Resident Assistant (RA)
Position Overview
The primary goal of the RA position is the development of an environment conducive to the academic and personal growth of residential students. Resident Assistants (RAs) are student leaders who live in university housing and serve as role models, peer counselors, resources, advocates, educators, community standard upholders, and community builders for residents. RAs also assist with the safety and well-being of students, as well as the planning and implementation of social/educational engagements that expand the student experience outside the classroom. Click below for more information on what Resident Assistants strive to achieve.
Building Connections
Resident Assistants effectively build connections by actively employing strategies to be visible, available, and approachable in their community; preparing and receiving ideas and information; communicating effectively; and perceiving and being sensitive to the perspectives, feelings, and circumstances of others.
Sample skills that Resident Assistants will utilize and strengthen to achieve this include, but are not limited to:
- Active listening
- Empathy
- Coaching and mentoring
- Networking
Group Development
Resident Assistants effectively develop groups by seeking, integrating, and applying information on residents needs to engage the community; assessing group dynamics and addressing conflict with civility; and utilizing their skills and abilities, and showing a willingness to work with others to achieve results.
Sample skills that Resident Assistants will utilize and strengthen to achieve this include, but are not limited to:
- Communication
- Leadership
- Collaboration/teamwork
- Conflict resolution
Identity, Social Justice, and Inclusion
Resident Assistants effectively strengthen their own understanding of identity and strive for social justice and inclusion by demonstrating empathy and concern for individuals, communities, and societies; engaging and/or facilitating dialogue to resolve or transform social and interpersonal conflicts; making decisions and choices that reflect an understanding of social/global impact; and creating spaces that welcome, engage, support, and affirm people from all backgrounds.
Sample skills that Resident Assistants will utilize and strengthen to achieve this include, but are not limited to:
- Cultural agility
- Inclusive action
- Advocacy
- Civic-mindedness
- Communication
- Self-awareness
- Self-directed learning
Personal-Professional Harmony
Resident Assistants effectively establish and promote wellness by building and sustaining relationships with individuals who can provide guidance and support; effectively balancing autonomy and interdependence; consistently employing strategies to carry out professional responsibilities, manage academic and personal responsibilities, and achieve goals; and making choices for the improvement or sustaining of one’s physical, emotional, social, and/or spiritual health.
Sample skills that Resident Assistants will utilize and strengthen to achieve this include, but are not limited to:
- Organization
- Time management
- Self-care
- Self-control
- Boundary setting
- Help-seeking
- Advocacy
Upholding Community Standards
Resident Assistants effectively foster a safe and productive community by exhibiting sensitivity and upholding an expected level of privacy; critically analyzing and assessing situations to make decisions and/or provide solutions; confront behavior; and report concerns.
Sample skills that Resident Assistants will utilize and strengthen to achieve this include, but are not limited to:
- Critical thinking
- Conflict resolution
- Help-seeking
- Problem solving
Becoming an RA
Eligibility:
- Must attend an RA Interest Meeting (see below)
- At least a 2.75 cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA)
- No continuing record of student conduct sanctioning
- No outstanding debt owed to Northeastern University
- Must have lived on campus for at least one semester
- Having eligibility for university housing
**To be housing eligible you must be ALL of the following:
- A full-time matriculated student
- In a degree-granting program
- Non-College of Professional Studies (CPS)
Looking to Apply?
Roles Currently Accepting Applications
Roles Not Currently Accepting Applications
- 2024-2025 academic year Resident Assistant position (application is closed)
- Summer 2024 Resident Assistant position (application is closed)
Summer 2024 Resident Assistant Opportunity Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Friday, February 23, 2024 | Summer RA Applications Available |
| Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time | Summer RA Applications Due |
*Dates are subject to change
If you have any questions regarding the RA position, please email the RA Search Committee at residentassistant@northeastern.edu.
*Dates are subject to change
If you have any questions regarding the RA position, please email the RA Search Committee at residentassistant@northeastern.edu.
Summer RA Eligibility
- Summer RA positions are only available to those who currently or have previously served in the RA role at Northeastern and are eligible for university housing. You can serve in a summer position while taking classes, co-op, clinical, or if you’re taking a break from classes/co-op or taking fewer credits over the Summer but will resume classes in Fall 2024.
- May 2024 Graduates, who are not returning to Northeastern for Fall 2024, are not eligible for Summer 2024 positions. Students graduating in August 2024 can apply.
- We will prioritize offering positions to those returning to the RA role for 2024-2025.
2024-2025Academic Year Resident Assistant Opportunity Timeline*
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Monday, December 18, 2023 | Application available for 2024-2025 RA positions – CLICK HERE to access application |
| Monday, January 8, 2024 – Wednesday, January 17, 2024 | RA Interest Meetings – see details above |
| Sunday, January 14, 2024 | 2024-2025 RA applications due by 11:59pm ET (Eastern Time) |
| Monday, January 29, 2024-Wednesday, January 31, 2024 | Candidates notified of interview offer |
| Thursday, February 8, 2024 – Saturday, February 10, 2024 | Interviews conducted with selected candidates |
| Friday, February 16, 2024 | Candidates notified of position offer |
If you have any questions regarding the RA position, please email the RA Search Committee at residentassistant@northeastern.edu.
If you have any questions regarding the RA position, please email the RA Search Committee at residentassistant@northeastern.edu.
Resident Student Association (RSA)
The RSA is the representative body of resident students at Northeastern. It is composed of general councilors, members of every hall council, and an elected executive board. RSA works to improve the quality of life for all resident students at Northeastern University. This mission is completed through legislation, the planning and implementation of campus-wide events, and through service on various University committees.
Stetson West, Suite 128
(send mail to 4 Speare Hall)
(617) 373-8682 (voice)
(617) 373-7538 (fax)
https://rsa.sites.northeastern.edu/
The RSA plans programs for the resident population and represents students to the Department of Housing & Residential Life and the University administration on all issues dealing with student housing.
General Council
The general council is the main deliberative body of the RSA, empowered to create legislation to formally express the opinion of RSA or to call the University to action. It deals with issues and plans programs that involve all residence facilities. Some events sponsored by the general council include Husky Hunt, Recyclemania, and Snowball. The general council is divided into four committees: advocacy, engagement & leadership, programming & collaboration, and national communication.
Hall Councils
Each residence hall, complex, or neighborhood is served by one or more hall councils comprising at least four residents who live in that area. The members of hall council meet regularly to discuss issues affecting students in their area. They work with a professional staff member (who also acts as an advisor) to improve the quality of life for their constituents.
In addition, hall councils are tasked with planning and implementing events for their fellow students, as well as purchasing equipment for student use, including board games, DVD collections, video game systems, and pool tables.
Events sponsored by hall councils include ski trips, paintball trips, movie nights, ice cream socials, and assorted competitions. The hall council program is overseen by the Resident Student Association in consultation with the Department of Housing & Residential Life.
National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH)
The National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) is the recognition branch of the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH), an organization under which Northeastern’s Resident Student Association (RSA) is also affiliated. NRHH was created to join the top student leaders in a school community together to take part in the three pillars of Recognition, Service, and Leadership.
NRHH Pillars
Recognition
NRHH members work to recognize each other, staff, faculty, fellow leaders, and emerging leaders around campus as well as provide service opportunities to students on their campus and in their communities. At Northeastern, NRHH facilitates monthly awards such as Of the Month Awards (OTMs), Breakfast of Champions (BoCs), and Group Awards for Terrific Service (conGRATS).
Service
NRHH is dedicated to providing members opportunities for service that provide them a holistic perspective of both Northeastern and the greater Boston communities. From taking part in bi-weekly service events at local organizations as well as leading larger events, NRHH works to engage all members of the Northeastern community. In the Fall, Northeastern students gather during Homecoming week to pack over 20,000 meals to combat hunger worldwide, and in the Spring, NRHH hosts a week-long program called Give 5 Week to highlight a relevant community issue and how Northeastern can get involved.
Leadership
Members are all leaders in their own campus communities and NRHH strives to create spaces that let those abilities come through. Through engaging in regional and national conferences with other campus leaders, as well as smaller activities throughout the year, we focus on fostering leadership skills and sharing knowledge between our members.
