is a formal listing of all extracurricular departmental activities that you will be participating in for that semester. It is vital that this document accurately portray your non-job related activities and therefore should be updated and amended as needed. Additions to your commitments will be made only after consultation with the appropriate Area Coordinator. All approvals must be renewed at the beginning of each semester. Continued approval is contingent upon satisfactory job performance. The Department of Residence Life reserves the right to limit or restrict approval of participation in any organization at any time during employment as a staff member.
Outside Employment
Resident Advisors are not allowed to have second jobs their first semester of employment. Approval may be given after the first semester is completed with certain restrictions.
Sorority Related
Staff members for sorority houses may be selected directly from the membership of the group: prior experience as a Resident Advisor is not required. However a candidate for a sorority house must have resided in a residence hall or house for at least two semesters, with at least one of these in a sorority house. Staff may not hold an officer position during time of employment. Other minimum job requirements apply.
Confidentiality
All information you have regarding the department, staff or residents must remain confidential. Information should be documented and communicated to the RM immediately. Inform the resident who provides you with the information of the channels that must be followed in the communication chain. The RM must be informed of all situations. Information should not be passed from staff member to staff member without the consent of the RM. Breaking confidentiality may result in dismissal.
Staff Duty
Each staff member is required to participate in the duty system for his or her complex / area as prescribed by the RM.
Internships, Student Teaching, Methods
Department staff cannot maintain their position and participate in an internship or student teaching. A staff member cannot maintain his / her position and be enrolled in education methods.
Office Hours
Resident Advisors in large halls are required to hold 2 hours of office hours per week, while resident advisors in small houses are required to hold 1 hour office hours per day.
Training
Report to work early for both Fall and Spring semester training. Failure to attend part or all of training will result in immediate termination.
Reassignment
Your full cooperation is expected when being assigned or re-assigned to any location. All placement is dependent upon the needs of the department and is arranged by the Resident Managers in cooperation with the Area Coordinators and the Assistant Director for Residence Life Operations.
RA Selection Process
All staff members are required to participate in the RA selection process which is held once in the Spring semester. Your RM will provide you with further information as the event nears. Participation is mandatory.
Role-modeling
At all times whether on duty or not, you must be aware of the impact you have on residents and non-residents, on and off campus. You are seen as a leader on and off campus and must maintain that role. You are expected to confront negative comments or behavior anywhere you may be. Once someone loses respect for you it is difficult to regain. Attending classes and obeying policies and laws are part of role modeling.
All state and federal laws, as well as all university policies set forth in the Residence Halls Handbook are to be followed and enforced at all times. Failure to follow laws and policies will result in disciplinary action taken by the Department of Residence Life or termination.
Room Expectations
The department, as part of your compensation package, provides your room. Your room may be used at times for meetings with students and should be welcoming to your residents. Your room is to be kept neat and clean at all times. Remember when decorating your room that your residents' diversity needs to be respected. During non-visitation hours, using your room for business purposes with residents of the opposite sex of your building/complex should only occur when other public locations are not available (i.e., office, lobby, etc.). When your room must be used, documentation is required and must be given to your RM. This will assure prompt and accurate responses to any questions or accusations that might be raised by other residents who have questions or comments about the situation they do not fully understand.
No guests of the opposite sex should be in your room during non-visitation hours. Nor should you be in the room of a member of the opposite sex during non-visitation hours. Breaking this expectation is grounds for immediate dismissal.
Staff Meetings
Each RA is expected to be on time to each staff meeting, fully prepared to work and to stay until the RM closes the meeting. Bring a pen, paper, calendar, etc. with you. Each RM will establish a time to meet and the duration of that meeting. Your attendance is required.
Incident Report / Documentation
You are expected to be detailed and organized. Each RA will be responsible for documenting incidents in a timely manner. Your reports must meet strict guidelines. Reports that do not meet these strict guidelines will need to be corrected immediately.
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