Resident Assistants

Resident Assistants (RAs) are advisors and role models that serve as an important liaison between students and the University. Serving as an RA provides students numerous opportunities for personal and professional development as well as substantial leadership experience. RAs contribute to students’ experiences by:

• Establishing a positive community in their assigned residential area
• Assisting with personal and academic questions and concerns
• Implementing social and educational programs and services
• Maintaining a healthy and safe environment for all students

The application for the 2023-2024 academic year will open on November 7! The application closes January 22, 2023. Read below about the selection process.

1. Complete the application linked below. You will need to complete a few essay questions, a resume, and submit the contact information of one professional/academic reference to complete a feedback form on your behalf. The application is due January 22, 2023.
2. After the application deadline, ORCL staff will review applications and select candidates to advance in the process to individual interviews. Students that fall under a 2.75 cumulative GPA or have significant documentations through Student Conduct may not be selected to advance. 
3. In mid-January 2023, all candidates selected for interviews will be invited to the ORCL Selection Launch Event. This will be a time for candidates to meet the staff prior to interviews and learn about opportunities to learn more about the position.
4. Leading up to interviews, candidates will have the option of completing a variety of workshops, lectures, and discussions to learn more about the RA position. 
5. In late February and early March, candidates will participate in individual interviews.
6. All candidates will be notified of their statuses no later than March 13, 2023.

Learn more and apply

Why be an RA?

To put it simply, there’s just nothing like it. Of all the leadership or employment opportunities you can explore as an undergraduate student, the RA position stands out as one of the most enriching, challenging, and unique experiences you could have. The life of any RA can look drastically different from day to day. One day you might be planning and hosting an event and the next you might be managing an emergency in your community. You will be stretched and tested, but you will have a supportive team and supervisor to help you capitalize on your strengths and grow more confident in areas you find challenging.

You will also be doing a momentous service to your fellow students. RAs contribute to the Capital community in the following ways and more!

• Community building RAs build communities of belonging. Our staff strives for each of our residential communities to be safe and welcoming environments for every student. We believe that the unique and intersectional identities of each community member and the respect for those identities is essential for a strong and vibrant living environment.
• Community engagement RAs help you find your fit. Through targeted and individual outreach (such as CapChats) RA’s get to know each resident on a deeper level and connect them to others in the campus community who share similar passions, interests, and goals.
• Community connections RAs act as a resource for and referral to the information and individuals students need. We train our staff to be knowledgeable sources of information that students can rely on to help them succeed.
• Community education RAs educate the community on healthy, safe, and responsible living. RAs take part in proactive educational initiatives aimed toward developing an engaged citizenry that focuses on the well-being of both the individual and collective.
• Community care. RAs are there for students. RAs receive extensive training in conflict, crisis, and conduct response. RAs mediate and resolve peer conflict, activate support systems, and address violations of community standards. As part of the ResLife 24/7 on-call network RA’s take part a three-tier duty rotation which supports the campus community twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year.

For serving as an RA, each student receives the following compensation package:

• $4350 credit to be applied to your student account, which covers, in full, the cost of housing for each semester of employment (any overage is applied towards the RAs meal plan.)
• $750 stipend, paid in three increments of $250 at the beginning, middle, and end of the academic year.
• S-lot parking pass availability guarantee (guarantee of pass availability only, does not cover the cost of the pass)
• Eligibility for early registration, on their class's first day of registration each semester