How to Become an RA

All RAs are required to report to the dorms early in both the Fall and Spring semesters for RA training programs.

RAs are required to attend weekly RA meetings conducted by the Residence Director and monthly meetings conducted by the Director of Residence Life.

The RA staff will return in the Fall and Spring to attend training and then open the dorms for residents to check in. The RAs will remain in the dorm at the end of the semester until all residents have checked out, housing inventory is complete, and the buildings have been closed. RAs will be cleared for check out by their Residence Director and Director of Residence Life. Please be aware that during check in and check out times, the RA staff will be required to work additional hours as specified by their Residence Director.

The RA is expected to do weekly room checks on his/her hallway. This will allow the RA to have contact with residents which will aid in maintaining health and safety standards as interpreted by the administration. The RA will keep records of these inspections and interactions. The RA must also notify their Residence Director each week of the time for their room checks and room checks must be done with another RA. The Residence Director will occasionally accompany RAs on their room checks.

The RA will be responsible for meeting each resident on his/her hall to help create an atmosphere that promotes friendship for help and caring. To ensure time for building these relationships, the RA will be required to maintain posted hours on the wing as instructed by the Residence Director. Also, extracurricular activities will be limited to the discretion of the Residence Director and Director of Residence Life. Extra employment will be limited to 12 hours a week, unless approved by the Director.

The RA will be on call during the week and on weekends as required and scheduled by the Residence Director. The RA is expected to notify their Residence Director a week prior to leaving campus for the weekend.

The RA is to keep their Residence Director and the Director of Residence Life informed concerning residents, especially problems that may need special attention.

The RA is to enforce the rules and regulations that pertain to residence life and report infractions to the Residence Director. Each incident should be documented in an appropriate and timely manner.

The RA will assist with custodial tasks on the wing when the housekeeping staff is not on duty.  (Examples: change hall lights, take out hall trash, mop up spills, clean restrooms, etc.)

The RA will check for maintenance problems on their hall and throughout their building. RA’s will submit work requests via LCU Portal and notify the Residence Director of the specific issue.

The RA will be required to work the back desk of their respective building during the week and on weekends. This includes the following:

Reporting to back desk duty on time as scheduled by the Residence Director

Wearing appropriate attire (Please do not wear your pajamas to work.)

Answering the phone in a professional manner

Check out and distribute supplies as necessary

Straighten the lobby/parlor and empty the trash at the back desk at the end of your shift

Keep order in the building

Provide information for visitors

Monitor cleanliness of laundry rooms, lobbies, and kitchens

Respond to maintenance needs

Check in guests for Open House and keep record of who is in the building

Ensure that another RA (usually the weekend duty RAs for the coming weekend) is doing hall checks every 30 minutes during Open House

Be friendly to residents

The RA will be responsible for disseminating information in their hall from the Residence Life office and other administrative offices on campus. The RA will also be required to have mandatory hall meetings at the request of the Residence Director as needs arise (At least once a semester). The RA will also help conduct the mandatory dorm meetings at the beginning of each semester.

The RA will be required to host residential life events each semester. The purpose of programming is to promote a sense of community and educational awareness. Each RA will be required to host two events per semester. One will be a campus-wide program that will be planned within a team of RAs from other dorms. The other will be for the RA’s assigned hall and will be focused on building community. Money will be provided by the Residence Life office to conduct these events. The RA is expected to be creative in planning programs that will meet the needs of the residents.

The RA will be on call whenever in the dorm. While you are not expected to be in your dorm room every minute of the day, it is expected that you will be available for residents during the day and night.

The RA is expected to maintain a positive Christian attitude and example. This includes not only Christian attitude in speech, but also in actions and the way the RA carries his/herself. The RA will be expected to abide by all policies and procedures of the Student Handbook both on and off campus.

The RA must be in good academic standing with the College. The RA must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. Should the GPA drop below 2.5, the continued employment of the RA will be at the discretion of the Director of Residence Life.

The RA is expected to comply with the administration of Louisiana Christian University, the Director of Residence Life and the Residence Directors.