Residence Life - Earlham College
Residence Life - Earlham College
Residence Life - Earlham College
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<strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong><br />
Plant Seeds.<br />
Help Grow Our Community.<br />
The Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> is very excited you are considering<br />
applying to become a Resident Assistant (RA). It is an amazing<br />
and rewarding position. Please read this packet carefully, as it<br />
contains important information, and be sure to return the<br />
application by the deadline (Friday, February 22, 2013).<br />
Please email Andrea Fernandez at fernaan@earlham.edu or call<br />
(765) 983.1317 with questions. You can also speak with any Area<br />
Director, current RA, or member of the <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong>.<br />
Process and Timeline<br />
The RA Selection Process is very straightforward. Follow the following 5 steps and discover how you can apply to<br />
be an RA and become a student leader!<br />
1. Try to attend an information session and pick up an application packet (application packets are also<br />
available on the <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> website (http://www.earlham.edu/residence-life/), in your Area Director’s<br />
office and in the Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> located in <strong>Earlham</strong> Hall).<br />
2. Submit your application (including essay responses and references) by Friday, February 22, 2013.<br />
3. Participate in the group interview process on Wednesday, February 27, 2013.<br />
4. Schedule and attend an individual interview on either Saturday or Sunday, March 2 or 3, 2013.<br />
5. Have a positive attitude and enjoy the experience!<br />
February 4, 2013 Application available from the <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> Office in <strong>Earlham</strong> Hall AND online<br />
February 7, 2013 RA information session at 12:00PM in The Orchard Room located in Runyan<br />
February 7, 2013 RA information session at 9:30PM in the Bundy Hall lobby<br />
February 22, 2013 RA applications due to <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> by 12:00PM<br />
February 27, 2013 Group process at 7:00PM*<br />
March 2-3, 2013 RA individual interviews (Specific times will be confirmed via email)*<br />
March 8, 2013 RA candidate status emails sent out<br />
*Please note – these are required events – Put them on your calendar now!<br />
Eligibility<br />
Minimum Requirements<br />
To be eligible to participate in the RA selection process, applicants must be an enrolled, full-time, degree seeking<br />
<strong>Earlham</strong> student in good academic standing (2.5 GPA or above). RAs are expected to maintain a 2.5 GPA while<br />
in the position. Additionally, candidates cannot be on any form of academic or social probation.
All candidates must have attended <strong>Earlham</strong> for at least two full semesters and have two semesters of on-campus<br />
living experiences (one at <strong>Earlham</strong>) prior to their term of employment. RA candidates must also be able to climb<br />
stairs, lift 40 lbs. and able to put in the time, energy, and commitment to assist fellow students with their collegiate<br />
experience.<br />
How to Apply<br />
In this packet, you will find an application, essay questions, and reference information. All application materials<br />
(including application, essay questions, and references) must be submitted to the Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> (1 st<br />
floor of <strong>Earlham</strong> Hall) no later than Friday, February 22, 2013 at 12:00PM. Please keep in mind the application<br />
deadline falls on the Friday of early semester break. You are encouraged to submit your application early!<br />
Application<br />
You need to complete and submit the enclosed Resident Assistant application. Please make sure to write legibly<br />
or type.<br />
Essay Questions<br />
Included in the application is a series of essay questions. You need to type your answers and submit your<br />
responses on a separate piece of paper with your application. This is an opportunity for us to learn more about<br />
you and your experiences/interests.<br />
References<br />
You are required to submit three references. Please go to the Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> website<br />
(http://www.earlham.edu/residence-life), download the reference form, and email it to your three references. One<br />
of these references should be from an RA on your floor (or a former RA), one from a faculty member, and one<br />
from a current or previous employer or supervisor. Your references need to email their forms to Andrea<br />
Fernandez at fernaan@earlham.edu by the application deadline (Friday, February 22, 2013).<br />
Please follow up with your references to ensure they have completed and submitted the forms no later than<br />
Friday, February 22, 2013 at 12:00PM. If you are missing a reference you will not be eligible to participate in the<br />
process.<br />
Interviews<br />
Individual Interview<br />
Your individual interview will be scheduled for either March 2 or 3, 2013 (note: Saturday or Sunday) and is<br />
approximately 30 minutes long. An Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> staff member will assist you in signing up for an<br />
interview when you submit your application (turn your application in early and you will have more open interview<br />
times from which to pick!). A mixture of current Resident Assistants, Area Directors and central office staff will<br />
conduct these interviews. You will be asked questions to enable your interviewers to get to know you and your<br />
prior experiences better. There will be time at the end of the interview for you to ask questions.<br />
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Group Interview<br />
The group interview will take place at Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 7:00PM. In this interview, you will<br />
participate in activities with other applicants. Current RAs, Area Directors, and central office staff will be observing<br />
and taking notes.<br />
Frequently Asked Questions<br />
What are the benefits of the RA position?<br />
RAs receive a single residence hall room as in-kind compensation valued at $3,990.00 and a stipend of $1,200.00<br />
for the academic year ($600.00 per semester). The college views the RA compensation as a work stipend and<br />
does not permit RAs to participate in the college work study program without written permission.<br />
Will being an RA impact my Financial Aid package?<br />
Typically, being an RA does NOT adversely impact your financial aid package. Every student’s financial package<br />
is unique, so you are strongly encouraged to speak with the Financial Aid Office before accepting a position. You<br />
can contact Financial Aid at (765) 983.1217.<br />
I’m currently a First-Year student. Can I apply?<br />
Yes, as long as you were an <strong>Earlham</strong> student living on campus during the Fall 2012 semester.<br />
In which building can I be an RA?<br />
Generally speaking, you can be an RA in any of the 8 residence halls. When hiring RAs, much consideration is<br />
given to which residence hall RAs will work in. Placement is based on many factors including the hired RA’s<br />
strengths and the needs of the building/population.<br />
How can I prepare for the interviews?<br />
There are many things you can do! Here are some examples:<br />
• Speak with current RAs to learn more about their experiences.<br />
• Set up a time to meet your Area Director, the Assistant Dean or the Director of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong>. They can<br />
share their experiences with you and encourage you to find ways to get involved in your residence hall<br />
and in the <strong>Earlham</strong> community.<br />
• Have conversations with family, friends, and past supervisors about your strengths and weaknesses. This<br />
will help you have a better understanding of your abilities.<br />
Can I be an RA for one semester and study abroad for the other?<br />
Absolutely! <strong>Earlham</strong> <strong>College</strong> is committed to offering a high percentage of its students the opportunity to study<br />
abroad and the Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> supports that commitment. If you have any concerns or questions about<br />
the application and/or selection process please do not hesitate to contact your Area Director or the Office of<br />
<strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> at (765) 983.1317.<br />
Can I have a job or leadership position in addition to being an RA?<br />
The simple answer is yes – as long as you are able to balance these activities with your academics and RA<br />
position. The expectation of our RAs is that academics come first, the RA job comes second, and co-curricular<br />
activities and outside work come third. We recognize as a student leader, you wear many hats including<br />
involvement in student organizations, internships, research, working a part-time job, etc. While each staff member<br />
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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<br />
the day, it’s about determining how much you can balance without impacting your academics or your commitment<br />
to the RA position.<br />
You must be very thoughtful regarding the timing of your decision to apply to be an RA and if being an RA the<br />
upcoming semester is right for you. Every semester is different. During some semesters your academic and/or<br />
co-curricular load is heavier than others. This may mean the timing is not right for you to be an RA. It does not<br />
mean being an RA a different semester is not a good idea. Look ahead and make sure you are going to be able<br />
to balance your commitments.<br />
I was found responsible for a violation of the Student Code of Conduct in the past. Can I still apply?<br />
We believe your experiences make you who you are. We have all made a bad decision from time to time. As long<br />
as you are not currently on any type of academic or social probation, you are considered in good standing and are<br />
able to apply. The most important thing we look for is whether or not you have learned from the experience and<br />
made positive changes accordingly.<br />
How many people will be hired? Are there alternate positions?<br />
The total number of applicants hired depends on the number of current RAs returning for the next academic year<br />
(there are currently 37 RA positions). Keep in mind, we will select some alternate candidates, who may be tapped<br />
if a position opens up over summer break.<br />
If I have questions, whom can I talk to?<br />
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<br />
houses you can speak with your Community Assistant or one of your Area Directors. You can also email Andrea<br />
Fernandez, Assistant Dean of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> at fernaan@earlham.edu.<br />
Is there a reminder when everything is due?<br />
Below you will find a helpful checklist of the things you need to do and/or complete for the RA selection process.<br />
Done Due<br />
Task<br />
ASAP Put all the dates from the timeline in your planner (1 st page of packet)<br />
ASAP Email your references the reference from to complete<br />
February 22, 2013 Complete and submit Application Materials (application, essay questions, and<br />
by 12:00PM references)<br />
February 28, 2013 Received confirmation email from Jennifer Isaacs, Administrative Assistant in<br />
the Office <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong>, for individual interview time slot<br />
Date: _______________<br />
Time: _______________<br />
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A Week in the <strong>Life</strong> of<br />
an <strong>Earlham</strong> RA<br />
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday<br />
Quakerism<br />
9-10AM<br />
Walking for<br />
Fitness 10-<br />
11AM<br />
History of Non-<br />
Violent<br />
Movement 10-<br />
12PM<br />
Quakerism<br />
9-10AM<br />
Walking for<br />
Fitness 10-<br />
11AM<br />
History of Non-<br />
Violent<br />
Movement 10-<br />
12PM<br />
Quakerism<br />
9-10AM<br />
Walking for<br />
Fitness 10-<br />
11AM<br />
Sunday Study<br />
Break 10-11PM<br />
RA Weekly<br />
Report Due by<br />
11:59PM<br />
Hindu and<br />
Buddhist<br />
Tradition 2-4PM<br />
Gospel<br />
Revelations 7-<br />
9PM<br />
Culture and<br />
Conflict 1-4PM<br />
Staff Meeting<br />
4:15-5:30<br />
Hand Drum<br />
Ensemble 6:30-<br />
8PM<br />
One-on-One<br />
with the AD<br />
2:30-3:30PM<br />
Study Abroad<br />
Program 8-9<br />
Lobby<br />
Hindu and<br />
Buddhist<br />
Tradition 2-4PM<br />
RA Duty:<br />
10PM-7AM<br />
Rounds 10PM-<br />
1AM<br />
Culture and<br />
Conflict 1-4PM<br />
RA Duty:<br />
10PM-7AM<br />
Rounds 10PM-<br />
1AM<br />
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<br />
member. Here are a few common aspects of the job.<br />
Meetings<br />
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<br />
minute staff meeting. RAs know the dates and time of these meetings in advance.<br />
Programming<br />
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<br />
takes planning and is a time commitment. RAs are required to plan and implement 5 programs a semester.<br />
Duty<br />
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<br />
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<br />
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.<br />
Administrative<br />
RAs complete a number of administrative responsibilities, including submitting weekly reports, following up with students, submitting programming<br />
proposals/evaluations, duty logs, and incident reports.<br />
The RA <strong>Life</strong>style<br />
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<br />
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,<br />
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<br />
duty.<br />
Balance<br />
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<br />
or internship, athletics, clubs/organizations, and many more. Each staff member has to work to find a balance in everything they do. Sometimes, this<br />
requires staff members to give up some extracurricular activities to be able to balance everything and maintain a healthy lifestyle. All staff members are<br />
expected to put academics first, the RA position second, and extracurricular activities and part-time jobs third.<br />
5
<strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong><br />
Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong><br />
Resident Staff Employment Agreement<br />
2013-2014 Academic Year<br />
RESIDENT ASSISTANT APPOINTMENT DATES<br />
Resident Assistant (RA) appointments are made for the entire academic year. For those planning to study offcampus<br />
for the Spring 2014 semester, please let the Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> know of your intention as soon as<br />
you are accepted into the off-campus study program.<br />
Resident Assistants hired for the fall semester must be prepared to be back on campus Monday, August 6, 2013<br />
at 1:00PM. Residents Assistants employed for the fall semester are released for winter break on Sunday,<br />
December 15, 2013 at 12:00PM. Resident Assistants are not permitted to arrive late to training or leave early for<br />
break without written permission from the Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong>.<br />
Spring semester arrival and training dates will be announced before the end of the Spring 2013 semester. If you<br />
need training dates before they are announced in order to make travel or other arrangements please<br />
communicate this to the Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> as soon as possible.<br />
Please note: the Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> provides shuttle transportation to and from the Dayton Airport for RAs.<br />
RAs who wish to take advantage of this need to contact the Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> no later than one week<br />
before the shuttle.<br />
COMPENSATION<br />
The RA position is one of respect, role-modeling and service to residents. In this position, RAs serve as agents of<br />
the <strong>College</strong>, and are considered an employee of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong>; as such, staff members are expected to support<br />
the office and related policies.<br />
As remuneration for their service, RAs receive the following:<br />
• a single residence hall room as in-kind compensation valued at $3,990.00 for the academic year<br />
• a stipend of $1,200.00 for the academic year ($600 each semester of employment), distributed evenly<br />
throughout the semester<br />
The college views RA compensation as a work stipend and RAs may not participate in the college work-study<br />
program without written approval from the Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong>. Please communicate a desire to participate in<br />
the work-study program to the Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> during fall and/or spring training.<br />
RESIDENT ASSISTANT EXPECTATIONS<br />
Community Builder & Educator Roles:<br />
RAs are expected to:<br />
• Be role models at all times.<br />
6
• Live by the community standards outlined in Principles and Practices and interpret, teach, and uphold its<br />
principles.<br />
• Demonstrate openness to new ideas, different perspectives or beliefs and persons different from oneself.<br />
• Support fellow RA staff in their various roles and activities within the hall and on campus.<br />
• Communicate regularly with individual residents in the assigned area as well as the greater community.<br />
• Develop floor and hall standards and address floor and hall concerns by convening meetings.<br />
• Plan and implement community building programs on a regular basis along with five floor-wide programs per<br />
semester.<br />
• Articulate and positively support policies related to the housing agreement and the Student Code of Conduct.<br />
• Address personal disrespect and injustice, derogatory and/or bias-based language that demeans others and<br />
the spirit of <strong>Earlham</strong> <strong>College</strong>.<br />
• Address behavior which violates the Student Code of Conduct , community standards, negatively impacts<br />
others, or may result in damage to the living facilities.<br />
• Be a positive agent of change.<br />
Administrative Role:<br />
RAs are expected to:<br />
• Support the mission of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong>.<br />
• Assist the Area Director with opening and closing the halls each semester—staff are not excused for break<br />
until the final meeting with their Area Director.<br />
• Attend all scheduled meetings, including weekly 1x1s, staff meetings, and all-staff meetings.<br />
• Complete all paper work as required (weekly reports, incident reports, reference forms, RCI’s, etc.) on time.<br />
• Assist the Area Director in assessing the condition of rooms and public areas in the residence halls.<br />
• Assist with all <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> programming events (e.g. RA selection, community-wide socials and<br />
housing selection.<br />
• Be on campus at least three weekends per month.<br />
• Maintain a physical presence while “on-duty”. Staff may not leave their building while on duty without<br />
permission from the Area Director.<br />
• Participate in the “on-duty” rotation for their building. Duty is from 10:00PM to 7:00AM daily.<br />
• RA duty responsibilities include but are not limited to; completing rounds of all areas of the building, including<br />
hallways, bathrooms, kitchens, etc., at least three times a night.<br />
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Area Director, <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> or Student Development.<br />
Counselor/Mediator Role:<br />
RAs are expected to:<br />
• Adhere to the ethical standards of confidentiality.<br />
• Actively talk with each resident on a regular basis regarding the following:<br />
1. Academic success or concerns<br />
2. Finding their ‘niche’.<br />
3. Engaging their faculty around discernment.<br />
4. Involvement in the <strong>Earlham</strong> community and governance.<br />
5. In your area of concern, social and/or environmental justice.<br />
• Function as a peer counselor for students who need/or seek support and refer them to other sources when<br />
appropriate.<br />
• Be knowledgeable of campus resources related to health and wellness, academic support, career and<br />
vocation, leadership, multicultural support, religious life and leadership.<br />
7
• Identify and assess potential problems and work proactively to intervene.<br />
• Be competent in making referrals and/or helping people utilize community resources to solve their problems.<br />
• Help resolve roommate conflicts as well as conflicts which may arise among community members.<br />
• Keep the Area Director informed of the general state of the community, of individuals who may need special<br />
intervention and of situations with the potential for injury or harm.<br />
• Respond to crisis situations following <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> and <strong>College</strong> procedures.<br />
• Attend all training and in-service sessions. All staff members are required to be present for RA training.<br />
• Communicate ideas for improvement of the <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> program, policies or procedures in a positive way.<br />
CONTINUED ELIGIBILITY<br />
In order to maintain the position, RAs must:<br />
• Support the position and policies of the <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> Office and <strong>Earlham</strong> <strong>College</strong>.<br />
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.50 and non-probationary status (academic and social).<br />
• Have a reasonable academic and co-curricular schedule (including outside employment) which allows<br />
sufficient time to serve as a Resident Assistant.<br />
1. It is recommended that staff taking 17 hours or more consult regularly with their Area Director.<br />
2. Staff must be present at all-staff meetings, community wide socials etc., unless their absence has<br />
been approved by their supervisor.<br />
3. “Academic” conflicts include class, <strong>Earlham</strong> academic responsibilities, comprehensive exams,<br />
etc. NOTE: Pre-professional or pre-graduate exam preparation courses (MCAT, GMAT, LSAT,<br />
GRE, etc.) are considered co-curricular activities because they are elective.<br />
• Fulfill all responsibilities of the position, including but not limited to programming, duty, training, meetings, etc.<br />
• Demonstrate through duty logs, incident reports and weekly reports that behavior negatively impacting the<br />
community is being addressed and reported to the supervisor.<br />
• Assess and report any concerns related to the living and learning conditions of the residence halls.<br />
• Maintain on campus residence for the semester(s) of service.<br />
• Demonstrate a sense of teamwork.<br />
• Receive a satisfactory evaluation completed by the Area Director and residents of the assigned area.<br />
• Re-appointment to a RA position is determined by the RA’s supervisor and the Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong>.<br />
Failure to fulfill the responsibilities of the position as described may result in the reduction of pay, disciplinary<br />
action and/or dismissal. Performance will be evaluated through the direct supervisor, central office staff,<br />
residents, and appropriate effort will be made to preserve a staff member who demonstrates an understanding of<br />
the areas in need of improvement and demonstrates effort to accept support in doing so. Insubordination is not<br />
appropriate. Staff members in earnest disagreement with <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> policies, <strong>Earlham</strong> <strong>College</strong> expectations<br />
or supervisory decision-making are expected to engage positively to seek a respectful solution. If not, staff may<br />
be counseled to stand aside and if appropriate, resign from their position.<br />
Disrespectful conduct to any member of the <strong>Earlham</strong> community, abuse of authority, or improper behavior (such<br />
as alcohol or drug use, non-consensual sexual conduct, breach of confidentiality, etc.) will be evaluated<br />
immediately to determine the facts. Staff members are expected to cooperate with the evaluation. Dishonesty,<br />
including failure to respond to the evaluation, is grounds for termination.<br />
Upon termination of appointment, compensation will cease. Terminated staff members are required to vacate staff<br />
housing within two days of the effective date of termination. Please remember, specific housing placements are<br />
always tentative. Changes may occur before employment dates begin.<br />
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For Office Use Only:<br />
<strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong><br />
Date Received:__________<br />
Time Received:__________<br />
Eligibility Verified:________<br />
Resident Assistant Application<br />
2013-2014 Semester<br />
Please type or print legibility. Attach additional sheets for any section as needed. Applications are due by<br />
Friday, February 22, 2013 at 12:00PM in the Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> located in <strong>Earlham</strong> Hall.<br />
Part 1 – Position Interest<br />
□ Please check if you are interested in working in the First Year area<br />
□ Please check if you are interested in working on the Wellness floor<br />
□ Please check if you are interested in working on the Co-op floor<br />
Have you applied to the RA position before? □Yes □No<br />
If “Yes” when? _________________________________________<br />
Did you attend an RA Information Session?<br />
Name (Last, First, Middle):<br />
Part 2 – Personal Information<br />
Drawer:<br />
<strong>Residence</strong> Hall:<br />
Campus Phone:<br />
Email:<br />
Room:<br />
Cell Phone:<br />
Part 3 – Student Status<br />
Year in School (Circle One): Sophomore Junior Senior<br />
Major: Minor: Cumulative GPA:<br />
Expected Date of Graduation:<br />
9
Part 4 – Campus and Community Involvement<br />
Please list current activities in which you are or were involved starting with your most recent. If you are<br />
new to <strong>Earlham</strong>, please include experience at other colleges or in high school. Briefly describe the scope of your<br />
activities. We are most interested in knowing the experiences (community service, student government, religious,<br />
youth groups, campus organizations, etc.) in which you coordinated or led a group of your peers.<br />
Organization Position Held Dates of Involvement Skills Acquired<br />
Part 5 – Employment History<br />
Please list paid work experience (include part-time positions):<br />
Dates Employer Position Responsibilities<br />
Are you currently employed? □Yes □No If “Yes” Where? Hrs/Week<br />
Part 6 – Conduct History<br />
Have you been found responsible for a violation of the academic or social Codes of Conduct while a student at<br />
<strong>Earlham</strong>?<br />
□Yes □No If “Yes” please explain:<br />
(Attach additional sheets if necessary)<br />
10
Part 7 – Short Essays<br />
All candidates must answer all 3 questions. Please type your responses in Microsoft Word on a separate<br />
document and turn them in with your application. Be sure to designate which question you are answering.<br />
Please be sure you abide by the following format:<br />
• Your name should be clearly placed on each sheet of paper.<br />
• Essay responses must be typed.<br />
• Print should be 10 – 12 point in size and double-spaced.<br />
• No minimum or maximum length required.<br />
Questions:<br />
1. What experiences have you had which prepare you for this position (e.g. perhaps as an employee,<br />
leader, or working with people different from yourself, etc.)?<br />
2. The RA position is primarily a role charged with enhancing a community among a group of people. Please<br />
explain how you define community and why you think you will be a successful community builder.<br />
3. What qualities or skills do you hope to develop or improve as a RA? How do you think being an RA will<br />
contribute to your personal growth?<br />
Essay Tips<br />
• Review each question very carefully before beginning to write.<br />
• Use individual experiences and personal qualities you might have to illustrate your strengths and potential<br />
to be a successful Resident Assistant.<br />
• Be clear, concise, and use specific language to communicate your thoughts.<br />
• Edit your essay for grammatical and typographical errors before submitting your application.<br />
Part 8 – References<br />
You are required to obtain three references. You can find the reference form online at the Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong>’s<br />
website - http://www.earlham.edu/~sas/reslife//. Please save this form and email it to your references. Have them<br />
email the completed form to fernaan@earlham.edu by Friday, February 22, 2013 at 12:00PM. You need to have<br />
one reference form from an RA on your floor (or former RA), one from a faculty member, and one from a current or<br />
previous employer. It is your responsibility to ensure these forms get turned in on time.<br />
Please list the names of your references: 1.<br />
2.<br />
3.<br />
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Part 9 – Signature of Applicant<br />
Please initial next to each statement and sign below indicating your acknowledgement and understanding of the<br />
following:<br />
I have emailed my references the reference form. The persons filling out the Resident Assistant reference<br />
forms know the Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> must receive the form by Friday, February 22, 2013 at 12:00PM<br />
in order to be considered for an RA position<br />
I have answered the 3 essay questions, checked for spelling and grammar, and have attached your<br />
responses to the application<br />
I understand the group (Wednesday, February 27, 2013) and individual (Saturday, March 2 or 3, 2013)<br />
interviews are required and I plan to attend<br />
I understand I need to check my <strong>Earlham</strong> email account Wednesday, February 27, 2013 to confirm my<br />
individual interview time<br />
I understand that I will need to check my <strong>Earlham</strong> email account on Friday, March 8, 1213 to determine<br />
my status as an RA (hired, placed on alternate list, not-hired)<br />
I certify the answers on this document are true, to the best of my knowledge. I realize all provided information will be<br />
verified by <strong>Earlham</strong> <strong>College</strong> and any misrepresentation of facts may constitute cause for discontinuance in the<br />
selection process, a non-appointment, or dismissal. I further authorize the Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> to access my<br />
<strong>Earlham</strong> <strong>College</strong> records. I have read and am familiar with the position description and the terms of employment.<br />
__________________________________________________<br />
Signature of Applicant<br />
_________________________<br />
Date<br />
Submit completed applications to the Office of <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong><br />
located on the first floor of <strong>Earlham</strong> Hall<br />
February 4, 2013 Application available from the <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> Office in <strong>Earlham</strong> Hall AND online<br />
February 7, 2013 RA Information Session at 12:00PM in The Orchard Room located in Runyan<br />
February 7, 2013 RA Information Session at 9:30PM in the Bundy Hall lobby<br />
February 22, 2013 RA Applications due to <strong>Residence</strong> <strong>Life</strong> by 12:00PM<br />
February 27, 2013 Group Process at 7:00PM*<br />
March 2-3, 2013 RA Individual interviews (Specific times will be confirmed via email)*<br />
March 8, 2013 RA candidate status emails sent out<br />
*Please note – these are required events – Put them on your calendar now!<br />
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