RA Job Expectations and Responsibilities

Please click the following link and complete the corresponding training:

General Compliance Briefing: UC Ethical Values & Conduct

In accordance with the University of California's 3-fold Mission of Research, Teaching, and Public Service, R/HA's are expected to uphold and abide by the following

• Terms and Conditions of Employment as listed on the Resident/House Assistant Job Card,

• Undergraduate Residential Housing Contract

• Student Conduct Polices and Procedures

• Policy on Integrity and Scholarship

• RESNET Acceptable Use Policy

• Principles of Community

• Non-Discrimination Policies & Procedures

• Statement of Ethical Values and Standards of Ethical Conduct.

• Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

• Jeanne Clery Act 

Please note that TMC Reslife additional set of expectations and duties beyond what is listed above. It is important that you understand what your role as an RA entails in fulfilling these expectations and expect collaboration in the creation of the Reslife enviornment that supports you succeeding in these expectations.

Involvement in Residential Life often enhances a student’s academic experience at UCSD. However, it is important to remember that above all you are a student and that your academic progress is paramount.  Therefore, all undergraduate student team members are held to an academic standard that facilitates minimum academic progress.

• All paid student employees must be full-time regularly enrolled UCSD students as defined by the Registrar’s Office for fall, winter and spring quarters while employed by Residential Life.  Full-time enrollment is 12.0 units or more.  

• Exceptions for reduced enrollment (during fall, winter or spring quarter) will be considered for graduating seniors in the quarter of graduation only (enrollment at UCSD is still required; UCSD Extension or another institution does not qualify). A request for reduced enrollment should be sent via email to the supervisor in the quarter before reduced enrollment is to be expected and/or attempted.  Supervisors will consult with HR staff to approve or deny the request.

• All paid student employees are expected to be in good academic standing with the University for the duration of their employment.  Staff is subject to minimum GPA requirements as outlined in the Terms and Conditions of Employment via the R/HA Job Card.  Paid student team members are expected to disclose and discuss with their supervisor if their academic standing is altered and falls below minimum expectations and/or if they experience academic difficulty.

• The GPA requirement to remain eligible as a R/HA - at the time of hire - must be a cumulative GPA of a 2.5, but the quarterly GPA must be at least a 2.0 to remain in good academic standing with not only your R/HA position, but with the university as well.

As a reminder, in order for an R/HA to be eligible to work during the academic year, the student must have been enrolled in the Spring Quarter of the previous academic year, and pay UCSD Student Services fees each quarter working.

Each Residential Life position comes with privileges to which the general resident population does not have access.  These privileges may include access to keys, funds, equipment, space, resident Personal Identification (PID) numbers, confidential information, etc.  These privileges are granted solely to perform the official functions of your assigned Residential Life role.  

When utilizing these privileges, it is essential that you do so for your Residential Life role only and not for personal uses and/or out of curiosity.  If you believe that another team member is misusing their access to any of the above, it is essential that you immediately inform your supervisor.

For example:

• Residential Life team members may not use PIDs for any other purposes including, but not limited to, checking survey completion results, completing a survey on a resident’s behalf, impersonating a resident, gathering information about a resident, or casting a vote on behalf of a resident, etc.

• Residential Life team members should not use office space, equipment or funds for personal use. Incidental use of computers or printers for academic purposes is allowable with supervisor permission.

• University funds including government/floor/program funds should never be used to purchase personal items even if you plan to reimburse the University.

It is important for Residential Life to be a safe and supportive community and workplace. Situations that could lead to sexual harassment or unfair treatment must be mitigated and addressed per University Policy.

• Conflicts of Interest Arising Out of Consensual Relationships as explained in  UC San Diego Policy 200-11:  There is an inherent conflict of interest for an individual to exercise direct supervisory, evaluation, instructional, and/or advising responsibilities, or participate in hiring, retention, promotion, or award decisions on behalf of UCSD, for someone with whom there exists a romantic or sexual relationship. While everyone is encouraged to maintain appropriate professional boundaries, the ultimate responsibility for maintaining these always lies with the staff member, not the student.

• Student Team members who hold supervisory (SRAs) or student staff roles (R/HAs) are expected to disclose and discuss with their supervisor if they enter into or maintain a dating/intimate relationship with another staff member on the team. 

• Additionally, R/HAs must report dating/intimate relationships with a resident in the community.  

• As such relationships may impact neutrality and performance of job duties, the supervisor must be informed and may, in consultation with Residential Life leadership, make campus inquiries and employment decisions as deemed necessary and subject to the University of California Policy on Sexual Harassment.

• The UCSD and UC student policies and procedures on sexual harassment can be found at ophd.ucsd.edu

As an R/HA it is important that you familiarize yourself with your responsibilities as it pertains to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). 

(FERPA) (20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. The law applies to all schools that receive funds under an applicable program of the U.S. Department of Education and their paid employees.

• All paid University employees are required to abide by and uphold FERPA.  This includes the proper and authorized use of PIDs, Addresses, Student Conduct information, Counseling information, UCPD information, Students of Concern (SOC) team information, Student Status (i.e. foster youth status, AB540 status, veteran, etc.).

• More information on FERPA for UCSD employees can be found at FERPA.

The U.S. Department of Education’s FERPA information can be found at http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/index.html

FERPA will be discussed in further details in different modules and sessions throughout your training.  Should you have further questions, please consult with your supervisors in your respective residential areas.

It is an expectation that Residential Life student team members remain neutral in all campus political activity while in the residential community. 

• This includes, but is not limited to, campaigning, endorsing candidates, promoting positions or slates, etc.  

• Forms of political expression that are not allowed in the residential community include: wearing slate/candidate apparel, posting only one candidate/slate's information via a community social network (e.g. floor page), sending emails or any other forms of communication to residents regarding a particular candidate/slate, inviting only one slate to present at a community meeting, etc.  

• Prior to the student election process, Residential Life department leadership will provide detailed and clarifying information on what is allowed or not allowed regarding elections/campaigning.

The University has regulations that limit the amount of hours a student can work during the regular academic year. Therefore, to assist in compliance with these regulations:

• All paid staff are expected to discuss, in advance, the addition of any additional employment on or off-campus with their supervisor prior to accepting or working in another position.  

• Additional employment requires discussion and approval of the supervisor, which is consistent with outlined time requirements/restrictions for maintaining Residential Life paid employment.

• Marshall College Res Life Staff is asking all first-time RAs not to hold any other jobs/internships/student leadership positions for at least the fall quarter.

• Continuing RAs must receive approval from their supervisor to hold another job/internship/student leadership position. Any approval will not exceed 10 hours of commitment.