RA Position Description

Position summary

The Resident Assistant at Cornell lives in the residence hall and serves as a leader, helper and resource person for students.  The position serves as a critical link between the students within the Resident Assistant’s assigned floor or area, the Assistant Director and the Residence Life Office.  The position requires being a representative of the College and a representative of student issues in the hall and across campus. This position requires the Resident Assistant to live in an assigned housing location on-campus.

Principal duties and responsibilities

Serves as a resource to residents

• Knows and interacts with all students within the assigned floor or area
• Communicates and promotes the mission and policies of the Residence Life Office, Division of Student Affairs and Cornell College
• Knows, abides by and enforces all rules, regulations and policies of the residence halls and of Cornell (including The Compass, the Residence Life Handbook)

Develops community

• Creates environment where the needs and concerns of diverse populations of students are appreciated
• Promotes an environment that is conducive to academic and social development
• Supports hall council activities and events
• Promotes and supports Cornell College events and activities

Provides initial support to residents

• Assists student with academic, personal and social concerns, making timely referrals as necessary
• Mediates roommate conflicts
• Responds to crisis situations
• Works with Facilities and/or Campus Safety staff to resolve maintenance issues and safety concerns

Qualifications

• Achieved sophomore status or the equivalent of two semesters of colligate academic work by start date
• Achieved a minimum cumulative 2.5 GPA (must maintain minimum GPA throughout employment)

• Be in good conduct standing with the College and be able to pass a criminal background check

Required skills, knowledge and abilities

The ideal Resident Assistant will be able to take initiative and think critically and creatively to solve problems and to make decisions.  This person will be able to communicate with and relate to a diverse group of students to understand their individual needs and to help those students establish strong social networks as well as connect with the appropriate academic, social and well-being related resources on campus.  The ideal Resident Assistant must be able to work successfully on a team as needed, must be self-motivated to work independently as needed and must be flexible in living and working in constantly changing and unpredictable environment.

Because of the nature of the Resident Assistant role, we recognize that not all candidates will possess all of these skills at the time of application.  As such, we look for candidates who demonstrate a commitment to learning and openness to receiving training and feedback from their supervisor and/or peers.

Time commitments

• Assist with all residence hall openings and closings
• Take part in training sessions in spring called Student Leadership Summit, in July (online), in August (pre-move in in-person), and January (pre-move in-person)
• Attend staff meetings, scheduled on Tuesday nights from 8:00-10:00 p.m. during weeks 1-3 of each block
• Engage in committee work and carries out Residential Curriculum tasks throughout the year
• Help with major on-campus events (e.g. orientations, residence hall openings/closings, Commencement)
• Assist with office initiatives (e.g. RA conferences, housing selection processes, RA selection process)
• Serve in a regular duty rotation, including block breaks, Homecoming weekend, Fall Break and Spring Break
• Lead a floor meeting during the first week of each block
• RAs have limited opportunity for additional employment on or off campus that does not conflict with RA role
• Is not away from campus for more than six days in a block without prior approval from Residence Life

Because of the nature of the position, the Resident Assistant is expected to be a presence in their community, especially early in the semester, a time critical for the development of a strong residential community.  Individuals who have significant time commitments that prevent them from participating fully in trainings, meetings, or from being a strong presence in their communities early in the semester or from assisting during opening and/or closing are expected to discuss those time commitments prior to accepting the position.  Such time commitments include but are not limited to student teaching, internships, off-campus study opportunities, participation in athletics, and social groups.

Remuneration

Each Resident Assistant receives a single room billed at the standard published double room rate. The Resident Assistant will also receive a room credit equal to the cost of the standard published double room rate, with half applied in the fall semester and half applied in the spring semester. The Resident Assistant will also receive an RA credit of $2,800.00, with half applied in the fall semester and half applied in the spring semester. The two credits are applied in conjunction with other financial assistance that the individual may be receiving.  Each Resident Assistant candidate is encouraged to meet with a member of the Financial Assistance staff to determine the impact, if any, on the student’s financial aid.

Please note: Students receiving full funding (Cornell funded gift aid that completely covers tuition, fees, room and board) are not eligible to receive the room credit as their room is already covered. Additionally, if a student receives gift assistance that results in an overpayment of direct charges for any academic year, Cornell reserves the right to reduce the amount of any Cornell aid by the amount of the overpayment.

In the event that a Resident Assistant is away from campus for more than six total days in one block, or if the Resident Assistant fails to fulfill the stated job responsibilities, Financial Assistance will be notified and the Resident Assistant will be expected to repay a portion of one or both of the two credits for the time the Resident Assistant is away. This includes time spent away for academic reasons.

Resignation/Termination

Once the academic year has begun, a resident assistant who chooses not to continue in the position or who is removed from the Resident Assistant position for any reason will be required to move to a new room, floor and possibly the hall in which the student was employed as a Resident Assistant.  Should this happen, Residence Life will notify Financial Assistance and the student's aid will be adjusted accordingly.

Should a student become ineligible for the position by way of withdrawal or dismissal, it is the responsibility of the student to communicate as soon as possible any plan to become eligible again. Once withdrawn or dismissed, the office may begin staffing the vacant position immediately due to the important nature of the position and cannot guarantee to hold a position for any person who is not a currently enrolled student.