Residence Life - Earlham College

Residence Life
Plant Seeds.
Help Grow Our Community.
The Office of Residence Life is very excited you are considering
applying to become a Resident Assistant (RA). It is an amazing
and rewarding position. Please read this packet carefully, as it
contains important information, and be sure to return the
application by the deadline (Friday, February 22, 2013).
Please email Andrea Fernandez at fernaan@earlham.edu or call
(765) 983.1317 with questions. You can also speak with any Area
Director, current RA, or member of the Residence Life.
Process and Timeline
The RA Selection Process is very straightforward. Follow the following 5 steps and discover how you can apply to
be an RA and become a student leader!
1. Try to attend an information session and pick up an application packet (application packets are also
available on the Residence Life website (http://www.earlham.edu/residence-life/), in your Area Director’s
office and in the Office of Residence Life located in Earlham Hall).
2. Submit your application (including essay responses and references) by Friday, February 22, 2013.
3. Participate in the group interview process on Wednesday, February 27, 2013.
4. Schedule and attend an individual interview on either Saturday or Sunday, March 2 or 3, 2013.
5. Have a positive attitude and enjoy the experience!
February 4, 2013 Application available from the Residence Life Office in Earlham Hall AND online
February 7, 2013 RA information session at 12:00PM in The Orchard Room located in Runyan
February 7, 2013 RA information session at 9:30PM in the Bundy Hall lobby
February 22, 2013 RA applications due to Residence Life by 12:00PM
February 27, 2013 Group process at 7:00PM*
March 2-3, 2013 RA individual interviews (Specific times will be confirmed via email)*
March 8, 2013 RA candidate status emails sent out
*Please note – these are required events – Put them on your calendar now!
Eligibility
Minimum Requirements
To be eligible to participate in the RA selection process, applicants must be an enrolled, full-time, degree seeking
Earlham student in good academic standing (2.5 GPA or above). RAs are expected to maintain a 2.5 GPA while
in the position. Additionally, candidates cannot be on any form of academic or social probation.

All candidates must have attended Earlham for at least two full semesters and have two semesters of on-campus
living experiences (one at Earlham) prior to their term of employment. RA candidates must also be able to climb
stairs, lift 40 lbs. and able to put in the time, energy, and commitment to assist fellow students with their collegiate
experience.
How to Apply
In this packet, you will find an application, essay questions, and reference information. All application materials
(including application, essay questions, and references) must be submitted to the Office of Residence Life (1 st
floor of Earlham Hall) no later than Friday, February 22, 2013 at 12:00PM. Please keep in mind the application
deadline falls on the Friday of early semester break. You are encouraged to submit your application early!
Application
You need to complete and submit the enclosed Resident Assistant application. Please make sure to write legibly
or type.
Essay Questions
Included in the application is a series of essay questions. You need to type your answers and submit your
responses on a separate piece of paper with your application. This is an opportunity for us to learn more about
you and your experiences/interests.
References
You are required to submit three references. Please go to the Office of Residence Life website
(http://www.earlham.edu/residence-life), download the reference form, and email it to your three references. One
of these references should be from an RA on your floor (or a former RA), one from a faculty member, and one
from a current or previous employer or supervisor. Your references need to email their forms to Andrea
Fernandez at fernaan@earlham.edu by the application deadline (Friday, February 22, 2013).
Please follow up with your references to ensure they have completed and submitted the forms no later than
Friday, February 22, 2013 at 12:00PM. If you are missing a reference you will not be eligible to participate in the
process.
Interviews
Individual Interview
Your individual interview will be scheduled for either March 2 or 3, 2013 (note: Saturday or Sunday) and is
approximately 30 minutes long. An Office of Residence Life staff member will assist you in signing up for an
interview when you submit your application (turn your application in early and you will have more open interview
times from which to pick!). A mixture of current Resident Assistants, Area Directors and central office staff will
conduct these interviews. You will be asked questions to enable your interviewers to get to know you and your
prior experiences better. There will be time at the end of the interview for you to ask questions.
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Group Interview
The group interview will take place at Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 7:00PM. In this interview, you will
participate in activities with other applicants. Current RAs, Area Directors, and central office staff will be observing
and taking notes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of the RA position?
RAs receive a single residence hall room as in-kind compensation valued at $3,990.00 and a stipend of $1,200.00
for the academic year ($600.00 per semester). The college views the RA compensation as a work stipend and
does not permit RAs to participate in the college work study program without written permission.
Will being an RA impact my Financial Aid package?
Typically, being an RA does NOT adversely impact your financial aid package. Every student’s financial package
is unique, so you are strongly encouraged to speak with the Financial Aid Office before accepting a position. You
can contact Financial Aid at (765) 983.1217.
I’m currently a First-Year student. Can I apply?
Yes, as long as you were an Earlham student living on campus during the Fall 2012 semester.
In which building can I be an RA?
Generally speaking, you can be an RA in any of the 8 residence halls. When hiring RAs, much consideration is
given to which residence hall RAs will work in. Placement is based on many factors including the hired RA’s
strengths and the needs of the building/population.
How can I prepare for the interviews?
There are many things you can do! Here are some examples:
• Speak with current RAs to learn more about their experiences.
• Set up a time to meet your Area Director, the Assistant Dean or the Director of Residence Life. They can
share their experiences with you and encourage you to find ways to get involved in your residence hall
and in the Earlham community.
• Have conversations with family, friends, and past supervisors about your strengths and weaknesses. This
will help you have a better understanding of your abilities.
Can I be an RA for one semester and study abroad for the other?
Absolutely! Earlham College is committed to offering a high percentage of its students the opportunity to study
abroad and the Office of Residence Life supports that commitment. If you have any concerns or questions about
the application and/or selection process please do not hesitate to contact your Area Director or the Office of
Residence Life at (765) 983.1317.
Can I have a job or leadership position in addition to being an RA?
The simple answer is yes – as long as you are able to balance these activities with your academics and RA
position. The expectation of our RAs is that academics come first, the RA job comes second, and co-curricular
activities and outside work come third. We recognize as a student leader, you wear many hats including
involvement in student organizations, internships, research, working a part-time job, etc. While each staff member
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is unique, we encourage new RAs who wish to work a part time job do so 10 hours per week or less. At the end of
the day, it’s about determining how much you can balance without impacting your academics or your commitment
to the RA position.
You must be very thoughtful regarding the timing of your decision to apply to be an RA and if being an RA the
upcoming semester is right for you. Every semester is different. During some semesters your academic and/or
co-curricular load is heavier than others. This may mean the timing is not right for you to be an RA. It does not
mean being an RA a different semester is not a good idea. Look ahead and make sure you are going to be able
to balance your commitments.
I was found responsible for a violation of the Student Code of Conduct in the past. Can I still apply?
We believe your experiences make you who you are. We have all made a bad decision from time to time. As long
as you are not currently on any type of academic or social probation, you are considered in good standing and are
able to apply. The most important thing we look for is whether or not you have learned from the experience and
made positive changes accordingly.
How many people will be hired? Are there alternate positions?
The total number of applicants hired depends on the number of current RAs returning for the next academic year
(there are currently 37 RA positions). Keep in mind, we will select some alternate candidates, who may be tapped
if a position opens up over summer break.
If I have questions, whom can I talk to?
If you currently live in a residence hall, you can talk to your RA or Area Director. If you live in one of the college
houses you can speak with your Community Assistant or one of your Area Directors. You can also email Andrea
Fernandez, Assistant Dean of Residence Life at fernaan@earlham.edu.
Is there a reminder when everything is due?
Below you will find a helpful checklist of the things you need to do and/or complete for the RA selection process.
Done Due
Task
ASAP Put all the dates from the timeline in your planner (1 st page of packet)
ASAP Email your references the reference from to complete
February 22, 2013 Complete and submit Application Materials (application, essay questions, and
by 12:00PM references)
February 28, 2013 Received confirmation email from Jennifer Isaacs, Administrative Assistant in
the Office Residence Life, for individual interview time slot
Date: _______________
Time: _______________
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A Week in the Life of
an Earlham RA
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Quakerism
9-10AM
Walking for
Fitness 10-
11AM
History of Non-
Violent
Movement 10-
12PM
Quakerism
9-10AM
Walking for
Fitness 10-
11AM
History of Non-
Violent
Movement 10-
12PM
Quakerism
9-10AM
Walking for
Fitness 10-
11AM
Sunday Study
Break 10-11PM
RA Weekly
Report Due by
11:59PM
Hindu and
Buddhist
Tradition 2-4PM
Gospel
Revelations 7-
9PM
Culture and
Conflict 1-4PM
Staff Meeting
4:15-5:30
Hand Drum
Ensemble 6:30-
8PM
One-on-One
with the AD
2:30-3:30PM
Study Abroad
Program 8-9
Lobby
Hindu and
Buddhist
Tradition 2-4PM
RA Duty:
10PM-7AM
Rounds 10PM-
1AM
Culture and
Conflict 1-4PM
RA Duty:
10PM-7AM
Rounds 10PM-
1AM
Every year, students ask what the RA job is like on a daily basis. While there is no typical week, above is a weekly calendar from a current staff
member. Here are a few common aspects of the job.
Meetings
Every week, RAs will have a variety of meetings they need to attend. This ranges from an hour one-on-one meeting with their supervisor to a 75-90
minute staff meeting. RAs know the dates and time of these meetings in advance.
Programming
A large part of the RA job is to build community on your floor = at the heart of this is programming or hosting events. This is a fun part of the job, but it
takes planning and is a time commitment. RAs are required to plan and implement 5 programs a semester.
Duty
As you have noticed in your residence hall, there is an RA on duty each evening/night from 10PM to 7AM to assist the residents of the building and
make sure everybody is safe. While on duty, RAs are required to remain in the building and regularly walk through each floor, greet residents, build
community, and respond to crisis situations. How many times an RA is on duty per month, varies on how many RAs work in the building.
Administrative
RAs complete a number of administrative responsibilities, including submitting weekly reports, following up with students, submitting programming
proposals/evaluations, duty logs, and incident reports.
The RA Lifestyle
The most difficult part of the job to explain and/or quantify is the lifestyle of an RA. Understand that you are going to be an RA 24/7, meaning that your
residents will always see you as an RA. As an RA, you will bump into your residents as you are walking to class and will have a conversation with them,
when you are in the dining hall they will come up to you with a question, and you will have to confront inappropriate behaviors even when you are not on
duty.
Balance
Some students have an easier time balancing the RA position than others. Our staff members wear many hats: student, RA, personal life, part-time job
or internship, athletics, clubs/organizations, and many more. Each staff member has to work to find a balance in everything they do. Sometimes, this
requires staff members to give up some extracurricular activities to be able to balance everything and maintain a healthy lifestyle. All staff members are
expected to put academics first, the RA position second, and extracurricular activities and part-time jobs third.
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Residence Life
Office of Residence Life
Resident Staff Employment Agreement
2013-2014 Academic Year
RESIDENT ASSISTANT APPOINTMENT DATES
Resident Assistant (RA) appointments are made for the entire academic year. For those planning to study offcampus
for the Spring 2014 semester, please let the Office of Residence Life know of your intention as soon as
you are accepted into the off-campus study program.
Resident Assistants hired for the fall semester must be prepared to be back on campus Monday, August 6, 2013
at 1:00PM. Residents Assistants employed for the fall semester are released for winter break on Sunday,
December 15, 2013 at 12:00PM. Resident Assistants are not permitted to arrive late to training or leave early for
break without written permission from the Office of Residence Life.
Spring semester arrival and training dates will be announced before the end of the Spring 2013 semester. If you
need training dates before they are announced in order to make travel or other arrangements please
communicate this to the Office of Residence Life as soon as possible.
Please note: the Office of Residence Life provides shuttle transportation to and from the Dayton Airport for RAs.
RAs who wish to take advantage of this need to contact the Office of Residence Life no later than one week
before the shuttle.
COMPENSATION
The RA position is one of respect, role-modeling and service to residents. In this position, RAs serve as agents of
the College, and are considered an employee of Residence Life; as such, staff members are expected to support
the office and related policies.
As remuneration for their service, RAs receive the following:
• a single residence hall room as in-kind compensation valued at $3,990.00 for the academic year
• a stipend of $1,200.00 for the academic year ($600 each semester of employment), distributed evenly
throughout the semester
The college views RA compensation as a work stipend and RAs may not participate in the college work-study
program without written approval from the Office of Residence Life. Please communicate a desire to participate in
the work-study program to the Office of Residence Life during fall and/or spring training.
RESIDENT ASSISTANT EXPECTATIONS
Community Builder & Educator Roles:
RAs are expected to:
• Be role models at all times.
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• Live by the community standards outlined in Principles and Practices and interpret, teach, and uphold its
principles.
• Demonstrate openness to new ideas, different perspectives or beliefs and persons different from oneself.
• Support fellow RA staff in their various roles and activities within the hall and on campus.
• Communicate regularly with individual residents in the assigned area as well as the greater community.
• Develop floor and hall standards and address floor and hall concerns by convening meetings.
• Plan and implement community building programs on a regular basis along with five floor-wide programs per
semester.
• Articulate and positively support policies related to the housing agreement and the Student Code of Conduct.
• Address personal disrespect and injustice, derogatory and/or bias-based language that demeans others and
the spirit of Earlham College.
• Address behavior which violates the Student Code of Conduct , community standards, negatively impacts
others, or may result in damage to the living facilities.
• Be a positive agent of change.
Administrative Role:
RAs are expected to:
• Support the mission of Residence Life.
• Assist the Area Director with opening and closing the halls each semester—staff are not excused for break
until the final meeting with their Area Director.
• Attend all scheduled meetings, including weekly 1x1s, staff meetings, and all-staff meetings.
• Complete all paper work as required (weekly reports, incident reports, reference forms, RCI’s, etc.) on time.
• Assist the Area Director in assessing the condition of rooms and public areas in the residence halls.
• Assist with all Residence Life programming events (e.g. RA selection, community-wide socials and
housing selection.
• Be on campus at least three weekends per month.
• Maintain a physical presence while “on-duty”. Staff may not leave their building while on duty without
permission from the Area Director.
• Participate in the “on-duty” rotation for their building. Duty is from 10:00PM to 7:00AM daily.
• RA duty responsibilities include but are not limited to; completing rounds of all areas of the building, including
hallways, bathrooms, kitchens, etc., at least three times a night.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Area Director, Residence Life or Student Development.
Counselor/Mediator Role:
RAs are expected to:
• Adhere to the ethical standards of confidentiality.
• Actively talk with each resident on a regular basis regarding the following:
1. Academic success or concerns
2. Finding their ‘niche’.
3. Engaging their faculty around discernment.
4. Involvement in the Earlham community and governance.
5. In your area of concern, social and/or environmental justice.
• Function as a peer counselor for students who need/or seek support and refer them to other sources when
appropriate.
• Be knowledgeable of campus resources related to health and wellness, academic support, career and
vocation, leadership, multicultural support, religious life and leadership.
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• Identify and assess potential problems and work proactively to intervene.
• Be competent in making referrals and/or helping people utilize community resources to solve their problems.
• Help resolve roommate conflicts as well as conflicts which may arise among community members.
• Keep the Area Director informed of the general state of the community, of individuals who may need special
intervention and of situations with the potential for injury or harm.
• Respond to crisis situations following Residence Life and College procedures.
• Attend all training and in-service sessions. All staff members are required to be present for RA training.
• Communicate ideas for improvement of the Residence Life program, policies or procedures in a positive way.
CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY
In order to maintain the position, RAs must:
• Support the position and policies of the Residence Life Office and Earlham College.
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.50 and non-probationary status (academic and social).
• Have a reasonable academic and co-curricular schedule (including outside employment) which allows
sufficient time to serve as a Resident Assistant.
1. It is recommended that staff taking 17 hours or more consult regularly with their Area Director.
2. Staff must be present at all-staff meetings, community wide socials etc., unless their absence has
been approved by their supervisor.
3. “Academic” conflicts include class, Earlham academic responsibilities, comprehensive exams,
etc. NOTE: Pre-professional or pre-graduate exam preparation courses (MCAT, GMAT, LSAT,
GRE, etc.) are considered co-curricular activities because they are elective.
• Fulfill all responsibilities of the position, including but not limited to programming, duty, training, meetings, etc.
• Demonstrate through duty logs, incident reports and weekly reports that behavior negatively impacting the
community is being addressed and reported to the supervisor.
• Assess and report any concerns related to the living and learning conditions of the residence halls.
• Maintain on campus residence for the semester(s) of service.
• Demonstrate a sense of teamwork.
• Receive a satisfactory evaluation completed by the Area Director and residents of the assigned area.
• Re-appointment to a RA position is determined by the RA’s supervisor and the Office of Residence Life.
Failure to fulfill the responsibilities of the position as described may result in the reduction of pay, disciplinary
action and/or dismissal. Performance will be evaluated through the direct supervisor, central office staff,
residents, and appropriate effort will be made to preserve a staff member who demonstrates an understanding of
the areas in need of improvement and demonstrates effort to accept support in doing so. Insubordination is not
appropriate. Staff members in earnest disagreement with Residence Life policies, Earlham College expectations
or supervisory decision-making are expected to engage positively to seek a respectful solution. If not, staff may
be counseled to stand aside and if appropriate, resign from their position.
Disrespectful conduct to any member of the Earlham community, abuse of authority, or improper behavior (such
as alcohol or drug use, non-consensual sexual conduct, breach of confidentiality, etc.) will be evaluated
immediately to determine the facts. Staff members are expected to cooperate with the evaluation. Dishonesty,
including failure to respond to the evaluation, is grounds for termination.
Upon termination of appointment, compensation will cease. Terminated staff members are required to vacate staff
housing within two days of the effective date of termination. Please remember, specific housing placements are
always tentative. Changes may occur before employment dates begin.
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For Office Use Only:
Residence Life
Date Received:__________
Time Received:__________
Eligibility Verified:________
Resident Assistant Application
2013-2014 Semester
Please type or print legibility. Attach additional sheets for any section as needed. Applications are due by
Friday, February 22, 2013 at 12:00PM in the Office of Residence Life located in Earlham Hall.
Part 1 – Position Interest
□ Please check if you are interested in working in the First Year area
□ Please check if you are interested in working on the Wellness floor
□ Please check if you are interested in working on the Co-op floor
Have you applied to the RA position before? □Yes □No
If “Yes” when? _________________________________________
Did you attend an RA Information Session?
Name (Last, First, Middle):
Part 2 – Personal Information
Drawer:
Residence Hall:
Campus Phone:
Email:
Room:
Cell Phone:
Part 3 – Student Status
Year in School (Circle One): Sophomore Junior Senior
Major: Minor: Cumulative GPA:
Expected Date of Graduation:
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Part 4 – Campus and Community Involvement
Please list current activities in which you are or were involved starting with your most recent. If you are
new to Earlham, please include experience at other colleges or in high school. Briefly describe the scope of your
activities. We are most interested in knowing the experiences (community service, student government, religious,
youth groups, campus organizations, etc.) in which you coordinated or led a group of your peers.
Organization Position Held Dates of Involvement Skills Acquired
Part 5 – Employment History
Please list paid work experience (include part-time positions):
Dates Employer Position Responsibilities
Are you currently employed? □Yes □No If “Yes” Where? Hrs/Week
Part 6 – Conduct History
Have you been found responsible for a violation of the academic or social Codes of Conduct while a student at
Earlham?
□Yes □No If “Yes” please explain:
(Attach additional sheets if necessary)
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Part 7 – Short Essays
All candidates must answer all 3 questions. Please type your responses in Microsoft Word on a separate
document and turn them in with your application. Be sure to designate which question you are answering.
Please be sure you abide by the following format:
• Your name should be clearly placed on each sheet of paper.
• Essay responses must be typed.
• Print should be 10 – 12 point in size and double-spaced.
• No minimum or maximum length required.
Questions:
1. What experiences have you had which prepare you for this position (e.g. perhaps as an employee,
leader, or working with people different from yourself, etc.)?
2. The RA position is primarily a role charged with enhancing a community among a group of people. Please
explain how you define community and why you think you will be a successful community builder.
3. What qualities or skills do you hope to develop or improve as a RA? How do you think being an RA will
contribute to your personal growth?
Essay Tips
• Review each question very carefully before beginning to write.
• Use individual experiences and personal qualities you might have to illustrate your strengths and potential
to be a successful Resident Assistant.
• Be clear, concise, and use specific language to communicate your thoughts.
• Edit your essay for grammatical and typographical errors before submitting your application.
Part 8 – References
You are required to obtain three references. You can find the reference form online at the Office of Residence Life’s
website - http://www.earlham.edu/~sas/reslife//. Please save this form and email it to your references. Have them
email the completed form to fernaan@earlham.edu by Friday, February 22, 2013 at 12:00PM. You need to have
one reference form from an RA on your floor (or former RA), one from a faculty member, and one from a current or
previous employer. It is your responsibility to ensure these forms get turned in on time.
Please list the names of your references: 1.
2.
3.
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Part 9 – Signature of Applicant
Please initial next to each statement and sign below indicating your acknowledgement and understanding of the
following:
I have emailed my references the reference form. The persons filling out the Resident Assistant reference
forms know the Office of Residence Life must receive the form by Friday, February 22, 2013 at 12:00PM
in order to be considered for an RA position
I have answered the 3 essay questions, checked for spelling and grammar, and have attached your
responses to the application
I understand the group (Wednesday, February 27, 2013) and individual (Saturday, March 2 or 3, 2013)
interviews are required and I plan to attend
I understand I need to check my Earlham email account Wednesday, February 27, 2013 to confirm my
individual interview time
I understand that I will need to check my Earlham email account on Friday, March 8, 1213 to determine
my status as an RA (hired, placed on alternate list, not-hired)
I certify the answers on this document are true, to the best of my knowledge. I realize all provided information will be
verified by Earlham College and any misrepresentation of facts may constitute cause for discontinuance in the
selection process, a non-appointment, or dismissal. I further authorize the Office of Residence Life to access my
Earlham College records. I have read and am familiar with the position description and the terms of employment.
__________________________________________________
Signature of Applicant
_________________________
Date
Submit completed applications to the Office of Residence Life
located on the first floor of Earlham Hall
February 4, 2013 Application available from the Residence Life Office in Earlham Hall AND online
February 7, 2013 RA Information Session at 12:00PM in The Orchard Room located in Runyan
February 7, 2013 RA Information Session at 9:30PM in the Bundy Hall lobby
February 22, 2013 RA Applications due to Residence Life by 12:00PM
February 27, 2013 Group Process at 7:00PM*
March 2-3, 2013 RA Individual interviews (Specific times will be confirmed via email)*
March 8, 2013 RA candidate status emails sent out
*Please note – these are required events – Put them on your calendar now!
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