Apply to be a Resident Advisor

What is an RA?

A Resident Advisor, or RA, is an undergraduate full-time student who lives in an assigned MSU residence hall and supports students living in the residence hall community. As a live-in staff member, the primary role of an RA is to build a welcoming and inclusive community within the residence halls, while assisting residents in achieving their goals both personally and academically. In addition, the RA serves as a member of their residence hall’s community team, which includes the hall’s resident advisors, senior resident advisor and area coordinator, to create and maintain a positive community environment.

Community Builder

Resident Advisors build positive and meaningful relationships with the students in and around their assigned residential community, typically one or more residence hall floors.

An RA plans and facilitates activities in the residence hall and/or campus community that encourages social interaction and relationship building among members of the residential community.

An RA plans and facilitates activities in and around the residence hall community that allow students to develop knowledge and skills that will help them be successful as members of the MSU community and beyond.

Resident Advisors develop a sense of community in the residence halls through the creation of unique and creative bulletin boards, door decorations, community communication and other themes that allow the residential community to represent itself as a unified group.

Leader

Resident Advisors serve as role models for other MSU students, especially those in and around their residential community, by observing ethical standards consistent with Morehead State University and the Office of Student Housing's mission and values.

Resident Advisors educate students regarding university policies and procedures and, when necessary, address and respond to actions that are in conflict with such policies to reinforce standards and expectations for MSU students living in a community environment.

An RA serves as a representative for the Office of Student Housing, which includes a positive and professional demeanor that is consistent with the Office of Student Housing's mission, vision, values, and principles.

Resource

All Resident Advisors participate in a rotating weeknight and weekend on-call rotation during hours when university offices are closed.
Resident Advisors assist students in resolving conflicts that may occur in their residential community, including facilitating roommate mediations and dialogues among members of the residential community.
Resident Advisors are knowledgeable about campus and community resources and serve as a referral for student questions and/or concerns.

Training

Resident Advisors receive training in the many skill areas that will help them be successful as a student-leader in the residence halls, including relationship building, event management, conflict management and resolution, emergency response and management, team and community building, time management and administrative skills. Attendance and participation for the entirety of pre-semester training, including residence hall opening, prior to the start of each semester and in-service sessions during the semester are required of all resident advisors.

• Fall 2024 Training: Aug. 4-18
• Spring 2025 Training: Jan. 5-12
• Fall 2024 Thanksgiving Closing: Nov. 26 and 27
• Fall 2024 Winter Closing: Dec. 13-15
• Spring 2025 Spring Break:  March 14-23
• Spring 2025 Spring Closing: May 9-11

Time Commitment

The Resident Advisor position is a part-time institutional work-study position with an average weekly time commitment of 12-15 hours, which includes weekly staff meetings, bi-weekly meetings with the RA’s supervisor, on-call responsibilities, maintaining regular visibility in the RA’s assigned residential community and regular engagement with students in and around the RA’s assigned residential community. Since the Resident Advisor position includes both structured time commitments and flexible time commitments, successful Resident Advisors demonstrate excellent time management and productivity skills.

Certain times of the semester, such as pre-semester training, semester opening and semester closing, may require an additional time commitment to complete required responsibilities.

Eligibility

• Are enrolled as full-time students at Morehead State University.
• Have and maintain a cumulative and semester GPA of 2.5.
• Are in good academic, financial and disciplinary standing with Morehead State University.
• Have resided in Morehead State campus housing for at least two academic semesters (including the current semester).
• Maintain an active housing contract with the Office of Student Housing

Remuneration

In exchange for their service to the Morehead State community, Resident Advisors receive:

• A room in their assigned residence hall community.
• A housing scholarship equal to the amount of the RA’s residence hall assignment.
• A $500 scholarship at the beginning of each academic semester.
• An $80 stipend per university pay period during terms of employment, paid in accordance with university payroll procedures (amount may be reduced/prorated during pay periods where university classes do not meet, including semester breaks).
• Priority class registration for semesters employed as a Resident Advisor.

Information Sessions

Information sessions provide interested students the opportunity to hear more about the Resident Advisor position and ask questions of people with the answers. While attendance at an information session is not required, it does provide interested students with the opportunity to engage with the Office of Student Housing staff and clarify any lingering thoughts or questions.

Selection Process

Students interested in a Resident Advisor position should submit their application starting Feb. 8. The deadline to submit all application materials is March 8. A completed Fall 2024-Spring 2025 Resident Advisor application includes:

1. Responses to the following questions:
   1. Why do you want to be a Resident Advisor (RA)? What elements of the RA position appeal to you the most? What elements of the RA position are the least appealing? Why?
   2. As an RA, how will you positively influence the living experience of the other students in the residence hall?
   3. In what ways do you believe an RA can serve as a positive role model for residents and other MSU students?
   4. How would you define an inclusive community? How do you create such a community?
2. A cover letter.
3. A resume that includes the applicant’s education (both previous and current), employment history, campus or community involvement, recognition and/or achievements and any other relevant experience.

Candidates will be invited to participate in an individual interview with the Office of Student Housing staff. Individual interviews are scheduled to take place between Tuesday, March 21, and Friday, March 31,  and are required for candidates to be considered for a Resident Advisor position. Each candidate selected for an individual interview will be scheduled for a 30-45 minute virtual interview conversation with Office of Student Housing staff on one of those days. All interviews will be conducted in-person and students will be given a link in advance.

After all interviews have been completed, the Office of Student Housing staff will review all candidates’ applications and interview materials and make offers for confirmed vacant positions. Offers will be communicated to candidates via their MSU e-mail no earlier than Friday, April 7.

Types of Offers

Following individual interviews and a review of all candidates’ applications and interview materials, the Office of Student Housing will make offers to candidates via their MSU e-mail. Candidates can receive one of the following offers:

• Fall 2024-Spring 2025 RA – these are offers for a Resident Advisor position for the academic year, starting in August 2024. Candidates for this RA position will be offered a position in a specific residence hall as part of their offer.
• Alternate Candidate – when confirmed vacancies for the Fall 2024-Spring 2025 academic year are filled, the Office of Student Housing maintains a list of qualified candidates who have the potential to fill additional vacancies as they become available. Alternate candidates can be offered an RA position any time before or during the 2024-25 academic year.