ELIGIBILITY
- Must be enrolled as a full-time student in an undergraduate program.
- Must be in academic good standing with their school of enrollment and must meet the minimum cumulative 2.25 GPA requirement at the time of application and while under the Program Agreement.
- Must be in good judicial/disciplinary standing with Housing & Residence Life and the University.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Resident Advisor (RA) supports the residents of their community in order to achieve Housing & Residence Life’s mission to work collaboratively to create inclusive, welcoming communities where residents are empowered to engage their potential as scholars and leaders through self-governance and participation in their residential community.
They fulfill the functions listed below as well as other duties that arise or as assigned. The Resident Advisor is supervised, advised, and supported by a Senior Resident (SR). RAs communicate information about actual and potential concerns so that the SR can determine when and how to engage with professional staff and /or other University partners.
POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES
The foundational and most important responsibilities are to:
- Implement the overall goals and mission of Housing & Residence Life within the community through active engagement and immersion.
- Advise and support residents. Orient first-year, second-year, and transfer students to University life. Ease their adjustment to and through their University experience. This includes explaining the functions of Resident Staff. Foster meaningful relationships with residents, be a sounding board and listening ear, and connect residents to resources on Grounds.
- Act as a concerned, non-judgmental peer advisor, whose goal is to assist residents in resolving concerns or problems. Act as a referral for residents, utilizing community and University resources. Ensure that supervisors are informed of concerns with individual residents and the community.
- Regularly check-in with residents, hold meetings and informal discussions, spend time throughout the community to promote unplanned conversations, and communicate with residents to ensure that they have the information and guidance to succeed at the University.
- Serve as a positive role model for residents by following and supporting the University’s Standards of Conduct, Resident Staff expectations, and the Terms & Conditions.
- Ensure that University policies and procedures relevant to maintaining a safe and welcoming community are uniformly addressed. Resident Advisors will identify and refer concerns that are too severe or beyond the scope of Resident Staff.
- Support the academic mission of the University through fostering a residential community conducive to academic success, engagement with association dean (if applicable), and referring students to resources.
Time Commitments
The position begins following acceptance during the spring semester runs until May 2025. During the spring semester responsibilities include staff meetings and all-staff orientation. During the summer responsibilities include attending orientation week (RA training). RAs need to be present within their community before residents arrive in the fall until all residents move out in the spring. Resident Staff implement the opening and building closing processes. During the academic year, the time commitment is significant as Resident Advisors help with the orientation, support, and development of residents. RAs should manage their time commitments in a way such that they can be sufficiently available to residents to make it possible to have not just formal/planned interactions but informal/spontaneous interactions.
OTHER INFORMATION
Remuneration
Remuneration:* A furnished room rent-free during the appointed term and a partial Resident Staff Meal Plan (140 meals per semester and $210 flex dollars per semester – total of $420 flex dollars per year).
Remuneration Note
*Resident Staff Meal Plan amount/type are subject to change. Students receiving financial aid should confer with UVA Student Financial Services to understand whether some or all remuneration will be applied to reducing the balance of loans or grants in the financial aid package rather than in refunds of room and board payments.
Parking
Parking permits are not part of the Resident Staff remuneration. There is no requirement that any member of Resident Staff have a personal vehicle on-Grounds. Housing & Residence Life will send the name of members of Resident Staff to Parking & Transportation each semester. If a member of Resident Staff wishes to have a vehicle on-Grounds, it is their responsibility to purchase a parking permit from Parking & Transportation. The location and availability of parking is subject to change at any time. This includes but is not limited to special events, construction, or changes by Parking & Transportation.