Overview
2026-27 Resident Advisor (RA) Position Description Place of Work: Residential Life Purpose : The primary role of an RA is to build a strong bond with residents, fellow teammates, and the student body as a whole to create a connection that ensures all students are working to create a better community.
Responsibilities
Serve as a member of the on-call team during the evenings, weekends, and breaks, with duty shifts including: Weekdays 4pm-8am; Weekends 8am-8am. If the following day is a university holiday or classes are canceled, duty continues until 4pm.
Maintain availability and visibility to students (e.g., posting weekly availability/schedule, spending time in common areas, RA office, and engaging with residents).
Organize and implement regular programs and bulletin boards, support campus events, encourage participation, and attend various functions.
Assist residents with personal, social, health, and academic concerns by making appropriate referrals and understanding your own limitations in advising.
Establish personal contact and rapport with wing/building/community residents; implement corrective or preventive measures as needed.
Inventory and document resident rooms at the beginning and end of each school year, during breaks or room changes, and report maintenance or facility problems to Facilities and Residential Life.
Understand and enforce College and Residential Life policies; inform students of these policies and abide by them as a role model.
Work as a team to solve problems, improve the Residential Life program, and contribute suggestions.
Participate in fire drills, alarms, and other safety procedures.
Maintain communication with Residential Life professional staff regarding programming, concerns, incidents, etc.
Hold wing/apartment meetings monthly or as needed to share information and socialize.
Develop meaningful relationships with residents and the community through intentional interactions and authentic conversation.
Assist in responding to resident needs and refer to appropriate services; know when to involve others.
Qualifications
Must be a current CSS student
Federal work-study eligibility is NOT required
Minimum sophomore status
Enrolled in 12 in-person credits on the Duluth Main Campus
Must be registered for Fall semester by the last day of Spring semester and for Spring by the last day of Fall semester
Minimum GPA of 2.5, term and cumulative, for entire application and employment period
In good standing with the Student Code of Conduct for entire application (after application is submitted) and employment period
Successful passing of the Kari Koskinen background check and any other background/reference checks as needed or required
Compensation Compensation is equivalent to room and meal plan for the area RA is placed in and will cover the amount billed to your student account. In addition, first-year RAs receive a $175 stipend per semester, disbursed at the end of each semester. Returning RAs receive a $325 stipend per semester, disbursed at the end of each semester. Receival of the stipend is contingent on successfully completing all tasks for the semester. All RAs will be charged on their student accounts for the cost of housing and meal plan based on placement; they will then be paid that same amount over the course of the academic year across approximately 18 pay periods.
Guidelines and Expectations Residential Life Employment Guidelines
General Expectations: Fulfill Residential Life requirements and duties; common sense, initiative, and professional conduct apply.
Show an active interest in the job; the RA role should be a priority after academics.
Maintain a helpful, professional, and respectful demeanor with colleagues and residents.
Know and comply with the rules and regulations of Residential Life, the College, and the State of Minnesota.
Position Expectations
Maintain availability and visibility to students; regularly spend time in common areas and engage with residents.
Serve as a resource for the College and students.
Serve as a member of the on-call team during evenings, weekends, and breaks, with specified duty hours as described in Responsibilities.
Work at a 2-hour desk shift at the Somer’s Hall Front Desk (collateral assignments possible with Director’s coordination).
Maintain communication with Residential Life professional staff regarding all aspects of the residential community.
Hold wing/apartment meetings at least monthly or as needed.
Inventory and document rooms; report maintenance problems; assist with safety procedures.
Enforce College and Residential Life policies; inform students and model appropriate behavior.
Collaborate with other RAs and staff to improve the Residential Life Program.
Establish meaningful relationships with residents and the community.
Organize and implement regular programs and support campus events.
Additional Returning RA Job Responsibilities
Serve as a mentor for first-year RAs.
May lead training sessions in fall/wall to share experience and knowledge.
Assist the Residential Life professional staff as needed.
Time Commitments
RA training sessions before the start of Fall and Spring semesters; specific dates to be communicated.
15 hours per week.
On-duty during Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Spring Break, Easter Break; stay late at break closings as needed; release timing after breaks and at end of year as specified.
Attend weekly 1.5-hour weeknight RA staff meetings (5pm-9pm window); bi-weekly supervision meetings with Residential Life staff.
Participate in Residential Life volunteer activities during Fall and Spring Community Days.
Additional important dates to be communicated.
Terms and Expectations
RAs must meet and maintain all qualifications and guidelines; failure may result in disciplinary action and/or withholding of stipends.
Appointments are for one full academic year, excluding summer sessions; term starts before Fall semester and ends after Spring graduation.
Extracurricular activities are encouraged, but communicate any conflicts with a supervisor; expectations shared during interview and at acceptance.
If a conflict arises with mandatory dates, communicate in advance; approval to miss is not guaranteed in advance.
RAs may work up to five hours per week in other on-campus jobs with supervisor approval.
All RAs must sign a housing contract prior to submitting their application and adhere to it for the year.
RAs who resign or are removed remain responsible for housing costs as per contract.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
2026-27 Resident Advisor (RA) Position Description Place of Work: Residential Life Purpose : The primary role of an RA is to build a strong bond with residents, fellow teammates, and the student body as a whole to create a connection that ensures all students are working to create a better community.
Responsibilities
Serve as a member of the on-call team during the evenings, weekends, and breaks, with duty shifts including: Weekdays 4pm-8am; Weekends 8am-8am. If the following day is a university holiday or classes are canceled, duty continues until 4pm.
Maintain availability and visibility to students (e.g., posting weekly availability/schedule, spending time in common areas, RA office, and engaging with residents).
Organize and implement regular programs and bulletin boards, support campus events, encourage participation, and attend various functions.
Assist residents with personal, social, health, and academic concerns by making appropriate referrals and understanding your own limitations in advising.
Establish personal contact and rapport with wing/building/community residents; implement corrective or preventive measures as needed.
Inventory and document resident rooms at the beginning and end of each school year, during breaks or room changes, and report maintenance or facility problems to Facilities and Residential Life.
Understand and enforce College and Residential Life policies; inform students of these policies and abide by them as a role model.
Work as a team to solve problems, improve the Residential Life program, and contribute suggestions.
Participate in fire drills, alarms, and other safety procedures.
Maintain communication with Residential Life professional staff regarding programming, concerns, incidents, etc.
Hold wing/apartment meetings monthly or as needed to share information and socialize.
Develop meaningful relationships with residents and the community through intentional interactions and authentic conversation.
Assist in responding to resident needs and refer to appropriate services; know when to involve others.
Qualifications
Must be a current CSS student
Federal work-study eligibility is NOT required
Minimum sophomore status
Enrolled in 12 in-person credits on the Duluth Main Campus
Must be registered for Fall semester by the last day of Spring semester and for Spring by the last day of Fall semester
Minimum GPA of 2.5, term and cumulative, for entire application and employment period
In good standing with the Student Code of Conduct for entire application (after application is submitted) and employment period
Successful passing of the Kari Koskinen background check and any other background/reference checks as needed or required
Compensation Compensation is equivalent to room and meal plan for the area RA is placed in and will cover the amount billed to your student account. In addition, first-year RAs receive a $175 stipend per semester, disbursed at the end of each semester. Returning RAs receive a $325 stipend per semester, disbursed at the end of each semester. Receival of the stipend is contingent on successfully completing all tasks for the semester. All RAs will be charged on their student accounts for the cost of housing and meal plan based on placement; they will then be paid that same amount over the course of the academic year across approximately 18 pay periods.
Guidelines and Expectations Residential Life Employment Guidelines
General Expectations: Fulfill Residential Life requirements and duties; common sense, initiative, and professional conduct apply.
Show an active interest in the job; the RA role should be a priority after academics.
Maintain a helpful, professional, and respectful demeanor with colleagues and residents.
Know and comply with the rules and regulations of Residential Life, the College, and the State of Minnesota.
Position Expectations
Maintain availability and visibility to students; regularly spend time in common areas and engage with residents.
Serve as a resource for the College and students.
Serve as a member of the on-call team during evenings, weekends, and breaks, with specified duty hours as described in Responsibilities.
Work at a 2-hour desk shift at the Somer’s Hall Front Desk (collateral assignments possible with Director’s coordination).
Maintain communication with Residential Life professional staff regarding all aspects of the residential community.
Hold wing/apartment meetings at least monthly or as needed.
Inventory and document rooms; report maintenance problems; assist with safety procedures.
Enforce College and Residential Life policies; inform students and model appropriate behavior.
Collaborate with other RAs and staff to improve the Residential Life Program.
Establish meaningful relationships with residents and the community.
Organize and implement regular programs and support campus events.
Additional Returning RA Job Responsibilities
Serve as a mentor for first-year RAs.
May lead training sessions in fall/wall to share experience and knowledge.
Assist the Residential Life professional staff as needed.
Time Commitments
RA training sessions before the start of Fall and Spring semesters; specific dates to be communicated.
15 hours per week.
On-duty during Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Spring Break, Easter Break; stay late at break closings as needed; release timing after breaks and at end of year as specified.
Attend weekly 1.5-hour weeknight RA staff meetings (5pm-9pm window); bi-weekly supervision meetings with Residential Life staff.
Participate in Residential Life volunteer activities during Fall and Spring Community Days.
Additional important dates to be communicated.
Terms and Expectations
RAs must meet and maintain all qualifications and guidelines; failure may result in disciplinary action and/or withholding of stipends.
Appointments are for one full academic year, excluding summer sessions; term starts before Fall semester and ends after Spring graduation.
Extracurricular activities are encouraged, but communicate any conflicts with a supervisor; expectations shared during interview and at acceptance.
If a conflict arises with mandatory dates, communicate in advance; approval to miss is not guaranteed in advance.
RAs may work up to five hours per week in other on-campus jobs with supervisor approval.
All RAs must sign a housing contract prior to submitting their application and adhere to it for the year.
RAs who resign or are removed remain responsible for housing costs as per contract.
#J-18808-Ljbffr