Here at Kean University, Resident Assistants (RA) are undergraduate students committed to making Kean an inclusive residential community. They are passionate leaders who contribute positively by guiding their peers and helping them to make their residential experience at Kean a positive one. They receive training in conflict mediation, problem resolution and crisis intervention. Karen Damoah, a junior marketing and communication major, is an RA for Rogers Hall. She expresses her reasons for taking on an RA position; she states “becoming an RA is something I’ve dreamed of since I was in high school. When I was applying to colleges, I made sure each of them offered RA positions. My main reason of becoming an RA was to make a difference in the community. I love helping people, and being the one to encourage people to do better and to try new things. My freshman year RA was also a huge influence, he made such a huge impact on my life and I wanted to do the same for others as well.”
The application process begins with one’s qualifications. In order for your application to be considered, you have to have the right characteristics and be in good academic standing. Applicants must have and maintain a 2.5 GPA, a full time course load, and be in good standing with the office of student conduct. Additionally applicants should at least be in their first semester of their sophomore year and willing to commit to an entire year of work. This commitment is essential because most residents dorm for the entirety of the academic year. Outside of the academic-oriented qualifications, there are character traits that an ideal RA should have. Naturally, they should be open-minded, flexible, mature, diligent and collaborative. They should also be able to think critically and make informed and wise decisions. Damoah provides some insight into the countless duties of an RA, “ Being an RA is a full time job and requires commitment. Personally for me I write everything in my agenda pad. For short notice meetings and events I post sticky notes on my fridge. Also, I avoid procrastination by beginning my assignments or studying for exams at least one week prior to. This helps me break down my work day by day so I’m not stressing over a 10 page paper the night before it’s due. Also on days that I am extremely busy, I make a checklist of things I’m supposed to do throughout the day and I check them off as I go to avoid missing meetings and appointments.”
If eligible, the application process is extensive and thorough, and this is not without reason. The job has innumerable responsibilities, all of which the RSS must be sure that applicants understand and can do. The application is completed via Cougarlink. There are various supporting documents that should reflect applicant’s abilities. The application calls for a resume, co-corricular transcript and accompanying essay. In addition to that, the application calls for 3 recommendation letters, one from professional staff/faculty at Kean, a second from a previous or current employer, and a third from a current student employee (including any RA that is not on the selection committee). The letters of recommendation should highlight strengths and personal characteristics relevant to the position. Once applications are reviewed, the selection weekend ensues. The selection weekend for 2015 is from February 6th to February 8th. It involves a group process, followed by individual interviews.
The first interactive portion of the interview is what is commonly known as the carousel. For this upcoming selection process, it will be held February 6th and February 7th. The carousel consists of workshops and group activities designed to evaluate the applicant’s leadership, critical thinking and communication skills. Groups can contain up to 12 individuals and each applicant is required to do one group process session. 4 added persons will be shadowing every applicant. Succeeding the carousel is an individual interview on February 8th. This will be conducted by an RA and Residence Hall Director [RHD]. They will inquire about your interests, character and background. Damoah explains that this was the most challenging part of the process. She states, “Definitely the interview process! I hate interviews, my palms get so sweaty, and my legs start to shake and I just get so nervous. Also, I always lose my train of thought during interviews.”
The application timeline is important to consider in order to move forward with the RA process. For the New Year, there are three essential dates to keep in mind when applying for the job. December 12 is when applications became available. For a job like this, procrastination is unconstructive, applicants should capitalize on this opportunity and apply as soon as possible. A month later, January 12 is when applications are due. On January 23, about 2 weeks later, recommendations should be submitted. A month from then, on February 23 the central staff will schedule an interview with any candidates who have been recommended to continue with the process.
When an applicant is chosen to become an RA for the Kean residential community, their responsibilities are far-reaching. First year RA work in the freshman dorms focuses on their transition into the KU community while upper-class RAs work in the remaining residence halls assisting with students transitioning out of Kean University. One very time consuming aspect of RA life is being on duty. One RA is required to be on duty in each residence hall at 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 a.m. One of the challenging duties of being an RA is to help students resolve any conflicts that may arise. Conflicts can range from roommate conflict, to academic struggles, to personal issues. It is the obligation of an RA to assist in any difficulties residents in their care may face. Conflict resolution can get difficult when RAs must handle conflicts between people they know well or are close with. Similarly, RAs are expected to positively develop their community. Not only do they do this by solving conflicts, but by conducting programs and organizing floor meetings. A more administrative component of being an RA is being a health and safety regulator. They conduct regular room inspections to be sure all students are maintaining a safe, healthy and clean environment. They ensure the mental, physical and emotional health of their residents. They can address depression, drug addiction, eating disorders, alcohol poisoning. They also report any student's behavior that go against Kean University policies. RAs are considered mentors and leaders in Kean’s campus community. An RA should not be seen behaving inappropriately, drinking or condoning questionable activities.
The rewards of being an RA are invaluable. Each RA is has a single room for the academic year and food (from the New Upper Residence Hall cafeteria) courtesy of the University.. Separately, your resume is significantly improved with a slew of new assets. From well-developed communication skills, to counseling, negotiation, interpersonal, and conflict management skills, RAs acquire an assortment of resume building assets. Additionally, RAs benefit from their positions in that they learn about what proper event facilitation entails. You form valuable relationships with professional staff who support your academic and career development. And even longer-lasting are the friendships you form with those you live with. “Being an RA is such an amazing experience. I have gained 36 new friends (my residents) that I probably would of never met prior to my position. I know each of my residents and I make sure to check up on them occasionally. We hang out, catch up on shows together and sometimes they even make me food!,” states Damoah, “…not only have I created a family and a community on my floor but there’s also an awesome bond with my staff and CO- RAs. Besides making new friends, I have gained experience on how to properly plan fun and interesting programs, and how to keep students at my programs, because we all know they only really come for the food. This experience has also given me personal growth, I now manage my time way better, and my leadership skills have definitely improved. I have also become a bit more organized.”
Karen offers a few words of advice to applicants. She states, “Be yourself and know yourself. Do it for the right reasons. Do it with passion and enthusiasm. Being an RA is time consuming and at times stressful. Also, with a RA position you are now seen as a leader on campus so make sure you present these traits even off duty” Living in a residence hall is a unique experience unlike any other. The RAs, and RSS as a whole, are consistently contributing to making Kean an environment conducive to student learning. For any questions regarding the RA process or RSS office, contact RHD Anton P. Reuben. He can be reached via email at rssjobs@kean.edu or by phone at 908-737-6300.
