College Dorm Resident Assistants
Responsibilities, Pros, and Cons of Being an RA
What is a Resident Assistant?
A resident assistant, or RA, is a college student who is employed by a college or university to help out with the everyday functions of a dormitory. RAs are upperclassmen who have lived in a dorm before. The resident assistant is there primarily to help the students, but also plays a supervisory role to make sure people are following the rules. Becoming a resident assistant is almost always a competitive process, and not all students who want to become RAs are chosen.
At some schools, resident assistants go by other names, including residence hall assistants, preceptors, proctors, senior residents, student assistants, or house fellows.
Resident Assistant Training
Before they begin their jobs, resident assistants receive extensive training from the school Residence Life division. They need to be familiar with dormitory rules and regulations, and what to do if a student is caught violating the rules. They also need to be familiar with campus services, such as psychological counseling and tutoring centers, so that they can refer students to these services when needed. In addition, RAs need to be prepared to handle emergencies such as fires or severe weather.
In addition, resident assistants need training in the interpersonal dynamics of this challenging job. Helping two feuding roommates is a difficult job. Helping a student who is depressed or suffering from an addiction is even more difficult.
Residence Hall Assistant Responsibilities
Being a resident assistant is a good deal of work! RAs are expected to be available to help students much of the time, even during difficult times such as finals week. The duties of an RA differ, but usually these include:
- Holding a floor meeting at the beginning of the year, in which students learn the rules of the floor and meet each other. The RA might include an icebreaker exercise.
- Helping to orient new students to the college or university.
- Organizing floor activities throughout the year.
- Enforcing campus rules.
- Mitigating conflicts between roommates and people on the floor.
- Helping students with academic and personal difficulties
- Helping students with emotional and physical crises. These might include depression, alcohol and drug addiction, sexual violence, eating disorders, alcohol poisoning, or physical injuries.
Advantages of Being a Resident Assistant
Many students are motivated to become resident assistants because they enjoy helping people. It feels great to know that you've helped a student get the help she needs to pass her biology class or overcome an eating disorder.
In addition, experience as a resident assistant can be very helpful in the working world. As an RA, you'll learn important skills in counseling, conflict management, event facilitation, and leadership. The position looks great on a resume, as most employers know how much responsibility is involved.
Last but not least, resident assistants receive tangible benefits from their college or university. Often, RAs are given free housing and meal plans, and get their own single dorm rooms. If housing is expensive or difficult to come by on campus, this can be a huge benefit. In addition, at some schools RAs might receive tuition discounts, free parking, and other perks.
Disadvantages of Being a Residence Hall Assistant
Don't become an RA simply because you want free room and board! The job is hard work.
One of the most difficult parts of this job is the interpersonal interactions. Counseling students through problems and crises can be emotionally draining, as is negotiating conflicts between students. In addition, an RA has to be the "bad guy" sometimes, and that may be a difficult role to play. You might find yourself writing a student up for underage drinking, or recommending that a student be removed from the dorm because of behavior problems.
Another difficulty that comes with this job is the time commitment. You need to be able to be on-call much or most of the time. If a student comes to you in the middle of the night with an emergency, you can't say, "I can't help you because I'm sleeping," or "I can't help you because I have a paper due tomorrow." As an RA, you're expected to be in the dorm quite a bit, which means limits on your social life and your ability to leave campus.
The job of residence assistant is one of the most challenging on campus-- but it also offers rewards that are tangible and emotional. Think hard before you take on this difficult set of responsibilities, and be prepared for an experience that will both drain and inspire you.
