FAQ's

Q:    What kinds of people is Residence Life looking for?
A:    Residence Life prides itself on the diversity of its staff. Individuals of different cultures, ethnicities, personalities, college experience levels, majors, etc. are all encouraged to apply.

Q:    Does Residence Life check Facebook or Myspace accounts?
A:    Residence Life does have the option of doing so. All RAs are expected to represent themselves and the Center for Residence Life appropriately in any community, whether it be online, on-campus or off-campus.

Q:    How can I get involved in Residence Life?
A:    Ask your RA to help out with programming, bulletin boards, etc. Attend events and get to know the RA's running the events, or stop in at an Area Office to meet the professional staff.

Q:    Whom can I ask for more information about the hiring process?
A:    You can ask your current RA or any Community Enrichment Coordinator in your Area Office for more information about the hiring process. Feel free to stop in and make an appointment!

Q:    What will happen to my financial aid / VR if I get the RA position?
A:    Most students’ Financial Aid / VR are not affected by the position compensation. Each applicant’s financial aid will be affected differently. It is better to talk to your Financial Aid Counselor directly. If you receive VR benefits, contact Denise Hampton, Student Financial Services Coordinator, at 585-475-6863 (V/TTY) for further assistance.

Q:    Can I be a student leader in other clubs and organizations?
A:    To be involved in outside activities such as a major leadership position on campus, you will need the permission of your supervisor in Residence Life. You may not serve as the President of any Fraternity, Sorority, or Student Government while under contract. This is due to the fact that the RA job is such a high time commitment.

Q:    Should I still apply for housing as I go through the RA Selection process?
A:    Yes, applying for an RA position is like applying for any other job; there are no guarantees you will get it. Applying for housing is vital in the event you do not get an RA position or you decide to turn it down. If you are offered an RA position and accept it, your housing assignment will be adjusted accordingly (with no fees).

Q:    If I get the RA job, how will this affect my potential roommates whom I was planning on living with?
A:    The folks at Housing Operations will work with affected roommates to provide time to fill your open space. Affected roommates will not lose their housing assignment. If they can't fill the spot, Housing Operations will assign someone to it.

RA Position:

Q:    What are the benefits/compensation of the RA position?
A:    The RA position provides supervision, leadership opportunities, feedback and evaluation from your supervisor. All RA’s are assigned a single room for which they will be billed the standard double rate. Then 90% of your room and meal charge (with the meal charge being 100% food debit) per quarter will be credited to you student account on a quarterly basis.

Q:    What is the RA time commitment?
A:    The RA position commitment can average up to 20 hours per week, (these hours include being on duty, attending various meetings & trainings, doing bulletin boards, coordinating programming, and more). There is no typical week in residence life. Some weeks, more time commitment is needed and during others, less is needed.

Q:    Can I be on co-op while being an RA?
A:    Yes, but it must be within the Rochester area (approximately 30 mile radius) only, so that you are still a prominent figure on your floor. You must inform your Community Enrichment Coordinator PRIOR to accepting a Co-op position. It is recommended that RA's who are starting their positions not co-op in the first quarter.

Q:    Can I have another job besides RA?
A:    Yes, but prior approval from your Community Enrichment Coordinator is needed and you may only work 10 hours per week outside of the RA position, unless on co-op.

Q:    Do I get to choose what floor I’m on?
A:    Residence Life does take into account the type of floor you would prefer but individual area, building, and floor assignments are made at the discretion of the professional staff.

Q:    Can I be an RA and an Orientation Assistant (OA) at the same time?
A:   No, you cannot hold more than one position but you can apply for both positions and then decide which one you would prefer. This is not possible because the RA training and the Orientation program overlap during Week of Welcome!

Application:

Q:    Does turning in the application earlier or later have an impact on if I will be offered a position?
A:    The date/time you attended an information session and when you hand in your application has no impact on the hiring process. However, not attending an information session or handing in your application past the deadline will have a negative impact in that you will not be considered for a position!

Q:    When will I find out if I am offered a position?
A:    You will receive a letter via e-mail to the e-mail address you provided when you filled out the online portion of the application on March 21st, 2008. If you do not end up receiving a letter after a day or so after the above date, then go into the Center for Residence Life Office located in the Gleason Breezeway for feedback.

Q:    What kind of letter will I get?
A:    You will receive one of three types of letters.
• Congratulations Offer Letter- This letter congratulates you and offers you an RA position to work in an area of Residence Life.
• Alternate Offer Letter– This letter states you are a great candidate, but unfortunately we have a limited number of RA positions to fill and at this time we do not have an opening for you. You have the option of being placed in the Alternate Pool so that you can be offered a position at a later date. This is NOT a bad letter. Many RA's end up being offered a position off the alternate list due to other applicants leaving the position for different reasons.
• No Offer Letter - This letter states you are not being offered a position in Residence Life, but we encourage you to get involved in other leadership opportunities on campus and apply again next year. You will be given the option to meet with a Community Enrichment Coordinator to discuss your candidacy and determine why you were not offered a position.

Q:    What should I have in my resume?
A:    We encourage you to include ways you are involved on campus, activities, community service, and leadership experience. Also, refer to the list on the application.

Q:    Who are good references?
A:    Your reference should be someone who can attest to the quality of your work and the type of person you are. Examples of past references include FYE Instructors, other faculty / staff people, or supervisors from a job. Please note – Residence Life staff members are not permitted to serve as a reference for you, so if your FYE instructor also happens to be a CEC on campus, they cannot serve as your reference.

Q:    Where can I go to find a copy of the application questions in ASL?
A:    You can go to this website: http://reslife.rit.edu/residentadvisor for a video of the application questions. Click on the Helpful Hints for Essay Questions in ASL and Text link to proceed to the video questions.

Carousel Day:

Q:    What is Carousel Day?
A:    Carousel Day is part of the RA Selection process. It is a day comprised of an interview and various group activities. Applicants will interact in a variety of situations and will be evaluated throughout the day to help us get a better understanding of who you are and what skill sets you might bring to the position.

Q:    What should I wear to Carousel Day?
A:    Dress comfortably for the day (you might be sitting on the floor during some of the group activities). Jeans and a nice shirt are more than acceptable attire. Suit and tie are not necessary, however, please be sure that you are presentable; after all, this is a job interview! Also keep in mind that you will be given two names tags, one for the front and one for the back. It would be helpful if you didn’t wear things that would cover them like hoodies or scarves!

Q:    When should I arrive for Carousel Day?
A:    You will receive a confirmation of your Carousel date and interview time. Please arrive at the scheduled check-in time provided in your letter!

Q:    What happens if I miss Carousel Day?
A:    You should not miss Carousel Day. This is a part of the RA selection process and if you are not present for this, you will not be considered in the RA Selection process as your candidacy will be incomplete. If you run into a conflict with your Carousel Day (you are ill, family emergency, etc), please contact Cha Ron Sattler, Chairperson of RA Recruitment and Selection at cksrla@rit.edu immediately. We will handle people missing Carousel Day on a case-by case basis.

Q:    Do I need to bring anything to Carousel Day?
A:    Bring a smiling face and an open mind :)

Q:    If I have any questions or concerns, whom can I contact?
A:    You can talk with any member of the RA Recruitment and Selection Committee.
Cha Ron Sattler – cksrla@rit.edu 475-6022 Center for Residence Life Main Office
Nick Ippolito – njirla@rit.edu 475-7864 BCG90 Area Office
Amanda Brownsten –albrla@rit.edu 475-6007 EPB Area Office
Kristy Cragg – klcrla@rit.edu 475-5409 NRFSHG Area Office
Lisa Nolan – lmnrla@rit.edu 475-5518 NRFSHG Area Office
Moira Tice – mxtrla@rit.edu 475-6022 Center for Residence Life Main Office
Tamara Cosgrove – tmcrla@rit.edu 475-7686 BCG90 Area Office