RA Selection Information
Requirements for Applications:
 Must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA
 Must have successfully completed at least 24 credit hours by May 2015
 Must have lived one full semester in the Olivet College residence halls
Responsibilities
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Community development on your wing
Programming on your wing
Upkeep of the environment inside and outside the residence halls, including trash rounds
Conflict mediation, peer counseling, roommate mediations, etc.
Serve on duty, including doing rounds of the building
Assisting in crisis situations
Be available in the evenings for your residents, being in room with door open
Frequent interactions with residents
Staff meetings, one on one meetings, building and wing meetings, employee forums and RA
in-services
Monthly bulletin boards and door decs
Administrative paper work
The ability to meet many deadlines
Role model the Olivet College Compact and Student Handbook
Be a leader that others can look up to
Follow and live by all rules that you will come to expect residents to abide by
Restrictions
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Must return early each semester to participate in spring training and fall training.
Stay late at all breaks in order to close halls.
Anytime you are away from campus you must get approval from your Hall Director.
May, with prior approval from supervisor, hold additional employment for up to 10 hours per
week.
 May pledge a society with approval from Director of Residence Life and Vice President of
Student Life.
Leadership
A Resident Advisor must realize that their life will change. Students will look up to them and
watch their every action. They must be aware of their leadership obligations on the wing, in the
building, as well as on and off campus.
Athletics
A Resident Advisor may play on a college athletic team, with the understanding of coaching
staff, that they may not be able to make all practices or games during training or opening and
closing of the residence halls. It is the RA/athlete’s responsibility to discuss this with the
applicable coach(s).
Compensation
 Room & Board for each semester during the academic year
Application Components
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Paper Application
Essay Questions
Personal Expression Project
Recommendations
Series of Interviews
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2015-2016 Resident Advisor Application
Office of Residence Life
208 Mott
Olivet College
Olivet MI 49076
269-749-7607
Please type or print clearly. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
I. Personal Data:
Date:_________________________
Name: ________________________________________________________________
First
Middle
Last
Student ID Number: ______________ Current Residence Hall: _________________
Current Room: ___________________ Current Phone: _______________________
Alternate Phone: _________________ Email Address: _______________________
G.P.A. Last Semester: _____________ Cumulative G.P.A: ____________________
Major: _______________________
Concentration: ________________________
Expected Class Standing Next Year: ________________________
Expected Date of Graduation: _____________________________
Number of Semesters lived in OC Residence Halls/Theme Housing: _______________
Numbers of Semesters lived in Greek Housing: __________________
What activities do you anticipate participating in the next school year?
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II. Essay Question
Please type each answer to the following questions. Your answers should not be any
longer than one typed page per question.
1. What do you see as typical problems for Olivet College students? What do you
see as some possible solutions to these problems?
2. Much of our work in Residence Life deals with creating multicultural communities
of learners that enhance academic success. Please give your definition of a
“Multicultural Education”. Please also describe how you would use this idea to
create a community on your floor.
3. Describe what “Education for Individual and Social Responsibility” means to you.
4. How will you help create a community in the Residences Halls?
5. How will you form a sense of family on your floor?
6. If you are a part of or plan to be a part of an organization or sports team, how do
you plan to balance the responsibilities of both?
III. Personal Expression Project:
Using any medium, create an item that describes something about you that you would
want others to know. It can be a collage, photograph, painting, poem, or anything
showing initiative and creativity that would help others to know you better. During the
interview process, you will be asked to explain your expression. Remember you will
need to bring it with you to the interview so plan accordingly for size, etc.
IV. Recommendations:
Personal references are another way in which the staff will try to get to know you and
your strengths and weaknesses. You must have a reference from 1 current student, 1
current Residence Life staff member and 1 faculty or staff member. Three
recommendation forms are included in this packet. The recommendations will need to
be returned by Noon on Wednesday, April 1st, 2015 to the Student Life Office in 208
Mott. The recommendations can be returned via the applicant if it is in a sealed
envelope or the person completing the recommendation form may deliver the completed
form directly to the office. Completed recommendation forms may also be mailed to the
Office of Student Life, attn: RA Selection Process, 208 Mott.
References:
Name________________________________________________________________
Title/Position: ______________________________ Phone Number:_____________
Name________________________________________________________________
Title/Position: ______________________________ Phone Number:_____________
Name________________________________________________________________
Title/Position: ______________________________ Phone Number:_____________
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V. Placement Preference:
Please indicate your preferences for placement below. This is ONLY a
preference. Your placement may or may not be in the hall/house of your choice.
Place numbers (1,2,3) next to your preferences, indicating your top choice with #1.
Place an “X” next to halls/houses in which you would NOT accept an RA position.
_________Blair Hall (men only)
_________Dole Hall (women only)
_________Shipherd Hall
List Reasons (if any) for your preferences and/or reasons you feel you would be an
asset to the staff in a particular hall:_________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
VI. Signature
I have read the information sheet accompanying this application, and I am aware
of the Resident Advisor Position requirements and restrictions. The information I
have presented in this application is true and complete to the best of my
knowledge. I understand that incomplete or false information may subject me to
disqualification from consideration for a Resident Advisor position. I authorize
full-time staff members of the Office of Residence Life to conduct a routine
inquiry (including the verification of GPA) during the processing of my application
in order to provide information necessary for my candidacy.
Applicant Signature: _______________________________
Date:_____________
It is the policy of Olivet College to provide an education, environment, programs,
activities, and a workplace free of unlawful discrimination on the basis of race, color,
religion, gender, national origin, age, height, weight, marital status, sexual orientation,
veteran’s status, or disability.
Education for Individual and Social Responsibility.
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