Over 650 regular staff and hundreds of part-time student positions sustain the facilities, services, and programs that support the University's residential communities. We hope you'll join the Housing team!

Graduate Applicant Essay Questions

Please limit your response to 250 words or fewer.

Graduate Resident Advisor Essay Questions

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are values of Residence Education. DEI allows for all members of society, inclusive of their social and cultural background, to be given access to opportunities and resources in an equitable way. Our department and the university at large strive to create communities that are inclusive and promote social justice. As a Graduate Resident Advisor you will be required to build an inclusive community for residents with diverse identities, disciplines, and backgrounds.

Give an example of how you have intentionally fostered relationships with people who are different from you. As a Graduate Resident Advisor, how will you create opportunities for residents from varying identities to connect and engage with one another in a community?

Community Development

One of the values of Residence Education is community development. The University of Michigan is a big place that can feel overwhelming for students. Additionally, our graduate communities are comprised of apartments and suites, which may make outreach complex.

As a Graduate Resident Advisor, in what ways would you help graduate students find a community where they feel a sense of belonging? What are some of the current needs of graduate students? How would you address these needs?

Restorative Practice

One of the Residence Education values in Restorative Practice, which includes building relationships with others and addressing concerns as they arise. As a Graduate Resident Advisor, you will be asked to work closely with other RAs and the Transdisciplinary Fellows to build community through programming and interactions with residents.

Describe a time you had to work collaboratively with a team member in order to reach a goal, including each step which was taken. What was the collaborative experience like for you and what impact did this experience have on you and others involved?

Transdisciplinary Fellows

Q1. Transdisciplinary is characterized by a unified understanding and describes individuals’ shared, lived experiences as they prepare for professional lives within a diverse world with ever-changing problems. This is accomplished through borrowing and lending expertise, merging ideas, and drawing connections across disciplines and differences. The unique transdisciplinary program provides opportunities for students to obtain skills necessary for students to thrive in diverse, collaborative, professional environments.

Please talk about a specific way you have been engaged in transdisciplinary work and share an idea you have for transdisciplinary programming in the community in which you are applying to work.

Q2. How will your experience as a Transdisciplinary Fellow contribute to your success as a graduate student at the University of Michigan and as a future employee in your field of study? How do you plan to encourage residents to participate in and see the benefits of the program?

Q3. As a Transdisciplinary Fellow, you will be required to create and support programming for residents. Talk about a time you supported a program or event. What was your role? What would you change about the event or event process to improve it? Be specific.

Q4. As a Transdisciplinary Fellow, you will be required to create and support programming that helps residents relate across personal difference.

Talk about the specific techniques you will use to foster diverse interactions within programming. How will you ensure your programming ideas are inclusive?

DEI Transdisciplinary Fellow

The purpose of the DEI Transdisciplinary Fellow Position is to create an inclusive community by building relationships with residents and conducting educational, cultural, and social programs that promote the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and restorative and social justice. Further, they serve as a resource to support residents who are targeted in their identities and social memberships by responding to potential bias or behaviors that negatively affect the community and campus climate.

What aspects of the DEI TF position attract you the most and what do you hope to learn from the position? Please explain.

HENDERSON HOUSE RESIDENT DIRECTOR ESSAY QUESTIONS

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI)

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are values of Residence Education. DEI allows for all members of society, inclusive of their social and cultural background, to be given access to opportunities and resources in an equitable way. Our department and the university at large strive to create communities that are inclusive and promote social justice. As a Henderson House Resident Director you will be required to build an inclusive community for residents with diverse identities, disciplines, and backgrounds.

Give an example of how you have intentionally fostered relationships with people who are different from you. As a Henderson House Resident Director, how will you create opportunities for residents from varying identities to connect and engage with one another in a community?

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

One of the values of Residence Education is community development. The University of Michigan is a big place that can feel overwhelming for students. 

As a Henderson House Resident Director, in what ways would you help residents find a community where they feel a sense of belonging? What are some of the current needs of residents in the community? How would you address these needs?

RESTORATIVE PRACTICES

One of the Residence Education values is Restorative Practices, which includes building relationships with others and addressing concerns as they arise. As a Henderson House Resident Director, you will be asked to work closely with student leaders and campus partners to build community through programming and interactions with residents.

Describe a time you had to work collaboratively with a team member in order to reach a goal, including each step which was taken. What was the collaborative experience like for you and what impact did this experience have on you and others involved?

MARTHA COOK GRADUATE COMMUNITY COORDINATOR ESSAY QUESTIONS

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION (DEI)

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are values of Residence Education. DEI allows for all members of society, inclusive of their social and cultural background, to be given access to opportunities and resources in an equitable way. Our department and the university at large strive to create communities that are inclusive and promote social justice. As a Graduate Community Coordinator Director you will be required to build an inclusive community for residents with diverse identities, disciplines, and backgrounds.

Give an example of how you have intentionally fostered relationships with people who are different from you. As a Graduate Community Coordinator Director, how will you create opportunities for residents from varying identities to connect and engage with one another in a community?

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

One of the values of Residence Education is community development. The University of Michigan is a big place that can feel overwhelming for students. 

As a Graduate Community Coordinator, in what ways would you help residents find a community where they feel a sense of belonging? What are some of the current needs of residents in the community? How would you address these needs?

RESTORATIVE PRACTICES

One of the Residence Education values is Restorative Practices, which includes building relationships with others and addressing concerns as they arise. As a Graduate Community Coordinator Director, you will be asked to work closely with student leaders and campus partners to build community through programming and interactions with residents.

Describe a time you had to work collaboratively with a team member in order to reach a goal, including each step which was taken. What was the collaborative experience like for you and what impact did this experience have on you and others involved?