Resident Advisor FAQs
Please review questions and responses specific to each position. If you have additional questions after reviewing all materials available, email hrl-sl-selection@cornell.edu
Resident Advisor (RA) Position
How can I learn about the RA position? To learn more about the RA position expectations and eligibility requirements, visit the Housing & Residential Life Resident Advisor (RA) Position Description page.
Where can I learn more about the RA selection process? Information about the selection process including timelines, application process, information sessions, application short essay questions, how to prepare for the interview, and remuneration, can be found by visiting the Housing and Residential Life Resident Advisor (RA) Position Description page.
Additionally, there will be information sessions advertised during which students can learn about the RA position and the selection process. A recording of the information session will also be posted to the Housing and Residential Life Resident Advisor Positions page.
How does being an RA affect my financial aid? Each Financial Aid package is different so we strongly recommend that you contact the Financial Aid office for specific details on how the Housing Grant and Resident Advisor role may affect your financial aid. When connecting with the Financial Aid office, you can let them know of your intent to apply and that the remuneration package includes a single room and a semi-monthly stipend.
If you are offered an RA Position and receive financial aid, your package will be reviewed and may be revised. This means that you may be required to repay a refund and/or make a payment to the bursar account for balances no longer covered under your original aid package.
If you receive a refund during a semester that you are a Resident Advisor, you should contact bursar to confirm that it is valid prior to utilizing the funds. The refund could have been dispersed when it shouldn’t have been due to Financial Aid and the Bursar still working with Housing and Residential Life to make necessary adjustments now that you are in the Resident Advisor role.
Financial Aid and the Bursar will have been made aware of your position offer and will place a hold on your account. Should you not accept the Resident Advisor position and are meant to receive a refund, disbursal may be delayed.
What does it mean for an RA candidate to go through the background check process? The background check process is overseen by Human Resources, and it utilizes a third-party vendor. The background check ascertains any criminal convictions (including misdemeanors, felonies) in any states/counties that are associated with your social security number. Please understand that a criminal record would NOT automatically preclude you from a RA role.
If you have any personal questions regarding the background check process, please connect with Student & Campus Life Human Resources.
If you have logistical questions about the background check process (eg. timeline, notification process, etc.), note that information will be provided after an RA offer has been accepted.
How many positions are available? The Residential Life team includes approximately 200 RAs. We tend to have vacancies acrossNorth and South campus within first-year, upper level and program house communities. The number of vacancies varies each year, and we are not able to share the number of positions.
If I am applying to be an RA, should I still participate in the Housing selection process if I am interested and/or required to live on campus next year? We encourage all applicants to participate in the Housing selection process if you are interested and/or required to live on campus next year as submission of an RA application does not guarantee a position.
What happens if I signed a 2026-2027 Housing License with Housing and Residential Life and I am offered and accept an RA position? If you have signed a 2026-2027 Housing License with Housing and Residential Life and are offered and then accept an RA position, Housing will cancel any existing Housing License you may have after you have accepted the RA position. Housing will then update your Housing License and room assignment to reflect the remuneration of an RA position. You will then need to go into the Housing and Dining Portal and sign your new license for your RA room assignment once you have been notified that your assignment has been made. You will be notified after you have cleared your background check and have signed your Student Leadership Position Agreement. NOTE: We are not able to assist students with changing lease agreements they may have signed for off-campus housing.
What happens if I signed a 2026-2027 Housing License with Housing and Residential Life, and I am offered a position which I decline or am no longer eligible for? If you have signed a 2026-2027 Housing License with Housing and Residential Life and are offered and then decline the position or are no longer eligible, you are responsible for the 2026-2027 Housing License you signed.
How is my Housing affected if I accept the RA position and the position is later rescinded or I resign from the position?
When your position is rescinded or you resign from the position, you will need to get in contact with the Cornell Housing Office in order to obtain a new assignment. For students who still need to complete their residential requirement, Cornell Housing will give you an assignment. You can discuss your preferences with Housing but there is no guarantee that we will be able to meet your preference. For students who are not beholden to the residential requirement, Cornell Housing will try to assist you with obtaining an on-campus housing assignment; however, you may be placed on the wait list if there is not immediate availability.
If I have a health and/or disability accommodation which impacts my housing assignment, how is that taken into consideration? Accommodation needs do not impact eligibility for the position. If you have a health and disability accommodation request, please apply for a housing accommodation, if you have not already done so. After position offers has been accepted and assignments shared with Housing, we will work with Housing and Student Disability Services to meet approved accommodation.
Can I hold another job while serving as an RA? RAs must meet the expectations outlined by the Academic Program (if any) and the Office of Global Learning regarding student employment. If a student is eligible to exceed over 20 hours a week based on their academic or visa status, RAs are able to hold other jobs. However, RAs must speak to their supervisor about how they will manage the responsibilities of an additional job as all RA responsibilities must be met.
RAs are not permitted to hold positions for Orientation or the Tatkon Center as the commitment to each role has conflicting time requirements at pivotal times during the year.
RAs are not permitted to serve in other Housing and Residential Life Student Leader positions including Resident Language Fellows and Residence Hall Association Executive Board Members.
I am an International Student; can I apply to be an RA? All students who meet the eligibility requirements for the position may apply to be an RA. International students should also review the eligibility requirements found on the Office of Global Learning website.
The final part of verifying eligibility is that students who are offered and accepted a position must successfully pass a background check. To complete a background check in the United States, a social security number (SSN) is required. If you are offered an RA position, you will need to obtain an SSN to complete the background check. You must obtain an SSN in person; this cannot be done virtually. If you need help obtaining an SSN, please visit the Office of Global Learning’s page on applying for an SSN which can be found here: Apply for an SSN.
How is RA placement assessed and finalized? RAs are required to live on campus during their appointment, in the community that the RA is assigned to. Within the application, an applicant can indicate interest in Program Houses, First-Year Communities, and Upper-Level Communities (this does not include West Campus, Hasbrouck, or Cooperative Housing). Interests are considered but not guaranteed. Placement is based on the needs of the department and can include a campus area that an applicant did not indicate interest in.
Successful candidates who are offered a position will be notified of their community placement within the offer letter. Should a candidate decline the position, they will be removed from the 2026-2027 RA Selection Process.
Can I apply to be an RA if I am currently studying abroad or doing an internship elsewhere? If you meet eligibility requirements and meet the deadline expectations, your application will be considered. Should you be extended an interview (interviews are not guaranteed), a virtual option will be provided. The virtual interview will need to occur during interview days shared within the timeline. As a reminder, the position cannot be held virtually, and an RA must be physically present and engaged in their community during the RA appointment.
Do I need to be a student at Cornell University to serve as an RA?
To serve as an RA, you must be enrolled as an undergraduate student and must be taking at least 12 credits per semester. Additional information about eligibility requirements are found within the position description.
If I am hired to be an RA, when do I come back to campus for the new academic year? What are the important dates I should know about? RAs arrive to campus prior to the start of Cornell resident Move-In each semester to participate in training. RAs also depart after Cornell resident Move-Out to complete closing responsibilities. An overview of dates and time requirements are provided within the position description.
Additional details about important dates and time requirements are shared within the 2026-2027 Residential Leadership Position Agreement, which is shared after a candidate accepts an RA position.
Why do RAs conduct intentional interactions with residents? In addition to supporting the safety and security of residents, RAs play a vital role in building community for and amongst residents. RAs are expected to have intentional interactions with residents throughout their appointment to get to know the resident, connect with others within the community, and inform them of resources based on their needs. These interactions include “RA Chats”, intentional 1-1 conversations with residents of the community, and “Community Hours”, where RAs are available for 2 hours each week to connect with residents in their community.
What does it mean to be on-call as a RA? All RAs participate in an on-call rotation. During their assigned on-call night, the RA(s) on-call hold a community on-call phone which residents call when they are seeking assistance for situations such as but not limited to lockouts, noise concerns, and roommate conflicts. On-call hours are 7:00pm – 8:00am, Sunday-Thursday and 24 hours on the weekends (Friday-Sunday). Additionally, the RA on-call is expected to be in the building from 9:00pm-8:00am. Outside of those hours, the Resident Advisor on-call needs to have a 15-minute in-person response time of receiving a call.
During the on-call shift, the assigned RA on-call stays in the community and conducts community walks (used to connect with residents and address concerns). RAs on-call are able to sleep while on-call with the expectation the community on-call phone is answered, and all on-call expectations are met.
Are RAs expected to be on campus during University Breaks and Holidays? RAs are expected to support their communities when the communities are actively open. Residential communities are actively open during all university breaks and holidays except for Winter and Summer break. The RA team shares the scheduling responsibilities for university breaks and holidays, and scheduling is overseen by their direct supervisor at the beginning of the year.
There are opportunities for Resident Advisor positions during Winter Break for current Resident Advisors and during Summer Break for current Cornell students.
Is an RA position a 12-month appointment? The RA position is a 9-month appointment which includes the Fall and Spring semester. While there are Winter and Summer RA positions, those roles include separate applications. The process for those applications are shared mid-Fall and mid-Spring Semester, respectively.
Are RAs required to be in their communities at all times? The RAs position is a live-in role that requires living and sleeping in the community.
RAs need to be in community to complete expectations outlined within the approximate 20-hour role commitment outlined within the position description. They are also required to be in the community during their assigned on-call shift. Additionally, they should be a sufficient presence in the community in order to serve as a resource and foster community building for and among residents.
Of course, there are times when RAs are away from their community (eg. Weekend away visiting family, internship interview etc.). RAs work with their supervisor regarding time away to ensure appropriate coverage for their residents.
Who are some campus partners RA can expect to work with? RAs work with various campus partners including, but not limited to, Cornell University Police Department, Faculty Programs (Faculty-in-Residence, Faculty Fellow, Community Fellow), and the Tatkon Center. There may be other collaborations at the direction of the supervisor and/or department.