ASSISTING RESIDENTS
Being an RA requires more than most residents can imagine, but can provide many benefits. What does an RA do, and how do they get the position?
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All 13 residence halls on campus have a staff comprised of several RAs, one Community Development Assistant (CDA), and one Resident Director (RD). The RAs are full-time undergraduate students, but CDAs can either be an undergrad or a graduate student. RAs can apply for the CDA position after one semester of working. Both RAs and CDAs report to the RD, who is the final authority within the hall. The responsibilities of an RA include sitting duty in the RA Office, performing health and safety inspections, and putting up a monthly bulletin board in their Photo by Keith Carroll
he first day of the semester, right when you move into your dorm, what’s the first thing you do? Check in with the resident assistants (RAs). On that unlucky day when you get back to your room, realize you don’t have your key, and your roommate is gone for the weekend, who do you go to? Your RA. The person sitting in the office just past the front door of the residence hall, the one who is there when you need a light bulb, a garbage bag, or someone to talk to? That’s an RA. RAs play a pivotal role in the residence halls on campus, with a seemingly endless number of responsibilities. Meghan Kilfeather was hired to be an RA in Lenape Hall starting this past August. She lived in Scudder Hall for her first two years on campus but decided to apply for the position because she found certain aspects of the job appealing. “I wanted to help people,” said Kilfeather. “I wanted to be there for residents like my RAs were there for me.”
At least one RA is required to sit on duty in the RA Office each night in order to better aid the residents.
hallway. They are strongly urged to make themselves available for residents who need to talk to someone, whether it’s about classes, roommate issues, or something as serious as suicidal thoughts. RAs are trained over the summer and winter breaks to handle all sorts of situations that may arise. Another major part of being an RA is programming. From movie screenings in the main lounge to more complex programs, RAs are required to meet a quota each semester. According to Robert “We say they live life in a fish Moysey, RD of Scudder Hall, bowl,” said Corrinn Schwabrow, every RA is mandated to earn 100 programming points. The RD of Bliss Hall. “People are number of points allotted is at constantly looking at what they do the discretion of the RD. and what they say.” “The most important thing is that they will be beneficial to the residents,” said Moysey. “That they have something fun to do.” According to Corrinn Schwabrow, RD of Bliss Hall and area coordinator for the Leadership Development team on campus, the application process lasts nearly the entire semester. In order to be considered for the job, one must have a minimum 2.50 GPA, have spent one semester living in a residence hall on any college campus, and have been a full-time SUNY New Paltz student for at least one semester. They must not have any judicial sanctions on file. There were roughly 150 applicants for the fall of 2010, and between 30 and 50 of those candidates will be hired. This current process sees one RD and one RA interview an applicant for nearly an hour. After the interview, the Leadership Development team makes cuts, and those remaining move on to Group Process Day. Once there, candidates are put into situations that test their abilities to work in a team setting. After that, the RAhopefuls go to a second interview with a different RD/ RAs are required to put on programs like the Lenape Coffee House RA pairing. The several times per semester. Photo by Nicole Myles decision to hire
someone is made after those final interviews. Applicants are encouraged to attend the RD/RA Candidate Social, an event that can be likened to speed dating. There are groups of candidates sitting together and each RD comes over to the groups and asks questions. It’s not mandatory, but, according to Kilfeather, it helps RDs get to know candidates before they make their decisions. New hires are placed in residence halls based on how the RD thinks they will fit in with current staff. According to Moysey, RDs look for different personalities and people who can work as a team. “Each building has different residential needs. The RA staffs all have different complexities within them, so you look for people to complement that.” The job has numerous benefits, according to Kilfeather. RAs are given leadership opportunity, have a sense of family on the staff, and the chance to get to know their residents. They are also given free room and board, as well as a break on their meal plan, saving them several thousand dollars each year. February 11: Even so, the job demands a lot of time. In addition Application due to to sitting duty, RAs have weekly staff meetings ResLife Office in and individual meetings with their RD. If there is a situation within the building that requires the police Capen Hall or paramedics, whichever RA is on duty must be present until it is resolved, regardless of the time of February 15-19: night. First Interviews RAs are expected to present themselves in a certain manner, according to Schwabrow. They represent the school, their hall, and the Residence February 28: Life community at all times. Group Process Day “We say they live life in a fish bowl,” said Schwabrow. “People are constantly looking at what they do and what they say. I’m looking for someone March 23-26: who is able to handle that.” Second Interviews Abby Giller, a former Lenape RA who graduated in May 2009, says that the constant scrutiny and heavy March 30: responsibility are worth it. Candidate Social “I loved it. It allowed me to make strong connections with people. It was a great experience!”
SPRING 2010 SELECTION TIMELINE
Keith D. Carroll is a regular contributor to EPIC. He also was recently hired to be an RA in Bevier Hall. He can be reached at kcarroll08@newpaltz.edu
April 2 Candidates Notified
Source: SUNY New Paltz website