Resident Assistant

GENERAL FUNCTION AND SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY

The position of a Resident Assistant is a part-time student employment opportunity at the University of WisconsinStevens Point in the Office of Housing and Residence Life. A Resident Assistant (RA) is a student staff member who lives on each floor within the residence halls. RAs promote individual success through community development on the floors ranging from 45-70 residents. They are responsible for attending training opening and closing the halls serving as Desk Receptionists programming for student development and wellness needs of residents providing information on campus and community resources serving as a contact and referral source for student concerns hall security student conduct observation intervention and reporting. This position is part-time employment in conjunction with the employees full-time academic schedule. The accumulated duties of this position require the employee to work twenty (20) hours per week during the academic year.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBLITIES

Academic mission support

• Assist in the development of an academic environment and communicate academic support services to students

• Model academic interests and appropriate study skills

• Be aware of and communicate academic support services available to students

• Talk with students regularly pertaining to their academic and career development progress

Wellness lifestyle support

• Model a wellness lifestyle and teach students about the community development model through programming efforts

• Assist students in understanding how personal lifestyle choices affect the floor communitys health

Programming

• Plan develop and initiate social and educational programs as specified by the Residence Hall Director (RHD)

• Assess residents needs for academic success programming

• Assist other staff including the RHD in formulating residence hall programming strategies

• Encourage student ideas and student involvement

• Interact with residents regularly and track interactions utilizing Chats

• Encourage and support hall activities and programming

• Attend hall activities and events

• Support your hall leadership team through your involvement in their meetings and programs

• Hold floor meetings regularly or when assigned by RHD

• Resident Assistants may drive university vehicles to transport students to events programs and/or activities.

Administration

• Report problems initiate and follow maintenance request through to completion

• Assist in staff selection as requested by the RHD

• Work the hall front desk four (4) hours per week as a part of the twenty (20) hours per week requirement of the RA position.

• Assist in the facilitation of room changes and single room assignments

• Perform room inspections and follow check-in/check-out procedures as assigned

• Maintain inventory of common area furnishings

• Maintain open and frequent communication with the RHD

• Conduct monthly Health and Safety checks in each room on your floor and report any issues/concerns to RHD

• Attend all weekly meetings scheduled by the RHD (one-on-ones staff meetings etc.)

Dealing with inappropriate behavior

• Confront individuals or groups violating state university or residence hall rules regulations or policies and report individuals according to procedures established by the university and the RHD

• Enforce all rules regulations and policies with consistency and fairness

• Be able to provide residents with rationale for state university and residence hall rules regulations and procedures including disciplinary procedures

• Serve in an oversight capacity in university dining rooms and other areas

• Perform duty/rounds as scheduled; duty occurs about two- three weeknights and about two weekends per month

Development of staff relations

• Participate openly and honestly in communication with the RHD other RAs and other designated staff.

• Participate actively in meetings training and other activities

• Communicate regularly with the RHD about programming plans and resident concerns

• Function as a team member with the hall staff to solve mutual concerns

• Offer input concerning processes and procedures

• Support the decisions of the department of Housing and Residence Life the RHD and other staff

• Maintain confidentiality regarding job-related information and relationships with staff

• Convey accurate information related to decisions policies and actions of other staff

• Work with and support maintenance staff and explain their functions to the residents

Facilitation of community development

• Help students adjust to the residence hall and university

• Strive to establish and maintain an open relationship with individuals on your floor and in your hall

• Work with students to maintain the rights and privacy of all residents

• Encourage and support students in their involvement in residence hall leadership team programming and campus activities

• Encourage academic achievement among residents and help them to comprehend its importance to the development of community on the wing in the hall and on the campus

Additional responsibilities

• Additional responsibilities may be assigned by the RHD to help meet the needs of your hall. These responsibilities constitute part of your employment agreement.

• Serves as Campus Security Authority as outlined by the Clery Act to include completion of required training and reporting of all crimes to the university.

• As an employee of the university report witnessed or otherwise reported incidents of sexual assault to the Office of the Dean of Students (36.11(22)(c)))

• Uphold FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act) and protect confidential information of students and their support systems.

• Serve as a Responsible Employee as defined by Title IX and UWSP Policy 14.2 to report thorough and complete information about sexual harassment sexual assault dating violence domestic violence stalking and other gender-based discrimination.

Conditions of employment

• Maintain the conditions of this position for the entire academic year.

• Must have lived in a residence hall or other communal living experience for at least two (2) semesters by start of employment.

• Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5. If your semester GPA is 1.50 or lower your contract may be rescinded.

• Must be a full-time student enrolled in a minimum of twelve (12) credits each semester of employment.

• Carry no more than sixteen (16) credits unless you receive prior approval from your RHD.

• Resident Assistants are expected to work 20 hours a week and prioritize their RA duties over any other non-academic commitments. Housing and Residence Life expects you to work 20 hours a week in the hall including being available for duty and staff meetings. If you are participating in student teaching or other academic commitments such as full-time internships co-ops practicums etc. you are not eligible for this position.

• Give the RA position priority over all other activities except academics.

• Must get approval from RHD before committing to any major extracurricular activities including officer positions and intercollegiate athletics. Some athletic and extracurricular program schedules work better than others while being a staff member. We try our best to accommodate individuals; however your staff position is expected to be the priority.

• Forego all other on campus employment unless granted permission from your RHD. If approved additional on campus employment is limited to a maximum of five (5) hours per week. Outside employment is discouraged especially in the first semester as a staff member.

• Be in good conduct standing with the university at the time the contract begins and have no further conduct incidents after the contract is signed. Prior university conduct records do not disqualify applicants but will be reviewed prior to employment. Employment will require a criminal background check.

• Model positive behaviors appropriate to the university community and behave in a manner consistent with all the rules and regulations expected of all students and employees of UW-Stevens Point.

• Must fulfill individual hall requirements including programming duty desk meetings and ongoing training set by the RHD.

• Live in the residence hall assigned whenever the university is in session. Your hall assignment is subject to change each year of employment.

• The department of Housing and Residence Life reserves the right to reassign RAs based on occupancy needs or hall structure changes at any time.

• Return to your residence hall prior to the fall (Approx. 2 weeks before semester begins) and spring semesters (Approx. 5 days before semester begins) to participate in staff training programs assist in the orientation of students to the residence hall and be on-campus the weekend when hall opens.

• Must be able to return by the date specified prior to re-opening after any break period.

• Remain on-campus in the residence hall for closed weekends which includes the opening weekend each semester the weekend before final exams in the spring semester and Homecoming Weekend. Also remain in the hall after it has closed each semester to assist with closing procedures. Note: Residence halls remain open during fall break winter break and spring break. During each of these break periods one staff member in each hall will be on-duty. You may be asked to work one of the break periods; staff who do will receive additional compensation.

Remuneration package

• Room Space Benefits:

• Traditional Halls and Hyer Hall: Receive a single room waiver contingent upon budget approval.

• : Individuals are assigned to a four-person suite; each person is assigned to a single-occupant bedroom within the suite. A waiver is granted to the single-occupancy bedroom

• If over-occupancy occurs RA may choose a roommate or one could be assigned on a temporary basis. Housing will determine the additional compensation for the RA with the roommate.

• As of May 27 2025 the department has decided to proceed with double-occupancy rooms for the RA role due to the high occupancy projections. RAs will receive a waiver for the double-occupancy room in traditional halls. Additional compensation of $1000 per semester will be provided for student staff who are changing to double occupancy. This will be paid out bi-weekly with your regular pay.

• This roommate placement may be temporary. We will re-evaluate our occupancy throughout the semester and may change back to single-occupancy housing at semester. We will communicate any changes options and rationale as we know it.

• A stipend of $500 per semester for your first and second semesters of service as an RA. Stipend increases to $550 per semester after the second semester of service as an RA.

• Waiver of each semesters fees for a meal plan as specified by Housing and Residence Life