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(RA) Resident Advisor- 2023-2024 Academic Year

The Resident Advisor (RA) position is a vital student leadership position directly supporting the academic and developmental mission of the University. Resident Advisors facilitate a cooperative group living environment and promote co-curricular learning in the community through the execution of our residential curriculum. Resident Advisors help residents with personal and academic concerns and help resolve individual and group conflicts that arise. Resident Advisors contribute to various aspects of a student's experience. RAs promote and enforce standards for appropriate behavior. Resident advisors develop and implement social and educational activities and programs to foster community. As a result, resident advisors serve as referral conduits for information about housing and campus life. Resident Advisors are vital members of the Housing & Residence Life team; they work closely with and under the supervision of Hall Directors; and also work with members of the Housing & Residence Life staff to serve residents' needs. Most of all, Resident Advisors are expected to respect and care about the rights and dignity of all people, challenge and support growth in themselves and others, and strive to create a welcoming, positive living and learning environment for all residents.

Resident Advisors are selected for their leadership potential, interpersonal abilities, positive and caring attitudes, and sense of responsibility. This position description serves as an overview of Housing & Residence Life's expectations for new and returning RAs. Additional community-specific expectations will be provided by the RA's supervisor (Hall Director). Returning RAs are selected because of their desire to continue as positive role models in the residence halls and their RA team. 

COMPENSATION:

Along with an invaluable and rewarding personal growth experience, Resident Advisors receive a single bedroom in the assigned community and the Green/Black meal plan, approximately valued at $9,535.50. RAs also receive a stipend of $250 per semester paid in biweekly installments during class periods. Returning RAs receive an additional $50 per semester for each full returning year. 

Note: Room and meal plan compensation posts as a scholarship award and may impact financial aid. Students are encouraged to speak with Financial Aid before applying for or accepting an offered position. In addition, RAs should familiarize themselves with student employment policies on campus.

By completing the RA application, you understand that you must meet and maintain a minimum 2.5 semester and cumulative GPA for each semester of employment to be considered for an RA position. Additionally, to be considered for an RA position, you must be in good conduct standing with Housing & Residence Life and the University (not on Residence Life or Disciplinary Probation).

The RA position requires considerable time spent in the residential community, and outside commitments are limited to 10 hours per week. Completing this application, you understand that if hired as an RA, you will need supervisor approval of outside commitments.

Position Tasks (and corresponding NACE Career Readiness Competencies)

Critical Thinking/ Problem Solving:
  • Serve as the primary response to student conduct situations and assist with emergency response/crisis intervention as warranted. Document and enforce Housing & Residence Life policies.
  • Assist with fire/health/safety inspections as necessary.
  • Monitor safety of the community ensuring doors are locked as appropriate, fire safety and alarm equipment are functional, and walkways and exits are clear and accessible.
  • Serve on the RA duty rotation, including during Winterim and other break periods. 
  • Support and enforce all Housing & Residence Life and University policies and procedures.
  • Ensure general facility upkeep by documenting vandalism, submitting work orders, and assisting with basic maintenance concerns.
  • Refer residents to appropriate resources and inform the Hall Director as directed.
  • Conduct room inventories prior to move-in, during move-out, and throughout the semester for room changes.
  • Assist in verification of resident occupancy each semester under Hall Director direction.
  • Complete all other duties as assigned.

Oral and Written Communication:
  • Mediate individual, roommate, and community conflicts. Ensure that privileged information remains confidential.
  • Complete and maintain accurate and timely paperwork/documentation in all areas concerning the RA position.
  • Create and maintain community bulletin boards and door decorations and routinely post all information, flyers, and publicity provided in a visible location.
  • Submit well-written, timely incident reports on issues in their community as described and instructed by Hall Directors.
  • Conduct opening and closing floor/building meetings each semester and others throughout the year as the need arises or as directed by supervisory staff.
 
Teamwork and Collaboration:
  • Maintain positive and respectful working relationships with community, Hall Director, and Housing & Residence Life staff.
  • Promote, implement, and support meetings and programming initiatives within the community and on campus.
 
Digital Technology:
  • Check email, voicemail, and mailboxes daily and respond in a timely manner.
  • Utilize university provided email as their primary means of electronic communication for work-related emails. RAs are required to check their email every business day unless on approved leave.
 
Leadership:
  • Provide leadership while developing open and honest relationships with each resident in assigned community while maintaining appropriate boundaries and serving as a University resource person making referrals as necessary.
  • Support the Residence Hall Association and their activities.
  • Serve as a role model/mentor/source of encouragement and motivation to residents. Serve as a representative of the Department of Housing & Residence Life, as well as the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, in all areas of campus life. Be a resident advocate.
  • Develop and encourage a community atmosphere conducive to appropriate studying and social relationships.
  • Support the implementation and assessment of the department’s residential curriculum. This includes but is not limited to conducting intentional conversations with residents, relationship building with each resident, facilitating activities, and intentional programming efforts. Residential curriculum details will be covered during RA training.
 
Professionalism and Work Ethic:
  • Attend weekly team meetings, unless first given permission to be excused from their Hall Director.
  • Assist with check-in and check-out processes, occupancy management, etc.
  • Staff desk hours as assigned and during opening and closing periods.
  • Assist with mail/package distribution and with lock-outs.
  • Report maintenance concerns or assist residents in how to report their concerns on the same day.
  • Ensure that privileged information remains confidential.
 
Global/Intercultural Fluency:
  • Demonstrate openness, inclusiveness, sensitivity, and the ability to interact respectfully with all people and understand individuals’ differences.
  • Ability to engage and communicate with diverse teams and work as a respectful team member.
  • Be able to work cohesively within a diverse staff while also providing intentional service to a resident community comprised of various cultural backgrounds and experiences.

Qualifications/Requirements:
  • Must be enrolled full-time at UW-Parkside taking no less than 12 credit hours as an undergraduate or 9 credits hours as a graduate student.
  • Resident Advisors must be in good academic standing.
  • During the semester of application, they must receive a 2.5 semester grade point average. In addition, their GPA from the previous semester as well as the cumulative grade point average must be at least a 2.5. No probationary period is permitted for new RAs.
  • RAs must maintain a 2.5 grade point average each semester while employed as a Resident Advisor.
  • A continuing RA will be permitted one employment probationary semester during their employment. If an RA’s GPA falls below 2.5, the RA will be placed on probation. Once on probation, the RA must receive a 2.5 or higher GPA the next semester or employment will be terminated.
  • A cumulative GPA of below 2.5 will result in release from the RA position at the end of the academic year barring any approvals from departmental appeals processes.  
  • Resident Advisors must be in good conduct standing and not on Housing & Residence Life or University Probation.
  • Should possess initiative, responsibility and good judgment as well as the ability to act independently.
  • A genuine interest in working with both students and administration.
  • Previous community living experience and experience in leadership positions preferred.
  • Willingness to accept responsibility, complete all training requirements, and learn on the job.
 
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
  • Physical ability to handle position responsibilities including touring buildings and responding to emergency situations promptly (use of stairs and elevator). 
  • Must be physically able to move quickly through crowd situations and effectively communicate to a large group of people.
  • Actively participate in training, including the handling and manipulation of fire safety equipment.
  • Ability to lift and move furniture or other items to assist residents and/or inspect for damages.
  • Ability to communicate effectively by means of a telephone.
  • Ability to use and manipulate computer equipment.
  • Ability to complete paperwork and read IDs.
  • Ability to respond to duties at any hour and for prolonged periods.
  • Attend all required training sessions, weekly staff meetings, and serve on committees as necessary.
 
CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:
The RA position is considered to be approximately 25 hours of work per week as a result of meeting the above expectations. The term of employment is for one academic year and reinstatement for the following year is not guaranteed. The following conditions also apply:
  • Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a criminal background check.
  • RAs will be assigned to a residential community by the Department of Housing & Residence Life. 
  • RAs must fulfill full academic year commitment, meaning no partial years or semesters allowed, unless hired mid-year or terminated from employment.
  • Participation in both August and January Training. August Training takes place two weeks prior to residence hall move-in and on average RA’s work 80 hours over these two weeks. January Training takes place the week prior to residence hall move-in.
  • Participation in other on-campus employment is strictly prohibited while serving as an RA.
  • RAs must seek prior approval from the Hall Director for outside commitments and/or employment. Other commitments should not exceed 10 hours per week. While supervisors will work with staff members as they manage a second job, it will be expected that there will be no scheduling, time commitment, or job concerns resulting from secondary employment and/or student teaching, internships, or extra-curricular activities.
  • If alleged behavior is found to violate any policies or laws, employment status will be reviewed independently of the student conduct process.
  • If leaving the position by termination or resignation, RA compensation will be prorated, and the student will be financially responsible for any portion of the compensation not yet earned.
  • The student will not be allowed to reside in the same community in which they were employed during that academic year.
  • The student will remain bound by the terms of the Housing Contract unless released by the Director of Housing & Residence Life.
  • At any point during employment where the RA does not meet or fulfill the expectations of the job, the RA will be removed from the position. Additionally, because this is a student employment position, this means that either the RA or Housing & Residence Life may end the employment status at any time and for any reason. Reasons why Residence Life may end the appointment for RAs include, but are not limited to disciplinary reasons, instances of occupancy management, staffing needs, etc. Housing & Residence Life will try to give advance notice for any concerns as it is our intention to keep RAs in their positions provided, they continue to perform well. All RA action items are addressed through the Resident Advisor Corrective Action chart.