St. Thomas Aquinas College

Office of Residence Life

2007-2008

RESIDENT ASSISTANT JOB DESCRIPTION

Each Resident Assistant (RA) is a qualified, trained paraprofessional who is considered an integral part of the Residence Life staff.  He/she reports directly to the Associate Dean of Student Affairs who reports to the Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs.  The RA is responsible for assisting each student’s emotional, social, academic and personal growth.  The development of a positive living environment and sense of community in residence life is essential in contributing to a student’s growth and happiness, and the RA is instrumental in achieving this goal.

Ideal Qualities Sought: Good communication skills, honesty, openness, responsibility, initiative, willingness to grow and learn, dedication, support, a sense of humor, maturity, a positive attitude, confidence, self-awareness, enthusiasm, genuineness, conscientiousness, flexibility, openness to constructive criticism, and good time management skills.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Provide personal help & assistance to residents.

• Become acquainted with all of their residents.
• Initiate contacts with students who need help or support.
• Be available and accessible to students; keep your door open as often as possible.
• Work with roommates/unit mates to resolve differences.
• Be a good listener when students need to talk.
• Refer students to the offices that provide personal counseling and health issues.

• Manage and facilitate groups.

• Conduct unit meetings on a bi-weekly basis to discuss and explain policies, issues, and unit concerns.
• Facilitate building a Community by encouraging and supporting activities on-campus and off-campus.
• Communicate and work closely with the Residence Life Council and Residence Life staff.
• Participate in and provide leadership through displaying enthusiasm and positive attitude towards Residence Life activities.

• Explain and enforce rules and regulations as outlined in the student handbook.

• Set an example by adhering to Federal and State laws and the rules and regulations of the college.
• Know and understand why the rules and regulations are educationally and morally advantageous to students.
• Explain and interpret college rules and regulations to students and enforce all policies in a fair and objective manner.
• Document all violations and as needed, participate as required in the judicial process.
• Maintain confidentiality as appropriate in all related matters.  Unconditional confidentiality should not be promised in matters of health and safety issues.
• Confront an RA staff member who may be involved in questionable behavior that may prove detrimental to the college and residence life communities.  In these cases, you must contact your supervisor within 24 hours of the situation.
• Behave both on and off campus in a manner that reflects the ideals of the college and the residence life communities.
• Respect each person they come in contact with through both words and actions as a valuable human being.

• Maintain an orderly, safe and reasonably quiet environment.

• Explain residence life emergency procedures.
• Respond to all emergency or problematic situations in the residence life complexes.
• Encourage group responsibility for the safety of all residents and the physical condition of their living environment.
• Report to immediate supervisor situations that may endanger the health, safety or well being of students or the college.

• Facilitate programs to promote the growth and development of students.

• Encourage and participate in activities that will promote greater unity among residents of the buildings and contribute to a sense of community and belonging.
• Plan and implement at least two programs each semester and encourage residents to plan and implement their own activities, developing the leadership of the residents themselves.
• Attend all residence life sponsored activities and other events designated by the Office of Residence Life.

• In addition to the primary functions previously noted, the Resident Assistant will assume the following responsibilities and duties:

• Attend and participate in all Fall and Winter developmental training sessions throughout the academic year.
• Participate in weekly residence life staff and individual meetings with the Associate Dean of Student Affairs.
• Assist residents and their families during move-in and checkout periods.
• Conduct check-in, checkout, and monthly health and safety inspections for your assigned units.
• Accept responsibility for varied on-duty (Office and/or Rounds) coverage per week.
• Accept responsibility for “Special Staffing” on-duty coverage throughout the academic year,
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of at least 2.5.
• Maintain good disciplinary standing at all times.
• Report maintenance issues promptly and accurately.
• Assist with staff selection process for the following year.
• Complete all paperwork promptly and accurately in accordance with the request of the Associate Dean of Student Affairs or other college officials.
• Accept the resident living assignment in either residence life complex.
• Must maintain a full time student status (12 credits per semester).
• Assume other responsibilities as designated by the Vice President and Dean of Student Affairs,

Associate Dean of Student Affairs, and Housing Professionals.

• Must obtain approval from the Associate Dean of Student Affairs for any other on and off campus employment.

• Staff Discipline/Termination.

The following conditions are considered serious enough to warrant dismissal from the resident assistant position:

• Violation of Student Code of Conduct, including college policy and/or local, state, and federal laws.
• Acts of negligence or incompetence that cast reasonable doubt on the likelihood of job performance.
• If any outside obligations infringe upon your resident assistant responsibilities and you are not willing to make a compromise.
• Misuse of Master keys.
• Failure to show progress in meeting expectations as outlined by the Associate Dean of Student Affairs and the Office of Residence Life.
• Failure to comply with specific direction from the Associate Dean of Student Affairs and other college officials in regard to responsibilities expressed or implied in the job description/contract.

• Terms of employment and compensation.

• Employment begins two weeks before the start of the Fall semester and ends on Commencement day in the Spring semester.
• The college provides a resident assistant grant through the Financial Aid office for the cost of room and Meal Plan A.  A FAFSA form must be completed and submitted to the Financial Aid office to receive the grant.  If you decide to select a higher meal plan, then you will pay the additional cost.  This award is non-transferable and cannot be applied to expenses other than room and board.
• You will receive a personal phone line in your room.  The college will pay the installation cost of the line and local phone charges.  You must pay for long distance charges and provide the phone.