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Resident Assistant Selection

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Resident Assistants (RAs) are part-time student staff members of the Housing and Greek Life Office and of the University of the Pacific.  For students, life on campus is about having fun and meeting new friends, while being in an atmosphere that is safe and conducive to learning.  It is important that our residence hall and apartment communities foster students' experiences that assist in their academic success. Resident Assistants have a critical role in creating these communities in our residence halls and apartments, and are instrumental in the success of the students they serve by helping them integrate, navigate and learn from their experiences inside and outside of the classroom.  RAs facilitate interpersonal relationships and create living situations that maximize opportunities for them and their peers to learn and grow.  RA's BUILD COMMUNITY!

The Resident Assistant position is extremely rewarding and calls for dedicated, motivated, and sincere individuals.  The Housing and Greek Life Office is committed to hiring staff members who reflect the values mentioned above and represent the diversity of University of the Pacific student populations.

 

Apply Here

 

Resident Assistant Selection Timeline

  • Tuesday, November 13, 2012 -

    Committee tabling outside of University Center (12-1pm)

  • Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - Committee tabling outside of University Center (12-1pm)

  • Wednesday, November 14, 2012 - Information Session (8-9pm - Carter)

  • Monday, November 19, 2012 - Application available

  • Monday, November 26, 2012 - Committee tabling outside of University Center (12-1pm)

  • Thursday, November 29, 2012 - Committee tabling outside of University Center (12-1pm)

  • Thursday, November 29, 2012 - Information Session (8-9pm - President's Room)

  • Thursday, January 10, 2013 - Information Session (12-1pm - Spruce Room)

  • Tuesday, January 15, 2013 - Information Session (7-8pm - Multicultural Center)

  • Friday, January 25, 2013 - Application due

  • Friday, February 1, 2013 - References due

  • Week of February 4, 2013 - Confirmations for interview timeslot emailed to applicants from noreply@erezlife.com

  • Saturday, February 9, 2013 - Interviews

  • Week of March 4th - Decision letters emailed to candidates

  • March 14, 2013  - Acceptance forms, housing forms, and hiring paperwork due to Housing and Greek Life Office

  • April - 2013-2014 RA Staff Meet and Greet (Date TBD)

 

 
  • Resident Assistant Job Description 

    The Resident Assistant Job Description

    POSITION PURPOSE: Resident Assistants' (RAs) main function is to foster and develop community with and among students living in the residential areas on campus.   In general, RAs are expected to possess a positive attitude which embraces the philosophies, mission, policies and procedures of the Housing and Greek Life Office, as well as the larger institution.  Staff members are expected to exercise personal judgment to protect his/her credibility in the eyes of others; this is critical to their ability to perform and be successful in the position.  Through the use of programming, counseling and advising, RAs serve as peer educators and the main points of contact for students in the residence halls.   Resident Assistants are supervised by Residence Directors.

    ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

    Community Development: (1) Develops a sense of unity among residents through involvement and developing relationships among residents (2) Responsible for creating a friendly, respectful and safe environment with residents on the floor/section (3) Establishes relationships with all residents of his/her section and demonstrates availability and approachability to residents (4) Is aware of attitudes, possible adjustment problems and behavioral patterns of residents.

    Advising/Counseling: (1) Meets with residents who are experiencing concerns (roommate conflicts, personal issues, etc.) and refers them to the appropriate resource for assistance as necessary (2) Works with RD to grow and develop the area Hall Government (3) Assist students with the planning and implementation of community, academic and personal development events.

    Student Conduct and Counseling: (1) Confronts inappropriate behavior in an objective, consistent and respectful manner, providing rationale for policies.  (2) Follows up with students who have violated policy and works to address behavioral issues, clarify and communicate expectations/university policies. (3)  At the heart of the staffs' approach should be a care and concern for preserving relationship and helping students navigate/negotiate decision making and behavior, with the ultimate goal of developing well-roundedness.

    Programming: (1) Assesses residents' interests and needs, and plans and implements programming activities and events in accordance to those needs.  (2) Also responsible for making resources and opportunities from other offices on campus accessible to students; works to involve students on campus.

    Duty Responsibilities: (1) Completes duty rounds and/or desk duty of the building to promote the safety and security of the community as assigned (2) Addresses behaviors and manages/refers issues (3) Covers holiday and break periods, including Fall, Thanksgiving and Spring Break (4) Covers week night and weekend duty per area.

    Staff Development: (1) Participates in staff meetings, training workshops, in-services, etc. (2) Establishes effective working relationships and works collaboratively with fellow staff members, supervisor and others within the department (3) Acts as a team player by compromising for the good of the staff and developing positive working relationships  (4) Gives and receives constructive feedback regarding job performance. (5) Takes steps to further one's own personal and professional development.

    General Administration: (1) Submits complete and timely paperwork (programming reports, duty logs, weekly reports, incident reports, etc.) (2) Attends staff and other department engagements as appropriate (3) Maintains open communication with RD and Area Coordinators (4) Assists with the opening and closing of the residence communities at the beginning and end of the year as well as break periods (5) Follows through on all tasks and assignments in the specified timeframe (6) Budgets time and balances activities effectively (7) Maintains accurate programming, budget, and records information.

    Other Duties as Assigned: Assignments/Tasks in line with requirements and responsibilities of the RA position.

  • RA Minimum Qualifications 

    RA Candidates must meet the following Minimum Qualifications (by date of hire):

    • Have 24 units completed (12 credits must be at Pacific)
    • Have a minimum GPA of 2.5 (semester & Cumulative)
    • Be in good judicial standing  (may not violate policies if currently on probation, be serving a suspension or a suspension in abeyance )
    • Be a registered/degree-seeking student
    • Have a minimum course load of 12 undergraduate credits or 9 graduate credits for each semester on staff.
    • Have a maximum course load of 18 undergraduate credits or 12 graduate credits for each semester on staff.
    • Be able to take the Spring 2012 SERV 057 Class (CRN 80683) which meet Tuesdays and Thursday from 5:00pm - 7:00pm. The course is 2 credits. The credits can be applied to either the spring or fall semester or may be audited for no credit.
  • RA Time Committment 

    The RA Position takes up approximately 15-20 non duty hours per week.  This means aside from duty, you can expect to spend approximately 15-20 hours each week on the RA position.  This estimation can be more or less depending on what is happening on your floor during a given week.  It also depends on how proactive you are with residents in addressing issues early and building a positive community.  In order to ensure that RAs can effectively balance their academic and position responsibilities, we heavily weigh candidates' level of involvement in other campus activities.  Those candidates who demonstrate the ability to effectively balance their level of involvement in outside activities with their commitment to the RA position will be given preference over those who cannot.  Similarly, students who will be on campus for both the fall and spring semesters will be given preference over those who will be studying abroad or doing a co-op for one of those semesters.

    • Opening/Closing Building-All staff will participate in opening/closing the buildings at the start and end of each semester. This will require staff to arrive about two weeks prior to the building opening and stay several days past the official close date of the buildings.

    • Holiday Duty-All Staff members will participate in Holiday Duty Rotations. Holiday Duty includes: Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break and Spring Break. Staff should not make travel plans until after speaking with their supervisor.
  • RA Training Requirements 

    Staff members are required to attend training and continuing development sessions/meeting to develop their skills and knowledge.  Therefore, you will be asked to plan your schedule accordingly to make sure you are present for each of the required trainings listed below.  You will be required to return to campus early, during the summer and the winter breaks to attend the August and January trainings - usually between 1-2 weeks before the start of class. Training is imperitive to the RA position and attendance is mandatory. RAs cannot be enrolled in classes during Summer Session IIIand cannot work Orientation 3 due to August training.

    • August Training -All staff will participate in training which will take place approximately 2 weeks prior to the start of classes in August.

    • January Training -All staff will participate in training which will take place approximately 5 days prior to the start of classes in January.

    • Continuing Development Sessions- All staff will participate in 2-3 continuing development sessions throughout the semester. Time, locations and topics will be disclosed each semester.

    • Area Staff Meetings- All staff will participate in area staff meetings, which take place approximately once per month. These meetings are intended to share important information about upcoming processes, procedures, and/or events.

    • Community Staff Meetings- Staffs will participate in weekly staff meetings with their Residence Director. These meetings are intended to share important information, plan programs and events, and develop as a team.
  • RA Position Benefits and Compensation 
    • Double occupancy room and silver meal plan.

    • Training and development opportunities/resources

    • Note: Staff assigned to residence halls are required to purchase a minimum of a "Silver meal plan" and those in apartment communities must purchase a minimum of a "Bronze meal plan."

    • Note: The compensation for the RA position is considered financial aid and may affect your financial aid package; for details and information related to your individual circumstances, please contact the financial aid office.

If you have any questions or concerns please email rasearch@pacific.edu