Resident Advisor Position Description

2024-2025 Residential Leadership Position Description: Resident Advisor (RA)

A Resident Advisor (RA) is a live-in student leader who works to carry out the mission and values of Cornell University and Housing & Residential Life (H&RL) within a residential community. RAs must commit to enhancing the overall residential experience of students at Cornell University by supporting the H&RL Pillars (Belonging at Cornell, Social Responsibility, Academic Empowerment, Culture of Care, and Navigate Transition). RAs accomplish this by building community through intentional engagement and maintaining safety and security. RAs also build relationships with their team and full-time staff members to strengthen a sense of belonging in the community.

Time Commitment

• RAs can expect to be actively involved in the role as an RA for an average of 20 hours per week. The 20-hour per week commitment includes, but is not limited, to:
  • Building connections with residents
  • Facilitating activities and interactions amongst residents
  • One-on-one meetings with their supervisor during business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Attendance and participation in a weekly team meeting held on Wednesdays, 5:15 PM – 6:45 PM
• RAs participate in an on-call rotation to support the safety and security of residents.
• Prior to the start of classes and during the end of each semester, RA are to actively participate in RA training and resident Move-in and Move-out.
  • This time commitment varies from the weekly 20-hour commitment when the classes begin.
  • Specifics around training and Move-in and Move-out times and dates will be shared within the Student Leadership Positional Agreement.
• RAs commit to a one (1) academic year commitment (both Fall and Spring semesters).

The 2024-2025 RA appointment dates will be included in the Student Leadership Positional Agreement and are as follows:

• August 8, 2024: RAs move in between 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• August 9, 2024 – December 22, 2024: Dates of appointment
• December 23, 2024: RAs have until 12:00 PM to vacate the community
• January 13, 2025: RAs return to the community between 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
• January 14, 2025 – May 20, 2025: Dates of appointment
• May 21, 2025: RAs have until 12:00 PM to move out
• Note: These dates are subject to modification in accordance with academic calendar changes.

To ensure resident needs are met, RAs are required to be present during times that the community remains open within the appointment dates listed above (including University breaks and holidays). RAs will work to create a coverage plan for breaks and holidays at the direction of their supervisor.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain ongoing relationships with residents through intentional social interactions and educational programming.
• Maintain consistent availability to residents by being present and accessible within the community.
• Demonstrate a commitment to inclusion and sense of belonging by supporting educational awareness and fostering a sense of community, ownership, and respect.
• Assess and respond to the needs of residents through community engagement, informing supervisors of needs, and connecting residents to campus resources.
• Respond to resident concerns and critical incidents with a restorative approach (listening, discussing impact, repairing harm), while being supported by full-time staff (Residence Hall Director, Area Coordinator, Assistant Director, Cornell University Police Department, etc.)
• Meet on-call responsibilities while serving on an overnight on-call rotation.
• Maintain the Community Living Standards, Student Code of Conduct, and Housing License through proactive education and addressing and documenting concerns, while role modelling personal behavior consistent with all university, state, and federal laws, guidance, and policies.
• Maintain timely communication with full-time staff, the RA team, and residents.
• Complete administrative responsibilities of the role within the provided deadlines.
• Attend and participate in mandatory one-on-one meetings with their supervisor and weekly team meetings on Wednesdays from 5:15 PM to 6:45 PM.
• Attend and participate in August and January training (prior to the start of classes), in addition to any continued development sessions (occurs during weekly team meeting) throughout the semesters. During these periods, RAs receive training on critical topics to support residents as well as build relationships with fellow team members and full-time staff.
• Support residential Move-in and Move-out processes at the beginning and end of each semester (Fall and Spring).

Supervision

RAs receive direct supervision from a Residence Hall Director or Area Coordinator, a full-time staff member, to support the H&RL mission, values, goals, and objectives. RAs also receive indirect supervision from an H&RL Assistant Director.

Eligibility Requirements

• Prior to the position start date, applicants must have completed at least two (2) semesters (not including summer or winter term) of college or university coursework, post-high school graduation.
  • Incoming transfer students will be asked to present their official or unofficial transcript from their previously attended institution(s).
• Applicants and current RAs must maintain a minimum semesterly and cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5. GPA checks are conducted during the selection process and throughout the RA appointment to ensure good academic standing.
  • Applicants who fail to meet the minimum GPA requirement will not be eligible to continue in the selection process.
  • Applicants who are in their first semester at Cornell and do not have a GPA at the time of application, are able to submit an application. GPA requirements will be checked at the end of Fall and Spring semester.
  • Applicants who are extended RA offers and fail to meet the GPA requirement at the end of the Spring semester will no longer be eligible for the position.
  • Incoming transfer students will be asked to present their official or unofficial transcript from the previously attended institution(s).
  • If a current RA fails to meet the minimum GPA requirement, they will have one probationary semester to work towards meeting the GPA eligibility requirement. At the end of the probationary semester, RAs must meet the GPA requirement in order to retain the position.
  • It is the responsibility of the applicant and RA to notify the H&RL Student Leader Selection Committee at hrl-sl-selection@cornell.edu regarding any special circumstance that may influence the GPA requirement (e.g., incompletes, grade changes, etc.)
• RAs must be a full-time enrolled student, completing at least 12 credits each semester throughout the dates of appointment.
• RA appointments are for one (1) academic year and applicants must be able to commit to a full academic year, both Fall and Spring semester.
  • RAs who have the intent to return to the position for subsequent years are required to participate in an application and evaluation process annually.
  • RAs may be reassigned by the department to different communities based on the needs of the student population and department.
• Applicants and current RAs must be in good standing with the Community Living Standards, Student Code of Conduct, Housing License, Policies 6.3 and 6.4 and must comply with all university, local, state, and federal policies or guidance.
  • Conduct status will be checked regularly by Housing & Residential Life, Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards, and the Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX.
  • Applicants who are offered a position must successfully pass a criminal background check in order to maintain the position.
  • It is the responsibility of the applicant and RA to notify H&RL Student Leader Selection Committee immediately of any changes to their status by emailing hrl-sl-selection@cornell.edu. Should inappropriate, negative, or prohibited conduct arise, appropriate follow-up will be taken, up to and including, removal from the position.
• Applicants within the 2024-2025 RA Selection Process who are not offered a position or an alternate status will be removed from the 2024-2025 RA Selection cycle. Applicants within the 2024-2025 RA Selection Process who are offered a position or an alternate status which they decline, will be removed from the 2024-2025 RA Selection cycle. These applicants will need to apply during the next cycle: 2025-2026 RA Selection Process, to be considered for an RA position during the academic year (Fall and Spring Semester)
  • Note that the 2024 Summer RA Selection Process is separate from the academic cycle. Applicants are able to apply to this process regardless of the outcome of the 2024-2025 RA Selection cycle.

Remuneration

RA position remuneration includes a single room, a stipend distributed biweekly throughout the semester, and a MicroFridge that remains in the room. Stipends are subject to taxation. The remuneration may not be adjusted or allotted in other ways.Please consult with the Office of Financial Aid to learn how the position remuneration grant may impact your financial aid package. It is encouraged that you speak with the Office of Financial Aid prior to accepting the position.