If you have ever walked through campus and noticed the friendly face of a resident assistant greeting students at the dorms, you may have asked yourself how did they get that job. Being an RA at a small university like Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois, can be a great opportunity to develop leadership skills, forge lifelong relationships, and help build a dynamic community. Let’s dive deeper to explore exactly what’s required to become an RA.

It’s essential to understand exactly what an RA does. They are not just dorm supervisors. They are mentors, mediators, and community builders. They help new students adjust to college life, settle conflicts, and help build a positive community. In other words, they are the bridge between students and university administration.

“Being an RA has just been the best experience I could possibly ask for. I’ve gotten to meet so many new people just both upperclassmen and underclassmen. Personally, it’s really helped me to be able to fund my experience here at QU and just work my way through my education. But definitely helping the freshmen has just been super, super, super amazing,” Madison Peck said.

The process begins with the fulfillment of the basic eligibility criteria. Generally speaking, you need to be in good academic standing and have at least one year of experience living on campus.

Having fulfilled the eligibility criteria, the next step is the application process. This involves filling out an application form through the email that Kortarius Finley or QU Residence Life will send to your quincy.edu email. The university wants to understand your motivations for being an RA, your ability to manage conflict situations, and your contribution to the community at the dorms.

“Essentially what we are looking for in an RA, is someone, a student leader on campus who is looking to build a community within their dorm and just to be a resource for students and making sure everyone is comfortable. In the past we have found great individuals, and we are just looking to kind of build off that. I want to ay that we have on eof our strongest teams right now,” Kort Finley said.

Once your application has been reviewed, the second step is an interview. You may have an interview with current RAs, residence life staff, or a combination of both. The purpose of this step is to evaluate your personal skills and your level of maturity for this position.

If you are selected for this position, the final step is training. There is an RA training program that occurs before the semester begins. Training will consist of various topics such as emergency procedures, community building, diversity and inclusion, and conflict resolution. It is also a great way to get to know fellow RAs and gain helpful hints for working on a floor of residents.

Being an RA can be challenging, but it is also an incredibly rewarding experience. You will develop strong leadership, communication, and crisis management skills. You will build strong relationships with students and staff and make a lasting impact on campus. If you are someone who is interested in taking on a role that involves mentorship, problem-solving, and creativity, then being an RA at Quincy University is definitely an experience you will never forget.