Student Leadership Opportunities

POSITION SUMMARY  

We are excited that you want to be a member of the Resident Advisor staff in The Residential Learning Community (Housing). This role is designed to create and uphold the connections of students to their environment and a sense of community and belonging with one another by being community student leaders.  

This role works in partnership with other members of the Bantam Network team to foster inclusive environments that supports students’ growth and personal development. The RA contributes to this development within the residential communities by doing the following: developing social connections, upholding community wellbeing, reducing harm, and offering support and resources to students in need. Our goal is for students to have balance in their responsibilities to themselves, others, and their community. This role will have taught you skills such as conflict mediation/resolution, community engagement, program planning, policy enforcement, and on-call procedures. 

Outside of the halls, RAs can expect weekly and bi-weekly meetings with their neighborhood staff and supervisors about student issues and conversations on personal professional development within the role.  

Our goal at the Bantam Network is to ensure safe and secure housing in an inclusive community that supports student success and aids in student retention. RAs are representatives of Trinity College and their residential communities in addressing student issues and concerns. 

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT 

This contracted role is for either one semester or one full academic year, running from Fall to Spring semester. The agreement includes a week-long mandatory training before the start of New Student Orientation, a three-day training before the start of classes of the spring semester. In addition, there are mandatory commitments that will be listed further in the contract. During Thanksgiving, winter break, spring break, and finals, students are not expected to work.  

All student staff must be on campus and fully participate in training and other mandatory commitments. RAs are hired for one semester or academic year, then must reapply for the position in Fall 2024/Spring 2025 for the following year if wanting to continue. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

You must fulfill and maintain the following qualifications to be a Residential Advisor: 

Good Academic Standing : Resident Advisors must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative G.P.A to remain employed. Resident Advisors with a G.P.A between 2.5 and 2.9 will have conversations with their supervisor regarding their academic progress.   

Good Social Standing: Resident Advisors must maintain “good conduct standing” with Trinity College. 

Other Job/Commitment Policy: Resident Advisors must inform their supervisor if they hold more than 10 hours per week of outside leadership/membership positions. International Students must abide rules related to their additional employment on a student visa. 

Status as a Responsible Employee: As Responsible Employees, RAs are considered mandatory reporters and must report any possible Title IX violations to the Title IX Coordinator. 

Title IX Training: All RAs are expected to complete Title IX training at the fall and spring trainings. If the RA is unable to attend the session during trainings, they will be expected to attend the make-up session. RAs who do not comply may be subject to termination from the role.  

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Residential Advisor: First-Year Communities

Oversees first-year residential communities for direct support while assisting other residential communities (first- or upper-year) in their neighborhood, while on call.  

Residential Advisor: Upper-Year Communities

Oversees upper-year residential communities for direct support while assisting other residential communities (first- or upper-year) in their neighborhood, while on call. 

Community Engagement

On Your Floor 

• The number of residents varies upon placement. 

• Build socially inclusive residential communities by establishing residential norms, community expectations, establishing roommate agreements, and speaking on mediation strategies.  

• Hosting at least two floor meetings at the beginning and end of each semester.   

• Live within the residential community and spend meaningful time in the common areas to create an impactful presence.  

• Being present to your residents when in need of support, within reason. 

Bulletin Boards and Door Tags 

• Design bulletin boards that reflect your residential community’s needs and uphold student development twice a semester, with an additional board provided to you at the end of the semester 

• Design door tags for each resident once a semester, to be completed during training, before students’ arrival.  

Programming 

• A RA will host four programs throughout the semester, and an additional task of spotlighting another program on campus to their residents.  

• In three programs, RAs must collaborate with their fellow building RAs, campus partners, and a club/organization of their choosing. 

• Must keep track of their budgeted spending for each program to build personal development in money management.  

Peer Intervention and Support   

• Manage conflict with an inclusive approach, helping all sides feel heard and helping residents come up with realistic strategies and solutions.  

• Collaborate with professional staff at the Bantam Network when issues among residents have escalated.  

• Educate residents on available campus resources and support systems. This includes referrals to the Bantam Network Office if higher-level support is needed. 

• Issue informal warnings to residents and guests as needed. This includes noise, cleanliness, use of space, public posting, etc. (These may result in additional floor meetings). 

• Check on students of concern when notified, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of a student in need of support.  

• RAs function as Mandated Reporters, wherein a staff member is expected to report cases of Title IX, hate-based incidents, mental health crises, and policy violations to the correct party.  

On-Call Shifts 

• The number of shifts varies based on neighborhood staff size. 

• Works select shifts running from 9:00pm-11:00pm on weekdays and 9:00pm-1:00am on weekends (“active hours”).  

• Must remain in your neighborhood from 9:00pm-9:00am the next day.  

• Conduct 2-3 rounds per shift of your neighborhood (depending on weekend or weekday). 

• During rounds, the RA reports on issues such as policy violations, work orders, and general state of the neighborhood bathrooms, common spaces, laundry rooms and hallways. 

• Hold the RA On-Call phone from 6:00pm-9:00am the next morning. 

• Only need to answer this phone from the start of your shift to the end of your “active hours” 

• Report on policy violations within your residential neighborhood, including noise violations, underaged drinking, and vandalism.  

• When on call, remain attentive to the RA Group Chat for any incidents that may occur, and follow up on them.  

Personal/Professional Development

• Mandatory weekly meetings with the neighborhood staff to discuss neighborhood issues, trends, and professional development skills. 

• Mandatory bi-weekly one-on-one meetings with the supervisor to discuss personal and professional development and specific student concerns.  

• RAs assist in other Bantam Network tasks such as Group Process Day, New Student Move-In, and Closings.  

• Full attendance and participation in meetings and training as scheduled.  

• RAs will by the rules, policies, and procedures of The Residential Learning Community (Housing) as stated in the Student Handbook and the RA manual, and to maintain a level of conduct consistent with that expected of an employee of the College. This includes upholding the Student Conduct Code and all applicable federal, state, and local laws. 

• Failing to uphold this agreement at any time can result in disciplinary action, including rescinding the offer of employment. 

HOUSING 

Please review the information below about housing as a RA: 

• RA housing placement preferences are considered but not guaranteed. Placements are decided based off community need and the skills a RA/CA is taking into the role to best support the residential community.  

• RA placements can be changed at any time after the contract has been signed, based on community need.  

• If a RA cannot pull in roommates for multi-occupancy spaces, then they will be filled with other students, depending on need.  

• Building an understanding with your roommates in multi-occupancy spaces that you are a mandated reporter.  
• If in a multi-occupancy space and you no longer hold the RA role, your roommates will also be reassigned to another housing placement.  

COMPENSATION 

In consideration of the service provided by the Resident Advisor, the Residential Learning Community (Housing) will provide the following compensation based on time spent in the role. Please note the different sections pertaining to new and returning staff. 

New First-Year Community Resident Advisors (RAs) 

• New First-Year Community RAs (1st Semester as a First-Year Community RA): A stipend of $5,150 for the 2025 – 2026 Academic Year 

• Fall 2025: $2,575 

• Spring 2026: $2,575 

• All RAs will receive a stipend of $100 added to their Bantam Bucks for laundry purposes 

• Fall 2025: $50 

• Spring 2026: $50 

New Upper-Year Community Residential Advisors (RAs)

• New Upper-Year Community RAs (1st Semester as a Upper-Year Community RA): A stipend of $5,025 for the 2024 – 2025 Academic Year 

• Fall 2024: $2,512.50 

• Spring 2025: $2,512.50 

• All CAs will receive a stipend of $100 added to their Bantam Bucks for laundry purposes 

• Fall 2024: $50 

• Spring 2025: $50