Resident Assistants and Apartment Community Advisors
Each residence area is staffed by Resident Assistants (RAs) or Apartment Community Advisors (ACAs). RAs and ACAs are undergraduate student staff members who have primary supervisory responsibilities for a wing or floor of an individual residence hall or for an apartment or suite living area. RAs and ACAs complete an extensive screening process. They also participate in a week of training prior to the beginning of the school year and attend various trainings throughout the academic year. Students are encouraged to get to know their RA/ACAs as “first line” contacts for assistance, information, support, referrals and, in many cases, friendship. RAs and ACAs are supervised by a Resident Director.
Resident Directors
Resident Directors (RDs) are graduate student staff members who live within the area that they oversee. Their responsibilities include developing their resident communities, supervising the RA/ACA staff in their area, and articulating and enforcing policies. RDs attend training workshops prior to the beginning of the fall and spring semesters and throughout the year. RDs are, in turn, supervised by an Associate or Assistant Director of Residence Life.
Associate and Assistant Directors of Residence Life
The Associate and Assistant Directors of Residence Life (ADs) are full-time staff members who have received Masters level degrees within such areas as college student development, counseling psychology, and education. ADs have responsibilities within the Student Life Office, oversee one or more residence areas, and also maintain a secondary commitment such as: alcohol education, ambassador housing, judicial coordinator and sophomore development. The ADs report to the Director of Residence Life.
Director of Residence Life
Under the guidance of the Director of Residence Life, the Residence Life staff works in conjunction with other campus staff members and departments such as the Housing Coordinator, the Director of Student Activities, the Director of New Student Programs, the Director of Multicultural Affairs, and other members of the Student Affairs staff to better meet the needs of the student community.