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Student Staff

Thank you for your interest in the Office of Residential Life and Housing Services' Student Staff selection process. We are excited that you are considering submitting an application to become a Resident Assistant (RA)! This site is frequently updated, so please bookmark this page and check back often. Here is where you will find all the information necessary to be informed about the positions we offer and, if you choose to apply for one, to create, submit, and update your application portfolio.

This site is specifically designed to help you navigate through the application process and answer as many general questions as possible; we want our selection process to be as paperless as possible while still providing timely and complete information. Therefore, this web site is your source of information about becoming an RA.

If, after reading the information on these pages, you have further questions about the positions we offer or the processes by which we select staff, feel free to contact us.

Again, we appreciate your interest and will look forward to receiving your application.

Considering the RA Position:

So, you are thinking of becoming an RA? Being an RA is a large commitment and one you should carefully consider. The position requires patience, dedication and the ability to push yourself further than you may have thought possible. As an RA, your biggest responsibility will be to create a sense of connectedness on your floor and within the residence hall. You will work on a team of other RAs and a full-time, professional Residence Hall Director (RHDs) and Residence Hall Assistant Director (RHAD) to build that community. We believe that RAs occupy one of the premier leadership roles on the NYU campus and we carefully consider the leadership skills and potential of each candidate.

Many students generally think that RAs get “free housing and meals,” but that’s not really the case. Our staff members expend a lot of time and effort with students in their halls and genuinely earn what we offer them. We feel that what we expect of our student staff is a substantial responsibility; therefore, we offer a remuneration package that includes a “Housing/Dining Grant” which equals the cost of each semester’s staff housing and staff meal plan.

RAs, through their dedication, hard work and commitment to their fellow students, provide a significant contribution to the University. We’d like to invite you to apply to the Resident Assistant Leadership Institute (RALI), a class that will introduce you to the RA position and help you further develop your leadership, communication and decision making skills.

Considering a Graduate RA or Graduate Assistant Position:

So, you are considering the possibility of becoming a Graduate Resident Assistant (RA) or Graduate Assistant (GA)?

The GA positions are work in the Residential Life and Housing Services Central Office and work directly with senior members of the department in specific content areas: Student Leadership and Academic Development.

Graduate RA positions will be available in the following communities:

  • RA for Residential College Living/Learning Community (First-Year Undergraduate Students)
  • RA for Residential College Living/Learning Community (Upperclass Undergraduate Students)
  • RA for Graduate Student Community
  • RA for Stern MBA Community (MBA students only)

Handy Forms 

Program Planner & Evaluation

Online Incident Report

RA Council

The Office of Residential Life and Housing Services has a forum for all student staff members (Resident Assistants and Peer Educators In Residence) to raise concerns/issues relating to their role as student staff members. Members of the senior staff of the office, Associate Vice President Tom Ellett, and Assistant Director, Rachel Alldis, are the two advisors of the council and oversee its activities. The charge of the RA Council is to be committed and informed, and to be a proactive body that advocates for a better quality of life for all RAs and residents. They also provide perspective and feedback on all aspects of residential life to the University. Some of their tasks of focus are: Meal plan changes (i.e., implementation of the Water Street Food Cart); Town Hall meetings with RAs; BASE Review; RA Evaluation Process; Review of the Summer RA position; Training for RAs; and social events to cultivate a closer community amongst RAs.

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