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For more information:

Roger Williams Commons
18 Butterfield Rd

Kingston, RI 02881
Phone: 401-874-2215

Fax: 401-874-2965
E-Mail: housing@etal.uri.edu

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 Department of Housing and Residential Life

Resident Assistant(RA) Application Process

Job Description | Renewal Information

Overview of the Position:

The Resident Assistant(RA) position is one of the premier student leadership experiences at the University of Rhode Island.  Undergraduate RAs live within our on-campus residential facilities and oversee a community of approximately 20 to 50 residents.  The Resident Assistant program is the cornerstone of the residential life and community development effort at URI.  RAs are responsible for facilitating personal and community development, providing support and referral resources, fostering student involvement and campus connections, and reinforcing living community standards and civility through the enforcement of campus polices and State of Rhode Island laws.  RAs undergo two weeks of extensive training prior to the start of fall semester, and are provided with on-going in-service training throughout the year.  Resident Assistant employment expectations are rigorous, but the employment experience is almost always well worth it!   We encourage all URI students – with special encouragement for those from historically under-represented populations - to check out the RA position, submit an application, and participate in the interview process.  We look forward to welcoming new and returning RAs to the Housing and Residential Life team!  Please carefully read the following important information about the Resident Assistant application process.   If you have additional questions about the RA application process or hiring timeline, please email the HRL RA Selection Committee at reselection@hotmail.com.

Academic Requirements:

You must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 and have completed 12 credit hours by the application deadline to be considered for the RA position. THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS.  EMPLOYMENT REQUIREMENT.

Student Conduct Requirements:

You may not apply for the RA position if you are on Residence Hall or Disciplinary Probation at any time during the application period.

Application Procedure:

  1. Obtain an Instruction/Information Sheet from either Room 112 Roger Williams Commons, the Memorial Union Information Desk, or the Multicultural Center. 
  2. Complete the RA Application on-line by typing your responses on the PDF document at www.housing.uri.edu/RAapplication.
  3. Print out the completed RA Application (you cannot save it) and submit the hard copy along with the unofficial transcript of your GPA to the Residential Education Office in Room 112 Roger Williams Commons.  Note to Freshman Applicants: Please wait until January to hand in your application as this will allow you to print your unofficial transcript once your first semester grades have been posted.
  4. After submitting the completed RA Application, please sign up for group and individual interview time slots in Room 112 Roger Williams Commons.

Selection Timeline:

	RA Applications  available                December 1, 2007
	RA Applications due                       February  1, 2008

	Interviewing  process                     February 3 – 24, 2008

	Building Fair and social event            March  9, 2008
	Offers made/candidate notification        Beginning week of 
												March 9, 2008

Experience and Skills:

While there is no one experience or skill set required to be a Resident Assistant, we are looking for students who: possess basic leadership skills and potential; are naturally collaborative and work well in a team environment; possess organizational skills and can effectively manage their various URI time commitments;  possess outstanding listening and communication skills; demonstrate compassion, fairness, and willingness to assist peers; possess great Rhody pride and spirit, and provide role modeling and a full commitment to enforcing University policies.

References:

You need to have at least three personal and/or professional references.  These should be people who can refer to your skills as described in the RA Job Description.  A Resident Assistant, University Administrator and/or Faculty Member would be good choices.   Former employers who can  speak to your work habits might also be good choices.

Compensation:

Resident Assistants will be compensated via the URI student employment bi-weekly payroll program.  The hourly wage will be based upon the current RA single room rate and standard campus meal plan rate, and will be calculated on the basis of an average 20 hour work week for the period beginning the first day of employment term to its conclusion.  RAs are paid the equivalent of a room and board waiver.

RA Training:

Please note that all new RA hires for Fall Semester of the upcoming academic year must attend one or two training sessions, held during March and/or April (dates TBA).  Also, RAs must attend two weeks of full-time training that takes place immediately prior to the September opening of the residence halls.  There are no exceptions to these RA training requirements for new or returning RAs.

 

Feel free to talk to any Hall Director, Graduate Assistant Hall Director or current Resident Assistant  about the RA position.