Become a Resident Assistant

A Resident Assistant, or RA, is a full-time undergraduate student living in an assigned Goucher College residence hall and supporting students living there. As a live-in staff member, the primary role of an RA is to build a welcoming and inclusive community within the residence halls, while encouraging cooperation and consideration within group-living environments. An RA responds to and assists in managing emergency, crisis, and conflict situations, including those between individuals and with college policies and procedures. In addition, the RA serves as a member of the Office of Residential Life team that includes Resident Assistants and Residential Life professional staff, to create and maintain a positive campus community environment.

The full position description can be found on Handshake, and essential roles of the RA position include:

Community Builder

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• Resident Assistants build positive and meaningful relationships with the students in and around their assigned residential community to create a welcoming and inclusive living environment
• An RA plans and facilitates activities in the residence hall and/or campus community that encourages social interaction and relationship building among members of the residential community.
• An RA plans and facilitates activities in and around the residence hall community that allows students to develop knowledge and skills that will help them be successful as members of the Goucher community and beyond.
• Resident Assistants develop a sense of community in the residence halls through the creation of unique and creative bulletin boards, door decorations, community communication, and other themes that allow the residential community to represent itself as a unified group.

Leader

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• Resident Assistants serve as role models for other Goucher students, especially those in and around their residential community, by observing ethical standards consistent with Goucher College and Office of Residential Life’s mission and values.
• Resident Assistants educate students regarding university policies and procedures and, when necessary, address and respond to actions that are in conflict with such policies to reinforce standards and expectations for Goucher students living in a community environment.
• An RA serves as a representative for the Office of Residential Life, which includes a positive and professional demeanor that is consistent with the Office of Student Residence Life’s mission, vision, values, and principles.

Resource

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• All Resident Assistants participate in a rotating weeknight and weekend on-call rotation during hours when university offices are closed.
• Resident Assistants assist students in resolving conflicts that may occur in their residential community, including facilitating roommate mediations and conversations among members of the residential community.
• Resident Assistants are knowledgeable about campus and community resources and serve as a referral for student questions and/or concerns.

Resident Assistants receive training in the many skill areas that will help them be successful as a student-leader in the residence halls, including relationship building, event management, conflict management and resolution, emergency response and management, team and community building, time management, and administrative skills. Attendance and participation for the entirety of pre-semester training, including residence hall opening, prior to the start of each semester and in-service sessions during the semester are required of all Resident Assistants.

Attendance and participation for the entirety of pre-semester training, including residence hall opening, prior to the start of each semester, and in-service sessions during the semester are required of all Resident Assistants. Resident Assistants are required to return to campus for pre-semester training two weeks prior to the start of classes for the fall semester and one week prior to the start of classes for the spring semester. Resident Assistants are responsible for semester-ending closing procedures through the weekend following the last day of semester final examinations.

All newly hired Resident Assistants and Alternate Candidates will be required to attend an Orientation session on Saturday, April 19, 2025, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

The RA is a 20-hour-per-week commitment, which includes weekly staff meetings, bi-weekly meetings with the Resident Assistant’s supervisor, on-call responsibilities, maintaining regular visibility in the Resident Assistant’s assigned residential community, regular engagement with students in and around the Resident Assistant’s assigned residential community, and additional department/administrative assignments and responsibilities. The RA position is viewed as the primary “out-of-classroom” commitment.  It is, therefore, expected that the scheduling of and attendance at staff meetings, training sessions, on-call responsibilities, and other commitments related to the position supersede all other extracurricular commitments.

Due to the RA position being a 20-hour-per-week commitment, college student employment policies prohibit the RA from holding any additional paid positions on campus.

Unless otherwise designated, an academic year RA does not have position responsibilities during the designated Winter Break and January J-Term.

Tentative 2025-2026 academic year start and dates:

• August 13, 2025 - Pre-Fall semester training for all Resident Assistants begins
• December 20, 2025 -  End of Fall semester
• January 20, 2026 - Pre-Spring semester training begins
• May 18, 2026 - End of Spring semester

Students are eligible to hold a Resident Advisor position if they

• Are enrolled as a full-time student at Goucher college.
• Have lived on campus for at least 2 semesters, including the current semester (not including J-Term or Summer).
• Have and maintain a cumulative and semester GPA of 2.5.
• Are in good academic, financial and disciplinary standing with Goucher College.
• Maintain an active housing contract with the Office of Residential Life
• Meet all the requirements for student employment through Goucher College
  • More information about student employment can be found here.

Please note: Students who are selected to be Resident Assistants may not concurrently hold a Goucher Guide position. Read more about Goucher Guide positions.

In exchange for their service to the Goucher community, Resident Assistants receive

• A room within a college residence hall during semesters of employment
• A 10-meals per week meal plan (with $250 dining dollars) during semesters of employment
• A $1,000 stipend, distributed throughout the semester in accordance with college payroll procedures

Amounts indicated above are for students employed as Resident Assistants for a full academic semester, and amounts may be reduced/prorated if a student is hired after the start of an academic semester to match appropriate billing time commitments.

Information sessions provide interested students the opportunity to hear more about the Resident Assistant position and ask questions of people with the answers. While attendance at an information session is not required, it does provide interested students with the opportunity to engage with the Office of Residential Life staff and clarify any lingering thoughts or questions.

The Office of Residential Life will sponsor Interest Sessions at the following dates and times to answer questions:

• Tuesday, February 4, 2025, between 5:00 pm & 5:45 pm via Microsoft Teams
• Monday, February 10, 2025, between 7:00 pm & 7:45 pm in the Pagliaro Selz Hall First-Floor Lounge
• Wednesday, February 19, 2025, between 7:00 pm & 7:45 pm in the Athenaeum Batza Room

In addition, students can stop by the Information Tables in the lobby outside Mary Fisher Dining Hall to ask questions or receive additional information:

• Friday, February 7, 2025, between 6:00 pm & 8:00 pm
• Wednesday, February 12, 2025, between 12:00 pm & 2:00 pm
• Thursday, February 20, 2025, between 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm

Residential Life representatives will also be present at the Student Involvement Fair on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, in the Athenaeum between 12:00 pm & 2:00 pm.

Apply via Handshake

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Students interested in a 2025-2026 RA position should first apply for the Resident Assistant position through Handshake. The deadline to apply for a 2025-2026 academic year position via Handshake is Friday, February 21, 2025. When applying for the RA position through Handshake, students should include the following:

• A cover letter.
• A resume that includes the applicant’s education (both previous and current), employment history, campus or community involvement, recognition and/or achievements, and any other relevant experience.

If you need assistance with developing a cover letter and resume, the Career Education Office (CEO) has some great resources available for students.

 

Complete the Additional Application

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Within two business days after submitting the 2025-2026 RA application through Handshake, applicants will receive a confirmation email with information and a link to complete their application. Additional application materials must be submitted no later than Wednesday, February 26, 2025.

As part of the additional application materials, candidates will need to submit responses to the following questions:

• What motivates you to be a Resident Assistant? How do you see the RA position preparing you for your future goals?
• As an RA, how would you demonstrate a commitment to Goucher College's Community Principles?
  • More information about Goucher College's Community Principles can be found here
• The Office of Residential Life is committed to creating equitable and inclusive communities for all students. What are the qualities of an inclusive residence hall community? As an RA, how would you work to create an equitable community in your hall?
• An RA’s life on campus is sometimes described as “living in a fishbowl,” meaning that Resident Assistants serve as visible representatives of Residential Life and Goucher College both in and outside the residence halls. How would you manage the challenge of serving as a role model in a visible leadership role?

 

Group Interview

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Eligible candidates will be invited to participate in a group interview with the Office of Residential Life staff. Group interviews are scheduled to take place between Wednesday, March 5, 2025, and Friday, March 7, 2025, and are required for candidates to be considered for a Resident Assistant position. Group interviews are sessions that involve multiple candidates interacting with one another and provide Office of Residential Life to see observable essential skills for the RA position. Group interview sessions will be scheduled for approx. two-hours.

 

Individual Interview

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Eligible candidates will also be invited to participate in an individual interview with the Office of Residential Life staff. Individual interviews are scheduled to take place between Monday, March 10, 2025, and Thursday, March 13, 2025, and are required for candidates to be considered for a Resident Assistant position. Each candidate selected for an individual interview will be scheduled for a 30-45 minute interview conversation with the Office of Residential Life staff on one of those days.

 

Position Offers

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After all the interviews have been completed, the Office of Residential Life staff will review all candidates’ applications and interview materials, and will make offers for confirmed 2025-2026 academic year vacancies. Offers will be communicated to candidates via their Goucher e-mail beginning Monday, March 24, 2025.

 

New RA and Alternate Candidate Orientation

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All newly hired Resident Assistants and all Alternate Candidates will be required to attend an orientation session on Saturday, April 19, 2025 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. More information about the orientation session will be sent to selected candidates.

Following individual interviews and a review of all candidates’ applications and interview materials, the Office of Residential Life will make offers to candidates via their Goucher e-mail. Candidates can receive one of the following offers:

• 2025-2026 RA – these are offers for a Resident Assistant position for the 2025-2026 academic year, starting in August 2025. Candidates selected for 2025-2026 RA positions will be offered an RA position with a specific residence hall assignment. 2025-2026 Resident Assistants should anticipate returning to campus on or before Wednesday, August 13, 2025, for team building, training, and opening responsibilities.
• Alternate Candidate – when confirmed vacancies for the 2025-2026 academic year are filled, the Office of Residential Life maintains a list of qualified candidates who have the potential to fill additional vacancies as they become available. Alternate candidates can be offered an RA position any time before or during the 2025-2026 academic year, including prior to, starting in, or during the Spring 2026 semester.

If my GPA is currently below 2.50, can I still apply now to be an RA for the upcoming academic year?
Yes. If a student's GPA is currently below 2.50, they can still be interviewed for an RA position. Following all the interviews, if that student is deemed to have the potential to be a successful RA, they will be offered an opportunity to remain as an Alternate Candidate. Immediately following the semester, the Office of Residential Life will conduct an eligibility verification, including GPA, for all incoming and Alternate Resident Assistant Candidates. If an Alternate Candidate raises their GPA above the minimum required 2.50 GPA, they will be retained as an Alternate Candidate and can be offered an RA position when a position becomes available.

If I am unable to attend all of the pre-semester training, can I still be an RA?
No. Especially for new Resident Assistants, the pre-semester training is essential for gaining important knowledge and skills, building a positive and effective team dynamic with other Resident Assistants, and having the time to prepare your residence hall community for incoming students. When offered an RA position, students will be made aware of all training dates and should take care to plan accordingly.

If I am currently studying abroad this semester, should I still apply now to be an RA for the upcoming academic year?
Yes. Any students currently studying abroad who are interested in an RA position for the upcoming academic year should apply now. Eligible students who are studying abroad would still need to participate in an interview, and the Office of Residential Life would coordinate accommodations to conduct those interviews virtually.

If I am planning on studying abroad in the Fall semester, should I still apply now for an RA position for the upcoming academic year?
Yes. Applications are being accepted for RA opportunities that will start anytime during the upcoming academic year, including the Spring semester. Even if a student will not be on-campus for the Fall semester, they can be offered a position that will start for the following Spring semester or offered Alternate Candidate status.