Resident Advisor - Fall 2024 and Spring 2025

Resident Advisors perform administrative, programming, advising/counseling functions, and service for residents with whom they share the residence hall and the larger campus. As staff members, RAs are expected to work toward the objectives of the University of Oklahoma Residence Life Program. This involves a commitment of time, energy, and self-discipline. RAs will need to show good judgment and possess an ability to healthily manage stress and time. They will need to be flexible and effective communicators.

The expectation is that staff will invest an average of twenty hours per week in the responsibilities of this position. The position can be demanding in time and effort, and availability is an important part of being a successful RA. Acceptance of an RA position assumes the RA job is the primary employment of the applicant. 

The following job description is by no means an inclusive listing of RA responsibilities. The Residence Life Leadership Team, Residence Life Coordinator, and/or the Graduate Assistant(s) may ask the RA to perform other related duties not specifically listed here. 

Staff Development 

Active participation is required in the following: 
RA training. RA training begins in August before new students arrive on campus and will require that you return to campus early. It is expected that RAs will be exclusively available for training, including any free time built into the training schedule. RAs are not excused for any other work, athletic, family/friend meetings or commitments during RA training. 

Move-in. Move-in occurs immediately following RA training. It is expected that RAs will be exclusively available during this time. RAs are not excused for any other work, athletic, family/friend meetings or commitments during RA training. 

Once-a-week staff meetings with your RLC, GA, and the other RAs in your hall. 

Bi-weekly one-on-one meetings with your GA

Monthly one-on-one meetings with your RLC.

Monthly in-services with the Director of Residence Life or his/her designee. 

RAs will be assigned to a community based on the needs of a particular community and the Residence Life program. This assignment could change at any time in the year based on the needs of the community. RAs are expected to be familiar with campus resources and refer residents to the correct resource. Employment is for one academic year. Employment is contingent on successful completion of job responsibilities (including Residential Curriculum) and performance evaluations.

Administrative Duties 

You will serve weekly duties as scheduled by your GA/RLC. RAs will perform tasks such as room check-in/out, maintenance work requests, building/hall cleaning and other periodic information-gathering procedures. Individuals or groups violating University of Oklahoma and/or residence hall policies will be engaged and reported within the guidelines of the disciplinary system. RAs will enforce all community codes with consistency. 

Community Development 

You will help students thrive in the residence hall and the University. 

Establish, develop, and maintain a relationship with each individual in your residence hall, especially those students assigned to your floor. 

Encourage academic pursuits by creating an appropriate living/learning environment on your floor. Support student involvement in residence halls and campus-wide activities. 

Strategies

Residence Life uses many strategies to engage with and support our students. Intentional Interactions and Programming are two that are incorporated heavily in the RA position. RAs are required to fulfill programming requirements provided by the Residence Life Curriculum Committee during RA Training. 

To support our students each semester, RAs complete two intentional interactions with their residents to learn more about them, as well as to evaluate the resources needed for each student. These one-on-one meetings are pivotal to the success of our RAs and our students throughout the year and help to grow relationships, as well as give a tool for students to discuss anything they’d like with their RA.

Personal 

As a leader and role model and employee, you will abide by all University of Oklahoma procedures and community codes. Availability in the residence halls is very important.  You are expected to spend the night in the hall unless your Graduate Assistant/Residence Life Coordinator has given you clearance to be gone.  (You must be in residence between midnight and 6:00 a.m.) 

As an RA you will know and be able to clearly articulate the mission of University of Oklahoma, its values, expectations, and services. RAs are required to maintain confidentiality concerning job-related information and relationships.  However, in cases of risk of injury to self or others, you will share the information with appropriate and designated personnel. 

RAs are encouraged to leave the hall two weekends per month. Time away must be coordinated with other residence life staff and approved through the Residence Life Coordinator. At least one-half of the building staff must be in the building each weekend.  Outside employment is negotiable pending approval of the Director of Residence Life.

Academic Expectations of an RA:

• To be considered for employment, you must have a 2.7 cumulative GPA. Once hired, you must maintain accumulative 2.5 GPA, and complete 12 hours of coursework each semester.

Disciplinary Expectations of an RA:

• RAs must follow and enforce housing policies as defined in the Community Living Guide, The University of Oklahoma Student Code of Responsibilities and Conduct, Staff Housing Contract, Job Agreements/Manuals, and Contract Terms and Conditions.

Time Commitment and Community Expectations of an RA:

• The Resident Advisor position will average approximately twenty (20) hour per week. Some weeks will require more time based on the needs of the community.
• RAs are required to complete a set number of Central Office time each week, not to exceed ten (10) hours. Responsibilities to be completed in this timeframe include, but are not limited to:
• RAs will participate in their Center’s/College’s evening and weekend duty rotation as well as holidays.
• RAs will serve as desk staff in a set front desk schedule, not to exceed 5 hours weekly.
  • Desk Hours and Office Hours make up Central Office time each week, you may split the time accordingly.
• RAs are required to attend weekly staff meetings and in-services on Tuesday or Wednesday evenings, as scheduled by your Residential Life Coordinators. RAs should make every effort to avoid scheduling classes or reoccurring commitments during this time.
• RAs will be required to hold the duty phone during the weekend.
• The Primary RA will pick up the phone at 5PM on Friday and hold the phone until 5 p.m. on Saturday. The Primary RA for Saturday night will get the phone at 5 p.m. Saturday and hold it until 8pm on Sunday evening. 
• RAs holding the phone will not be allowed to leave campus unless they have someone hold the phone for them.
• RAs with community responsibilities are expected to complete ten (10) hours of Community Engagement time each week.
• RAs with SafeWalk responsibilities are expected to complete at least one SafeWalk shift per week. These shifts are six (6) hours in length, from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. Other responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
• RAs will work with their assigned Community RAs to collaborate on events and meetings each month.
• RAs will participate in their Center’s/College’s evening duty rotation.
• RAs will serve as desk staff in a set front desk schedule, not to exceed 2 hours weekly.
• RAs are required to follow health and safety protocols while escorting a person or persons on campus for SafeWalk responsibilities, etc.

Administrative Expectations of an RA:

• RAs are required to arrive prior to the beginning of the fall and spring academic semesters and will be required to stay after finals are over. (Training dates will be determined by the University Academic Calendar).
• RAs must be in the residence halls two weekends per month. Weekend off requests are submitted to the community’s Residence Life Coordinator for approval.
• Outside employment is limited to 10 hours per week and must be approved by the Residence Life Coordinator and Assistant Director of Residence Life.

Campus Expectations of a Resident Advisor Staff:

• RAs are campus mandatory reporters. If an RA becomes aware of an alleged act of sexual assault, stalking, dating or domestic violence, sexual harassment, or gender discrimination, the RA must promptly share the information with a Sexual Misconduct Officer, the Title IX Coordinator, or any of the Associate Title IX Coordinators. Contact information available at www.ou.edu/eoo.
• RAs serve as Campus Security Authorities. (A Campus Security Authority (CSA) is an individual, who by virtue of their university responsibilities and under the Clery Act, is designated to receive and report criminal incidents to the Department of Public Safety so that they may be included and published in the university’s Annual Security Report. They have completed training on appropriately handling reporting crimes, victim relations and support, and related school policies.)
• RAs will receive CSA training as directed by Residence Life and the Division of Student Affairs in Staff Training prior to every fall and spring semester.

RAs must complete all required online training modules from the OnPoint system and provide a certificate of completion to their Residence Life Coordinator.

Additional Information:

• RAs are provided with meal plans as part of their compensation package. The meal plan is to be used by the RA. It is not meant to feed friends, family, or significant others.
• RAs will be furnished with a private room, a meal plan, and bi-weekly pay totaling $275/month.
• RAs are required to sign an employee housing contract for their room.
• RAs are under an August 2024 – May 2025 (academic year) contract; ending on May 16, 2025 tentatively, which will include working breaks and holidays throughout the year. RAs are required to work either during one of the Holiday breaks: Thanksgiving, Winter Break, or Spring Break.
• Please Note: Duty responsibilities, break and holiday timeframes are subject to change or be modified in the event of: changes to the academic year and/or a pandemic occurring.
• RAs are not to use the RA position to solicit, recruit, or in any way influence residents toward personal outside organizations, extracurricular activities, religious affiliation, and/or non-religious affiliation.
• Upon the end of the term as an RA, staff must return their Housing and Residence Life identification badge (if issued one), all room and office keys, the RA handbook, and other items stipulated by the RLC.

Required Attachments: 

• Resume
• Current Class Schedule

Optional Attachments:

• Cover Letter
• 1- one page recommendation letter from a current or former supervisor
• 3 references document (former or current supervisors or teachers).

Required Education: Must be currently enrolled as a student at the University of Oklahoma. Hiring contingent upon verification of current student status.

• Enrollment verification will be authenticated again in Summer 2024 for Fall 2024 enrollment.
• Must have and maintain a 2.7 Cumulative GPA to be considered for the position. If hired, you must maintain accumulative 2.5 GPA, and complete 12 hours of coursework each semester.
• Must be continuously enrolled full-time at the time of application and throughout your employment contract if hired. 
• Must have lived on a college campus for at least one full fall or spring semester.

Skills:

• 
  Must have basic math skills and ability to communicate both orally and in writing.
  
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office
• Applicants should be motivated and have the ability to follow through on projects with minimal supervision. 
• Ability to learn and navigate data storing software systems.

Advertised Physical Requirements:

• Frequent and repetitive arm and wrist movement.  Ability to lift, push and pull objects up to 25 lbs, depending on job assignment. Work at a desk in an office environment and use a computer and telephone. 

Supervision: Resident Advisors are staff members of the University of Oklahoma Housing and Residence Life Department within Student Affairs and/or Athletics Residence Life.  Resident Advisors (RAs) work under the supervision of a Graduate Assistant who in turn works under the supervision of the Residence Life Coordinator. RAs will support and be available to their residents and the community.