OFFICE OF RESIDENTIAL LIFE
Resident Assistant Application Packet
Academic Year 2016-2017
University of Southern Maine
Office of Residential Life
Summary of the Performance Program 2016-2017
I. Community Development and Education
a. Be visible on your floor and interact with your residents daily.
b. Identify floor residents by name and develop a personal relationship with each person. Meet with each student on the floor/wing at least bi-weekly. Become familiar with other students within the hall(s). Be cognizant of resident attitudes, personal needs, academic achievements, academic difficulties, and health problems, etc.
c. Facilitate a variety of activities to educate and build floor and hall community. At least one community building program bi-weekly and create a new community building bulletin board monthly.
d. Provide information and make referrals as determined by the needs of residents. Assist residents, within the limits of training and capability, with academic, personal, and social matters.
e. Model respect and civility to all residents, guests, and visitors.
f. Support, attend, and bring residents to campus events.
g. Educate residents on campus conduct code. Help them to understand that the purpose of the conduct system is to ensure safe, comfortable living environments, and to teach students accountability and responsibility.
h. Complete the three Husky Huddles with each resident and share connections/findings with your Resident Director.
II. Staff Membership
a. Make academic course work a top priority. The responsibilities of the RA position should be the second priority for all RAs. RAs must successfully balance their RA responsibilities with their academic commitments. RAs must maintain a minimum of a 2.5 GPA.
b. Serve as a positive role model for others to follow. Be fully cognizant of the messages your behavior sends to others, whether on campus, off campus, or online.
c. Establish effective, substantial, and on-going communication with the RD and other hall staff members to discuss any problems that warrant their attention.
d. Establish and maintain appropriate confidentiality with your residents and with fellow staff members. Be aware of situations and concerns requiring you to share information with your direct supervisor and inform residents of those situations accordingly. Examples of situations that require you to report include but are not limited to: threat of harm to self or others, sexual assault, and domestic violence.
e. Establish and maintain working relationships with all University staff. (ie Aramark, Custodians, etc)
f. Be familiar with and abide by all policies concerning the distribution and use of keys and access cards.
g. Arrive on campus by the specified date/time prior to the opening of the residence halls for the fall and spring semesters. Attend all staff training sessions.
h. Participate in weekly staff meetings, scheduled one-on-ones, and other building meetings as determined by the Resident Director.
i. Attend and participate in the Resident Assistant Workshops and successfully complete all assignments.
j. Assist with Student Staff Selection processes, room selection process/procedures, Accepted Students Day, and other Admissions events.
k. Participate in the staff duty schedule and fulfill duty responsibilities as designated by hall guidelines.
l. Complete other tasks and assignments as determined by the RD and/or Director.
m. It is the policy of the University of Maine System that no member of the University community may sexually harass another.
n. Staff members are expected to check in and assist with all building/campus emergency situations.
o. Returning RAs are required to actively participate in at least one departmental committee through the course of the academic year.
III. Administration
a. Follow established maintenance/operations/recycling policies and procedures. Educate residents on these policies and procedures and encourage them to act accordingly.
b. Develop and promote an awareness of fire and safety precautions/regulations among the residents; assist with fire drills and other safety measure procedures.
c. Assist in the opening and closing of the halls at the beginning and ending of each semester, as well as duty coverage each time the University closes for breaks.
d. Complete all paperwork in a timely manner and in accordance with expectations set forth by the RD or Director.
e. RAs are responsible for maintaining and checking their University issued email account, mailbox, and voicemail daily. RAs are expected to answer their landline phone politely and professionally.
f. The RA will conduct health and safety inspections of resident rooms prior to all University breaks, and when requested to do so by the RD. Damages and concerns need to be reported to the RD.
IV. Further Conditions
a. Disciplinary Standing: An RA is expected to remain in good disciplinary standing (i.e., may not be under judicial sanction such as disciplinary warning or disciplinary probation).
b. Enrollment Status: An undergraduate RA should maintain a minimum enrollment of 12 credit hours.
c. Performance Review/Dismissal: RAs participate in evaluations by residents, other staff members, and supervisors. Each RA will be evaluated on a formal basis at least once per academic year. The Resident Assistant is considered an at will position; therefore, an RA may be given an official warning, placed on probation, suspended or dismissed at any time by the Resident Director or Director.
University of Southern Maine
Office of Residential Life
General Information:
Name: MaineStreet ID#:
Preferred Name: Contact Number:
Email: @maine.edu
Current Address:
Permanent Address:
Are you a transfer student? Y N If yes, transferred: Fall: Spring:
Current Class Status: (circle your answer) FR SO JR SR GRAD
How many credits will you have earned at the end of the current semester?
Academic Major: Academic Minor: GPA:
Are you applying for student teaching/internship during the next school year? Y N
If yes, how many hours a week?
Will you have to work in addition to this position? Y N
How many hours per week?
Resume:
Please include a current resume along with this application. This resume should highlight your relevant on-campus and/or off-campus work experiences, activities, programs and involvement in organizations and all other relevant employment.
Cover letter:
Please write a cover letter indicating your interest in the position(s), and also cover the following topics:
· Your experience living on-campus
· What you hope to gain from this position
· If you are applying for a Living Learning Community, please indicate your skills and experience within the community
For assistance with writing a cover letter please contact the Office of Community Engagement and Career Development in 100 Payson Smith on the Portland campus.
http://usm.maine.edu/community-engagement-career-development/career-tools
Are you interested in serving asan RA for a Living Learning Community?
If Yes, please rank your top 3 preferences below.
If No, please be aware that, depending upon the need, you may be placed on a themed floor even if you did not indicate it as a preference.
All first-year residential students will be assigned to a living learning community. For more information about our living learning communities, please visit usm.maine.edu/reslife/living-learning-communities.
___Creativity ___Citizenship
___Nature ___Pioneers
___Health ___Rainbow
___Honors ___Russell Scholars Program
___Entrepreneurship
References:
Please have the attached reference sheets completed by TWO people and have them returned by the official deadline. One reference MUST come from a current RA.
Reference #1:
Name:
Organization: Relationship Phone #:
Reference #2:
Name:
Organization: Relationship Phone #:
In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and in pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, including transgender status or gender expression, national origin or citizenship status, age, disability, or veterans status in employment, education, and all other areas of the University. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.
Confidential Personnel Information
(This page will be detached and reviewed only by the hiring office)
Except for minor traffic violations and adjudications as a youthful offender, wayward minor, or juvenile delinquent, have you been convicted of any offenses against the law, forfeited collateral or are you now under charges for any offense against the law? (A conviction is not an automatic bar to employment. Each case is considered on its individual merits.)
_____No _____Yes
(If your reply to this question is yes, please provide details.)
Are you in good judicial standing with the Dean of Students Office?
_____No _____Yes
(If your reply to this question is no, please provide details, how it affected you as a student and what you learned from the experience.)
I, the applicant, understand that by my submission of this application, I authorize Residential Life to review both my academic and disciplinary record to verify the information recorded in the application to be true. I also understand that my records (both academic and disciplinary) will be periodically reviewed once again if I am offered the position or remain in the active pool.
______
Applicant Name (please print or type) MaineStreet Student ID Number
______
Signature of Applicant Date
Resident Assistant Application 2016-2017
REFERENCE SHEET
1. ______2. ______
Applicant’s Name Number of years you have known applicant
3. Your relationship to applicant: Faculty _____ Staff _____ Employer _____
Other (please explain) ______
4. If you were in a position to do so, would you employ this applicant? Yes______No______
The following skills are important for a Student Life team member to possess.
Please check the rating you feel best describes the
candidate’s abilities in each area.
Excellent / Above Average / Average / Below Average / Poor / N/ALeadership
Creativity
Motivation
Dependability
Attitude
Customer Service
Diversity Awareness
Teamwork
Organizational & Time Management
Please write an evaluation of the applicant in the space provided, describing to the best of your ability why you feel that this applicant is qualified for the position for which they are applying. Feel free to use an additional sheet of paper if necessary.
______
May we contact you for additional information about the applicant?
Yes_____ No______If yes, phone number: ______
Name:______Date:______Signature:______
(please print or type)
Please return to the applicant or to the Office of Residential Life:
Office of Residential Life
100 Upton Hall
Gorham, ME 04038
Fax: 207-780-5597
Resident Assistant Application 2016-2017
REFERENCE SHEET
1. ______2. ______
Applicant’s Name Number of years you have known applicant
3. Your relationship to applicant: Faculty _____ Staff _____ Employer _____
Other (please explain) ______
4. If you were in a position to do so, would you employ this applicant? Yes______No______
The following skills are important for a Student Life team member to possess.
Please check the rating you feel best describes the
candidate’s abilities in each area.
Excellent / Above Average / Average / Below Average / Poor / N/ALeadership
Creativity
Motivation
Dependability
Attitude
Customer Service
Diversity Awareness
Teamwork
Organizational & Time Management
Please write an evaluation of the applicant in the space provided, describing to the best of your ability why you feel that this applicant is qualified for the position for which they are applying. Feel free to use an additional sheet of paper if necessary.
______
May we contact you for additional information about the applicant?
Yes_____ No______If yes, phone number: ______
Name:______Date:______Signature:______
(please print or type)
Please return to the applicant or to the Office of Residential Life:
Office of Residential Life
100 Upton Hall
Gorham, ME 04038
Fax: 207-780-5597