Resident Assistant, Spring (Student)

American University • Washington, DC

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Resident Assistant (RA) is a part-time undergraduate or graduate student staff member of Housing & Residence Life and the University’s Division of Student Affairs. RAs help create enriching residence hall communities by connecting residents to resources, advising them on navigating college, and supporting their social and academic growth. The position is a five-month, live-in appointment from January through May, with a stated workload of 15 hours per week. RAs receive a $375 monthly stipend and housing credit to cover a single room in their assigned residence hall; a meal plan is not required.

RAs report to a Community Director and work with other residence hall staff and campus partners. Their responsibilities include community engagement and programming, advising and referring residents to resources, participating in an overnight and weekend on-call rotation, responding to emergencies, performing administrative and safety tasks, and assisting with residence hall openings and closings. RAs also serve three hours weekly as a Desk Assistant, attend required training and weekly staff meetings, and participate in regular supervisory meetings and ongoing development. The role requires flexibility, and outside commitments require prior supervisor approval.

Requirements

• Be enrolled full-time as an undergraduate or graduate student: undergraduates must take 12–17 credits per semester, and graduate students must take 9–12 credits per semester. Written permission from the Director of Residence Life is required to drop below the minimum and retain the position.
• Complete one semester of full-time undergraduate education by the start of employment.
• Have lived on campus at American University for at least one semester.
• Maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 and a term GPA of at least 2.5 from application through separation.
• Not have been found responsible for violating a serious conduct policy, residence hall regulations, or University Policy, from application through separation.
• Attend an information session by December.
• Participate in required scheduled training, staff meetings, and supervisory meetings.
• Remain in the assigned residential community and be available to respond when serving on call; do not take the on-call phone off campus and return it to its designated location after the duty shift.
• Obtain prior approval from the direct supervisor for outside commitments. Academic student internships are limited to three credits per semester.
• Submit a written request to the direct supervisor within 48 business hours of receiving an offer for an additional job, internship, or University leadership responsibility.
• Do not serve as a Desk Coordinator or as an elected or appointed member of the Residence Hall Association.
• Have flexibility to support an occasionally unpredictable environment and meet responsibilities determined by departmental needs.

Responsibilities

• Develop and facilitate a residence hall environment that supports students’ social and academic growth.
• Plan and implement resident learning and engagement opportunities as part of the Eagle Flight Plan, focusing on leadership, self-discovery, and community responsibility.
• Advise residents and refer them to campus resources supporting their academic, personal, and social well-being.
• Complete Clawed Chats to build rapport with residents.
• Submit at least two National Residence Hall Honorary “Of the Month” award nominations per semester.
• Participate in the community-wide on-call rotation, including nights, some weekends, university breaks, and holidays; remain in the assigned residential community while on call and respond to emergency concerns.
• During on-call shifts, conduct community rounds, check external doors and windows, report facilities concerns, document potential policy violations, provide support and resources, handle student lockouts, and cover Desk Assistant duties when needed.
• Assist with significant residence hall or campus emergencies when needed.
• Support department-wide initiatives, including RA recruitment and selection information sessions, tabling, interviews, and other university or departmental events.
• Complete Room Inventory Forms, document potential policy violations, and report facilities concerns.
• Complete Health and Safety Inspections for the assigned floor or community at least twice a year.
• Submit accurate and detailed incident, Equity/Title IX, and other required reports immediately using the ETIX link or Guardian software.
• Help prepare for residence hall check-ins, checkouts, openings, and closings, including duties before and at the end of the spring semester.
• Serve three hours each week as a Desk Assistant in the assigned community; additional front-desk hours may be worked at the Desk Assistant hourly wage rate.
• Attend required scheduled online or in-person training before the spring semester, all fall and spring training components, ongoing in-service meetings, weekly staff meetings, and regular one-on-one supervisory meetings.
• Obtain prior supervisor approval for outside commitments, including additional jobs, internships, and University leadership roles; submit a written request detailing anticipated time commitments within 48 business hours of receiving an offer.

Benefits

• $375 stipend per month.
• Housing credit added to the student account to cover a single room in the assigned residence hall.
• Resident Assistants are not required to have a meal plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed