Returning Resident Assistant Application - For Current RAs To Complete

Lipscomb University•Nashville, TN

8d•Onsite

About The Position

Resident Assistants (RAs) help provide residents with an environment that is safe, promotes academic excellence, fosters spiritual development, and nurtures social growth. The role is a significant student leadership responsibility and an opportunity to serve as a leader among peers and a role model for Lipscomb University students. The position may be eligible for federal work-study. RAs invest in residents’ academic, spiritual, social, relational, and emotional growth and welfare. They foster community, remain accessible, support residents with concerns while maintaining confidentiality and referring them to appropriate resources, and work cooperatively with fellow RAs and Residence Hall Directors (RHDs). They communicate community expectations, consistently enforce university policies, keep residents informed of activities, and support hall programming. The position includes rotating lobby duty, weekly Monday-night meetings, one-on-one meetings as directed, and responsibilities for opening and closing residence halls during breaks. RAs also maintain paperwork and logs, submit reports promptly, and conduct resident checks according to whether their hall serves freshmen or upperclassmen. Applicants must meet university eligibility requirements and be able to commit the stated time and availability.

Requirements

Have a minimum 2.75 GPA upon application.
Not be on official academic, behavior, Bible, or chapel probation.
Have been a Lipscomb University student for at least one semester.
Be able to devote up to 15 hours per week to the position.
Have at least two free nights Monday through Friday, with no classes, club meetings, practices, or similar commitments.
Be available and on campus most weekends; RHDs will work with RA staff to arrange weekends off.

Responsibilities

Invest in residents’ academic, spiritual, social, relational, and emotional growth and welfare.
Be available and accessible to residents, spend adequate time in the hall, and interact regularly with the hall or floor community.
Assist residents with personal, spiritual, relational, social, emotional, and academic concerns; maintain confidentiality, share relevant matters with the RHD, recognize problems or potential problems, and refer residents to appropriate resources.
Learn all residents’ names and faces by the second week of school.
Work cooperatively with RAs, RHDs, and other team members; maintain a respectful, positive working relationship with the RHD and comply with work-related requests in a timely manner.
Treat students, faculty, staff, and administration respectfully, and avoid participating in gossip about members of the university community.
Explain the RA role and function, build rapport with residents, and make residents aware of their community roles and responsibilities using the Community Contract.
Enforce university and residence hall policies consistently and without bias or malice; educate residents about the Student Code of Conduct and lead by example.
Keep residents informed about campus and hall activities; conduct hall or floor meetings at the RHD’s request.
Support and attend dorm-wide programming and teammates’ programs, and fulfill programming requirements set by the RHD and Director of Residence Life.
Uphold university policies, promote Lipscomb University positively, and support its faith-based mission.
Perform rotating lobby duty, sitting at the lobby desk for the entire shift: 8 p.m. to midnight Sunday–Thursday and 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Notify the RHD of time away from campus and clear vacation or travel plans before making reservations.
Attend weekly Monday-night meetings set by the RHD, arrive on time and prepared, and keep personal activities from interfering with commitments to residents, teammates, and the RHD.
Help close and open residence halls during breaks, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break.
Maintain paperwork and forms systematically, including room checks, room inventory sheets, programming logs, and maintenance forms; submit reports and logs promptly.
For freshmen, conduct resident checks at least three nights per week, check every room multiple nights, and log checks immediately.
For upperclassmen, conduct resident checks once per week, check every room, and log checks immediately.