Application Information
Applying to be a Resident Assistant (RA) involves more than completing an application and interviewing; applying is a process. While the position comes with great rewards, it also can be demanding at times. Our application process is designed not only to ensure that we get the best candidates for the position, but also to provide the opportunity to make sure the RA position is the best fit for you.
The 2008-2009 selection process begins on Tuesday, November 20, when online applications will be available. The first opportunity for candidates to learn more about the position and the selection process is at the RA Selection Open House on Monday, November 18 from 6:00 – 9:00 PM in El Portal. Informational sessions will also be held at other times on campus. The process ends in mid-March when candidates are notified of their selection status for the following academic year.
More information
1. Learning more about the position
In addition to reading the web site, the best way to learn about what RAs do is to get out and meet the people who actually work in the residence halls. This can be through talking to your RA or Hall/Complex Director about his or her experiences, or attending either our RA Selection Open House or one of our information sessions where staff members will be available to talk to you about the position and explain the application process.
2. What you need to know about applying online
Between November 20, 2007 and January 23, 2008, complete the online application form located on this web site. The site only allows individuals 90 minutes to complete the application, and for this reason, we encourage all applicants to prepare their answers prior to beginning an application. The essay questions that will be asked are listed below and all candidates are encouraged to answer these questions prior to starting an application, and then cut-and-paste their answers into the application in the appropriate space.
The Resident Assistant application is authenticated through Student Link using a student’s University Student ID number and PIN, and since University policy places complete responsibility on the student to protect the combination of these two identifying elements from release to or use by anyone other than him/herself, it is assumed that the individual completing this application is the student who is applying for the Resident Assistant position. Given this, the student applicant will be held responsible for the accuracy and truthfulness of the information submitted on and/or related to this application for housing. For this reason, many of these fields within the application will be pre-filled with student information on file.
The Resident Assistant application will ask the following:
- Personal Information
- Personal and address information displayed comes from your official University records. Residence Life systems are updated by central University systems daily. If any of the displayed information is incorrect, you may still complete the application and then make the changes to your official records with the University. Within 48 hours of a change to your University records, it will be updated in Residence Life system, including in your Resident Assistant application.
- Academic Information
- You must have a 2.50 cumulative UA GPA to be hired as an RA. Residence Life must have permission to check your GPA in order for you be eligible for hire.
- Interview Times
- Each candidate will select their 2-hour interview time slot while filing out the application. Interviews will be taking place the weeks of February 4 and February 11, 2008. Carefully check your class schedule and activities so you avoid having to reschedule.
- Reference Information
- If you currently live in a residence hall, you must have an RA submit a reference on your behalf. You may also submit an additional reference if you choose.
- If you currently live off-campus, you may select any reference that you feel can speak to the skills you possess that would relate to being an RA.
- When you complete your online application, you will be given a randomly assigned ID number and password. Give those two numbers to your reference, who will use the numbers to log on and fill out the online reference form. You will not have access to his or her online reference.
- Residence Hall Community
- Candidates will be asked to list any residence hall communities they have lived in.
- Candidates will also be asked if they are interested in being considered for one of our Living/Learning Communities (LLC). Resident Assistants working with LLCs can expect some additional responsibilities. Although specific duties vary from community to community, Living-Learning RAs typically are called upon to do more than an RA on a non-LLC wing. A general list of additions and extras that one can anticipate might be: community-specific training, planning meetings, collaboration with living-learning partners, articulating the benefits of living in the specific community, extra time coordinating programs, more programs, more academic-related questions and community-specific knowledge. As examples, RAs on the Eller Pre-Business wing are expected by residents to know more about the Eller College than the average RA, and O’odham Ki RAs would benefit from multi-cultural knowledge.
- Involvement
- Each candidate will be asked to confirm that they have read and understand the sample RA contract.
- RA appointments are for the academic year. Candidates will be asked if they are able to commit to the entire 2008-2009 academic year.
- Candidates will be asked to list any campus and/or community organizations they have participated in, as well as anticipated commitments for the 2008-2009 academic year.
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Marketing Questions
- To determine how you learned of the Resident Assistant position and the selection process.
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Letter to Residents and Essay Questions
- Each candidate will be asked to compose a letter to incoming residents, welcoming them to your community, and complete two essay questions.
- We strongly recommend that prior to filling out the online application, you type your responses in a word processor (i.e. Microsoft Word; WordPerfect), so that you will have time to think about your answers and edit for spelling and grammatical errors. The online form does not automatically check spelling. There is also a 90 minute timeout on the application. If you fail to complete the entire application within the 90 minute time frame, you will need to start over. Typing in answers to essay questions can be time consuming and you can run the risk of having your application timeout. Writing your essays ahead of time will also allow you to "copy" and "paste" your answers into the application (saving you a lot of time).
- Essay responses are limited to 250 words maximum; the “letter to your residents” is limited to 500 words maximum.
- All incoming residents receive a letter from the RA of their wing community at the beginning of the academic year. In the space below, please compose a letter for your future residents, minimally including:
- An introduction of yourself
- Explanation of your role as an RA
- The attitude, behavior, and relationships you hope to see develop in your community
- You may also want to include other information to welcome your residents to your wing. (500 word limit)
- The essay questions are:
- If a student were to pull up your online profile (Facebook, MySpace, online blogs, etc.), what impressions could he or she have about you, your future wing community, and Residence Life? (250 word limit)
- What skills and attributes do you bring to the Resident Assistant job? And, what skills and experience do you want to gain from the Resident Assistant position? (250 word limit)
- Each candidate will be asked to compose a letter to incoming residents, welcoming them to your community, and complete two essay questions.
3. Interviewing
As part of the application process, you will be required to attend a two-hour interview with current Residence Life staff members. You will schedule a two-hour time block for your interview during your application. You must be available for the entire two hours you select to interview for the position.
- All interviews will occur on select days during the weeks of February 4 and February 11, 2008 from 9:00 AM – 8:30 PM.
- Each two-hour time block will consist of an individual interview and a group interview.
- Please plan on arriving 15 minutes early to your interview.
- Notification letters will be sent to all candidates on Tuesday, March 4, 2008 (offering a position with placement, an offer of the alternate pool, or no offer).
- Acceptance day (Friday, March 7, 2008)