Resident Advisor - Job Description

The RA Position

The Resident Advisor (RA) is a staff member of the Trinidad State Junior College Housing Office. The RA reports to the Dorm Advisor in his/her hall and the Assistant Director of Housing and Director of Housing. In addition to the specific job responsibilities listed below, the RA is expected to possess a positive attitude which embraces the philosophies, mission, policies and procedures of Residence Life. In addition, staff members are expected to exercise good use of personal judgment to protect his/her credibility in the eyes of others which is critical to his/her ability to perform this job.

Community Development

• Develops a sense of unity among residents by facilitating the development of relationships among residents.
• Creates a friendly, respectful and considerate environment among the residents on the floor.

Relationships with Residents

• Establishes relationships with all residents of the floor and demonstrates availability and approachability to residents.
• Is aware of attitudes, possible adjustment problems and behavioral patterns of residents.

Activities

• Assesses the interests and needs of his/her residents and plans and implements activities appropriately in the areas of Intellectual, Personal & Emotional, Social, Cultural, and Physical Development.

Counseling

• May meet with residents who are experiencing concerns (roommate conflicts, personal issues, etc.) and refers them to the appropriate resource for assistance as necessary.

Policy Enforcement

• Confronts inappropriate behavior in an objective, consistent and respectful manner providing rationale for policies.
• Documents inappropriate behavior and discusses incident with Assistant Director of Housing or the Director of Housing.

Duty Responsibilities

• Completes duty rounds and/or desk duty of the building to promote the safety and security of the community as assigned.

Staff Dynamics

• Participates in staff meetings, training workshops, in-services, etc.
• Establishes effective working relationships and works collaboratively with fellow staff members.
• Acts as a team player by compromising for the good of the staff as appropriate.
• Gives and receives constructive feedback regarding job performance.

Administrative

• Submits paperwork timely and completely (i.e., activity plans, duty reports, incident/personal concern reports, maintenance requests, etc.).
• Attends building, area and other Residence Life meetings.
• Maintains open communication with Dorm Assistant, Assistant Director of Housing and Director of Housing.
• Assists with the opening and closing of the residence halls at the beginning and end of the year as well as break periods.
• Follows through on all tasks delegated to him/her.
• Budgets time and balances activities effectively.

Requirements

Due to the demanding nature of the RA position and the time commitment involved, the Housing Office expects that those persons hired as Resident Assistants maintain the following:

• A 2.25 Cumulative Grade Point Average.
• Undergraduates may not carry a course load less than twelve credits per semester.
• Approval must be obtained from the Director of Housing to accept additional on-campus employment. Off-campus employment is subject to the same approval.
• Staff members interested in participating in an internship or assistantship should communicate their interest with the Director of Housing immediately to discuss proper protocols. Candidates who have a seminar as part of their curriculum should discuss this with the Director of Housing prior to applying.
• Staff members are expected to seek approval from the Director of Housing before accepting officer or chairperson status in any campus organization or activity to insure that full consideration has been given to the potential impact of participation in their Residence Life responsibilities.

Time Commitment

All Resident Assistant staff are is expected to report to campus at least one week prior to the opening of the residence halls, to remain on campus until the last scheduled class before break periods begin, and to complete duties through Commencement.

Financial Aid

All students currently receiving financial aid and who intend on making an application should consult with a counselor in the Financial Assistance office to determine the impact a Resident Assistant position may have on their financial aid package.

Eligibility

All students are eligible to apply.

Compensation

Resident Assistants are generally hired for the academic year (9 months) and compensation is in the form of an internal room waiver. Consistent with IRS regulations, this compensation is not reported by Trinidad State Junior College as taxable income.