Campus Life
Resident Assistants
What is a Resident Assistant?
Resident Assistants (RAs) are sophomores, juniors and seniors employed by the college to counsel, lead and otherwise support the work of the dormitory residents.
RAs also manage room inventories and are responsible for checking residential students out of dorms at the beginning of breaks, when they change rooms, and at the end of the academic year. Each dormitory has its own RA, and two RAs are assigned to the suites. RAs serve as contacts for dormitory residents concerned about academic, social, health, and dormitory maintenance matters. RAs may be turned to as mediators (along with the Student Review Board) in cases of dorm conflict; they help coordinate campus resources in times of crisis, refer students to appropriate college offices, and are empowered to fine students for violations of the rules of residence. RAs meet weekly with the senior residents, the director of residential life, and the assistant dean to discuss the needs and concerns of the college community.
How are senior residents different from RAs?
Senior residents are tutors or other adult members of the college community who live in five apartments distributed throughout the dormitory areas.
Senior residents are available to assist students in emergencies twenty-four hours a day and should be called whenever the director of residential life, the switchboard, or the Security Office cannot be reached. Students may access a list of senior residents’ telephone numbers and the schedule of residents on duty in weekly calendars and in the Ephemera throughout the year. Otherwise irresolvable problems involving noise or the behavior of students are brought to the director of residential life or to the senior resident on duty.