Residential Advisor 2026-2027

Resident Advisor Position Description and Contract 2026-2027 Academic Year

Resident Advisor Overview Resident Advisors (RAs) are one tier of our student leadership and community development structure, and they play a vital role in fostering a safe, welcoming, and inclusive living environment in the residence halls. As team members of the Office of Residential Life and Housing, RAs are an integral part of daily Residential Life operations, student support, and community engagement.

Resident Advisor Expectations · RAs are expected to arrive on time for all scheduled and assigned shifts, including duty nights and training sessions. · RAs are expected to remain present and engaged in their community, committing 20–30 hours per week to active (non-sleeping) responsibilities. · RAs are expected to find appropriate coverage for duties if they become unavailable, with supervisor approval. · RAs are expected to actively participate in all training workshops, in-service programs, and staff meetings. · RAs are expected to treat their role as a primary responsibility, second only to academics. · RAs are expected to uphold confidentiality, respect individual privacy, and maintain professionalism at all times.

Resident Advisor Qualifications · RAs must remain full-time undergraduate students in good academic standing by maintaining a minimum overall GPA of 2.5 or higher during employment. · RAs must remain in good conduct standing with the University by not being on probationary sanction status or higher during employment. · RAs must be at least 18 years old and able to pass all required background checks, including FBI fingerprinting and PA Child Abuse Clearances. · RAs must demonstrate strong communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.

Resident Advisor Permitted Hours/Commitment · RAs are expected to commit 20 hours per week toward their RA role, including duty coverage, community engagement, administrative tasks, and programming. · RAs may hold outside employment or campus involvement as long as it does not interfere with RA responsibilities. Supervisors reserve the right to require RAs to choose between outside commitments and RA duties if performance is impacted. · RAs may take up to two weekdays and two weekends off per month, with advance supervisor approval.

Resident Advisor Compensation

COMPENSATION: Room Waiver plus hourly compensation at the established student employment rate, not to exceed 320 hours per semester, recorded in accordance with the E-Time Processing Schedule.

Resident Advisor Employee Timelines

Fall 2026 · RAs will move in as early as Friday, August 7, 2026, by 4:00 p.m. · Training begins immediately and continues until the first day of classes. · RAs must hold no other commitments during training. · RAs assist with Fall 2026 move-in and opening of the halls (specific date provided by Residential Life). · RAs provide coverage until Thanksgiving Break when halls close (specific date provided by Residential Life). · RAs return for coverage when halls reopen after Thanksgiving Break (specific date provided by Residential Life). · RAs provide closing support through the end of Finals Week when the halls close for Winter Break (specific date provided by Residential Life).

Spring 2027 · RAs move in mid-January (specific date provided by Residential Life). · Training begins immediately and continues until the first day of classes. · RAs assist with Spring 2027 move-in and opening of the halls. · RAs provide coverage through Spring Break (specific date provided by Residential Life), when halls close at 7:00 p.m. · RAs return for coverage (specific date provided by Residential Life).when halls reopen after Spring Break · RAs provide closing support through Spring 2027 move-out until halls close (specific date provided by Residential Life). Note: Dates and times listed are subject to change.

Resident Advisor General Responsibilities · Build relationships with residents and maintain weekly one-on-one engagement. · Encourage and support student-initiated programming and community development. · Serve as a role model and uphold the Residential Life Core Values and the Way of the Warrior tenants. · Be available to assist in all openings and closings of assigned residence halls. · Provide excellent customer service to residents, families, and guests. · Serve in a duty rotation to provide weekday and weekend evening coverage for the residence hall community. · Support and attend building and campus-wide events, including open houses and orientation programs. · Enforce and report University policies and procedures, as well as federal, state, and local laws. · Respond to emergencies and assist in evacuation drills and crisis situations. · Mediate roommate and community conflicts, making referrals to supervisors as appropriate. · Complete required administrative responsibilities, including weekly interaction logs, duty reports, and bulletin boards. · Actively and regularly communicate with supervisors, professional staff, and fellow student staff. · Respect confidentiality and handle sensitive information appropriately. · Participate in hiring, training, and mentoring processes for new staff members. · Support and collaborate with housekeeping, facilities, and University Police in maintaining safe and functional living environments. · Other duties as assigned by Residential Life and Housing.

By submitting an application, I authorize the Residential Life and Housing Office to review my student conduct and academic file in relation to my application to the Resident Advisor Position. Further, by signing my name below, I acknowledge that the information contained in this application is accurate to the best of my knowledge.

Must be at least 18 years old and have English literacy skills. Employment with ESU is contingent on the selected candidate passing a thorough background check that includes: FBI fingerprinting, PA Child Abuse, and employment. Some student employment positions will require students to pass an academic check as well. We are proud ESU is an equal opportunity employer. For more information on President Long's 10-point plan, click here: https://www.esu.edu/president/10-action-plan.cfm