The following position description outlines the significant expectations for which RAs are responsible.

Please note: The School of the Art Institute of Chicago reserves the right to make reasonable amendments to this position description and terms of agreement. Any such amendments will be distributed in writing to the then-current RAs.

Community Development Responsibilities

A core responsibility of each RA is to create a living environment that is conducive to the academic, personal and artistic growth of residents. The desire to positively impact the SAIC Community is absolutely necessary for a successful RA. Residence Life provides RAs with guidelines for community development during training. These guidelines encompass all aspects of RAs’ responsibilities regarding Community Development and are abbreviated here. As an RA, you must:

• Know your residents individually & your community as a whole

• Facilitate relationships between residents in your community

• Have intentional conversations with residents throughout the academic year

• Create and implement programming (events) on small and large scales, individually and collaboratively with other RAs

• Advise and assist residents

• Conduct monthly floor meetings

• Create and maintain bulletin boards

• Attend and support residential and SAIC community-wide programming

• Serve as a member of a Residence Life programming committee

On Call and Crisis Management Responsibilities

RAs serve as first responders to many student and facility concerns that arise in the residence halls. RAs need to be familiar with SAIC’s Rules of Conduct and Residence Hall Rules of Conduct as described in the Student Handbook. After a series of training, RAs serve in an on-call rotation that equates to approximately one night a week (mix of weeknight & weekend nights) to be scheduled at the beginning of a semester. RAs who are on call are required to be present in the building and must be available to handle emergencies or other building needs.

While on call, RAs monitor student needs, assist with student concerns, confront possible policy violations, and identify facility concerns through scheduled walks of the building. When not on call, RAs are required to notify appropriate on call staff if they are alerted crisis situations. RAs are also required to be on call during school holidays and breaks; see Terms of Agreement.

Staff Team Member Responsibilities

RAs are responsible for building community on their floors and for being an active team member on the Residence Life Staff. This team is comprised of RAs, Senior RAs, student workers, and Professional Staff members. RAs must support their fellow staff members to ensure the overall success of the staff team and the overall success of community development in the residence halls. Outlined below are RA responsibilities that ensure a unified and positive staff team.

As an RA, you must:

• Attend and participate in weekly staff team meetings at 3:30pm every Wednesday

• Participate in training and staff development activities throughout the term of the role

• Get to know members of the staff team; Assist other staff members

• Promote and attend other staff member’s programs and events

• Fully participate in collaborative work such as your assigned committee

• Actively seek and utilize feedback to improve your performance

• Attend biweekly supervision one-on-one meetings with your supervisor

• Meet with your Senior RA Mentor (new RAs only)

• Actively solicit team members’ advice and support

• Complete and utilize a self-evaluation and have an evaluation meeting with supervisor

Administrative & General Responsibilities

1. Period of Agreement

a. The period of RA employment is for the full academic year, including training that begins in August prior to the Fall semester through May after the Spring semester ends.

• The tentative dates of employment are: Monday, August 4, 2025 through Friday, May 25, 2026

• RAs will be asked to perform limited administrative duties between acceptance of the position and the start date in August.

b. SAIC residence halls are open on school holidays and breaks. RAs must be available during these times. RAs can expect to work either Thanksgiving or Spring Break, to be determined during RA staff meeting and/or training.

c. Important Dates: RAs are required to attend the following(All dates are subject to change):

• Pre-Employment Meeting: April 11, 2025

• RA Move In: RAs must be moved onto campus no later than 12pm on Sunday, August 3, 2025

• RA Fall Training and Fall Opening: Monday, August 4, 2025 through Sunday, August 24, 2025

• Weekly staff meetings at 3:30pm every Wednesday 

• Family Weekend: Exact time TBD, typically a weekend in October

• RA Winter Training: TBD usually a week before the first day of Spring Classes

• Spring Move In: TBD usually the Sunday before Spring Classes

• Spring Move Out: TBD usually the weekend after Spring classes end

Please note: RAs may not work elsewhere or take classes during the important dates listed above with the exception that RAs are allowed to take 1 winter term class. RAs must be available for all days & evenings during training & opening; a schedule will be sent in advance with updates as appropriate.

2. Time Commitment

a. Work Load:

• RAs must hold the RA position as their primary non-academic commitment from Monday, August 4, 2025 through Friday, May 25, 2026. Any additional non-academic commitments taken on during this time must be discussed with their direct supervisor.

• Because of the nature of this position, it should be understood that work as a staff member in the residence halls is not easily translated into hours worked per day or week, and the time as a role model spent is a 24/7 position.

• As a general guideline, RAs should expect a minimum of 25 hours a week of regularly scheduled responsibilities (e.g. talking with residents, staff meetings, on-call shifts, etc.).

b. Course Load:

• RAs must attempt and pass the required full time credit load of their academic program, but may not exceed more than 15 credit hours per semester without prior approval from Residence Life.

• RAs must maintain good academic standing. They have an obligation to inform Residence Life if they have been placed on academic warning, probation, or did not receive credit for any attempted credit hours.

• RAs may not have more than two nights they are in class later than 6:30pm.

c. Time Off (sleeping away from the building):

• The RA position is a live in position. RAs are expected to actively live in the building including sleeping in their assigned room the vast majority of nights. RAs are encouraged to take time away from the building. To take time off they must:

  • Obtain prior approval from direct supervisor to take time off (typically a few days a month)

  • Scheduling time off is done on a first-come, first-served basis to ensure that there is an adequate number of RAs sleeping in the building on any given evening.

d. Outside Employment:

• • • Due to the nature of the RA position, all employment outside of the RA position, including other positions a SAIC, must be approved by the direct supervisor before the RA begins work in that position.

    • Outside employment is typically limited to 10 hours per week.

    • Outside employment must be scheduled after all RA obligations are scheduled including, but not limited to, the important dates listed above, on call shifts, staff meetings, and one-on-one meetings.

3. SAIC Student Leadership Responsibilities

RAs are considered leaders throughout campus and are looked upon to represent the SAIC Student Body and to provide support to all students, including those who are not in the Residence Halls.

To uphold this standard, at all times RAs are expected to:

•  Act with integrity, maturity, and responsibility

•  Abide by all local, state and federal laws

  • RAs are expected to inform Residence Life if they are convicted of any crimes which violate local, state, or federal laws

• Abide by policies set forth in the SAIC Student Handbook

• Be familiar with and enforce all SAIC policies and procedures

• Support other departments at SAIC

• Take initiative to positively impact the community; be a role model

• Use electronic resources, such as social media, responsibly including maintaining a level of behavior that is reflective of your leadership position

4. Dating/Intimate Relationships between RAs, and RA and a Resident:

RAs are highly discouraged from dating/having intimate relationships with fellow staff members in their building or residents in their building because of the potential for damage to staff dynamics and the power difference that exists between residents and RAs. RAs do have the responsibility of notifying their direct supervisor when they begin to date or have an intimate relationship, which may or may not include sexual activity, with a fellow staff member or resident.

5. Compensation:

a. Furnished Single Room OR Furnished Private Bedroom in Shared Apartment

b. Stipend of $600 ARTICash and $1800 check per term

• • • ARTICash will be available on the first day of Fall & Winter Training. The check will be available approximately 1 month after the start of Fall & Spring semesters.

    • All RAs must have completed I-9 paperwork with SAIC before the period of agreement begins

    • If an RA terminates their position for any reason or is terminated from the position, the RA will be responsible for reimbursing a portion of their stipend and/or check, which will be prorated based on the amount of time served in the Resident Advisor position

6. Renewal of Position

The Terms of Agreement are for one academic year. RAs who are interested in serving as a RA in another academic year must reapply. RAs who are reappointed will not necessarily receive the same housing placement.

7. RA Placement/ Room Assignment:

Placement of an RA to a specific building and/or floor is completed by Residence Life Professional Staff based on the needs of the community. While unlikely, Residence Life retains the right to change housing assignments at any point during the year.