Resident Assistant Position

Resident Assistants (RAs) are live-in, part-time, student staff members in residence halls who are chosen through a departmental selection process. The mission of Residence Life at the University of Massachusetts Amherst is to empower residence hall students and staff to create safe, caring, and inclusive communities. We encourage and support students in their academic, social, and personal growth. We foster students personal awareness, appreciation of others, and development of skills to succeed in a diverse, global society. Finally, we provide opportunities for students to develop leadership skills and encourage students to demonstrate responsible and ethical behavior in their communities. As a Resident Assistant, you play a pivotal role in our department and are a vital resource for many members of the campus community.

Why Be An RA?

Being an RA at UMass Amherst is more then just having another student job.
As an RA you are also a...

Community Developer: Assist and encourage floor members to develop a livable, inclusive, and responsible community through discussions of floor living guidelines, integration of new students, study breaks, quiet hours, floor activities, etc.

Administrator: As part of an administrative staff, an RA is responsible for staffing the Cluster Office while on duty on designated evenings. Duty nights rotate according to the staff size and the needs of the specific cluster. RAs are also responsible for signing out back-up keys and equipment such as brooms and game equipment. Working with and filing various paperwork are also a part of the RA job. Another important part of the RA's administrative role is communicating with the Resident Director and the Assistant Resident Director through the use of various forms and communication channels.

Programmer: Offering educational and social opportunities for residents is an important piece of the RA's job. Programming requirements may vary from cluster to cluster however the departmental expectation is for each RA to offer one educational and one social program for his or her residents each month. By using campus resources and with the help of the Senior Staff members and the Residence Life Resource Center, RAs offer exceptional programs that enlighten and entertain thousands of residents each year.

Peer Counselor: As a leader in the residence hall community, many residents will come to you for advice and assistance for their simple and complex problems. As an RA, it is likely that you may experience issues such as roommate conflicts or eating disorders. It is important for all RAs to understand how to handle every situation. During RA Training, you will be given the tools you will need to provide students with the best possible answers to their questions. You will also be made aware of the proper protocol for serious and emergency situations.

Resource Person: Otherwise known as a walking information desk, an RA will be sought out by residents to answer questions, from the basic, "Where's the library?" to the more complicated, "How do I set up my Internet account and can you help me?" You will be made aware of all the resources we have here on campus through training. You will also be encouraged to say "I don't know the answer to that!" and to refer the resident to someone who may.

Policy Enforcer: As a university official, Resident Assistants are responsible for abiding by and enforcing Housing policies. Each policy was created with the purpose of creating a safe and non-threatening place for all members of the residence hall community. With the new alcohol sanctions that were instituted at the beginning of this year, the violators of the alcohol policies will be facing much more severe repercussions for their actions. Hopefully these sanctions will help educate students about the dangers of alcohol abuse, deter underage consumption, and make the residence halls safer places for everyone.

Staff Team Member: RA Staffs vary in size depending on the size of the cluster. Each staff is supervised by a Residence Director and one or two Assistant Residence Directors. The staffs meet once a week to discuss the issues of the cluster and to plan events. Meeting times are also used as a time to socialize with your Staff Team. As part of a team, each RA is expected to support and assist their fellow staff members.