Student - Resident Advisor

Job Description

Job Description

Wesleyan College Student Affairs
2026-2027 Resident Assistant Job Description

The Department of Residence Life supports the philosophy that a college education facilitates the development of the total person and recognizes that living on campus is an integral part of the educational process at Wesleyan College. The Resident Assistant (RA) is an upper-class student who is a mentor and resource for residential students in their communities. They play an integral part of the residential living experience.

RA RESPONSIBILITIES

Because of the live-in requirements of the Resident Assistant position, it is made known that the Resident Assistant position is not a typical hourly job. The average amount of time each week required to fulfill the job responsibilities is estimated to be approximately 20. Average time of work changes based on needs of the department. The following are pertinent responsibilities of the Resident Assistant.

• Demonstrate a positive and enthusiastic attitude while serving in the Resident Assistant positions
• Facilitate and implement Residential Curriculum which includes programming, communicating with residents, administrative responsibilities, and assessment
• Facilitate opportunities for engagement through activities and communication that support the learning goals of the department
• Provide support and leadership to students in the residential communities which includes informing and connecting students to resources available through Wesleyan College
• Promote an inclusive and equitable living environment for all residents and create initiatives to maintain inclusivity in the community
• Create an environment that is conducive to academic achievement and complements the academic mission of Wesleyan College
• Abide by and enforce all college and departmental policies and expectations
• Clearly communicate and consistently enforce policies within the residential communities
• Adhere to guidelines for mediating, confronting, and documenting incidents
• Participate in an on-call duty rotation throughout terms of employment
  • This requires staff members to remain on campus while on duty, carry a duty cell phone, conduct rounds and respond to any situations
• Assist the custodial staff and physical plant staff in keeping residence hall facilities functional for use by all residents by reporting maintenance issues on a regular basis
• Prepare and evaluate the condition of living spaces during opening and closing periods which requires additional time spent on campus outside of official semester dates
• Ensure that our residential communities are safe places to live by reporting hazards or various breeches
• Complete health and safety checks once per semester. Various inspections may be required for specific residents
• Assist and lead in all building fire drills
• Attend all training sessions held during each semester as designated by the Director of Residence Life
• Attend bi-weekly staff meetings and regular one on one meetings.
• Assist in the recruitment and selection of new staff members.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
RAs will participate in training and job activities that may require the following:

• use of office equipment
• sitting at a desk/table
• occasional lifting (<50 lbs)
• walking or standing for long periods of time
  • RA will be asked to walk up to 3 miles continuously for up to 1.5 hours at a time during the duty rounds process (twice nightly) and during evening duty and emergency procedures
• may work in buildings/environments not ADA accessible

RAs must notify the Director of Residence Life of any limitations to the above demands prior to the start of Spring RA Training in order to prepare accommodations.

QUALIFICATIONS
In order to be eligible for the Resident Advisor Position, all candidates must:

• Have a current cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher and maintain a cumulative and term GPA 2.5 while employed (Spring 2026- Spring 2027)
• Be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours but no more than 18 hours during employment
• Be in good standing academically, judicially and financially with the college
• Be willing to commit 20 hours per week to the Resident Assistant position and understand that it is your first priority after academics
• Be available during the Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 employment dates (dates will be provided with advanced notice before the start of the Fall 2026 academic year).
• An RA may not accept any additional employment (including work study), take more than 17 credit hours per semester, or serve in any major leadership capacity in a club or an athletic team without the advance approval from the Director of Residence Life.

COMPENSATION

• $3000 stipend for the academic year (based on community)
• A single room at a double room rate with an additional $500 off
• Resident Assistant Apparel

TERM OF EMPLOYMENT

RAs are offered appointment(s) for the Fall and/or Spring semester(s) for the academic year. Appointment as a RA for summer semester is a separate process and not guaranteed with appointment for the Fall and/or Spring semester(s). All Resident Assistants must be available during the Fall and Spring employment dates. Any staff member who is not available during those dates will be terminated from their position. Employment dates for the 2026-2027 academic year will be provided at the time of hiring in the Resident Assistant employment contract.