Student Leadership and Employment

The Resident Assistant (RA) is a full-time student who, under the supervision and direction of the Area Coordinator, serves as a peer educator, counselor, administrator, role model, friend, and team member for the residents of a floor or wing in a residence hall. The RA works to create and maintain a healthy environment that supports the educational mission of Hamline University and the academic and personal growth of the students within their assigned living unit. In carrying out his or her duties, the RA is expected to treat other students, supervisors, and fellow employees with courtesy and respect.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Report directly to the Area Coordinator
• Live in assigned residence hall for the entire term of appointment
• Participate in a daily rotating duty coverage:
  • 5 p.m. to 8 a.m., Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
  • 5 p.m. Friday to 5 p.m. Saturday
  • 5 p.m. Saturday to 5 p.m. Sunday
• Develop and maintain formal and informal relationships with residents
• Encourage student involvement in shaping floor community
• Be knowledgeable about university resources to help students find their niche in the wider campus community
• Respond appropriately to students in crisis (physical, emotional, etc.) through assessment and referral to experienced professionals
• Understand and educate residents about university and Residential Life policies and regulations
• Other duties as assigned

RHA Exec Board members work with their Advisor, the Director of Residential Life, to help provide oversight for all of our on-campus residence halls. Students hired to these positions are representatives of the Office of Residential Life for on-campus students and it is a stipend position. RHA executive board members are responsible for managing a programming budget, distributing funds to residential programming committees (if applicable) and planning large on-campus programs such as Welcome Week Battle of the Halls, Hamline Halloween, Late Night Study Breakfast (fall and spring) and cross-campus All-Hall Events as well as hosts an End of the Year National Residence Hall Honorary Celebration Event.

RHA executive board has a Hamline University Student Congress (HUSC) representative who attends HUSC meetings and collaborates with HUSC Hall Reps and Residential Life to affect change in the residence halls. The collaboration between these entities serves to enhance connection and communication between HUSC, RHA, residents and ResLife in an effort to effect as much change as possible in the residence halls.

The executive board positions include President, Vice President, Treasurer, Historian / Secretary, National Communications Chair, Programming Communications Chair, Community Enrichment Chair, and Frequent Programming Chairs 1 & 2. (All positions are not always filled every semester). Talk with your Resident Assistant (RA), Area Coordinator (AC), or Student Area Coordinator (SAC) to find out more information and to get involved! Questions? Please email Director Yolanda Hansen at yhansen01@hamline.edu.

The Office Assistant is responsible for assisting with the day to day operations of the Residential Life Office. Duties include staffing the office, key inventory, preparations for early arrival groups, and opening and closing. The Office Assistant must have the ability to perform tasks with minimum supervision/instruction, be self motivated, and have great attention to detail. The Office Assistant represents the Residential Life office and should display professionalism at all times. Confidentiality is vital, and the Office Assistant should never repeat confidential information that is related to them directly or overheard while working in the office. The Office Assistant reports to the Operations Coordinator for Residential Life.