Resident Assistant Packet and Application

We are pleased you are exploring the possibility of serving the William Penn community as one of the 20 Resident Assistants (RAs) . The following information is designed to help you discern if Residence Life is where you want to be.

The RA position description and the work schedule articulate the responsibilities and duties in detail. We encourage you to read this information carefully. We also encourage you to speak to your RA and Hall Director to learn more about their experiences.

The benefits of being an RA are enormous. RAs are challenged to apply their leadership, organizational, management, and people skills every day in their work with William Penn University students and staff. They learn about themselves and about working with and serving others. The commitments are significant, but the rewards of seeing students grow, relationships build, and skills honed is well worth it.

Sincerely,

Dianne Burns, Co-Director Residence Life
Matt Croonquist, Co-Director Residence Life

Resident Assistants serve an important role in the residence hall system. They are selected to facilitate community development, serve as information sources, and to be positive role models for students. The Residence Life Office recognizes that this position requires a great deal of responsibility, and therefore, provides special training, support, and supervision. Each RA is expected to accept the following responsibilities, duties, and expectations.

Responsibilities

Administration

• Check students thoroughly in and out of their rooms (collect RIF forms, room and mail keys, and non-returner forms if applicable immediately upon check out)
• Distribute and collect hall and room keys accordingly
• Assist the residence life staff in the administration of room changes and roommate conflicts
• Maintain accurate lists of students living in your unit and/or on your hall
• Be on duty as scheduled during the week and weekends nights from 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM
• Remain in the hall or lounge area when “on duty” Sit at hall desk from 9:00 PM to 12:00 AP each week night (Sunday through Thursday)
• Sit at hall desk from 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM when on weekend duty (Friday and Saturday)
• Perform “rounds” as assigned and when needed Complete duty log entries when “on duty”
• If you are unable to serve during your scheduled duty time you must find a replacement RA to assume your responsibilities and inform your Hall Director and security as well as updating the schedule in Google Docs
• Be in the hall at least two weekends per month, and at least three nights during the week
• Initiate work orders for student rooms and community living areas in need of repair
• Attend weekly Hall/educational meetings
• Attend staff meetings as requested
• Hold at least two meetings a semester (within three days of hall openings and two weeks before hall closings) to meet the residents, make announcements, plan programs, and thoroughly discuss hall closing
• Meet with your hall director in regularly scheduled individual meetings
• Complete all administrative procedures required for hall closings at semester end and end of the year
• Maintain a good working relationship with the residents, the hall staff, housekeeping, maintenance, student services, and other RAs
• Work with your dorm Community Events Coordinator to provide appropriate programs for your residents to build community and develop leadership skills
• RAs are reminded that you are responsible for your dorm not only when you are on duty but 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
• Incident reports should be turned into the Rover or Security to be entered into the WPU database by security

Programming

• Organizing unit/floor attendance at athletic and academic events on the WPU campus is also strongly encouraged
• Resident Assistants are expected to work with one another to coordinate unit and floor teams for intramural sports and other activities
• Identify potential student leaders and promote their involvement in PASS, RHA, SGA, unit/ floor, hall, and campus activities

Behavior Issues/Community Standards

• Encourage residents to act as responsible individuals, and shall treat all persons with respect and courtesy
• Know and abide by all college and residential life policies and regulations and be able to explain these policies to hall residents as well as educate residents about respect and accountability for breaking policy
• Document incidents accurately, completely, and immediately
• Be fair and consistent
• Understand emergency procedures and respond appropriately to such situations
• Report violations to hall directors and judicial conveners
• Report any policy violations, damages, theft, or vandalism that occur within the hall
• Participate as a possible witness and support disciplinary proceedings
• Follow all local, state, and federal laws. Any violations will subject the RA to disciplinary proceedings, including dismissal from the RA position
• Work in the capacity of a Campus Security Authority (CSA)

• Know the name of each of their residents by the end of the first week of classes
• Know the interests of the residents
• Know most, if not all, of the residents in your residence hall
• Be accessible to the hall residents on a daily basis, particularly during the times of high activity
• Respond effectively to students' needs, questions, concerns, and academic difficulties
• Maintain confidentiality, while keeping your hall director informed of potential problematic situations
• Become acquainted with referral services on and off campus and make appropriate referrals with the knowledge of your hall director

Other Responsibilities

• Complete a self-evaluation and also be evaluated on job performance each semester by your Hall Director
• Assist in the selection and training of new staff members
• Inform residents with regard to the following
  - Housing information and deadlines
  - Residence hall and RA programs
  - Campus services and events
  - Oskaloosa events (when appropriate)
  - Other information assigned
• Help create an on campus living atmosphere that encourages residents to be accountable while having fun
Other duties as assigned by the Hall Directors, or the Directors of Resident Life

Requirements

• Successful completion of academic classes
• Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5
• May not be on academic probation while during your term
• Must be a full-time student (12 credit hours per semester)
• Work and/or participation in any organized groups may not exceed twenty hours per week (you must inform your Hall Director when and where)
• Internships for credit will not be counted as outside hours
• Any exceptions must be approved by a Residence Life Director
• Should have lived in a William Penn University residence hall for at least one semester or appropriate experience
• Must be in good academic and social standing
• Participate in staff training during the week prior to residents returning to the dorms in the fall semester and return to the dorm the weekend prior to the first class opening in the spring semester
• Have housing deposited and participate in on campus meal plan
• Work RA duty hours as scheduled in each residence hall
• RAs are expected to be a positive role models and maintain high visibility within the residence hall. Free time should be spent, beyond assigned duty hours, socializing with residents, handling emergencies, and attending activities
• RAs are expected to attend training sessions and all staff gatherings
• All RAs are expected to be on duty during designated all staff weeks/weekends. These include but are not limited to the following:
  - Attendance to RA Training is mandatory
  - Fall orientation/opening of halls
  - Homecoming
  - Finals week, remaining until halls are closed
  - Spring orientation/opening of halls
  - Finals week, remaining until halls are closed after commencement

Compensation

• Room allowance in the hall assigned
• RAs receive $1,080 per semester, or $2,160 per year

Justification for Loss of Income or Dismissal

• 1st violation – written warning, loss of $7.50/hour of duty time missed, required meeting with Housing Director/Residence Life Director and automatic probation letter
• 2nd violation – meet with Residence Life Director for possible dismissal
• 3rd violation – automatic dismissal from the RA position, and movement to a different residence hall, upon approval of the Director of Residence Life
• Missing training hours will result in loss of $7.50/hour

• 1st violation – automatic probation
• 2nd violation – automatic dismissal

Violation of the alcohol policy or overnight policy could mean immediate dismissal.

Resident Assistants are bound by this contract to follow through with all assigned duties, as well as being supported by and supportive of other residence life staff and security personnel.

Failure to do so will be grounds for immediate dismissal from the position and termination of this contract.

Violations of any college and residence life policies or regulations, as well as local, state, and federal laws will be subject to disciplinary proceedings.

Not abiding by these policies may be means for immediate terminations as a Resident Assistant, as well as suspension or dismissal from William Penn University.