RA Job Description

The resident advisor (RA) a premier leadership position on campus that is vital to an environment in the residential community that students feel connected, respected, secure and develop both personally as well as intellectually. This is achieved through a focus on building a sense of community through establishing relationships with each resident through enduring conversations and a faithful and regular presence on their floors and in their buildings, hosting floor/hall events/programs and helping students make connections on campus.

Bluffton University Student Life Division’s Mission Statement

We believe that connecting the RA role to the mission statement of the division is important because of the depth of contact the role encounters. The mission statement of the division that the RA will uphold is as follows:

The Bluffton University Student Life Division in collaboration with staff and faculty colleagues strives to challenge and support student learning, discovery and growth. Using theory and best practices, the division will serve as a key resource and advocate for the holistic development of all students and create a safe, welcoming and diverse environment.

Residence Life Mission Statement
Residence Life will create an environment of hospitality while advocating for holistic student development.

Goals

  • To create and maintain a community environment in the living unit which is compatible with the physical, psychological, and educational needs of the students.
  • To establish and maintain appropriate relationships with students, other residence life staff, Bluffton faculty, staff, guests, and visitors.
  • To ensure that students live according to the objectives and values of Bluffton University, the standards of conduct, the law and the regulations stated in the Student Handbook.
  • To bring awareness and encourage students to participate in the larger campus community through various activities and events.
  • To be a support to our students, especially when they find themselves in times of crisis, large or small.

Duties

  • Create, maintain and nurture meaningful relationships through enduring conversations with each resident on the RA's floor. 
  • Being regularly present on the floor, this means having the door open often and spending significant time visible on the floor frequently interacting with all residents.
  • Know every resident on the floor by name and some introductory information about them by the fourth week of class. Continue to build these relationships throughout the semester.
  • Create opportunities for residents to develop friendships with those on their floor and throughout the building. This will require an early emphasis on programming with an eye toward helping residents create connection to the campus community. 
  • Be actively present and engaged during staff meetings, training program, including fall and mid-year retreats, selection processes and room draw. This includes regular one-on-one times with your hall director, weekly staff meetings and periodic in-service training.
  • Attend regular campus events with residents and have discussions related to these events afterwards (chapel, Forum, MAC events). 
  • Assist the maintenance personnel and hall director in keeping the residence hall functional for the use of residents, present and future.
  • Show hospitality to all residents and guests of our facilities and provide excellent customer service.
  • Support the residence hall association by attending hall wide events and, when appropriate, offering to assist with functional tasks (such as moving furniture, putting up decorations etc.). 
  • Personally abide by, know, interpret, teach and enforce the standards of conduct in the Student Handbook.
  • Assume responsibility for ensuring that students are able to pursue academic interests in the living unit through a community of respect on the hall.
  • Participate in a duty rotation in the halls,
  • Assist the hall director in the management of the residence hall. 
  • Assume responsibility for special projects as delegated by the director of residence life or the hall director.

Organizational reporting

The resident advisor reports directly to the hall director who is his/her immediate supervisor. The director of residence life is primarily responsible for the hall director and resident advisor's selection, in-service education and evaluation.

Conditions of employment

  • A full-time student maintaining at least a 2.5 grade point average.
  • Additional employment off-campus is not permitted; RAs may have ONE additional primary position within their major, and if selected, may also serve as a BaS Scholar. Total combined position agreements for RAs may not exceed $5,000 annual compensation.
  • Floor and room assignments are determined by the director of residence life in consultation with hall directors.
  • Resident advisors are permitted three weekends away each semester, excluding holidays and campus breaks. These weekends away are pending approval by your hall director beforehand and cannot be taken the first month of the fall semester. 
  • Other times RAs must be on campus include before classes begin in August and in January for training and new student orientation. At other times, RAs must be on campus up to 3 days after the fall semester ends and return up to 4 days prior to the spring semester begins. RAs must assist in the check-in and year-end checkout processes. RAs are required to remain throughout the contract dates they are hired for including through the day after commencment.
  • RAs must complete a work agreement with Autumn Graves. This agreement can be terminated at any time if the director of residence life believes the responsibilities of the position are not being fulfilled or behavior or choices negatively impact the integrity of the resident advisor position or credibility of residence life.
  • Violations of student expectations as expressed in the student handbook and/or the resident advisor contract can result in loss of position.

Compensation

RAs have the opportunity to select either a single room or live in a double with a roommate. 

  Hourly wage Hours/week Weeks/year Total/year
1st year $11.25 10 33 $3,712.50
2nd year $12.25 10 33 $4,042.50
3rd year $13.25 10 33 $4,372.50
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