Resident Assistant Selection Process

Whether it’s bonding over programs in the community lounge, addressing conduct issues, organizing floor dinners, or mediating roommate conflicts, our Residential Assistants are a key piece in creating the communities in the residence halls. They come from a wide range of sources (hall government, Greek students, and residents of the halls), and bring with them a unique set of experiences. Each year, Residential Life selects the staff members who will build our future communities through the Resident Assistant Selection Process (RASP).

Apply for the 24-25 RA Selection Process

 
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What is a Resident Assistant?

Resident Assistants (RAs) are student staff members who assist in the daily management of a community in the residence halls or apartments. They are usually the front line of assistance for students living in the residence halls, and work with Residential Life to ensure students' concerns are addressed.

In addition, RAs are often some of the first interactions students have and tend to be a driving force in our floor communities. Because of this, they are expected to help their residents with a variety of situations. Whether they're encouraging an academic environment and providing academic resources for residents, modeling healthy lifestyles and addressing concerns, or mentoring students during difficult situations/circumstances, RAs utilize a wide array of resources provided by Residential Life and other campus partners. 

In addition to their community responsibilities, RAs are also expected to attend weekly staff meetings, weekly supervisor meetings, attend Fall and Winter training sessions, participate in duty rounds, participate in ongoing staff training, and work a minimum of 4 hours at the desk weekly. 

Check out the RA Job Description for a full look at the positions duties and responsibilities.

RA Position Requirements

Note: Candidates must meet these requirements by Fall 2024. If you are a current full-time first year student living in a residence hall, you can still apply. 

  • Lived in a campus-approved community-style housing option (residence hall, Greek housing, Christian Campus House) for at least two semesters by the start of the Fall 2024 semester.
  • Achieved sophomore status, or the equivalence of two semesters of academic work.
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 2.4, which must be maintained while employed as an RA.  
  • Maintain enrollment as a full-time student while employed as an RA. 


When are GPAs checked?

  • GPAs are checked as soon as possible following the end of the Fall semester. We base our GPA requirements off of the Fall Semester cumulative GPA.

Does it have to be a 2.4 cumulative GPA?

  • Yes. We will not allow anyone who has below a 2.4 cumulative GPA to join staff. 

Do we make exceptions? 

  • No. Unfortunately, due to the overwhelming number of students who do meet our GPA requirements, we do not make exceptions for students. This is because students who are struggling academically prior to being hired are likely going to continue to struggle with the added responsibility of being an RA. Our goal is to be supportive of students and their academic mission at the university, and as such they need to be in a place where they can succeed both in their coursework as well as in the RA position.

RA Selection Process: What to Expect

Application Information

When are applications due?

  • November 13th, 2022 at 8:00am.

Where can I find the application?

What other materials are needed for the application?

  • You will need to provide contact information for two references, one from within Residential Life (or Greek Life) and an external reference (i.e. a past employer), a resume, and a cover letter. You will also need to attend the group process on December 2nd, 2023 between 12pm and 6pm, as well as schedule a final interview the week of December 4th.

How are candidates' scores determined? 

  • Candidate scores are broken down into 30% application, 45% RASP Group Process scores, and 25% Professional Staff Interview. 

Group Process & Interview

What is the Group Process?

  • You will be placed in random groups and participate in activities designed to test the skills needed to be an RA. RAs are expected to be flexible and fast problem solvers, so we can’t tell you exactly what to expect.

When is the Group Process?

  • December 2nd, between 12pm and 6pm. Attendance at the group process is required.

When should I arrive?

  • We typically ask candidates to arrive for check-in around thirty minutes prior to their scheduled time to get their name tags, sorted into their groups, and give a quick introduction. Candidates will be told the exact time they should plan to arrive prior to the night of, so it’s important for them to check their emails.

What should I do to prepare?

  • Outside of the typical “Be yourself” and “Don’t be nervous” advice, candidates should know to wear comfortable shoes as they will be moving around, to dress professionally, and to try to bring a pen or other writing utensil with them just in case. You might also want to get some helpful tips for interviewing by reaching out to COER.

When do I schedule my Professional Staff Interview?

  • During group processing, one of the stations will be a scheduling station. At that time, you'll know exactly who your interview will be with, and where the interview will take place.

Mid-Year Staff Positions

Often in the fall, some student staff may need to step down from their position. In the event that a student staff member needs to step down, Residential Life will fill their position with a mid-year hire from the RASP candidate pool.

As part of their application, candidates are asked if they are interested in being hired at semester, provided they will already have 2 semesters on campus by the end of December. During RASP, any qualifying candidates will go through the regular process. They will be informed of training dates and other necessary information. This is the supervisor’s time to get to know potential staff members as well. 

Following RASP, the candidates who qualify and are interested in being hired mid-year will be listed as priority scoring for their applications. These scores should be completed before any others. Once all priority scores have been completed, the professional staff will meet to discuss candidates. Once hiring decisions are made in mid-December, mid-year candidates will be notified by email that they have been selected for a position. Those not selected will be told they are still being considered for next year, however spots for the Spring have been filled.