Graduate Resident Advisors

The Graduate RA (GRA) is a live-on graduate leadership opportunity to provide support, guidance, and resource referrals to students residing in RIT Housing. This role builds and maintains a community presence by offering events and supporting departmental initiatives. In addition, the GRA is responsible for supporting our residential students by facilitating mediations and roommate agreements to help address and resolve conflicts within our communities.

• Enrolled in a graduate program of study at RIT.
• Bachelor’s degree in psychology, the social sciences, human relations, education, or a related field preferred.
• Experience in Residence Life, Orientation, Student Activities, Fraternity & Sorority Life/Greek Affairs, Student Government and/or campus leadership is highly desirable.
• Strong interpersonal skills. Demonstrated skills and abilities for conflict resolution, crisis management, and student outreach.
• Knowledge of American Sign Language or a willingness to learn.
   

• Approximately 8-10 hours per week supporting the development of students residing in RIT’s on-campus apartment communities.
• Two weeks of training, 40 hours per week, prior to the start of the academic year (in August) and one week mid-year in January prior to the start of the Spring semester.
• Ten-month position, August through May. Opportunity for possible summer employment as well.
• Renewable on an annual basis based on interest, vacancies, and performance evaluation.
• Must maintain a 3.0 or higher GPA in your graduate program.
• Grad RAs can not hold another paid campus position in excess of 10 hours per week due to RIT Student Employment Policy.

• Administrative duties supporting the daily operations of the residential community at the Residence Life Service Desk.
• Facilitate educational and social events working collaboratively with other Grad RAs and Residence Life Staff.
• Demonstrate integrity, uphold core values, and policies of RIT and the Center for Residence Life in order to be effective liaisons and support for students living on campus.
• Participate in Grad RA duty rotation, act as a crisis response resource during emergencies for the apartment community. Assess and resolve immediate student needs and refer students accordingly.
• Facilitate the resolution of roommate and neighbor conflicts within the area you oversee. Proactively reach out to the students to help them learn to manage these types of conflicts.
• Act as an advocate for students who are dealing with a variety of issues and concerns including personal and academic concerns and connect them to appropriate resources.

Compensation is subject to change.

• Annual stipend of $6,500 for first-year Grad RAs (dispersed bi-weekly); Grad RAs returning to the role for a second year receive $7,100 annually (dispersed bi-weekly).
• One bedroom apartment OR studio apartment OR single bedroom and utilities.
• Partial meal plan
• Compensation is reported to the Office of Financial Aid, and may impact eligibility for and/or financial aid awards.

The Graduate RA application for the 2026-27 school year will be open at 10 a.m. on Nov. 3, 2025, and will close at 10 a.m. on March 7, 2026. Application materials can be submitted at this link starting Nov. 3, 2025

When you are ready to apply, your application must include a PDF resume detailing your experience and qualifications as well as a PDF cover letter (1 page maximum). You must also include two references (one recommendation reflecting your academic success and one reflecting your work or extracurricular experiences).

In the cover letter, address each of the prompts listed below in the Cover Letter Questions section.

Selected applicants will be invited to interview in March. Applicants will be notified if they are being offered a position on April 15, 2026.

• Share your experience in supporting students through interpersonal and intrapersonal challenges. (For example: how have you helped peers navigate personal difficulties?
• How will you leverage your past experiences, both academic and extracurricular, to serve as a peer leader? ​​​
  • How have your previous roles prepared you to guide, mentor, and support students?
• How does the Graduate RA position contribute to your long-term career goals?
  • In what ways do you anticipate that being a Graduate RA will enhance both your professional development and your overall experience at RIT?