Resident Assistants

A Resident Assistant (RA) is a student staff member who is responsible for the residents within their assigned area. They are typically assigned a floor/floors or building/buildings that house their specifically assigned residents, but are also responsible for their entire area while serving as on-duty personnel. As the front-line staff member for Housing and Residential Life, the RA is responsible for serving as a guide for their residents while also cultivating community. This is a position where the RA is expected to assist in building the community of the area, advising residents appropriately, evaluating and managing conflict and policy, modeling appropriate behavior, and performing on a team of Housing Staff. Successful candidates for the RA position will demonstrate an ability to perform with situational awareness, inclusivity, customer service, critical thinking, and problem solving.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Community Development

• Staying visible and accessible to the assigned community and area as a whole
• Connecting residents with each other
• Obtaining a basic knowledge of each resident in the assigned community within the first six (6) weeks of each semester
• Supporting the area’s Programming Council as directed by the supervisor
• Addressing issues in the assigned community in a timely manner
• Sharing appropriate information with assigned residents in a timely and effective manner

Ethical Behavior and Role Modeling

• Maintaining and representing to their assigned community a positive attitude about the assigned area, the Housing Department, and the University as a whole
• Developing a personal sense of ethics and morality within their own identity
• Displaying appropriate attention to academics
• Participating actively and positively in team building activities
• Not participating in behaviors which would compromise their position
• Maintaining privacy and confidentiality as required by the Housing department, University, local, state, and federal policy and law

Interpersonal Skills

• Building and maintaining a successful dynamic with all area staff members
• Collaborating in an equitable manner with the area and Housing team
• Supporting all area team members
• Giving clear, concise, and constructive feedback to peers

Programming

• Fulfilling the requirements of the Housing and Residential Life Programming Model
• Utilizing creativity in program creation
• Appropriately advertising programs
• Utilizing programming to effectively meet the needs of the area’s residents
• Encouraging student involvement

Administrative

• Timely and prepared for all meetings
• Accurately completing all administrative tasks and paperwork/forms in a timely manner
• Participating in the opening and closing of the area
• Following emergency protocol when necessary

On Call

• On time for all on call shifts and responsibilities
• Correctly completing rounds, related forms, and on call tasks in a timely manner
• Appropriately requesting and documenting on call changes
• Enforcing policies in a fair and consistent manner
• Appropriately confronting and documenting all incidents or policy violations
• Notifying the appropriate on call personnel when situations arise in the area

Professionalism

• Keeping open and regular communication with supervisor
• Practicing professionalism in all written and verbal communication with students, faculty, and staff
• Attending professional development opportunities and Housing Training
• Practicing effective time management skills
• Asking questions as needed

Requirements and Compensation:

Requirements for Applicants

• Must have completed 24 credit hours at the time of employment
• Must have a clear judicial record with Housing and Residential Life
• Must have and maintain a minimum semester and cumulative GPA of 2.5 if an undergraduate student or 3.0 if a graduate student
• Must pass a criminal background check administered by Housing and Residential Life
• Must go through entire interview process including application, references, individual interview, and group interview
• Must attend both Fall and Spring Training and be present for Fall and Spring Opening and Closing

Supervision and Job Requirements

• Will report directly to the Area Coordinator in their respective area and will be subject to the supervision of the Resident Director, the Associate Director, and the Director of Housing and Residential Life.
• Must participate in assigned “on call” hours each week and occasional weekends, must remain in their designated area while on call, and are required to make themselves available to residents and/or staff members as directed.
• Required to work the area front desk for four (4) hours per week, as directed.
• Required to assist in staffing their areas during Fall Break, Thanksgiving, Spring Break, and university holidays.
• Expected to participate in Connection Point activities, athletic activities, and other University sponsored programs, as directed by supervisor.
• Required to attend all pre-service training sessions, staff development programs, and staff meetings as directed.

Compensation

• RAs receive a monthly stipend of $475.  All stipends are dispersed monthly during the period of employment.  If an RA begins employment after the appointment start date, their monthly stipend will be prorated accordingly.
• RAs are provided a 100-block meal plan each semester during the regular academic semesters. 
• RAs are assigned to a private or single accommodation in their assigned building, at no cost. 
• RAs are provided with a Housing Parking sticker for accessibility of their area.
• RAs are given the opportunity, with approval, to take open desk shifts for an additional hourly rate up to 9 hours a week.

The following guidelines have been created to be as transparent as possible about the conditions of employment and expectations for the MTSU Housing and Residential Life Resident Assistant (RA) position. It is imperative that these conditions and expectations are read and understood in order to maintain employment as a Resident Assistant. Failure to abide by the following conditions and expectations may result in probationary status or termination of the RA position. RAs will be required to sign a Statement of Understanding prior to each contracted period of employment. This document will be reviewed and updated, as needed. Any changes made during a period of employment, after the document has been signed, will be communicated to the RAs through their Area Coordinator or the Associate Director of Residential Life. 

1. Period of Employment and Time Commitment
   1. RAs are Employed for a period of one Academic Year, beginning two weeks before the Fall Semester Starts, and ending the Sunday after the Spring semester ends. 
   2. The RA position requires an average 20-hour per week commitment.
   3. A two-semester commitment (Fall and Spring) is preferred, with Summer options available.
   4. To ensure successful work performance and availability, commitments beyond the RA Position (student teaching, internships, off-campus jobs, on-campus jobs, student leadership positions, and etc) must have prior approval by the supervising Area Coordinator. On-campus jobs are limited to an additional 5 hours on top of the RA position, with approval. Opportunities for additional paid desk shifts in residence halls are also available with approval of Area Coordinator and Associate Director of Residential Life.
   5. Peak work periods require additional work hours, especially during the Opening and Closing of the halls during each semester. These are considered All-In Staff Availability, and will require availability of the hall’s staff prior to and following Openings and Closings to assist the Department’s and Area Pro-Staff with completing any tasks related to check-in, check-out, and building/area closing procedures.
   6. RAs are required to check their RA mailbox and MTSU Email each weekday and respond, as needed.
   7. RAs are required to attend Staff Meetings and One-on-One meetings. Staff meetings and one-on-one meetings will be based on staff members’ academic schedules and will be set at the beginning of each semester.
   8. See Training Section and Staff Duty section for time commitments related to those requirements.
2. Compensation
   1. Due to the requirement of RAs to live in the residence area that they are assigned, a free, private room will be provided within said area. All RAs receive their assigned room for free as a benefit to the position. The value of the room is not taxable income and is not subject to income tax withholding. This benefit is provided as a condition of employment. It is not afforded if campus housing is closed, made unavailable due to emergencies or other unplanned disruptions, or upon a resignation/termination of the RA position.
   2. Monthly stipend as stated in the RA Contract.
   3. As an effort to encourage RAs to interact with their residents outside of their assigned area, RAs are provided a free 100 block meal plan each semester of their Academic Year contract.
   4. To ease RAs access to their assigned residential area, RAs will receive a parking pass with a Housing Parking Sticker in order to be able to park in all reserved Housing Spaces on campus.
   5. Upon approval from the RAs supervising Area Coordinator and the Associate Director of Residential Life, RAs may also take open desk shifts for an additional $9 per hour up to 9 hours per week, as long as the shift is not during the RAs Assigned Duty time.
3. Training
   1. RAs are required to attend and actively participate in the following training and professional development activities:
      1. RA Orientation
      2. August All Staff Training
      3. January All Staff Training
      4. Area Staff Meetings
      5. Area Coordinator/RA One-on-One meetings
      6. Periodic Professional and Leadership development sessions
      7. Fall Welcome Events
   2. Meals and/or meal stipends will be provided during August and January training periods for Breakfast, Lunch, and some dinners. 
4. Staff Duty
   1. Each RA is required to provide on-duty coverage of their area. The number of duty nights required per RA will vary by area.
   2. Failure to serve on duty when scheduled may result in termination.
   3. Duty Hours are from:
      1. 4:30pm-8am on Weekdays – Sunday night through Friday Morning
      2. 24 Hours on Weekdays – Friday at 4:30p to Sunday at 4:30p
   4. RAs on Duty are required to keep the duty phone on them at all times and must remain in their area and answer any Duty calls and respond to any incidents within their area while on Duty.
   5. RAs are required to perform Area Rounds 3 times on Weeknights and 4 times on Weekends, per Area Coordinator instruction and discretion.
   6. Additional duty assignments may be required at other times (tornado warnings, fire alarms, emergencies, etc)
   7. RAs must complete Incident Reports and Duty Reports in a timely and accurate manner as directed by professional staff and Housing policy.
   8. RAs not on duty are expected to report incidents or situations which they observe or are reported to them to the appropriate staff, regardless of if it is in their assigned area or not.
5. Position Expectations
   1. Housing and Residential Life Resident Assistants must abide by all Housing Policies.
   2. Resident Assistants are expected to complete and pass a background check and complete all HR Paperwork before their first date of employment.
   3. RAs must successfully perform the requirements of the position as documented in the RA Position Description, RA Expectations, and RA Manual. 
   4. RAs must abide by expectations set forth by the AC/RD of their area, the AC/RD On Call, and Housing Central Staff.
6. Key Usage
   1. Access to room keys and Housing ID Access are issued for the sole purpose of performing work and/or services of Housing and Residential Life in the Housing Areas.
   2. A room key may not be loaned to anyone other than the occupant(s) of that room. 
   3. RAs are required to receive authorization from their Area Coordinator before entering any student room without the student present. RAs are also required to have a fellow staff member accompany them when keying into any student room.
   4. Housing ID Access should only be used to access floors other than their own when performing duties of a Housing Staff Member.
   5. Any misuse of keys may result in termination from the Resident Assistant position.
7. Rehiring Process
   1. All RAs who are wanting to return for another year in the position must go through the Returner Hiring Process.
   2. All pieces of the Returner Application must be completed by the deadline stated in order to be considered for Rehire.
   3. RAs who are wishing to go through the Returner Process will also have their evaluations performed by professional staff as part of the consideration for their return.
   4. Additional factors for consideration are the RAs academic status and disciplinary status at the University.
8. VIII.Terminations and Resignations
   1. Job reprimands, up to and including termination, may result at any time due to an RAs misconduct or failure to abide by any stated expectations or policies.
   2. RAs who are terminated or resign may be ineligible to live in the building or area where they served on staff.
   3. RAs who plan to resign should provide the Area Coordinator with a minimum of a two-week notice.
   4. RAs who resign or are terminated must make all necessary arrangements to begin to pay for room and board. However, if there are no available spaces on campus, the student must plan for their own off-campus housing.
9. MTSU and Housing Policy
   1. All RAs are expected to abide by all federal, state, and local laws; abide by all rules and regulations of MTSU, Student Affairs, and Housing and Residential Life, including, but not limited to, the Housing Contract, Student Code of Conduct, and all RA expectations
   2. Academic Standards
      1. RA must maintain a 2.5 or better cumulative and semester GPA at MTSU in order to be hired, remain an RA, and in order to be rehired.
      2. RAs must be registered, full-time students at the University. Approval from Associate Director of Residential Life must be granted prior to taking less than 12 or more than 18 credit hours per semester.
   3. Use of Alcohol and Tobacco Products
      1. MTSU is a Tobacco and Alcohol-Free Campus
      2. No matter the RAs Age, RAs should never have alcohol or tobacco products on their person or in their room.
   4. Online Trainings
      1. RAs must complete all assigned Online Trainings training and abide by the policies set forth by the University and Housing and Residential Life.
   5. Candidates for the RA position must be in good standing with the Housing and Residential Life department and remain in good standing during their period of employment.
   6. Candidates for the RA position must be in good financial and disciplinary standing with the University and remain so during their period of employment. This includes all standards set by the Student Code of Conduct.
   7. The academic, financial, and conduct-related standing of RAs will be checked at the end of each semester and as needed throughout the year by professional staff of the Housing and Residential Life Department to ensure compliance with the above guidelines.

This is a rough outline of the RA Recruitment process. Due to changes in the academic calendar, dates change each year, so this is only a general idea of the timeline. Detailed and updated information will be released on the MTSU Housing Facebook, MTSU Housing Instagram, and on all marketing materials during each recruitment season. 

• January – RA Applications for the following Fall Semester open the week after school starts
• February – In-Hall Recruitment Events are held by current RA Staff
• February – RA Applications close around a month after they open
• February – Application Review and Individual Interview Selection Opens
• March – Individual Interview Selection closes
• March – 30 minute, Individual Interviews are held after spring break
  • Sign up for Group Interview at individual interviews
• March – 3 hour, Group Interviews are held the week following Individual Interviews
• April – Decision Emails are sent in early-mid April
• April – Accept/Decline due week before classes end
• August – RAs come to campus 2 weeks before school begins for RA Training

Requirements

• 2.5 cumulative and semester GPA
• 24 Credit Hours completed by job begin date
• Pass a criminal background check
• Clear conduct record with MTSU and Housing
• All Application Materials and Interviews completed

Application

• Our application can be found in the Housing Portal (https://mtsu.erezlife.com/). Login with your MTSU credentials.
• Application Requirements:
  • Full application submitted before deadline
  • Current resume submitted before deadline
  • 3 References (former/current supervisor, advisor, professor, RA, RD, AC, etc.)
  • Participation in both interviews
    • Individual Interview
    • Group Interview

• MTSU Housing Student Staff Recruitment Office
  • Gracy Hall, Room 114
  • 321 Friendship St.
  • Open M-F from 8a-4:30p
  • Front Office: 615-904-8310
  • Assistant Director of Housing Staff Resources & Guest Management
    • Stephanie Alderson
    • [email protected]