Resident Assistants

Do you have a knack for helping people and making a positive difference in their lives? Are you a fan of creating fun and educational events for your peers? Are you interested in gaining valuable leadership skills that can be applied to any future job? If so, the Resident Assistant position may be the perfect position for you!

Resident Assistants are student staff members who live and work in the residence halls and are directly responsible for nurturing a positive living environment for the community in their residence hall. Each RA plays a critical role in facilitating the development of students and positively impacting a student’s overall experience at Lees-McRae College. RAs are community builders, event planners, policy enforcers, conflict mediators, crisis responders, resource guides, role models, mentors, and friends.

Resident Assistants receive a vast amount of training on various topics throughout the year, including extended training at the beginning of each semester, regular staff meetings, and more. At Lees-McRae, we develop Resident Assistants with a breadth of transferrable skills who are prepared to lead and develop caring and responsible communities.

Position Requirements

Minimum Qualifications for Selection and Continued Employment

  • Be enrolled as a full-time student at Lees-McRae College.
  • Have completed a minimum of one academic semester at Lees-McRae College.
  • Maintain at least a 2.5 Lees-McRae College system semester GPA and 2.75 cumulative GPA at all times.
  • Have lived in a Lees-McRae College residential community for at least one semester.
  • Be in good academic and judicial standing with Lees-McRae College.
  • Demonstrate advanced level of maturity through ethical decision making, emotional health, professionalism, and sense of responsibility.

View the full job description for the Resident Assistant position 

Position Responsibilities

The position description is not an exhaustive list of tasks; other duties may be assigned to support students and the mission, vision, and goals of the college.

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    Develop a sense of belonging by building relationships.

    • Establish positive, meaningful relationships and promote overall community between residents.
    • Facilitate conversations with residents to assist in their transition to college.  In these conversations, RAs provide resources, assess needs and interests, and support academic and personal success of their residents.
    • Maintain visibility within the community and awareness of residents’ interests, challenges, connections, and behavioral patterns.
    • Implement the Lees-McRae College residential curriculum under the discretion of your supervisor(s).  Execute programs and interactions designed to build community, promote academic and personal growth, and connect residents to campus resources.
    • Facilitate roommate agreement discussions to develop residents’ skills in sharing a living space.
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    Build safe and inclusive communities.

    • Respect the diversity of all Lees-McRae College residents, including age, gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, religion, disability, nationality, veteran status, and other identities.
    • Educate self on all forms of diversity.
    • Respond both on- and off-duty to students in crisis (physical, emotional, medical, etc.) following established protocols.
    • Follow-up with residents in a caring and timely manner while maintaining confidentiality per FERPA, HIPPA, and Title IX regulations.
    • Be responsible for all Resident Assistant materials including keys, duty binders, and more.
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    Cultivate a living learning environment.

    • Coordinate, facilitate, and evaluate regularly scheduled community meetings, events, and other activities which support the mission of Lees-McRae College and the residential curriculum.
    • Enforce quiet hours and courtesy hours to foster a healthy and productive environment for students to sleep and study.
    • Complete responsibilities while serving in an on-duty capacity within the residence hall or community.  Confront inappropriate behavior and uphold the Lees-McRae College Student Handbook and policies.  Educate residents on policy in an objective, consistent, and respectful manner while providing policy rationale.
    • Educate residents on the impact of their behavior and refer them to professional staff for questions or concerns pertaining to student conduct and judicial.
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    Empower student growth and resiliency.

    • Encourage residents to reflect upon and examine their values, goals, and professional and personal passion areas.
    • Support resident involvement within the campus community, based on personal interests, academics, and social connections.
    • Engage residents in conversations about self-compassion, reframing failure, coping skills, and self-concept.
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    Hold professionalism and performance coaching conversations.

    • Timely, thorough, and accurate completion of administrative reports including, but not limited to, weekly reports, one-on-one meetings, staff meetings, duty logs, event requests, incident reports, and work orders.
    • Serve engagement hours at the front desk within your community or residential neighborhood to build community and provide service excellence.
    • Promptly report possible vandalism or unresolved maintenance concerns to Aramark and supervisors.
    • Demonstrate respectful communication with others and refrain from inappropriate or offensive behaviors.
    • All communication (electronic, social media, written and verbal personal contact, etc.) should be professional and positive.
    • Share information regarding campus programming and events, visiting guest procedures, health and safety inspections, and other duties as assigned by supervisors or Lees-McRae College Residence Life leadership.

Additional Terms

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    Conditions of Employment

    • Adhere to Lees-McRae College rules, policies, and regulations. Adhere to local, state, and federal laws while publicly promoting and supporting responsible behavior among residents both on and off campus. In addition, RAs will abide by college policies for alcohol and drugs outlined in the Lees-McRae College Student Handbook:
      • RAs will not provide alcohol to minors.
      • RAs will not consume alcohol if they are underage.
      • RAs will not consume alcohol before or while engaged in the duties of the position.
      • RAs will not consume, sell, trade, transfer, purchase, or possess any illegal drugs.
      • Being found in violation of alcohol or drug policies can jeopardize a Resident Assistant’s continued employment in the role and their conduct standing with Lees-McRae College.
    • Additional employment on- or off-campus is to be discussed with supervisor(s) and Residence Life leadership at Lees-McRae College. This measure is to support the RA in their academic, personal, and professional success while in the position.
    • While serving on-duty, the RA is required to stay in their building or residential neighborhood except when doing rounds as part of their area, eating a meal in the dining hall, or when they are confronting an incident or conducting appropriate follow-up. Exceptions may be approved with the discretion of the RA’s direct supervisor and Residence Life leadership.
    • Participate in ongoing staff training, which assists the RA to develop skills to meet expectations set forth by Residence Life at Lees-McRae. Full participation in all Resident Assistant training functions is mandatory for all RAs. Any academic or athletic conflicts are to be discussed with Residence Life leadership and campus partners to best support the RA in those pursuits. Resident Assistants return in early August and early January to participate in RA Training, and year-long trainings are offered throughout the semester as training needs are identified. Training dates will be provided in-advance.
    • New Resident Assistants must register for and complete the New Resident Assistant course with a passing grade.
    • Lees-McRae College Residence Life, Student Affairs, and Campus Safety leadership at any time may require the Residence Life staff to assist with coordinated response to weather emergencies, public health directives, facility concerns, or other crisis situations that involve Residence Life.
    • Remain on campus and/or return early to assist with the opening and closing of residence halls (Fall Opening, Winter Break Closing, Spring Opening, and Spring Closing). This will involve remaining in the building until after all residents vacate the area and returning early to open the building after break periods.
    • Based on occupancy needs, Residence Life reserves the right to place roommates with RAs. RAs will receive roommates if the need for additional bed spaces arises.
    • Failure to uphold these expectations will result in corrective action by Residence Life and may include documented conversations, written coaching conversations, probation, suspension, and termination. Any Resident Assistant placed on academic probation and disciplinary probation will be terminated immediately.
    • The employment agreement is renewable upon evaluation of continued satisfactory performance in the position as well as the successful completion of the rehire process for returning staff.
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    Academic Expectations and Requirements

    • Appointment as a Resident Assistant is for the entire academic year and for the contract dates listed above.
    • The RA offer may be rescinded if the candidate is unable to commit to serving in the position for the full academic year. If Residence Life becomes aware of an RA's intent to break the full academic year agreement during the employment period, the RA may be immediately terminated.
    • RAs considering graduation, clinicals, student teaching, or extensive internships during the period of this agreement should express this intent with supervisor(s) and Residence Life leadership. 
    • Graduating seniors and those not returning for the following academic year should expect to work the entire duration of this agreement (including Commencement exercises) or face the possibility of financial and/or other penalties.
    • RAs must maintain a 2.5 Lees-McRae College system semester and a 2.75 Lees-McRae College system cumulative GPA at all times while employed in the position.
    • Residence Life staff will use the GPA as reported by the Registrar’s Office at the end of each semester to determine eligibility for the position. Academic termination and probation outcomes as well as appeal processes will be communicated in writing.
    • Newly hired RAs who do not have a 2.75 cumulative GPA at the conclusion of the semester preceding their employment may have their RA offer rescinded for failure to meet the academic requirement of the position.
    • RAs whose semester and/or cumulative GPA fall below the requirements will be placed on probationary status within the RA role. RAs will have the probationary semester to earn a 2.5 semester and/or 2.75 cumulative GPA, at the end of which if they have not earned the grade requirement they may be terminated.
    • Newly hired RAs will be required to complete a Student Success Workshop during the first semester of their employment to assist with time management skills, academic success, and the ability to balance the RA role with academic, professional, and personal commitments. Failure to do so will result in corrective action.
    • Any RA whose Lees-McRae College system semester or cumulative GPA falls below a 2.0 will be terminated immediately.
    • An RA terminated for academic performance may be re-hired when they meet the grade requirement based on available position vacancies.
    • RAs will not be allowed to use the summer session or transfer classes to raise their GPA to the required standard. Only Lees-McRae College system GPA will be considered for GPA requirement.
    • At no time will cumulative or semester GPAs be rounded up when considering candidates for hire and/or rehire.
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    Compensation and Benefits

    • Resident Assistants are provided a $2,700 per semester/$5,400 per year stipend for their housing assignment.
    • Transferrable professional skills.
    • Meals during training.
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    Housing Contract and Separation of Employment

    • RAs must sign and abide the Lees-McRae College Housing Agreement Form and Student Handbook.
    • RAs who choose to resign from the position or are terminated from the role will consult with Residence Life leadership to review available housing re-assignment options. Students’ accounts will be adjusted at the time of resignation or termination, with the student responsible for fees for the time period outside of the RA role.
    • If an RA resigns in good standing with Residence Life, they are eligible for rehire but must participate in the established RA selection processes.
Apply to become a resident assistant

Application Timeline

The final application deadline will be Monday, Nov. 22 at 11:59 p.m.

If your application is selected to move forward in the interview process, you will be notified on Tuesday, Nov. 30. First round interviews will take place via Zoom Dec. 13–17.

Second round group interviews are scheduled for Jan. 18 from 7–8 p.m.

Required Dates

Resident Assistants will be asked to commit to serving on compas for the following 2022 dates:

  • March 19 from 9 a.m.–12 p.m.: New Resident Assistant Training and Headshots
  • April 29 from 5–8 p.m.: New Resident Assistant Training and Team Bonding (Returning RAs to join for Team Bonding)
  • Aug. 5: Resident Assistant Move In
  • Aug. 6–9: BASECAMP 1.0: Resident Assistant Training and Hall Preparations
  • Aug. 10: New Student Move In
  • Aug. 10–12: BASECAMP 2.0: Resident Assistant Training
  • Fall 2022–Spring 2023: Ongoing weekly evening Staff Meetings as determined by RA class schedules

Questions?

If you have any questions about the Resident Assistant position, please contact studentaffairs@lmc.edu.