What are the responsibilities and job description for the Resident Assistant position at Dominican University?
TITLE: Resident Assistant
DEPARTMENT: Office of Residence Life
DEPARTMENT: Office of Residence Life
REPORTS TO: Residence Life Leadership Staff
OPEN TO: Dominican University Undergraduate Students
COMPENSATION:
A monthly stipend paid from September through May
Plus room and board package
DATES AVAILABLE: 2025/26 Academic Year
Position Description:
The Resident Assistant (RA) is a student staff member who lives in one of the four residence halls on the Dominican University River Forest campus. Their primary purpose is to promote and enhance student’s social, educational, and personal development; assist in maintaining residence hall facilities and operations; and enforce university policies.
Role Model and Student Leader
- RAs will serve as positive role models for all students. This includes but is not limited to modeling appropriate and mature behavior both on and off campus, as well as via digital and social media.
- RAs are expected to support the vision, mission, values, philosophies, and goals of the Department of Residence Life.
- RAs are responsible for abiding by, upholding and enforcing the Dominican Student Handbook and Code of Conduct including role modeling Caritas et Veritas, compassion and truth, as outlined in the Student Handbook and Code of Conduct Standards of Behavior: Integrity, Community, Social Justice, Respect and Responsibility.
Community Development
- RAs should be visible, approachable and regularly available to their residents and floor community.
- In the spirit of Caritas Veritas, the RA is responsible for supporting the unique needs of the individuals in their communities. In partnership with our residents, RAs will build communities focused on mutual respect and support that stimulate academic and personal growth for the community.
- RAs serve as a resource for residents and should be familiar with the services and opportunities provided by Residence Life, the Division of Student Success and Engagement, and other university departments and offices.
- The RA will follow all programmatic and resident connection requirements as outlined in the Residence Life Programming Model. RAs will receive this curriculum, including the corresponding expectations, during fall training.
- RAs will mediate roommate agreements as needed and will facilitate conversations when roommate conflicts arise. RAs will keep supervisors informed of situations with roommates in their community.
Collaboration and Team Member
- RAs are expected to maintain good communication with their fellow RAs and other residence life student leaders regarding community issues, activities and development.
- RAs should initiate and maintain awareness of and collaboration with campus partners, such as the Office of Student Involvement, University Ministry, Wellness Center, Center for Cultural Liberation, Campus Safety, faculty and administrative partners associated with the Learning Communities.
- RAs will honor the individual identities of their team by engaging in development opportunities to understand their own personal development.
- RAs will assume responsibility for other duties as communicated by the Department of Residence Life.
Administrative Responsibilities
- RAs will participate in bi-annual (August 8-24, 2025, and January 5-12, 2026) and ongoing training throughout the year.
- The RA agrees to assist with annual departmental processes including but not limited to RA selection, health and safety inspections, fire drills, room selection, opening and closing of the halls. Which includes completing all necessary paperwork and follow-up in a timely manner.
- The RA must complete all necessary written reports properly and on time including but not limited to incident reports, program proposals/summaries, residential connections, duty logs, and all other forms assigned by hall leadership. All written reports must be submitted based on Departmental and University expectations and be free from personal bias.
- RAs will complete performance evaluations each semester.
Duty and Crisis Response
- RAs will respond to emergency and non-emergency situations, following appropriate protocol.
- RAs will serve on a rotating duty (on-call) schedule.
- RAs will assist in providing duty coverage during academic breaks and holidays when the University is closed.
- RAs are expected to adhere to duty protocols as described and provided during training and through supervision.
- RAs will enforce policies consistently and identify ways to remove bias from the response to student concerns and crises.
Time Commitment
- The RA role is a one academic year commitment from August 8, 2025 – May 12, 2026. These dates are not flexible. Must be able to work the full term of the position.
- The RA role requires an average of 20 hours of time per week including
- Residence Hall Office/Community Hours
- Weekly or bi-weekly one-on-one meetings with their supervisor.
- One (1) on-call weekday duty night per week.
- One (1) weekend duty weekend every 4-6 weeks.
- Availability on Thursdays from 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm for bi-weekly Residence Life meetings.
- One academic break coverage period (Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break I, Winter Break II, Winter Break III, Spring Break, Easter Vacation).
- At the conclusion of each semester, the RA will remain in the residence hall to support Hall Staff for official closing of the building/area as determined by the Department of Residence Life.
- All RAs are required to be on campus and in their designated communities during blackout periods – August 8, 2025, through the first weekend of September and Winter Training – January 5 – 12, 2026.
- Excluding official University break periods, a supervisor must approve and be informed of extended/significant time away from campus.
- In accepting the RA role, the RA agrees that the RA role assumes priority over other extra-curricular and co-curricular activities except for academics. The RA may be asked to limit activities should the activities impede upon or negatively affect the RA’s performance. Since activities and commitments may create time or priority conflicts, the RA will limit involvement in other leadership positions, employment, or outside activities to a maximum of twelve (12) hours per week. Any additional time commitments will need to be approved by their supervisor.
- RAs may be selected to return to the position pending successful rehire application and process.
Requirements:
- Must be a student in good standing and not on Academic Notice or Disciplinary Probation
- Must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75 to apply and must maintain a cumulative and term GPA of 2.75 to remain in good standing during the duration of employment; failure to maintain a cumulative and term GPA of 2.75 may impact continued employment.
- May hold no more than one executive board or leadership position outside of the Resident Assistant role. Commitments outside the Resident Assistant position must be discussed and reviewed with Residence Life supervisor.
- Must be full-time students during the entire duration of employment; failure to maintain a full-time course load may impact continued employment.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.); Canva.
- Excellent communication, leadership, time management, and organizational skills.
- Ability to take initiative and work independently of direct supervision.
- Ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures.
- Employees shall adhere to all applicable rules and regulations of the University.
Required Education
- Current Dominican University student.
- One (1) semester of living on campus preferred.
To apply for the position of Resident Assistant, please submit your resume, along with a cover letter with answers to the questions below. Applications without these answers will not be considered.
In the cover letter for the Resident Assistant position please answer the following questions. Please include your name and Dominican ID in the upper left corner of the cover letter.
- Tell us about you. Which of your qualities would lead you to be successful in the Resident Assistant position?
- Resident Assistants are responsible for building connections within their communities. In what ways have you built meaningful connections at Dominican?
- What does an inclusive community mean to you? If hired, how do you plan to foster a sense of inclusivity in your community?
- In what ways do you hope to develop your leadership skills as a Resident Assistant?
