RA - Application Information and Process

 

Things to Consider Before Applying

The RA position is a lifestyle change

Can you be responsible for setting a good example?

  • Serving as a role model is expected of RAs, whether on or off campus.

 

Consider your credit load and the type of classes you plan on taking for the next academic year, and your study habits.

RAs are required to make time for duty (Sunday through Thursday RA(s) on duty are expected to be available in designated residence hall(s) from 8pm to 7am. Friday and Saturday nights RA(s) on duty are expected to be available in designated residence hall(s) from 8pm to 8am), one on one meetings, staff meetings, trainings, hall council, programs/events, floor activities, bulletin boards, staff committees, scheduled office hours, community hours, and more.

 

During duty RAs cannot leave the building, and can be called frequently to assist with situations.

When are you used to doing homework, socializing, spending time with family, etc.?

  • RAs can take up to ten (10) nights away per semester, and there are times RA staff are required to be on campus; this does include many nights and weekends.

 

RAs also come early and stay late. This does involve RA staff coming back approximately 2 weeks early before school starts in August, staying on campus and working for the Thanksgiving holiday, staying several days late and coming back several days early during winter break, staying several days late and coming back days early during Spring Break, staying several days late after classes end in May, etc.

Do you hold leadership positions? How many organizations, clubs, or activities are you involved in?

  • RA events will take priority over involvement in outside organizations, so if an RA event happens at the same time as your organization meeting or event, individuals will need to be at the RA event.

 

Consider how your previous job experience and teamwork may be similar or different from the RA position.

  • RAs frequently work together as a staff team, which can mean working with 5 or more other people to accomplish something.
  • RAs are also called on to confront violations, and are expected to remain professional at all times.

 

What are your financial responsibilities and will you receive adequate financial aid for the next academic year?

  • Because of the compensation received, being an RA may reduce the amount of financial aid people receive.
  • Contact the Financial Aid office to inquire about potential changes in your specific situation.

 

Are you willing to work late nights? Will this impact your sleeping habits?

  • While on duty, RAs walk through the building multiple times per night. For most RAs, this means staying up as late as 2:00 am on weekends.

 

Will you be able to plan and attend multiple programs each week?

  • RAs are required to host one event for their floor(s) during the first six weeks of school, and one every two weeks following that, along with completing four other events for the semester, attending hall council, and more.

 

Do you have the ability to relate to other students?

Are you able to successfully balance your academic responsibilities with other aspects of your life?

Are you willing to work as a member of a team?

 Are you open to new ideas? Constructive criticism?

Are you open to new ideas and trying new things even if it may feel uncomfortable at first?

 Is you GPA where it needs to be? (at least 2.50 current and cumulative for undergraduates - at least 3.00 current and cumulative for graduates at all points of the process)

If you are an undergraduate will you have completed at least 30 credit hours at the time of hire?

Do you meet all of the eligibility requirements?

 

 

Things to Prepare Before Accessing the Online RA Application

BEFORE you log in to the Online RA Application, ALL OF THE FOLLOWING ITEMS SHOULD BE PREPARED AND READY TO UPLOAD TO OR ENTER INTO THE APPROPRIATE PLACES ON THE ONLINE RA APPLICATION.

DO NOT BEGIN THE APPLICATION UNTIL YOU HAVE PREPARED ALL OF THE FOLLOWING:

1. A COVER LETTER/RESUME: The cover letter/resume should be one document that will explain the reasons for your interest in becoming a Resident Assistant and then briefly relate your own skills and experiences to the “Roles and Responsibilities of a Resident Assistant”.  This document should also outline your current education background, work experience and leadership experience (.pdf /.docx format ONLY)

2. ESSAY QUESTIONS: You will be required to respond to (2) two essay questions and your responses will be used in determining your eligibility to move forward in the process.  We recommend that you use a word document to answer the questions and then copy and paste your responses from the word document into the required PDF document that must be uploaded to your application.

3. Dates and locations where you lived in on-campus housing either at Kent State University or at another college or university.

            a. Minimum on-campus residency of 1 academic semester at Kent State University (may include the current semester); OR

            b. Minimum on-campus residency of 1 academic semester or quarter at another college or university

4. The names and e-mail addresses for each of the three (3) individuals who you have asked to complete an online reference for you. E-mails are automatically generated through the application so it is important that you verify that the e-mail addresses you enter are correct. One of your references must meet the following requirements:.

            a. Applicants who currently reside ON campus must include a reference from their current Residence Hall Director (RHD) or Assistant Residence Hall Director (ARHD).

            b. Applicants who currently reside OFF campus must include a reference from the Residence Hall Director (RHD) or Assistant Residence Hall Director (ARHD) of the building in which they were located during their on-campus residency.

            c. Family members/relatives MAY NOT complete the reference form for any applicant.  

5. PRIOR to completing the Online RA Application, please contact the individuals you wish to complete a reference form for you to:

            a. Verify that each person is willing and able to complete a positive reference for you;

            b. Obtain and verify the correct e-mail address for each person;

            c. Make each person aware that they will receive a link to complete the online reference form as soon as you submit the application; and

            d. Notify each person that the link to the online form will EXPIRE at the application deadline so it must be completed prior to that time.

            e. They must use Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox to access the online reference form and complete. 

 

AFTER you have all of these materials together, you are ready to access the online application. The application cannot be completed in Internet Explorer and should be completed using Google Chrome of Mozilla Firefox. You can access the online RA application at this web address: www.kent.edu/housing/ra

 

The application deadline is Friday, Nov. 21, 2014 at 11:59pm. All application materials must be received by this date. In review this includes:

  • The completed online application
  • Cover Letter/Resume
  • Essay Question Responses
  • Three (3) references who meet the stated requirements above. 

It is YOUR responsibility to verify ALL references are completed by the application deadline. You must submit your application for your references to receive the online reference form! 

You can access the online RA application at this web address: www.kent.edu/housing/ra

  • All correspondence sent to you throughout the RA Recruitment & Selection Process will be through your Kent State University e-mail. Please check it frequently for important updates.
  • Applications which are not submitted by the stated deadline will be canceled. Applicants will be notified of their status via e-mail.
  • Fall grade checks will be completed during winter break for all applicants with COMPLETE applications as of the stated deadline. If an individual’s grades do not meet stated requirements, the application will be canceled and the applicant will be notified of this status.
  • All applicants who meet all stated grade and other eligibility requirements will receive information needed to register for a section of the Leadership for Dynamic Communities (LDC) workshop via email. Candidates are required to register for and complete this 5 week workshop to move forward in the RA Recruitment & Selection Process.
  • Applicants must register for a section of the LDC Workshop per directions given via your KSU e-mail.

 

 

 

Process Timeline

RA INFORMATION SESSION SCHEDULE


Attendance at one of these sessions is REQUIRED to participate in the Resident Assistant application process. Photo ID is required for sign in.

  • WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1, 2014 - 8:00-9:30 p.m.; KSC, Governance Chambers
  • TUESDAY, OCT. 7, 2014- 9:30-11:30 p.m.; KSC, Governance Chambers 
  • FRIDAY, OCT. 17, 2014 - 2:30-4:30 p.m.; KSC, Governance Chambers
  • THURSDAY, OCT. 23, 2014 - 5:30-7:30 p.m.; KSC, Governance Chambers
  • WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29, 2014 - 9:00-11:00 p.m.; KSC, Governance Chambers
  • THURSDAY, NOV. 6, 2014 - 5:30-7:30 p.m.; KSC, Governance Chambers
  • MONDAY, NOV. 17, 2014 - 6:30-8:30 p.m.; KSC, Governance Chambers

 

RESIDENT ASSISTANT PROCESS SCHEDULE


Friday, Nov. 21, 2014 at 11:59 p.m. - This is the last day to submit an application for the 2015-2016 Resident Assistant Position.

ALL application materials, including ALL references, cover letter/resume, and essay question responses must be received by this date for applications to be considered complete. Incomplete applications will be canceled.

Applicants who have attended a mandatory information meeting, completed the online application including ALL references and essay question responses, and who meet all other eligibility requirements will be considered for the selection and may be invited to register for the Leadership for Dynamic Communities (LDC) Workshop. The LDC Workshop will be held one day per week (day will depend on choice of workshop) beginning with the week of Jan. 26, 2015 through the week of Feb. 22, 2015.

Applicants who successfully complete the Leadership for Dynamic (LDC) workshop and receive a recommendation for hire from the instructor(s) will be placed in the "Eligible for Hire" pool for the RA Draft, which is scheduled for Thursday April 2, 2015.

 

 

LDC Workshop Information

(LEADERSHIP FOR DYNAMIC COMMUNITIES)

The class will meet five (5) times. Classes will meet on the same day and time each week (you will choose a section when you register). The Leadership for Dynamic Communities workshop is designed to develop the candidate's skills and knowledge in a variety of areas such as:

  • Communication
  • Diversity Awareness/Social Justice
  • Decision-Making/Restorative Justice
  • Student Development
  • Community Development/Community Development Model (CDM)

Each of these skills are utilized within the RA position.

The workshop is taught by full-time, master's level, Residence Hall Directors. The workshop will be held on campus in one of the University's academic buildings or residence halls.

Successful completion of the Leadership for Dynamic Communities workshop and a positive recommendation from the instructor(s) results in "Eligible for Hire" status. This means you will be placed in the "Eligible for Hire," pool from which Residence Hall Directors hire their staff for the coming year or semester.

The "RA Draft" is the day when all Residence Hall Directors meet to select their staff for the upcoming year. Those not hired during the initial draft are placed in the ‘RA Alternate’ pool.

Please note that if you are not hired during the initial draft, you may be offered a position at any time following the draft. Position vacancies occur for a multitude of reasons and at various times throughout the summer and academic year. Once you are in the “RA Alternate” pool, your application will be active until the Friday prior to Spring Break of the following year.

**If you attended a LDC Workshop held in the fall your application will remain active until the Friday prior to Thanksgiving Break of the following year. At that time you will need to submit an updated cover letter and résumé to remain eligible for hire for subsequent semesters.

See RA Pool Information for more details on the ‘RA Alternate' pool.

 

 

RA Pool Information

Qualified candidates from the spring LDC WORKSHOP (at least 2.50 current & cumulative GPA, and at least 30 credit hours completed after the end of the semester grade/hour check) who are NOT selected during the ‘RA Draft’ are placed into the “RA Alternate” pool.

Often time’s vacancies occur over the summer and during the fall semester; candidacies will be considered for these positions as they occur.

The “RA Alternate” pool for spring LDC attendees will remain active until the Friday before Spring Break of the following academic year. After this date the “RA Alternate” pool  will be considered inactive. If you wish to reactivate you candidacy and remain under consideration for a Residence Assistant position, you will need to contact Laurel Fisher at lfisher@kent.edu by the Friday after Spring Break. Please include any updated contact information. You are welcome to include an updated resume and cover letter/resume as well.

Candidates who DO NOT meet the requirements of the position (successful completion of workshop, at least 2.50 current & cumulative GPA, and at least 30 credit hours completed after the end of the semester check) will not be placed in the “RA Alternate” pool. If your grades/hours are the reason you do not meet qualification and you are able to reach the requirements by the end of the fall semester you can request instructions on how to be placed into the “RA Alternate” pool from Laurel Fisher at lfisher@kent.edu.

 


IN THE EVENT THAT THERE IS A FALL WORKSHOP THIS INFORMATION WILL APPLY

RA ALTERNATE POOL INFORMATION FOR FALL LDC WORKSHOP

Qualified candidates from the fall LDC WORKSHOP (at least 2.50 current & cumulative GPA, and at least 30 credit hours completed after the end of the semester grade/hour check) who are NOT selected during the ‘RA Draft’ are placed into the “RA Alternate” pool.

Vacancies often occur during the spring semester and over the summer; candidate will be considered for these positions as they occur.

The “RA Alternate” pool for fall LDC attendees will remain active until the Friday before Thanksgiving break of the following academic year. After this date the “RA Alternate” pool will be considered inactive. If you wish to reactivate you candidacy and remain under consideration for a Residence Assistant position, you will need to contact Laurel Fisher at lfisher@kent.edu by the Friday after Thanksgiving break. Please include any updated contact information. You are welcome to include an updated cover letter/resume as well.

Candidates who DO NOT meet the requirements of the position (successful completion of workshop, at least 2.50 current & cumulative GPA, and at least 30 credit hours completed after the end of the semester check) will not be placed in the “RA Alternate” pool. If your grades/hours are the reason you do not meet qualification and you are able to reach the requirements by the end of the spring semester you can request instructions on how to be placed into the “RA Alternate” pool from Laurel Fisher at lfisher@kent.edu.