Apply for RA
How to Apply/Timeline
11/8 New RA Application Open
11/8 New RA Information Session
4pm-5pm
Binford Orangerie
12/6 RA- Informational Tabling
11am-1:30pm
Founders Hall
12/7 New RA Information Session
11am-12pm
Founders West Gallery
1/16 New RA Information Session
4pm-5pm
Binford Orangerie
1/30 New RA Applications Close
2/4 New RA Group Process
2/5-2/12 New RA Interviews
3/1 Fall 2024 Staff Notified
4/7 Staff 2024 Orientation
Timeline or instructions, link to New RA Applicants page and Returner RA Applicants page.
Job Description: Resident ADvisor
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
• Minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average.
• Must be meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements.
• Available to serve the entire 2024-2025 academic year (preferred and highly prioritized); "study away" during the spring 3-week session is allowed.
• At least sophomore (24 or more credits) or second-year status by start of employment.
• Traditional-age student who will be eligible for housing in 2024-2025. (Graduate/Continuing Education students may be eligible to apply if they have previously served as a Resident Advisor at Guilford College.)
• In good standing with the college – academically, judicially, and financially.
• Physically able to travel throughout and between the residence halls.
In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.
BASIC FUNCTION/RESPONSIBILITY
The Resident Advisor (RA) is an integral part of the College’s residential program. RAs are committed to the important role of community living, the undergraduate educational experience, and the goals and core values of Guilford College.
RAs are student members of the Residential Education & Housing staff. They report to and are directly supervised by a Community Director (CD), with additional oversight from the Assistant Community Director (ACD). RAs have the most frequent and direct communication with residential students; therefore, they serve as student liaisons and resources and are in a position of opportunity to greatly impact the development, experience, and education of students.
RAs are best able to develop a rapport with others with a dimension of understanding, recognition of individual differences, and acceptance of all students. RAs help to maintain a positive community by conveying community standards, assisting residents in meeting those standards, and by encouraging the creation of an environment that promotes academic success.
As leaders and role models on their floors, RAs have the opportunity for an extremely rewarding personal experience. Consistency, sensitivity, empathy, and the ability to listen must be evident in an RA’s interactions with students and the larger Guilford community. It is expected that RAs are sincerely interested in and supportive of the well being of the students at Guilford College and the mission of Residential Education & Housing.
SPECIFIC DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
A. Hall Community Responsibilities
1. Assist residents in maintaining an environment conducive to academic excellence and congenial group living.
2. Develop friendly, respectful, professional relationships with all residents of assigned area; advise residents concerning personal, academic, and social concerns.
3. Model appropriate respect for the health, safety, welfare, and rights of community members. Uphold, abide by, and enforce Guilford College policies.
4. Be knowledgeable of and make referrals to student resources in the various campus departments.
5. Confer regularly with the CDs, ACDs, the Assistant Director and Director of Residential Education & Housing, and the Student Affairs division about concerns of individuals and groups of residents for whom you are responsible; advise the Residential Education & Housing department regularly of concerns, unexplained absences, extended illnesses of residents, and the presence of unauthorized persons.
6. Be available and accessible to residents as is reasonably possible. Visibility and presence on the hall are of critical importance. As determined by the CD, this may include “Open Door Hours”.
7. Gather and disseminate pertinent and important information to residents in a timely and effective fashion.
8. Assist in the resolution of conflicts that occur within the hall community.
9. Assist in the orientation of new students by participating in orientation programs as requested.
10. Assist with all residence hall check-in and check-out procedures.
B. Safety and Policy Enforcement Responsibilities
1. Assist residents in maintaining a comfortable physical environment free of safety/health hazards; aid in maintaining the safety and well-being of the residents themselves; understand and communicate emergency and evacuation procedures to residents.
2. Supervise public and private areas to ensure against crime, policy violations, unauthorized persons, solicitors, hazards, etc.
3. Communicate College regulations and policies and assist in their enforcement.
4. Serve On-Call: actively 9:00 p.m. to 1:00/2:00 a.m. as scheduled (specific duty procedures may vary from weeknights to weekends, by area, and for specific events) and by phone 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.. This requires the RA to remain in the assigned campus area/zone and physically walk through residence halls in a timely manner and respond to incidents as needed according to protocol.
5. Respond to emergency/crisis situations as needed; confront and document incidents involving violations of the College’s conduct code.
C. Hall Maintenance Responsibilities
1. Monitor and promote the residents’ responsibilities for cleanliness in their rooms, common areas, and community.
2. Regularly report maintenance problems and needs occurring within the residence hall.
3. Conduct and submit reports for monthly hall inspections.
4. Assist with periodic Health & Safety Inspections as scheduled by the Community Director.
D. Residential Education & Housing Departmental Responsibilities
1. Represent the College and Residential Education & Housing department positively to students, students’ families, other College employees and affiliates, and the general public.
2. Handle student and departmental information with sensitivity and confidentiality as appropriate.
3. On a daily basis, check and respond to Guilford College email and voicemail and read institutional notices and information; check RA mailbox twice per week.
4. Serve on departmental committees as assigned.
5. Assist in the recruitment/hiring processes, orientation, and training of new RAs for the following year.
6. Provide desk coverage for the Residential Education & Housing Department, on a scheduled rotating basis to assist in administrative/office responsibilities.
7. Complete necessary surveys, administrative reports, and forms within established deadlines.
8. Participate in the formulation of policies and programs with Residential Education & Housing.
9. Perform specific duties during Check-in and Check-out periods, Family/Homecoming Weekend, Serendipity, Spring Into Guilford, and other special College events as requested.
10. Be present and available according to the schedule outlined in the Resident Advisor Agreement for RA trainings, hall openings and hall closings and other special events. Assist with closing and securing residence halls at times as determined by supervisors.
E. Programming Responsibilities
1. Create, plan and implement social and educational programs for residence halls based on the needs and interests of the residents and in accordance with the established programming model requirements and the expectations set forth by the supervising Community Director.
2. Actively encourage resident engagement in floor and campus activities and organizations.
3. Create educational bulletin boards each month to provide residents with continued education about various topics.
F. Staff Training & Development Responsibilities
1. Attend all training sessions, including but not limited to: spring training (orientation) sessions beginning the semester prior to RA appointment, fall training, winter training, and periodic in-services. Some training requires early return to the College; refer to dates/times specified in the RA Agreement.
2. Attend weekly staff meetings.
3. Attend individual meetings as scheduled by the supervising Community Director or Assistant Community Director.
G. Other duties as assigned.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Due to the time demands of the RA position, involvement in activities such as (but not limited to) other student employment, varsity sports, clubs and activities, field experiences, volunteer opportunities, outside employment, internships, or the athletic training program that take the RA away from his/her building for significant periods of time must be approved, in advance, by the supervising Community Director. In addition, RAs must notify the supervising Community Director when they will be off-campus for significant periods of time (e.g. out of town for a weekend or longer) and absences must not interfere with job requirements and expectations.
It is understood that a live-in, student staff position cannot easily be translated into hours worked per day or week because of the unique nature of the work and that RA obligations may be scheduled at night and on weekends.