What are Resident Advisor Promotions?
The Promotion process offers current Resident Staff members the opportunity to advance to the Senior Staff positions of Co-Chair, Vice Chair, or Senior Resident.
This process is separate from that for RA Selections, which hires new Resident Advisors.
Are you considering a promotion?
Learn about the process and gain insight from current staff members!
Q&A Session/Drop-in Coffee Chat
Wednesday, December 6, 9-11 a.m. in the Gibbons Office
Information Session
Wednesday, January 17 during J-days
Have more questions?
Email Maria Sobiesk
Eligibility Requirements
All promotions positions require that the candidate be enrolled as a full-time student in an undergraduate program or completing the final year of a fifth-year master's degree program.
Co-Chair: Must be a member of Resident Staff with at least one year's experience as a Senior Resident, or two years' experience as a Resident Advisor.
Vice-Chair/Senior Resident: Must be a member of Resident Staff with at least one year's experience as a Resident Advisor.
Application Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, November 15 | Co-Chair application opens |
| Monday, November 27 | Vice-Chair and Senior Resident application opens |
| Tuesday, January 2 at noon | Co-Chair application deadline |
| Tuesday, January 16 | Co-Chair interviews with Executive Committee |
| Monday, January 22 at noon | Vice-Chair and Senior Resident application deadline |
| Tuesday, January 23 | Co-Chair interviews with professional staff |
| Saturday, February 10 | Vice-Chair interviews |
| Saturday, February 24 | Senior Resident interviews |
Position Descriptions
Application Process
The first step in the application process is to submit the Co-Chair Application and/or Vice Chair & Senior Resident Application online. The essay questions will focus on your vision and goals, as well as the leadership you'll provide in the position you are seeking. In addition to the online applications, applicants must ask for a recommendation from their immediate supervisor.
After you submit your application, you will be asked to participate in 1-2 rounds of interviews, depending on the role(s) you have applied for. Interviews are typically conducted from mid-January to mid-February. The dress code for the interviews is business casual.
Each position (Co-Chair, Vice Chair, and Senior Resident) has a separate committee with student and professional representation from that community. Each committee reviews the applications, conducts interviews, and determines offers. Offers will be sent by email.
Application Tips
- Talk to current staff members! The best way to learn about the nuances of any role is to ask the people who do it every day. Ask them difficult questions, what they enjoy about their positions, and any advice they would have for someone seeking the role.
- Meet with a Residence Life Coordinator (RLC). Senior Staff members work closely with the RLCs, so it’s important to know their roles and how your potential position collaboratively works to support the mission of Housing & Residence Life. We encourage you to closely review the description of the position for which you’re applying to get a better sense of these relationships.
- Familiarize yourself with the core values and mission of Housing & Residence Life. As a member of the Executive Committee, you will uphold these tenets and it is important you understand them well and can speak to your personal understanding.
- For the Individual Interview, be prepared to discuss:
- Incident response and crisis management
- Supervision experience
- Participation in Housing & Residence Life committees or leadership opportunities
- Administrative prowess
- Student self-governance