About the role#
The Resident Assistant (RA) is a part-time student staff member within the Division of Student Affairs. This role supports the residence hall community by connecting students to resources, providing guidance on the collegiate experience, and maintaining an environment where students can learn and grow. This is a live-in position for the Winter 2027 term.
What you'll do#
- Facilitate an inclusive environment on your floor and throughout the residence hall.
- Plan and implement engagement opportunities focused on leadership and community responsibility.
- Advise residents and refer them to appropriate campus resources.
- Build rapport with residents through regular Clawed Chats.
- Submit at least two Of the Month award nominations per semester.
- Serve in a community-wide on-call rotation, which includes monitoring safety, securing building access, and responding to emergencies.
- Document potential policy violations and complete incident or Equity/Title IX reports.
- Assist with check-ins, checkouts, and the general opening and closing of residence halls.
- Complete Room Inventory Forms and conduct Health and Safety Inspections at least twice per year.
- Report facilities concerns as they arise.
- Serve 3 hours each week as a Desk Assistant.
- Attend weekly staff meetings, in-service training, and regular one-on-one supervisory meetings.
- Support department-wide initiatives and recruitment events.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment as an American University student.
- Undergraduate students must be enrolled in 12 to 17 credits per semester.
- Graduate students must be enrolled in 9 to 12 credits per semester.
- Completion of at least one semester of full-time undergraduate education by the start of employment.
- At least one semester of experience living on campus at American University.
- A cumulative and term GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- A clean conduct record with no violations of serious University or residence hall policies.
- Attendance at an information session by December.
Location & details#
- Location: Washington, DC (Main Campus).
- Work Modality: On-site.
- Compensation: This is a paid position, including a monthly stipend and a housing credit for a single room.
- Commitment: Part-time, approximately 15 hours per week.
About American University
American University is a higher education institution based in Washington, DC. Founded in 1893, the school holds a charter from Congress with a focus on public service. It operates several academic divisions including the School of Public Affairs and the Washington College of Law. The university employs between 1,001 and 5,000 people.
How to get in at American University
Securing an internship at American University often requires speed, as early applicants are reviewed before the volume of candidates becomes unmanageable. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published, helping you apply among the first. This timing often makes the difference in getting your resume seen by the right people. You can also improve your odds by reaching out to the recruiters behind these roles directly to ask about the position or a potential referral. Intern Insider surfaces these contacts for you, which materially improves your response rates compared to submitting an application into a general queue.



