Become a Resident Assistant
Become a Resident Assistant
What is a Resident Assistant (RA)?
Resident Assistants at Providence College are the highest paid student employees on campus. They are key staff members in the Office of Residence Life and are highly visible in our residential communities. RAs are directly supervised by a live-in Complex Director (CD) in their residence hall or area and serve as a mentor and resource to their peers. RAs are expected to foster meaningful and positive peer relationships in the residence halls and help ensure our residence halls are safe and comfortable places to live and learn.
Resident Assistants are assigned a maximum average of twenty (20) hours per week while classes are in session over the course of the fall and spring semesters while also maintaining a high level of campus visibility and accessibility. As such, the Resident Assistant position represents a significant time commitment. This may require a staff member to consider limiting other commitments which may require significant time in order to be most successful as a student.
Resident Assistant Eligibility
Enrolled as a full-time, degree-seeking sophomore, junior, or senior student, as defined by the Office of the Registrar. Resident Assistants must remain in good academic standing (semester and cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better) and good disciplinary standing with Providence College and the Office of Residence Life & Housing.
The role and responsibilities of the Resident Assistant is framed within the College-minimum standard of 12-credit hours attempted per semester, and College recommendation of 15-16 credit hours per semester to graduate in 4 years. Resident Assistants exceeding 16 credit hours per semester are responsible for making any necessary adjustments to ensure they can perform the role and responsibilities of the Resident Assistant position to standard.
Pass a background check and review of student conduct history prior to beginning employment.
Resident Assistant Conditions of Employment
The Resident Assistant position is the only form of on-campus work permitted during the academic year except for break periods when the College is not in session as guided by the Office of Financial Aid and College policy. This does not include volunteer or other non-paid work. Resident Assistants are permitted to work off-campus provided Resident Assistants demonstrate the requisite willingness to manage the RA position as the priority.
Report directly to the Graduate Assistant Hall Director and Complex Director.
Check Microsoft Teams and friars.providence.edu email, at minimum, once daily, and respond appropriately.
Community Development Responsibilities
- Plan, organize, and conduct community development and engagement initiatives as appropriate for the assigned area (i.e. programs, peer-to-peer conversations, etc.).
- Design, develop, distribute, monitor, and maintain bulletin boards (where applicable) and door decorations for their assigned area as directed.
- Facilitate community meetings for their assigned area.
- Facilitate and build community standards amongst residents (e.g., Community Agreements, Roommate Mediations, and Roommate Agreements).
- Serve as a resource, referral, and communication agent between residents, campus partners, and the Office of Residence Life & Housing.
- Assist in identifying barriers to satisfactory academic success and healthy social relationships within their assigned community and residence hall.
- Support the mission of the College and initiatives of the Division of Student Affairs
On-Call & Crisis Management
- Serve on a rotating evening duty schedule for weekdays and weekends in the RA’s assigned area.
- Respond to crises and emergencies as directed in established protocols or as directed by The Office of Residence Life & Housing or other College personnel.
- Abide by, role model, and enforce college policies and protocols.
- Identify, report, and correct facilities, safety, and security concerns as directed in established protocols or as directed by The Office of Residence Life & Housing or other College personnel.
- Assist with fire alarm testing, evacuation (fire) drills, and Health and Safety inspections each semester.
- Assist in developing strategies to mediate interpersonal or intrapersonal conflict.
General Position Responsibilities
- Attend staff development activities and training sessions which will require early arrival to campus for the fall and spring semesters.
- Attend weekly Residence Life & Housing staff meetings.
- Attend regular one-on-one meetings with Complex Director or Hall Director.
- Assist with move-in and closing operations at the beginning and end of each semester and college breaks.
- Assist with ambassadorship events such as Open House, Admitted Students Day, Family Day, etc., and other Admissions events as assigned.
All RA positions have been filled for the 2025-2026 academic year. Please check back in October 2025 for information on applying to be an RA for the 2026-2027 academic year.
RA APPLICATION PROCESS
The 2025-2026 RA Application Process is now open. The priority application deadline is Friday, December 13, 2024 at 11:59pm.
New RA Application Questions (please submit using the online application)
- Please tell us what interests you about the Resident Assistant position and elaborate why you like to join the RA team in 300 – 500 words.
- A Resident Assistant is first and foremost a community cultivator, supporting and advising students in their journey to shape the present and future of the Providence College residential and campus communities. Knowing that, we recognize that “community” has a different meaning to each unique individual. In 150-200 words, please tell us what “community” means to you.
- What responsibilities/roles of the RA position are you most excited about? What responsibilities/roles do you feel most challenged by? Please use the text box below to answer is 200-300 words.
- Please list your involvement at PC, as well as any experience outside of PC you deem relevant (clubs/organizations, volunteerism, high school involvement, employments/jobs, etc.)
Please email reslife@providence.edu with questions.
Office of Residence Life & Housing
Slavin Center 105
Office Hours: Monday – Friday | 8:30am-4:30pm
401.865.2392
reslife@providence.edu
