Resident Assistant Job Description

All staff members are expected:

• to be responsible in his/her dealings with all persons -- other students, staff, faculty, and administrators
• to be available at all times, particularly to the residents of the hall
• to be present at all staff meetings, in-service or other gatherings or staff functions of a nature other than social
• to complete all job assignments
• to be ethical and professional in conduct, both on and off-campus
• to confront all persons about their conduct and responsibility to the overall community, as well as the segment they may be influencing
• to exhibit inter and intra-staff unity and consistency
• to maintain satisfactory academic standing
• to exemplify the values and philosophy of student development.

The responsibilities of a resident assistant are many and varied. The resident assistant’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Assist student in meeting their academic responsibilities:

• Challenge students to academic excellence and intellectual curiosity in every way possible.

Be aware of academic achievement through everyday contact with students. Know those who may have academic difficulty and refer them for assistance.     

• Help students, particularly freshmen, to develop effective study habits.
• Encourage discussion groups, seminars, or other programs within the living unit and hall that will broaden students’ educationally, culturally, and socially.
• Cooperate effectively with faculty, and especially the student’s faculty advisor.
• Be familiar with learning resource material, library, journals, films, audio-visual aids, etc., and encourage student use of supplementary learning aids.
• Be available as much as possible during evening hours in order to be of maximum help to students.
• Work with students and student officers to bring about a community responsibility for good study conditions in the hall.
• Take appropriate action when necessary for maintenance of good study conditions.

Know and assist individual students in developing personally and socially.

• Build rapport and become acquainted with each student within the hall.
• Attend campus cultural programs and encourage students to go along.
• Attend activities of the unit and hall.
• Attend floor and hall meetings.
• Participate in and encourage significant educational discussion groups in the living unit.
• Be available at regular times for assistance to students.

Learn to know strengths and weaknesses of those living in the unit.

• Take note of any students with special health problems.
• Observe general relationships among members of groups.
• Know students who are willing to accept responsibilities.
• Challenge students to evaluate and develop their own value systems.

Provide accurate information.

• Know and be able to explain the rationale supporting College and hall policies and regulations.
• Know campus and local service resources to which students may be referred.
• Be available to answer general questions.

Administrative responsibilities:

Prepare, maintain, and utilize various record forms as specified by the Student Life Office

• Class schedules
• Emergency information
• Fire drill reports
• Check in and check out forms    
• Room change requests
• Disciplinary reports
• Residence hall programming forms

General Operations

• When necessary, prepare staff reports on disciplinary situations and provide information about students that may be valuable and helpful.
• Be responsible for staff coverage in the residence unit.
• Assume “on-duty” responsibilities in the hall.
• Attend regular staff meetings.

Coordinate with the Student Development Office:

• Opening and closing of residence halls.
• Residence hall programming.
• Room changes and room requests.

Actively promote the development of a relationship between the living situation, and the on-going cultural, academic, and social life of the College.

• Promote programs and planning which articulate to the residents the traditional academic programs of the College.
• Promote programs that engage and enlarge the student’s aesthetic interests and understanding and those which raise the student’s social awareness and sense of responsibility.
• Work with hall councils, student association, the faculty and appropriate College agencies to provide adequate social, recreational and educational opportunities for all students who live in the residence halls.

Advise student groups.

Each RA will be called upon to assist with hall groups.  Effective advising implies at least the following:

• Know the organization and activities of the group.
• Communicate regularly with student officers.
• Attend all meetings and functions of the group.,
• Serve as resource person to help groups to examine and to evaluate their programs.         
• Encourage development of leadership - encourage development of programs.
• Assure continuity by keeping reports about major activities of the group in order that the next advisor can be informed.
• Identify about leadership potential and encourage students to participate in hall activities.

Assist in maintaining an atmosphere that is conducive to self-discipline.

• Assist in development of maturity in each student.
• Help students know and understand the community expectations and college regulations.
• Encourage student leaders to help enforce rules and regulations.
• Refer more severe disciplinary problems to Student Development Office.

Interpret administration to students and students to administration.

• Work with student government as well as individual students to develop effective communication to achieve this end.
• Educate administrators about students, their attitudes, values, and needs so that   communication can be improved and administrative policies and decisions can be made to best meet students needs.