Smoke Signals, Monday, February 23, 1981 —Page 3
Resident Assistant Applications Now Being Sought
By KATHY TOAMMELL
The Division of Student Development
is now in process of taking applications
from returning students next tall who
are interested in being part of the resi
dent hall staff. People are needed who
will help enforce the rules and regula
tions of Chowan.
QUALIFICATIONSFOR BEING A
R. A. (Resident Assistant) (1) Identify
with the purpose and philosophy of our
institution, appreciate it, and have a
good attitude towards Chowan.
(2) High character, strong moral
values a good reputatuion, model stu
dent, “self-disciplined, mature”, and a
good citizen-respected by the faculty
and stalff.
(3) Need to be versatile, you will be
dealing with many people who have dif
ferent backgrounds.
(4) High academic standards.
(5) Service-oriented, so you will get
pleasure out of working and helping
others.
ADVANTAGES OF BEING A R.A.
R. A.’s are compensated. The R.A.’s
for the academic year 198M1 received
$650 for the year.
If at all possible next year’s R.A.’s
will be provided with private rooms.
The biggest advantage is the ex
perience and training in working with
people, besides it looks good on ap
plications and resumes.
You get self-satisfaction from know
ing you’re helping other students and
being of a service to the institution.
Responsibility is more than compensa
tion; you receive internal satisfaction
from doing well.
Way to become an R. A.:
See Dean Roy Winslow or Resident
Director and get a one-page applica
tion, front and back to be filled out. You
must include two recommendations
from a faculty or staff member, or from
a Resident Director, Associate Director
or an R.A.
Anyone interested should procede
quickly as possible. Applications will be
received through March 20. R A.’s and
alternate R.A’s will be selected by April
11, when a retreat will be held at Camp
Cale. Those chosen will be working on
leadership skills, and some time for
recreation.
Also on May 14 Chowan will be work
ing with the R.A. Staff for 1981-82. R.
A.’s will be going through training pro
cess to teach skills to be effective and
successful at their job.
If you have any questions about being
an R.A., talk with other R.A.’s. The
1980-81 R.A.’s have had an excellent
year. “They have been dependable and
reliable. Credit goes to these men and
women who have worked and sacrificed
this year,” commented Winslow.
Nature of Position
A Resident Assistant is a student who
shares responsibility with
residence hall staff members to create
and maintain an environment in his hall
or wing that contributes to both the
academic and personal growth of
students. Resident Assistants have
primary concern for the general super
vision of small living groups of students
in a way that encourages individual
responsibility and decreases feelings of
loneliness and alienation. Their con
cerns involve both the residents and the
facilities in which they live.
Resident Assistants are encouraged
to fill the following roles to the best of
their ability: to be a friend, a counselor,
an educator, an administrator, and a
regulator.
Responsibility
Resident Assistants are official staff
members of the Division of Student
Development. Administratively, they
are directly responsible to the
Residence Director in the residence
haU to which they are assigned. In this
capacity the Resident Assistant has the
responsibitlty to support and imple
ment the policies, procedures, and
regulations of the College and the Divi
sion of Student Development.
Primary Duties
I. Administrative Responsibility
The Resident Assistant’s primary du
ty is to assist the Residence Director in
the management, coordingation, and
supervision of the residence hall to
which he is assigned. These duties in
clude:
A. To serve as a Uaison between the
college and the student, assume in
direct responsibility for the ad
ministrative functioning of the living
unit, assist individual students, and
refer problems beyond his competency
to appropriate sources.
B. To take an active role in assisting
the elected house officers in the fulfill
ment of their responsibilities.
C. To coordinate a minimum of one
programming activity each semester
designed to encourage staff and com
munity development in the residence
hall.
D. To notify the Residence Director of
all overnight absences.
E. To accept no other employment
during the time of appointment.
F. To attend Resident Assistant
meetings and take part in an on-going,
in-service training program.
G. To report to the Resident Director
at least once daily.
H. To occupy a private room (if
available) as assign^ by the Director
of Housing and to make payment for it
as the prescribed rate and by the an
nounced date.
II. Advising/Counseling/
Referral Situations
These occur when students come with
personal questions to see the Resident
Assistant. This includes follow-up the
Resident Assistant may do by inform
ing the College Nurse of a problem,
discussion of a problem with the
Chaplain, a Counselor, or other con
fidential person. This also includes
staying in communication with anyone
to whom the Resident Assistant may
have referred a student as well as with
the student referred.
III. Crisis Situations
A. Any crisis situation that involves
the Resident Assistant and/or some of
the Resident Assistant’s students
should be appropriately:
1. A personal crisis for a student such
as a death, potential suicide, drug reac
tion, fight, etc.
2. A group situation such as a panty
raid, fire, snowball fights, water fights,
shouting match, violence perpetuated
by outsiders, etc.
B. Prevention of a crisis situation
before it happens.
This may include discussion with stu
dent to cool the atmosphere or discus
sion with other personnel to inform
them of th« situation.
IV. Facilitating Fnctions
A. Working with floor represen
tatives, hall officers, and college of
ficials may be a real opportunity for
valuable contact with students.
B. The Resident Assistant may have
the opportunity to assist other person
nel sud as the chaplain or counselors
to get with students. Of course, there
are other specific situations in which
the Resident Assistant can play an in
strumental role as a facilitator of action
or ideas.
V. Environment Improvement
A. Reporting to Residence Director
damages that need immediate repair.
B. Coordinating with Residence
Director repairs, renovations, and/or
improvements tliat will enhance the
standard of life in the building or a
room.
C. Developing a close and
cooperative relationship with the
maintenance and housekeeping staffs.
D. Meeting with student health staff,
chaplain, or others who may be involv
ed with working with students.
E. Helping to solve problems that
arise from violations of ragulations
such as pets and illegal appliance pro
blems.
F. Helping to solve problems that
may arise from the abuse of a room, ir
responsible behavior on the part of a
student or students, or by outsiders who
may have entered a building.
VI. Enforcememt Functions
As an official staff member of the Col
lege and the Division of Student
Development, the Resident Assistant is
expected to support and implement cer
tain policies, procedures, and regula
tions. Specifically, he will be involved
in the following enforcement situa
tions:
A. Drugs and Alcohol; The role of the
Resident Assistant is expected as a stu
dent and college official to support the
college policy on use, possession and
transfer of illicit drugs and alcohol.
B. Visitation: The R.A. is expected as
a student an college official to support
the college’s policy on Visitation in
Residence Halls.
C. Pets: Residence hall regulations
prohibit the keeping of pets in resicence
halls. R.A.’s assist in the enforcememt
of these regulations.
D. Electrical Appliances: Residence
hall regulations limit the use of elec
trical appliances in residence halls.
R.A.’s assist in the enforcememnt of
these regulations.
E. Damage to Facilities; When an
R.A. becomes aware of damage done to
facilities by residents, a thorough in
vestigation should be initiated to insure
the students are charged accordingly.
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3
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BEALLYOUCAN
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