Resident Advisor (Traditional, Theme, and Michigan Learning Community RAs)

INTRODUCTION

A Resident Advisor (RA) is one of the live-in student positions that make up ResStaff who work within the residential communities. One of the primary responsibilities of a Resident Advisor is community building through intentional engagement with residents while maintaining safety and security for all. Community Building means getting to know residents well individually and collectively. This happens by being available and investing time to engage them through intentional in-person interactions and activities which help facilitate the development of positive and meaningful relationships. Resident Advisors should also build relationships with other ResStaff and full-time staff members in order to strengthen connections and a sense of belonging throughout the community.

TIME COMMITMENT

Resident Advisors are expected to meet the expectations and responsibilities of the position through the time commitments listed below. Michigan Housing recognizes that Resident Advisors have other academic, personal, and professional time commitments as well. A Resident Advisor’s Hall Director is available to discuss strategies to help balance the Resident Advisor responsibilities with other time commitments as needed.  

• Generally, 20-hours-per-week commitment which includes but is not limited to:
  • Building connections with residents.
  • Maintaining open doors in the community to increase availability and accessibility for residents
  • Facilitating interactions and activities for and among residents.
  • One on one or small group check-in meetings with the Hall Director(s).
  • Attendance and participation at weekly Monday night team meetings from 6 PM – 8 PM.
  • On-call duty rotation to support the safety and security of community members. 
• Prior to the official start of classes and during the end of each semester, Resident Advisors can expect an additional time commitment devoted to both mandatory ResStaff Training, and Student Move-in and Move-Out. This differs from the weekly 20-hour commitment when the school year begins.
• Additionally, during the academic year, there may be an occasional need to devote more than 20 hours per week to the role. 
• Commit to a nine month appointment which begins in August. Resident Advisors are required to be present when the community is open to ensure resident and operational needs are met.
  • Resident Advisors are expected to work with their supervisor and colleagues to ensure appropriate coverage for their communities should they need to be away from the community. There will be peak times where time away requests will not be approved such as during large move-ins and mandatory trainings.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Build connections, both individually and collectively, in the residential community by planning and implementing intentional in-person social interactions and educational programming. 
• Be available, visible, and accessible to residents while maintaining consistent hours of presence in the community
• Demonstrate a commitment to multiculturalism by striving to create an understanding and inclusive community where individuals have a sense of belonging. 
• Collaborate with other ResStaff (RAs and Diversity Peer Educators [DPE]) and Building Team members (full-time staff in the community) to build community and address concerns.
• Assess and respond to the needs of residents through community engagement, connecting them to campus resources and informing the Leadership Team (Hall Director(s) and Community Center Manager) of residents’ needs.
• Respond to student concerns and critical incidents with a restorative approach while being supported by full-time staff (Leadership Team, Division of Public Safety and Security [DPSS], etc.)
• Meet on-call responsibilities by serving in an on-call duty rotation as designated by the Hall Director. Duty hours are overnight. 
• Maintain timely communication with full-time staff, ResStaff, and community members and complete administrative responsibilities of the role within expected timeframe.
• Maintain the Community Living Standards by addressing and documenting concerns, while modeling personal behavior that is consistent with the Community Living Standards, Statement of Student Rights and Responsibilities, and all institutional, state and federal laws or guidance.
• Attend and participate in mandatory one-on-one or small group check-in meetings with supervisor and weekly team meetings which occur on Mondays from 6pm-8pm.
• Participate in August and January training, in addition to any in-service(s) throughout the semester, to learn critical topics to support residents and build relationships with fellow ResStaff members and full-time staff. 

Note: MLC and Theme RAs have additional responsibilities in addition to the Traditional RA position described above. Please review those position descriptions for details.

ELIGIBILITY

• Applicants must have completed at least two (2) terms (not including spring or summer term) of college or university coursework, post-high school graduation prior to the Fall 2025 position start date.
  • To be considered for a Winter 2025 position, applicants must have completed at least two (2) terms (not including spring or summer term) of college or university coursework, post-high school graduation prior to the Winter 2025 position start date. 
• Applicants are required to maintain a term and cumulative GPA of 2.5, without rounding, at the time of application and throughout their ResStaff appointment.Applicants who fail to meet the minimum GPA requirement will not be eligible to continue in the selection process. Applicants who are extended offers and fail to meet this requirement at the end of Winter Term will no longer be eligible for a student position. Incoming transfer students will be asked to present their official or unofficial transcripts from previously attended institutions.
  • It is the responsibility of the applicant to notify the ResEd Student Selection team at [email protected], regarding any special circumstances (e.g. incompletes, grade changes, etc.) that may influence your cumulative GPA.
  • Courses selected as pass/fail or credit/no credit will be counted only toward meeting the term requirement; they will have no impact on GPA.
• Must be in good standing with Student Life and the University. This includes upholding all policies and procedures as defined by the University of Michigan Standard Practice Guide, the University Housing Community Living at Michigan, the Statement of Student Rights and Responsibility, and any other applicable University policies and procedures.
• ResStaff in Undergraduate Housing must be pursuing an undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan. ResStaff must be enrolled and complete at least 8 credit hours each semester they are appointed.
• Must comply with all institutional, local, state, and federal laws or guidance.
• HousingSupport & Community Responsibility, Housing Student Employment Work Record, University Records, and the Office of Student Conflict Resolution records will be checked to determine if an applicant is eligible to be hired for a student position. 
• Final position offers are contingent upon verification of background check.
• ResStaff appointments are for one (1) academic year and applicants must be able to commit to the full academic year – both Fall and Winter terms.
  • ResStaff who have the intent to return to the position for subsequent years are required to participate in an application and evaluation process annually. ResStaff may be reassigned to different communities based on the needs of the student population and department. 
• You must be available to attend all of ResStaff training, prior to both Fall and Winter semesters. Training starts at the beginning of August 2025. Training start date may vary based on positions. Specific dates will be provided during the Winter 2025 term.
• If you apply during the 2025-2026 ResStaff selection cycle and are not offered a position, you may not apply again until the 2026-2027 ResStaff selection process begins. We are unable to make exceptions to this requirement even if the application reopens.
• Resident Advisors will not be eligible to hold other Residence Education student positions during their RA appointment.

SUPERVISION

Hall Director(s) directly supervise Resident Advisors. Community Center Manager(s) provide functional oversight and guidance to Resident Advisors related to the Community Center.  Both the Hall Director(s) and Community Center Manager are full-time staff who are collectively known as the Leadership Team.

COMPENSATION

Compensation includes room and board. The meal plan included is to be used as a tool to connect with residents. 

Please consult with the Office of Financial Aid to determine how the position compensation may impact your award package.