Philosophy and Expectations

As a part-time, paraprofessional, student employee, Resident Assistants (RAs) have the ability to greatly influence the student experience at Cleveland State University (CSU). Resident Assistants are live-in student leaders who support the residential student experience through community engagement, program facilitation, relationship building, leadership development, academic connection, policy enforcement, and crisis management. RAs are a meaningful and influential part of the residential life program. RAs help provide students who live in our residential communities with a dynamic, interactive, and community-based holistic experience while cultivating academic success, mature decision making, and institutional pride. The RA position is a unique opportunity to impact the lives of fellow students and make a difference in the lives of students at Cleveland State University.

Our residential curriculum allows learning to continue outside of the classroom. The residential communities at CSU can provide conditions by which significant learning may be accomplished by students. RAs are members of the Department of Residence Life & Housing (RLH) team living in the residential communities and as such, are engaged to fulfill responsibilities to individuals, student groups, and Cleveland State University. Given the Department’s goals, RAs are selected in the belief that they have the personal competency and capacity necessary to assist others in developing personal and life skills. To this end, the Department of Residence Life & Housing will provide the RA with additional training and support services to enhance their effectiveness in these responsibilities.

RAs are essential to the successful operation of the Department of Residence Life & Housing, holding major responsibility for developing a community environment conducive to growth and development. RAs are students and as paraprofessional staff members of RLH, they perform valuable services, are representatives of the University, they model appropriate behavior, and as individuals, show that this is a caring community, which is civil and respectful.

RAs are encouraged to develop a sense of ownership for their living areas as well as for the University community in general. RAs are supported by a large network and are encouraged to use professional staff, and other offices at the University as resource aids for problems and to enhance their overall performance. Residence Life and Housing encourages the appropriate expression of ideas, problems, concerns, positive reinforcement and mutual support among team members.

In addition to the adherence of the RA roles and responsibilities, several basic expectations are established to guide the performance of RAs. These expectations are essential to the fostering of individual and community development for the students within the RAs’ communities. These expectations include, but are not limited to, the following:

RAs must present themselves as positive role models, since their own behavior often influences the behavior of other students. 

RAs must be knowledgeable about, help enforce, and abide by all University and Department of Residence Life and Housing policies and procedures. 

RAs must have a working knowledge of all aspects of the University so that they can appropriately assist, advise, and be a liaison between students and the Department. 

RAs must have the emotional maturity necessary to cope with daily decisions involved in working with their living areas and promoting satisfactory living conditions within the area. 

RAs must have sensitivity and concern for others as individuals. 

RAs must demonstrate a professional attitude and possess a personal commitment to the RA position, which extends beyond specific position responsibilities. This includes appropriately supporting policies and decisions of the Department of Residence Life & Housing and Residence Life and Housing professional staff.

Finally, RAs must be committed to their own personal growth and development, taking care to budget time for study, work and relaxation.

RAs, as students and representatives of RLH, stand in special relation to both. They must integrate their role of University representative, disciplinarian at the residential community level with their role of advisor, and representative of students. They must constantly evaluate themselves, asking how they influence and contribute to the situations they encounter, how best to think through problems and what their responsibilities are as mature, honest, loyal communicators between the students, RLH and the University.

The hourly rate for this position is $12.00.

Student Responsibilities

Develop a personal relationship with each student in their living area as quickly as possible to become aware of student attitudes, concerns, difficulties and health concerns. If RAs become aware that residents are not attending class they should appropriately report that information to their Community Director and/or Assistant Community Director. As peer leaders in this unique capacity, RAs need to be mindful of the perceived authority that they hold in relation to the students in their community. As such, it is important that RAs engage in appropriate relationships with their residents, as to avoid any perception of misuse of this position.

RAs help students, within the limits of training and capability, on academic, social and personal matters

Develop helping skills necessary for assisting students in the resolution of their concerns.

Recognize problems that students may have and make appropriate referrals when necessary.

Be knowledgeable about support services for students, including the CARE team, Dean of Students, Counseling Center, Health and Wellness Services, Career Development & Exploration, Cleveland State University Police Department, Campus 411 All-In-1 Enrollment Services, Department of Residence Life & Housing, the Center for International Services and Programs, Office of Community Standards and Advocacy, TRIO/Student Support Services, Tutoring and Academic Success Center, Division of Hospitality and Campus Services departments, and the Division of Campus Engagement, Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. 

Recognize that during evening hours, it is important to be in the living unit and to be available to students as that living area is your responsibility.

Serve both weekend and weeknight duty coverage as determined by RLH. Special duty coverage will be in place for high activity weekends as determined by RLH.

RAs will be required to participate in duty rotations over the winter break period. If RAs wish to remain on campus during break periods, they must participate in desk coverage.

Plan, implement, and report various programs and engagement activities in the residential communities, based on the needs/or interests of students in the living area. This includes participation in larger “all community” and community-wide programs and initiatives.

Be aware that the RA position is considered the principal out-of-class activity. Other time commitments are limited to 10-15 hours per week. Any competing interests or activities that would keep the RA out of the living area on a regular basis, and/or impacts the performance of their responsibility, must be approved by their Community Director in consultation with the Director for Residential Education.

RA staffs schedule their own duty and RAs are responsible for the days they choose. All duty switches must be a one for one switch. All duty switches need to be completed on When To Work and must be completed 24 hours prior to the start of the shift. 

RA staff are required to work the front desks of the residential communities and will be assigned a regular desk shift (4 hours per week).

RAs will uphold University regulations and ensure that all residents have the opportunity to become familiar with all basic University rules and regulations.

RAs will personally abide by all University policy, recognizing that failure to do so could result in separation from the RA position. RAs are role models both on and off campus and their behaviors should demonstrate these expectations at all times.

RAs will inform residents of their enforcement responsibilities as an RA and report observed rule violations through appropriate channels.

Help students understand the realistic consequences of their behaviors and familiarize students with the purposes, functions, and processes of the Department of Residence Life and Housing Conduct System/Community Standards and Student Advocacy Conduct System. 

Help develop an atmosphere in the residential community in which students have concern and respect for the rights and privileges of others. Help students develop methods for effective enforcement of rules regarding behavior necessary to create an atmosphere conducive to study and community living. 

Advocate for students by recognizing the problems, concerns, and opinions of individuals and groups and presenting their viewpoints to the appropriate University personnel or assisting students in presenting their own views.

Help students recognize long-range implications of present decisions. 

Ensure student awareness of fire and safety precautions / regulations, and assist with other safety measures, including fire alarms and building evacuations.

Conduct Caring Conversations with residents as presented to the RAs during training and as defined by their Community Director.

Help develop an atmosphere that supports the University Core Values and other University and departmental philosophies as communicated by the Community Director and Assistant Community Director, through staff training, and in written University publications.

RAs must be available to assist with all openings and closings of the residential communities and stay until all communities are closed at the end of each semester.

All RAs must assist with the spring RA selection process (individual interviews and/or Group Process day) for new staff members. This may require weekend participation in recruitment processes.

Assist with other duties as assigned by the Department of Residence Life & Housing.

RAs begin their employment term by attending all staff training sessions prior to the beginning of Fall & Spring semesters. RA responsibilities terminate when all residential communities are successfully closed at the end of the academic year. Any RA that misses training without the consent of their Community Director, in consultation with the Director for Residential Education, may be immediately released from their RA assignment.

RAs must be full time students at Cleveland State University (12 undergraduate credit hours OR 8 graduate credit hours OR 12 law credit hours each semester). If an RA drops a class, they must notify their Community Director.

All RAs must register for classes on time. All registrations must be completed prior to move-in for the fall semester and prior to the start of the spring semester.

RAs must maintain a semester and cumulative average of 2.5 GPA and adhere to all academic policies as noted in the Academic Regulations and Procedures and the Student Code of Conduct. If the cumulative or semester GPA falls below a 2.5, RAs may be separated from their position. 

RAs agree that the Director for Residential Education or their designee may check at any time with their professors concerning academic progress.

In an effort to provide adequate support for students in each residential community, RAs must obtain permission from their Community Director to take extended time away from campus. Failure to request permission will result in corrective action.

RAs who do not comply with federal, state, or municipal laws, and who are arrested on criminal charges, will have their positions reviewed by the Department of Residence Life & Housing for possible personnel action. This action may include separation from their RA position.

Staff Responsibilities

Develop and maintain an effective working relationship with immediate supervisors (Community Director and Assistant Community Director) for the purpose of sharing continuous communication regarding all areas of the RA position. These areas will include assignment-related information, area and individual student needs, activities, problems or concerns, and personal issues related to performance of RA functions. RAs report to and are directly accountable to the Community Director and Assistant Community Director.

Develop and maintain continuous communication with all Residence Life & Housing staff including fellow RAs, Assistant Community Directors, Community Directors, Director for Residential Education, Executive Director of Residence Life & Housing, and other Central Staff members.

Check RA mailbox 3 times per week during regular office hours located in the Department of Residence Life & Housing, Office of Residential Education (Fenn Tower 101).

RAs must check University email on a regular basis, at least once daily.

Develop and maintain working relationships with housekeepers and maintenance personnel in the residential communities.

Utilize and cooperate with Cleveland State University Police, Cleveland Police, Cleveland EMS, Cleveland Fire Department, and other University agencies, services, and State and Local Services when appropriate.

Participate in the completion of necessary record keeping forms and reports such as community rosters, work orders, room inventories, incident reports, duty reports, and other Roompact and Housing Self-Service forms. 

Attend and participate in all in-service training programs as prescribed by RLH. Training is a required component of the position and full participation in August and January training is mandatory (regardless of the number of semesters in the position) in order to maintain the RA position. There may be additional in-services that may be held during the evening or on Weekends during each semester. 

Attendall weekly staff meetings. The only exception for not participating in staff meetings is if the RA provides documentation from their advisor that the specific class in question is only offered on the day of the staff meeting and must be taken during that semester in order to graduate. RAs are responsible for all information disseminated during meetings and training sessions.

Assist in carrying out the established processes of staff selections, training, workshops, evaluation, and student recognition.

Assist in gathering data about the student population in order tofacilitate developmental programming, staff evaluation, student recognition, student satisfaction and other efforts of The Department of Residence Life & Housing.

Represent RLH as a residential community tour guide for at least TWO admissions events.

Must adhere to and implement the engagement strategies as outlined in the Residence Life & Housing Residential Curriculum.

RAs are expected to work 13-17 hours per week. RAs needing to go over 17 hours within a pay period week must obtain prior approval from their Community Director, in collaboration with the Director for Residential Education.

Euclid Commons and Fenn Tower are residential communities that house students looking for a 

more traditional on-campus housing experience. Resident Assistants in Euclid Commons and Fenn Tower will work to build welcoming, inclusive, and engaging communities through community meetings, events, programming, and intentional interactions. Additionally, RAs will ensure they are connecting residents with university resources and support to ensure their success at Cleveland State University. 

Community/Floor Meetings

Residents in these communities are expected to attend mandatory community/floor meetings at the beginning and end of each semester. 

Additional community/floor meetings may be called by Residence Life and Housing staff throughout the semester.

Programming and Events

A Residential Curriculum that allows residents to become connected to their Residential Community, Cleveland State University, and the City of Cleveland (examples include connecting residents to university resources, connecting residents to clubs at CSU, etc). 

Weekly community/floor events to allow residents to connect with their community/floor and Resident Assistant.

Intentional Interactions

Interactions with residents to ensure that they are being connected with their community, feeling supported by the Department of Residence Life and Housing and CSU, and to ensure they are succeeding both academically and as a member of their community.

Policy Enforcement

Enforcement of policies and procedures as developed for these specific communities. 

Guests are required to be checked into these communities when entering, and to be checked out of these communities when leaving. Guests can be checked in/out at their community desks.

Duty/Rounds

Rounds of the community will be done by Resident Assistants every evening to ensure the safety and security of the community.