About the role#
The Resident Assistant (RA) is a part-time student staff member within the Division of Student Affairs. This live-in position supports the residence hall community by connecting students to campus resources, providing guidance on the collegiate experience, and fostering an environment for social and academic growth. RAs report to a Community Director and work closely with other residence life staff.
What you'll do#
- Plan and implement engagement opportunities focusing on leadership and community responsibility.
- Build rapport with residents through regular Clawed Chats and referrals to campus resources.
- Serve in a community-wide on-call rotation, including nights, weekends, and university breaks.
- Conduct community rounds to ensure building safety, check for locked doors, and report facilities concerns.
- Document potential policy violations and complete incident or conduct reports.
- Provide support to students in need and assist with room lockouts.
- Complete administrative tasks including room inventory forms and health and safety inspections.
- Serve 3 hours each week as a Desk Assistant.
- Assist with residence hall openings, closings, check-ins, and checkouts.
- Attend weekly staff meetings, one-on-one supervisory meetings, and required training sessions.
- Submit at least two Of the Month award nominations per semester.
What you'll need#
- Current full-time enrollment as an undergraduate or graduate student at American University.
- Completion of at least one semester of full-time undergraduate education by the start date.
- Minimum of one semester living on campus at American University.
- Cumulative and term GPA of 2.5 or higher.
- No record of serious conduct policy violations.
- Attendance at an information session by December.
- Ability to maintain credit hour requirements (12-17 for undergraduates; 9-12 for graduates).
Location & details#
- Location: Washington, DC (Main Campus).
- Modality: On-site, live-in position.
- Commitment: 10 months (August through May), approximately 15 hours per week.
- Compensation: $375 monthly stipend plus a housing credit for a single room.
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
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