Every year, new students join the University community and a new group of students are selected to serve on Resident Staff as Resident Advisors.
These individuals serve as guides to new and returning students living on Grounds, keeping them informed of upcoming events and opportunities while enforcing University regulations.
Students apply to be RAs for various reasons, including leadership opportunities, the ability to aid new residents and the chance to give back to the University.
Second-year College student Alexandra Arango said her RA from her first year really helped her adjust not only to the college lifestyle but to the American culture as well. Arango had never been to Virginia, nor seen the University in person, before she moved in as an international student from Colombia.
"I decided to do it because I thought [the RA] gave me such a good experience and I'm really interested in offering this kind of service," Arango said.
Arango is currently the RA for Casa Bolívar, the Spanish language house which has residents her age and older.
"That was going to be a big challenge for me," Arango said, "Learning how to deal with all these older students who don't have the same needs as a first-year."
Nevertheless, Arango said she enjoys her job and the opportunities it provides. Next year, she will be the s`enior resident in charge of all of the language houses.
First-year College student Nazia Chowdhury has had a similarly positive experience with her current RA. She said this helped her decide to apply to be an RA next year.
"It would be really cool for me to let the incoming class know things I had to learn the hard way," Chowdhury said.
Chowdhury will be an RA in the Malone dormitory in Hereford next year, which will be a first-year dorm for the first time. Chowdhury said she felt some concern for her future job.
"I'm kind of nervous about residents who are like, 'Oh my God, I can't believe we have to walk all the way up here,'" Chowdhury said. "I know it's going to be a very big challenge to help them realize that it's a really nice place to live."
Students who want to become RAs go through a multi-step application process including a multiple choice test, individual and group interviews.
The selection process is student-driven, Assistant Dean of Students Jason Shaffer said.
"We value staff members who can build community, can bring people together, can address conflict, can be a resource and a mentor without being overly parental," Shaffer said. "It's a lot of hats to wear all at once."
Shaffer said current resident staff members evaluate and interview the applicants. He said approximately 300 people take the initial test and approximately 120 receive RA positions. Current staff members are invited to return as long as they have met expectations during the past year.
Once RAs are selected, they must attend a spring orientation meeting and a week-long training session before move-in weekend in August, and Senior Residents attend an additional week of training.
"I really like the application process," third-year College student Matt McDonald said. "The fact that it asks a lot of the people that apply really ensures that we get enthusiastic and energetic people."
McDonald also said while the process itself is good, the timing could be improved. Students do not find out if they were accepted until after Spring Break.
"I feel like it's very inconvenient for people who might be considering different options," McDonald said. "So if you don't get it or if you're not sure if you want to do it, it makes it hard to make alternate plans for living with people."
Conversely, Arango said being an RA on the other side of the interviewing table has taught her the importance of making the interviewees feel comfortable. She said it also helped her to better understand the interview process for the future.
Being an RA requires time and dedication to advise and organize resources and activities for residents.
"I'm not going to lie," Arango said, "Being an RA is no joke. To me it's a very serious job."
As an RA, Arango said she has encountered situations and problems much more serious than any she might have dealt with if she was not in the position.
Some drawbacks to the RA position include the amount of paperwork and negative feelings some residents have towards their RAs. Every time dorms have programs or RAs spend money or residents check their smoke detectors, it must be written up, McDonald said.
"I also feel like, to some extent, you're kind of policemen," McDonald said. "They really don't want you around because they see you as the enforcer."
McDonald said this was mostly why he decided not to be an RA again next year, though he said he does not have any regrets about the year he spent as an RA.
While the Universty holdsRAs to high standards and they have many responsibilities, the position offers various benefits as well. Shaffer said RAs receive free room and a resident staff meal plan while supervisory positions receive an additional stipend.
Looking back on her first year as an RA and planning ahead for her new job as Senior Resident next year, Arango said she is mostly looking forward to working with her staff.
"Since people apply specifically to each house that's specialized in the language, I feel like they're going to be really qualified," Arango said. "I've already had my first few meetings with them and they're fantastic."
Arango said the job has helped her mature as she attended to her residents needs, helping to solve whatever problems come up each day.
"People think they've grown already in college, but this really takes you to a new level," Arango said, "But it's also really fun."
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