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Cornell University

Housing & Residential Life

Resident Language Fellow Position Description

2025-2026 Residential Leadership Position Description: Resident Language Fellow (RLF)

A Resident Language Fellow (RLF) is a live-in student leader who is a Cornell undergraduate or graduate native and heritage speaker of one of the target languages in the Language House. RLFs work to carry out the mission and values of Cornell University and Housing and Residential Life (HRL) within a residential community. RLFs must commit to enhancing the overall residential experience of students at Cornell University by supporting the HRL Pillars (Belonging at Cornell, Social Responsibility, Academic Empowerment, Culture of Care, and Navigating Transitions). RLFs accomplish this by building community through linguistic immersion in an informal, welcoming environment conducive to language and cultural learning. In addition to the RLFs, there are two Resident Advisors (RAs)  on the floor to support additional needs of the students beyond what the RLF is tasked to provide.

Time Commitment

  • RLFs can expect to be actively involved in the role as an RLFs for an average of 5 hours per week. The 5 hour per week commitment includes, but is not limited, to:
    • Building connections with residents
    • Facilitating activities and interactions amongst residents to enhance their linguistic, cultural, academic, and social development
    • 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
  • Prior to the start of classes, RLF’s are to actively participate in Student Leader training and resident Move-in
    • This time commitment varies from the weekly average of 5-hour commitment when the classes begin.
    • Specifics around training and Move-in and Move-out times and dates will be shared within the Residential Leadership Position Agreement.
  • RLFs commit to a one (1) academic year commitment (both Fall and Spring semesters).

The 2025-2026 RLF appointment dates will be included in the Residential Leadership Position Agreement and are as follows:

  • August 7, 2025: RLFs move in between 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • August 8, 2025 – December 21, 2025: Dates of appointment
  • December 21, 2025: RLFs depart the community by 2:00 PM
  • January 12, 2026: RLFs return to the community between 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
  • January 13, 2026 – May 17, 2026: Dates of appointment
  • May 17, 2025: RLFs depart the community by 2:00 PM

Note: These dates are subject to modification in accordance with academic calendar changes. The dates above are not all-inclusive and the agreement will include additional important dates within the dates of appointment such as training.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and maintain ongoing relationships with residents through leading programs and activities that encourage the residents to broaden their linguistic, cultural, academic, and social development.’
  • Develop and maintain ongoing relationship with residents through active presence and engagement 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.
  • Inform RAs of 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.)
  • Maintain the Community Living Standards, Student Code of Conduct, and HRL Housing License through timely communication with Residential Life staff, while role modeling personal behavior consistent with all University, New York State, and federal laws, guidance, and policies.
  • Maintain timely communication with full-time staff, the RLF team, 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, RLFs receive training on critical topics to support residents as well as build relationships with fellow team members and full-time staff.

Supervision

RLFs receive direct supervision from the Toni Morrison Residence Hall Director, a full-time staff member, to support the HRL mission, values, goals, and objectives. RLFs also receive indirect supervision from an HRL Assistant Director or Associate Director.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be a native speaker of the target Language.
  • Prior to the position start date, applicants must have completed at least two (2) semesters (not including Summer or Winter semester) 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 RLFs 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 RLF 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 RLF 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 RLF 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, RLFs must meet the GPA requirement in order to retain the position.
    • It is the responsibility of the applicant and RLF 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.)
  • RLFs must be a full-time enrolled student, completing at least 12 credits each semester throughout the dates of appointment.
  • RLF appointments are for one (1) academic year and applicants must be able to commit to a full academic year, both Fall and Spring semester.
    • Current RLFs who have the intent to apply to the position for subsequent years are required to participate in an application and evaluation process annually.
  • Applicants and current RLFs must review and commit to the expectations and appointment dates listed in the “Time Commitment” section within this position description. RLFs much attend and participate in ALL August and January Student Leader training and weekly team meetings.  
  • Applicants and current RLFs  are subject to all Cornell University regulations including but not limited to the Community Living Standards, Student Code of Conduct, Code of Academic Integrity, HRL Housing License, Cornell University Policies 6.3 and 6.4, Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 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.
    • It is the responsibility of the applicant and current RLF to notify HRL 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 rescinding of position offer, or removal from the position.
    • Applicants and current RLFs who are offered a RLF position should note that any behavior occurring prior to the start of the position appointment (e.g. summer, winter) or during position appointment dates that potentially violates any of the aforementioned conduct expectations could result in the rescinding of position offer or removal from the position.
  • Applicants who are offered a position and current RLFs must clear a background check to maintain the position.  
  • Applicants within the 2025-2026 RLF Selection Process who are not offered a position or an alternate status will be removed from the 2025-2026 RLF Selection cycle. Applicants within the 2025-2026 RLF Selection Process who are offered a position or an alternate status which they decline, will be removed from the 2025-2026 RLF Selection cycle. These applicants will need to apply during the next cycle: 2026-2027 RLF Selection Process, to be considered for an RLF position during the academic year (Fall and Spring Semester).

Remuneration

RLF position remuneration includes a single room, a stipend distributed semi-monthly throughout the semester, and a MicroFridge (owned by HRL) that remains in the room. The MicroFridge is for programming usage. 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.

The stipend amount is $2,620 for the 2025-2026 Academic Year.