Graduate Resident Assistant: Graduate/Law Housing

Position Description

Graduate Resident Assistants (GRAs) are members of the Department of Residence Life and Housing (DRLH) team living in the residence halls and as such, are engaged to fulfill responsibilities to students in the residence halls and the larger RWU community. Given the needs of the Graduate School, School of Law, and DRLH, GRAs are selected in the belief that they have the personal competency and capacity necessary to assist other students in developing personal skills and ways of understanding the diversity that exists on RWUs campus and the larger community. To this end, DRLH will provide each GRA with additional training and support services to prepare and enhance each GRAs effectiveness in these responsibilities.

Resident Assistants are essential to the operation of DRLH, holding major responsibilities for developing a community that is safe and conducive to growth and development. GRAs are graduate students and paraprofessional staff members of DRLH, who perform valuable services, are representatives of the University they model appropriate behavior, and as individuals show that this is a caring community, which is civil and respectful.

GRAs are encouraged to develop a sense of ownership for the graduate and law living area as well as for the University community in general. GRAs are supported by a large network of full-time professional staff in various offices across the University who enhance their overall performance. The department encourages the appropriate expression of ideas, problems, concerns, and positive reinforcement from team members across the department.

Responsibilities

The GRA position is primarily composed of responsibilities and tasks within their assigned community. Responsibilities and tasks include:

  1. Develop, maintain, and foster relationships with each student living in their assigned living area as quickly as possible to become aware of student trends, attitudes, concerns, and health concerns.
  2. Assist students, within the limits of their capability and training on academic, social, and personal matters. As issues arise, the GRA will connect students with the appropriate campus support services.
  3. Serve both weeknight and weekend duty coverage as determined by DRLH, which could include holidays and or other days the university may be closed.
  4. Enforce and help students understand University and DRLH policies and violations by reporting violations through the appropriate channels. Along with this, the GRA will help students understand the realistic consequences of their behaviors and familiarize students with the purposes, functions, and processes of the University Student Conduct System.
  5. Plan, implement, and report on two social programs each semester.
  6. Be available for 5 office hours per week:
    1. One of these hours monthly will include a 1:1 meeting with the liaison from Graduate Admissions or their designee.
    2. the remaining hours will be used to be a resource for graduate students living in on- campus housing, perform assessment of the graduate on-campus living experience, address community needs, and perform other duties as assigned.
  7.  Attend a weekly 1:1 meeting with their direct supervisor.
  8. GRAs must be available to assist with all openings and closing of the residential communities and stay until all communities are closed at the end of each semester.
  9. Ensure the completion of one bulletin board per semester in their assigned community which includes campus resources, DRLH resources, and other materials as determined by their supervisor.
  10. All other duties as assigned.
Expectations
  • GRAs must maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.
  • Adhere to strict confidentiality policies (and sign confidentiality agreement) when working with students and accessing student records. 
  • Be in good academic and judicial standing with the University.
Benefits
  • GRAs will receive a room credit covering the entire cost of their room/apartment for the entirety of their time in the role.
  • GRAs will receive a credit covering the entire cost of the GRA meal plan (200 Block and 100 Hawk Dollars). GRAs may add additional points to their ID, at their own cost, if they would like more declining balances.
  • GRAs are assigned to the designated GRA rooms within their residential community.
Placement Term

The position will be effective for the 2023-2024 academic year with the option to be considered for further placement for students pursuing a two-year plan of study. 

Hiring Timeline

The application closes March 27, 2023, at 9:00am. Hiring decisions will be announced by April 3, 2023, and the successful candidate must accept or decline the role by April 7, 2023.

Apply Now

Questions? Contact Jeremy Hynson at jhynson@rwu.edu.