Division of Student Affairs
Residential Life & Housing
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rebecca Szwarc
Administrative Assistant
713-743-6030
rszwarc@uh.edu
RESIDENTIAL LIFE & HOUSING ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR 20112012 RESIDENT ASSISTANTS (RAs)
Houston, January 24, 2011 - Residential Life and Housing (RLH) is currently accepting
applications for Resident Assistants (RAs) for the 2011-2012 academic year. The
application deadline is Friday, Jan. 28, 2011 by 5 p.m. RAs supervise and facilitate
activities, programs, behavior and operations on a floor or area within a residence hall.
RAs are the frontline people for the residents in their area. They handle anything and
everything that comes up including roommate and other disputes, behavioral
disturbances, housekeeping and maintenance emergencies, crisis situations, weather
emergencies and administrative details.
Qualifications for this position include leadership potential, a high level of maturity, sound
judgment, emotional stability, flexibility, the willingness to accept responsibility, strong
interpersonal skills, a minimum 2.5 GPA and at least one semester of living in a
residence hall at the University of Houston or another university. In addition, Residence
Life is looking for RAs with specific knowledge of or interest in particular subjects to
serve on the Theme Housing floors. The special interest floors/wings are Business,
Communications, Community Service, Engineering and Technologies, Freshman Year
Residential Experience (FYRE) Program, Graduate/Upper-level Undergraduate, Honors
College (must be an Honors student), Life Sciences, 24-Hour Quiet/Intensive Study,
Sustainability, Transfer Students (prefer a transfer student), Wellness and the Writers’
and Artists’ Colony. To apply for this position, interested students must complete a fivepage application and two essays, provide two recommendations and undergo a criminal
background check.
In order to get the very best candidates for these positions, RAs must reapply for the job
each year. A committee of Area Coordinators assesses all of the applications received
and decides who will be interviewed. Those selected undergo both a group interview
and an individual interview. The selection committee then decides who will be hired for
the available positions and also selects alternates in case an RA is unable to complete
his/her year of service. The Area Coordinators plan to have the selection process
completed by Spring Break (March 14-19).
RAs undergo intensive training: a two-week training period in the summer before Fall
classes begin and a one-week refresher course in January before Spring classes start.
These training courses cover a wide variety of subjects, including dispute resolution,
safety and security, crisis management, suicide intervention, recognizing health and
psychological problems, knowing when to refer or seek help and information on all oncampus academic, developmental and personal services. All new RAs must also
complete the RA seminar, a designated academic course that provides valuable
information about their new position and managing their new responsibilities. Additional
training is given throughout the year at weekly meetings.
RA duties are: establishing and maintaining scheduled Nights-on-Floor when they are
available to residents; attending weekly meetings; working the Information Desk at least
six hours a week, plus additional hours during opening and closing; participating in oncall coverage; and presenting at least six programs to their floor/area during the
semester.
The compensation package for RAs includes a single room, a meal plan and a stipend of
$125 per RA pay period (approximately monthly). It also includes an incredible amount
of experience, training and knowledge that will be useful in many of the RA’s future
endeavors.
For more information about the Resident Assistant selection process or job description
or to apply to become an RA, contact the Residence Life office at 713-743-6020 or go to
Room 250 in Oberholtzer Hall.
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston is a comprehensive national research institution serving the
globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty,
experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. UH serves more than 38,500
students in the nation’s fourth largest city, located in the most ethnically and culturally
diverse region of the country.
###