The Resident Assistant (RA) is selected to be an integral member of the Residence Life staff. He/She reports and is directly accountable to a Residence Director (RD). The RA lives and works with residents in areas of peer advising, community development, community accountability, administration, and general operation of the residential community.

Advising and Assisting: The RA should be aware of residents’ needs and provide appropriate consultation and referral. The RA is expected to:

a. be accessible to residents by spending adequate time in the living area.
b. take initiative to know the residents and to be considered approachable.
c. develop effective relationships with the residents that will assist the RA in observing subtle changes in behavior, enabling the RA to deal with the various concerns in his/her residential complex.
d. act as a concerned, non-judgmental peer adviser whose goal is to assist residents in resolving their own concerns or problems by appropriate means.
e. maintain confidentiality in dealing with all situations.
f. discuss potential referrals with the appropriate RD.
g. realizes limitations as a peer counselor and act as a referral agent for residents, utilizing appropriate University and/or community resources.

Residence Education: The RA is part of a unique community. The main goal of residence education is to foster a sense of community. A sense of community refers to an atmosphere of cooperation or commitment to the residential community, of willingness to communicate openly, and of responsibility to and for others as well as oneself. RAs are responsible for structuring their environments so that these attitudes are nurtured.

Since structured interactions in the residence halls and apartments contribute to a sense of community, RAs are responsible for actively assisting individuals and other staff members with the continual assessment of needs and the successful execution of subsequent interactions. Specifically, the RA is expected to:

a. promotes student interaction with faculty, administrators, and other members of the University community by involving them in planned initiatives and programs within the residential communities.
b. encourage residents to contact resource people and assist in developing special interest programs and events.
c. encourage leadership among residents and support resident-initiated programs.
d. attend as many scheduled University/Residence Life events as possible, such as intramural sports, social events, and educational/academic activities.
e. provide updated bulletin boards and information on a monthly basis displaying accurate housing/campus-related information and pertinent educational (informal programming) knowledge.
f. plan and complete programs in accordance with direction from the RD.
g. complete proper forms in a timely manner in order to receive program credit for scheduled programs. This also pertains to the submission of forms for Convocation credit for RA programs.

Staff Training/Development (and Supervision): The RA is expected to participate in staff training programs which are designed to develop the necessary skills to meet RA expectations. Therefore, the RA is expected to:

a. arrives on campus one week prior to the general resident population in the fall. Each RA is expected to fulfill opening and closing responsibilities (Room Condition Reports, Maintenance reports, Check-In/Check-Out procedures, etc.).
b. set position-related and personal goals at the beginning of each semester in consultation with his/her RD.
c. attend and participate in all regularly scheduled staff meetings, staff development activities, and one-on-ones.
d. read and acquire a working knowledge of the content of the Handbook for Residential Living. Regular reviews of this booklet are strongly recommended.
e. participate with the RD in mutual performance evaluations based on position description.
f. be knowledgeable of all emergency and safety procedures.
g. be familiar with campus resources including, but not limited to, Counseling Services, Health Services, and Campus Security.

Discipline and Policy Enforcement: The RA is expected to uphold and enforce University policies and regulations. The RA serves as a role model for others which includes assuming responsibility for creating an environment conducive to personal and social growth. In order to maximize the effects of the residential environment upon student development, the RA is expected to:

a. encourage, by example, the principles of individual responsibility and respect for others’ rights.
b. interpret and explain to residents University policies and regulations as outlined in the Student Handbook and the Handbook for Residential Living, and make clear the enforcement responsibilities of all Residence Life Staff.
c. be consistent and equitable in dealing with discipline in the residence halls and apartments. Report all University violations that the RA encounters to the RD by means of a Notice of Community Responsibilities Form and narrative.
d. interprets for students the realistic consequences of their behavior and familiarize them with the purpose, function, and procedures of the judicial system.

Administrative Tasks: The RA is expected to perform various administrative duties related to the day-to-day operations of the residential facility. To assist the RD with administrative tasks, the RA is expected to:

a. remains on campus to assist in the periodic opening and closing of the residence halls (Fall opening, fall break, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Spring break, Spring closing, summer opening and closing). Check residents in and out at the beginning and the end of each semester, which includes administrative paperwork, checking and preparing rooms, key inventory and preparation, and the preparation of common areas.
b. report needed maintenance and repair work promptly.
c. promote student awareness of fire and safety precautions and regulations, and assist with safety measures. RAs are required to assist with Health & Safety Inspections each semester and follow up as necessary.
d. assume weeknight and weekend duty and back-up responsibilities as scheduled by the RD; this includes a 4-hour front desk shift each week. Compensation for these hours is covered by the student’s room grant each semester.
e. effectively and promptly communicate new and/or important information to residents, conduct necessary informational meetings, keep all posted information or bulletin boards up to date.
f. communicate regularly with RD concerning incidents and/or situations.
g. check assigned RA mailbox and/or duty log on a frequent basis.
h. share in the care and condition of common areas in facilities such as clubhouses, lobbies, community baths, and hallways. Conditions of facilities and reported repairs, cleaning, and improvements should be communicated to the RD.
i. perform assigned tasks in a timely and professional manner and meet assigned deadlines consistently.
j. assist in the Housing Assignment process.
k. assist in the RA selection process.
l. perform other duties as assigned. Each staff member is expected to exercise extreme caution when using Master Keys. These keys are for official use only (lock-outs, end of term closing, emergencies, etc.). Misuse of Master Keys will result in immediate termination from the RA position. Any staff member losing a Master Key will be responsible for the cost of replacing all locks in the affected facilities.