Resident Advisor Job Description
The primary role of a Resident Advisor (RA) is developing a community of students in a university living environment. RAs create opportunities for students to learn about themselves and others and are responsible for facilitating the general safety and well-being of the community. The RA position is a challenging and rewarding experience. There are opportunities for RAs to develop skills in many areas including leadership, communication, programming, student support, crisis response, and other transferable skills. The RA as a staff member of the Office of Residential Life, is supervised by a Residential College Director or Residential Community Director (RCD). View the job description at the link below.
Resident Advisor Application
Apply to be an RA using the application link here: Resident Advisor Application
Resident Advisor Reference Form
As a reference, your feedback is essential to our Resident Advisor selection process. We greatly appreciate your input. All reference forms are due by January 18, 2021.
Please find the Resident Advisor Reference Form for here:
Resident Advisor Reference Form
Important Dates
- Application goes Live ⇨ Sunday, November 15
- Information Webinar #1 ⇨ Friday, November 20
- View the recorded RA Selection Information Webinar from Friday, November 20. Learn more about the application process and what it means to be an RA. Link is provided:
- Recorded Information Webinar
- Information Webinar #2 ⇨ Please take time to watch the recorded session linked above.
- Application Due ⇨ Friday, December 18
- References Due ⇨ Monday, January 18
- Interview Week ⇨ February 1- 5
- Notification Day ⇨ Friday, February 19
- Contract Signing Night ⇨ Monday, April 26
Frequently Asked Questions
Please raselection@wustl.edu the selection committee.
No. When you apply, we ask for your preferences in terms of what type of floor/community you would like most. We make an effort to follow your preferences, however, in deciding placements, we maximize our strengths, consider space limitations and the staffing needs of each residential area. Thus, we cannot guarantee that you will be placed in your top choice.
Our goal is to hire the most qualified candidates to be RAs. We use the Residential Community preferences as a guide to help us make the best match possible.
No, open houses are not required. If you don’t know much about each community this is an opportunity for you to learn more.
All RAs receive their room and local phone service as part of compensation. In addition, new RAs receive half a Silver Meal plan and returning RAs receive a full Silver Meal plan.
Yes; however, please speak to Student Financial Services to learn more about what this would look like for you.
More information coming soon.
The references you choose should be mentors or professionals who know you well and can speak to your skills, strengths and abilities (past high school teacher, coach, professor, former or current supervisor, counselor, research supervisor, clergy, volunteer coordinator, four-year adviser, major adviser, etc.). One of your references needs to be WashU affiliated. The following people cannot serve as references: current RAs or past RAs who are still undergraduate students, RCDs, Graduate Fellows, Associate/Assistant Directors in Residential Life, Jill Stratton, Rob Wild and Kawanna Leggett. If you do choose an undergraduate student as a reference, this person should have acted in a leadership capacity and can speak to your professionalism and work ethic.
Yes; we encourage all transfer students to apply. They must be a current WashU student at the time they apply and must be in their third year of college when they start the role.
The RA position is an undergraduate student leadership role. Applicants in 3-2 programs can only apply if they will begin the role as an undergraduate student.
For questions, email raselection@wustl.edu directly. Follow us on Instagram @washureslife the next few weeks to learn more about the RA position and why you should definitely apply to be an RA!
