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Position Description:
ACADEMIC YEAR RESIDENT ASSISTANT (as of 8/11/2009)

The Resident Assistant (RA) is a full-time junior, senior or graduate student who lives on a floor in an undergraduate or graduate residence hall and serves as a peer counselor, resource and referral person, advocate, policy enforcer, programmer and leader for residents of the assigned floor(s).  The RA also assists with daily emergency coverage rotation, plans and implements social/educational programs.

QUALIFICATIONS: The following conditions must be met in order to serve in the RA position.

  • Enrollment Status:  RAs must maintain a 2.75 grade point average and be a full-time, registered junior, senior or graduate student at New York University throughout the time of appointment.
  • Course Load:  Undergraduate RAs must carry a minimum of 12, but no more than 16, credit hours per semester. Exceptions for course loads over 16 credit hours must have prior approval of the RA’s direct supervisor. Any RA in the final semester before graduation may carry fewer than 12 credits, but no fewer than 6 credits.  Graduate RAs must carry a minimum of 9 credit hours per semester.
  • Disciplinary, Financial and Academic Standing:  RAs must be in good academic, financial and disciplinary standing at New York University prior to and throughout the period of employment.
  • Selection Process:  RAs must successfully complete the application and selection process.
  • Commitment to community:  RAs must role model and demonstrate strength of character, good judgment, flexibility, responsibility, involvement and commitment to student life and the University.

 

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT: Below, the employment periods are distinguished and additional terms outlined.

Employment Period:  The standard employment period for the RA position is one academic year, from August to May.  Staff members are expected to report for training sessions prior to residence hall check-ins for both fall and spring semesters.  The period of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of tasks, assignments and responsibilities and positive performance appraisals by hall supervisor.  Upon successful completion of the standard employment period, the RA may be considered to serve for one additional period.  Limited summer employment opportunities may be available.
Compensation:  In addition to an invaluable experience in peer leadership and teamwork, during the Fall and Spring semesters, RAs are compensated with a housing/dining grant which is utilized to cover the cost of room and board.  Note that staff meal plans can be used only when dining halls are opens and the University is in session.  Limited meals are available to RAs serving on duty during University holidays and breaks.  This compensation may impact any Financial Aid award received.  For further information, please contact a counselor with the Office of Financial Aid at 212.998.4444.
Holidays, Breaks and Vacation Periods:  RAs may be required to work and/or serve on duty for a portion or all of holiday breaks when University offices are closed; these include, but are not limited to Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break and Spring Break.

RA Outside/Additional Work Policy:  Participation in leadership positions and work experiences are an important part of one’s educational experience.  However, since the RA position must be the primary out-of-class activity of those students who are selected, it is paramount that participation in aforementioned activities not be excessive in time required outside the hall and must not come in conflict with the RA position.  The RA position requires a minimum of 20 hours per week of contact time within the residence hall.  Due to issues and conditions within a particular hall, the 20 hours may vary per week, as well as the given tasks and responsibilities.

RAs who have been awarded work study money through the Office of Financial Aid will not be barred from taking advantage of this type of aid.  RAs to whom this applies should discuss their plans with their supervisor before beginning such work to ensure an appropriate and ongoing balance of their involvement in the hall and to the RA position.

  • First year RAs:  First year RAs are discouraged from holding jobs, internships, assistantships or any other positions which are not academically required for completion of an academic degree.  If a first year RA wishes to hold outside employment, approval must be received from hall supervisor prior to the start of each semester.  If outside work has been approved and begins to interfere with the RA position, the staff member will need to choose between the RA position and the outside position.
  • Returning RAs:  Returning RAs may hold limited outside commitments that are not academically required if approved by hall supervisor.  Returning RAs cannot allow this commitment to conflict with the RA position and must receive satisfactory ongoing and semester feedback and performance appraisals.  If a returning RA wishes to hold outside employment, approval must be received from hall supervisor prior to the start of each semester.  If outside work has been approved and begins to interfere with the RA position, the staff member will need to choose between the RA position and the outside position.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES:  Each RA is expected to act as a role model and to be aware of the goals and objectives of the Office of Residential Life and Housing Services.  The primary goal of the RA position is the development of an environment conducive to the academic and personal growth of residential students. The following is a limited summary of the responsibilities of the RA.  The RA should be aware that other responsibilities may be assigned by hall supervisors and are encouraged to look to the Residential Life Student Staff Handbook for specific protocols and position responsibilities.

Community Development Responsibilities:

  • Work with residents to create a living and learning environment that promotes academic growth, personal responsibility and community accountability through activities such as floor meetings, programs and intentional one-on-one conversations (e.g. BASE);
  • Provide opportunities for meaningful interaction for residents;
  • Implement social, educational and academic programs;
  • Assist residential students in academic, social and personal matters through resource referral;
  • Provide guidance and support and role model appropriate behaviors as a responsible community member;
  • Support and promote the mission of hall council and the Inter-Residence Hall Council (IRHC);
  • Be available to residents as a resource, providing residents with information regarding University activities and events through individual contact and group information sharing;
  • Provide support for University mediation procedures in roommate and community conflicts through facilitation of roommate/community meetings and referring students to other mediation services;
  • Support the assessment of program effectiveness and learning outcomes by submitting program reports and other data (e.g. EBI).

Crisis Response and Policy Enforcement Responsibilities:

  • Know, communicate, enforce and abide by existing University and Residence Hall policies and procedures;
  • Know and be prepared to enact all emergency and crisis procedures;
  • Know University/community resources and make appropriate referrals;
  • Keep supervisors informed about all problems and concerns on the floor;
  • Maintain appropriate confidentiality while working in coordination with University staff;
  • Assist with the student judicial process by submitting online incident reports to document situations in a timely manner;
  • Participate in on-duty and/or on-call rotational coverage during scheduled evenings, weekends, breaks and holidays.

 

Administrative Responsibilities:

  • Participate in weekly staff meetings on Wednesday nights at 9:30pm – 11:30pm;
  • Work 3 hours per week on special projects, collateral assignments and/or office/resource center coverage;
  • Participate in regular one-on-one meetings and provide regular e-mail updates regarding situations in the hall with supervisor;
  • Serve as an advocate for and a representative of floor residents by communicating concerns to the RHD and other building staff;
  • Understand the needs of and act as a liaison between the Office of Residential Life and Housing Services and residential students;
  • Participate in on-going training and staff development sessions throughout the year;
  • Assist with the completion of roommate agreements;
  • Assist the Housekeeping and Facilities staff in identifying facilities in need of repair or attention;
  • Assist with the facilitation of fire drills each semester;
  • Participate in other University, Departmental and building activities as assigned;
  • Assist in the preparation of hall for opening and transitions.

Availability:  All RAs are expected to be sufficiently available in the hall to respond to emergency situations that may arise and to maintain regular contact with residents.  A staff member who is not on duty and who plans to leave the hall for more than a 24 hour period (i.e., weekend) must notify and/or obtain prior permission from hall supervisor.

STAFF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT:  Staff training and development programs are important to the effectiveness and success of the Residential Life program and are designed to strengthen the Residential Life team.  As such, RAs are required to attend and participate in these activities.  Training activities are listed below.  Development activities will be held periodically focusing on leadership development and position skill strengthening.
Semester Trainings

  • Spring prior to term of employment: Newly Hired Staff Orientation/Welcome
  • Fall of term of employment: Fall Training, (a period of time before residence halls open)
  • Spring of term of employment: Winter Training, (weekend prior to beginning of Spring semester)

STATEMENT OF ETHICAL STANDARDS:  Resident Assistants are required to respect the personal integrity of all residents and assure they be treated in a manner that is fundamentally fair.  RAs should refrain from engaging in any behaviors, attitudes, relationships, or actions that:

  • would impinge on a resident's or another staff member's dignity, moral code, privacy, self-worth, and academic, physical, psychological, and/or emotional well-being;
  • would seek unjustified personal gains, unfair advantage, unearned goods or services;
  • would be considered harassment on the basis of gender, race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, nationality and/or mental disability.

New York University is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every respect of its relations with its faculty and staff members, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, or veteran status. This includes, but is not limited to, recruitment, hiring or appointment, selection for training, transfer, layoff, promotion, granting of tenure, rates of pay and other forms of compensation, and participation in University-sponsored educational, social, and recreational programs. 1/09