2025-2026 Resident Advisor Applications

The Resident Advisor (RA) position is a multifaceted leadership position that requires skills in several different areas. The position description below is intended to give you a sense of the types of responsibilities you will have in the role. However, it is not an all-inclusive list of responsibilities.

Those interested in the position must understand that the RA position is contracted for the full Academic School Year, from August to May.

Minimum Qualifications

Resident Advisors must have a 2.50 cumulative GPA at the time of employment and must maintain a minimum semester and cumulative 2.50 GPA while in the position. RAs need to be in good behavioral standing with the University and be full-time undergraduate students. GPAs and student conduct records will be checked throughout the entirety of employment. Due to the nature and responsibilities of the position, Resident Advisor positions are only open to students who will be undergraduate students for the academic year. It is recommended that a successful candidate has lived on a college or university campus for at least one (1) semester prior to applying.

RA retention and reappointment begins immediately following the evaluation period in the fall semester and is contingent upon the Office of Residential Life’s evaluation of overall position performance and the terms and conditions outlined in the RA Appointment Letter if/when offered a position. Individuals currently serving as RAs are eligible to reapply for a position the following year but are not guaranteed a position.

Compensation

Resident Advisors are considered student employees of the University with an expectation that they work anywhere from 15-20 hours per week during the academic year. An annual stipend of $5,100.00 is paid to RA’s semi-monthly from September 1st through May 31st of each year.

RA housing assignments are made to provide the best environment possible for the residents in the residence halls and apartment communities. For this reason, and because RAs are called on to act in the case of any emergency on campus, the RAs are required to live in and are compensated for a specific room designated by On-Campus Living. The approximate value of this housing is $10,278 and RAs on financial aid will not see a reduction in their aid package based on the cost of room. This benefit is considered non-taxable income and is not subject to withholding. Students on need-based aid will still be eligible to receive aid to cover education expenses. The RA’s assignment/placement is for the entire academic year but is subject to change (placement may be adjusted) at the discretion of On-Campus Living.

Dining facilities are places where community building occurs, and our entire staff are provided meal plans to assist in facilitating spaces for relationship building and being visible as well.

All RAs are given their choice of the following meal plans.

• Anytime Meal Plan – $250 Dining Dollars
• 21 Meals Per Week – $100 Dining Dollars
• 19 Meals Per Week – $300 Dining Dollars
• 14 Meals Per Week – $500 Dining Dollars
• Kosher 12 Meals Per Week – $300 Dining Dollars

Community Building & Support

• Build a rapport with residents, fellow staff, peers, and JHU community members based upon mutual respect.
• Work to develop a sense of affinity and unity that allows residents to socialize and learn from each other.
• Provide residents with information on departmental, campus, and citywide resources and activities.
• Attend departmental, divisional, or University-sponsored events as needed or requested.
• Assist in the planning and coordination of Residential Life sponsored events and encourage residents to attend all departmental sponsored social and educational events.
• Facilitate the programs and touch points of the Residential Experience Plan outlined for you during training and in the RA Manual.
  • Consult with Residence Director to receive guidance and support on planning and implementing Residential Curriculum Programming in your community.
  • Complete all related administrative tasks related to programmatic efforts.
  • Oversee the use of programming funds: Resident Advisors are responsible for requesting appropriate purchases and keeping track of monthly expenditures.
• Advertise, explain, and facilitate Blue Jay Conversations with each of your residents as designated by your Residence Director.
  • Log trends from interactions with residents
  • Interact daily with residents to become a visible part of the community: (ex. conversations in common rooms or when passing by open doors, eating meals with residents, invitations to events or campus happenings, etc.)
  • Use the time you spend with your residents to watch for and ask about problems or challenges that may troubling students and to learn more about their individual needs in their community.
• Actively work to encourage residents to come to you and other Residential Life staff whenever they need guidance or support.
• Consult as needed with Residence Directors about residents who may benefit from case management, counseling, accommodations, or other student support resources.
• Consult with or make referrals to on-campus support staff in the Counseling Center, the Student Health and Wellness Center, Dean of Student Life Office, Housing Operations, Residential Facilities, Residential Mail Service, Leadership, Engagement, and Experiential Development (LEED), Student Disability Services, Office of Institutional Equity, Center for Student Success, and others as needed.

Crisis Management & Policy Enforcement Responsibilities

• Always let residents know how to reach you or another staff member in an emergency.
  • Use your ‘Where Am I Board’ Inform and advertise the numbers for emergencies (i.e. Public Safety, RA Duty Phone, Housing Operations, Residential Facilities, OIE, etc).
• Be familiar with all emergency support services on campus.
• Inform residents of emergency services available on campus. Inform residents of fire safety procedures and encourage them to take an active role in keeping safe.
• Inform the Residence Director or On-Call administrators of all emergencies within the designated and appropriate time period.
• Stress to residents the fundamental values of On Campus Living respect, integrity, inclusivity, community, and leadership.
  • RA actions and interactions should reflect those values.
• Inform all residents at your first community meeting of the University policies governing alcohol, drugs, explosives, pets, fire safety equipment, vandalism, etc. and where to reference the Student Conduct Code and University Housing Policies.
  • Clarify and reiterate these policies as needed throughout the year.
• Complete Health & Safety Inspections with Residential Life staff in all resident rooms and suites once a semester as scheduled by On-Campus Living.
• Actively work to create an atmosphere in which residents understand the value of policies and procedures as outlined in the Student Conduct Code and University Housing Policies and accept responsibility for their own actions and the actions of their guests.
• Enforce University policies by taking appropriate action per policies and procedures.
• Complete Incident Reports as necessary or instructed; inform on-call administrators of all policy infractions or crimes.
• RAs and Residential Life staff are considered Campus Security Authorities (CSAs, or “mandatory reporters”) when employed and acting in their staff role according to state and federal law and University policy.
  • RAs must fulfill their specific responsibilities to report certain crimes to their supervisor or Residential Life staff designee for reporting to other campus authorities. (For more information about the responsibilities of a CSA, consult JHU’s annual Safety, Security, and Fire Report.)

Administrative/Building Management Duties

• Check JHU email daily for any/all emails from supervisors and staff from On Campus Living and respond accordingly and as requested.
• Disseminate information to residents or to staff in a timely manner as directed by staff members in Residential Life.
• Complete all administrative tasks associated with the aforementioned job responsibilities.
  • Program Proposals and the submital process including evaluations
  • Duty Logs
  • Duty Swap Request Forms
  • Evaluations (self, of supervisor, of department, etc)
  • Involvement in recruitment processes, programmatic efforts, in services, etc.
  • On Campus Living processes; occupancy checks, Room Condition Reports, Health and Safety Inspections, Room Selection Housing Tours etc.
  • Other forms as assigned by the On Campus Living
• Provide written and/or verbal feedback in a professional manner (both supportive and critical) to peers, supervisors, and department when needed and/or requested.
• Notify the Residence Director of all switches that occur without your prior knowledge. If residents are requesting room switches, you should first make concerted efforts to address concerns, examine roommate agreements, and come to solutions before referring to Residence Director for next steps.
• Notify the Residence Director immediately of any resident who moves out of your building. If your RD has knowledge of a resident moving in/out, that will be communicated to you.
• Report all maintenance requests in a timely manner. Report emergencies immediately and make certain there are accommodations given, especially for problems that occur after office hours.
• Follow up with Residential Facilities on all maintenance repairs and housing-related services that are not complete within the expected length of time.
• Make certain that entry doors remain locked each night. Encourage residents to cooperate in keeping entry doors locked at all times. Complete and record lockouts as they occur.
• Perform all management tasks requested by staff of On-Campus Living such as, but not limited to posting notices or flyers, assisting with survey responses, residential or campus-wide emergencies, and assisting with special projects.

Behavioral & Staffing Expectations

• The room you are assigned will act dually as a personal and workspace. This space will need to present a clean, organized, and odor-free environment. You should be able to host private conversations in your room without the distractions of clutter, trash, or unacceptable living conditions. Your room should always be able to meet the expectations of Health and Safety inspections and will be subject to inspections in the same manner as residents
• Serve as a positive role model for residents by abiding by all University policies as well as federal, state, and city laws. This includes but is not limited to modeling appropriate and mature behavior both on and off campus as well as via digital and social media. As an RA you must always be in good standing with the University.
• In addition to abiding by the JHU Sexual Misconduct policy, as a member of the Residential Life staff, you should not engage in a sexual or romantic relationship with any students in the community in which you are appointed, for the duration of your employment so as to avoid the potential negative impact on the community.
  • If you are considering engaging in a sexual or romantic relationship with a resident, or if you are unsure if you are meeting the expectation of maintaining appropriate relationships with residents, you are to immediately discuss those circumstances with your supervisor.
  • Inherently unequal positions of perceived power should in general be avoided.
• RAs are a part of the first response team for all residential students, on or off duty and, as such, will be prepared to help in any emergency at any time of day or night, including mealtimes.
• Attend all training and staff development sessions, all staff meetings, and supervision meetings.
• Exceptions will be granted only for courses required for graduation that only meet during the training time, and there is no prior or future opportunity available for students to take the class and/or meet the requirement. Approval must be obtained from On-Campus Living before registering for a class, meeting, or exam (i.e. MCAT, LSAT, etc.) during the reserved time. Approval for any intersessions courses must also be approved from On-Campus Living.
• Follow the semester on-call/duty schedule and adhere to all procedures and emergency protocols as scheduled.
• RAs are required to stay for portions of Fall Break, Fall Recess, Winter Break, Intersession, Spring Break. During such breaks, coverage constitutes being available to the assigned floor/buildings, residing in your assigned room during the on-call hours, carrying an on-call cell phone, performing rounds, and fulfilling any programmatic responsibilities as planned.
  • No travel plans should be made until duty coverage has been assigned or approved by supervisor.
• Acknowledge and adhere to planning all travel and other commitments around the Required Dates for all Residential Life student and professional staff, which is available on the website and will be provided along with the RA Appointment Letter for review. Please note that dates are subject to change.
• Other duties as assigned.

Acknowledgments

Residential Life reserves the right to change the hiring process and staffing plans of the department at any time based on the needs of the University and department. If the University requires any person who is spending time on a Johns Hopkins campus to get the flu vaccination, or mandated testing regardless of quantity, RA’s will be expected to be in compliance with that mandate.

 

Staff are not to make any travel arrangements for institutional breaks or training periods until duty coverage has been established and your supervisor has approved your request. See RA Job Description and/or RA Appointment Letter for expectations around communication and attendance as related to the position’s responsibilities.

*Dates are subject to change based on university calendar or unforeseen changes in policy, schedules, etc.

• RAs may move in between 9:00am on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, through Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Everyone must arrive at campus by 4:00pm on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
• Participate in the staff welcome activities on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.
• Attend the daily, full-time training for student staff starting on Thursday, August 7, 2025, with move-in and orientation obligations following, through Monday, August 25, 2025.
• Attend and participate in the Welcome Back Weekend events.
• Assist with health & safety inspections two to three times throughout the academic year.
  • Fall Health & Safety Inspections, October 2025
  • Spring Health & Safety Inspections, March 2026

• Be available and prepared to staff our continued operations during the Fall and/or Spring Breaks, Fall Recess, Winter Break, and/or Intersession at the discretion of the Director of Residential Experience or their designee. These breaks include holidays and days when the University is closed.
  • Fall Break, October 16 -18
  • Fall Recess, November 24 – 28
  • Winter Break, December 19 – January 2
  • Intersession, January 2 – 16
  • Spring Break, March 16 – 20
  • Closing, May 14 – May 15

• RAs will be released for Winter Break on December 20, 2025.
• Mid-year training for student staff will start Wednesday January 6, 2026, through Thursday, January 7, 2026.
  • Mid Year RAs must arrive on campus Saturday, January 3, 2026, through Tuesday, January 6, 2026
• Attend the daily, full-time, mid-year training for student staff starting at 3:00pm on Monday, January 12, 2026, through Saturday, January 18, 2026.
  • RAs must arrive on campus Sunday, January 11, 2026

• Participate in the RA Recruitment Process for Fall 26 and Spring 27
  • RA Recruitment Weekend #1: January 23 – January 24
  • RA Recruitment Weekend #2: January 30 – January 31

• Stay in residence until buildings close prior to the summer break and assist with closedown procedures on Thursday, May 14, 2026 through Friday, May 15, 2026. Once released from duties you are released and can begin to move out. Do not plan to leave campus prior to 1:00pm on Friday, May 15, 2026
  • Student staff not graduating in May 2026 must move out by Saturday, May 16, 2026 by 12:00pm.
  • Student staff graduating in May 2026, must move out by Friday, May 22, 2026 by 5:00pm.

Below is the full application timeline to apply to be an RA for the 2025-2026 academic year.

• Monday, December 2: Application opens online
• Friday, January 10 at 12:00 p.m. EST: Application closes
• Friday, January 17: Notification of status for New Candidates
• Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25: RA Recruitment Weekend #1: Candidate Individual Interviews. Please plan to be present for 45 minutes – 1 hour for this in-person interview process.
• Friday, January 31 and Saturday, February 1: RA Recruitment Weekend #2 RA Candidate Group Process. Please plan to be present for 2-3 hours for this in-person interview process.
• Week of February 17: Notification of status/offer for hire

 

Please note that we reserve the right to alter or amend these dates at any time. Please use this Zoom link to attend the online Resident Advisor Information Session: https://jh.zoom.us/j/92368162427.

Information Sessions	Date	Time	Location
Information Session #1	Tuesday, November 19	7PM	Wolman Theater
Information Session #2	Wednesday, November 20	3PM	McCoy Social Lounge
Information Session #3	Thursday, November 21	1PM	AMR I TV Room
Information Session #4	Tuesday, December 3	7PM	Homewood MPR
Information Session #5	Friday, December 6	4PM	AMR II Social Lounge
Information Session #6	Monday, December 9	1PM	Scott Bates Commons MPR
Information Session #7	Wednesday December 11	5PM	Wolman Theater
Information Session #8	Tuesday, December 17	8PM	Wolman Theater
Information Session #9	Friday, January 3	9AM	Virtual
Information Session #10	Monday, January 6	3PM	Virtual

We recommend reviewing the questions below prior to starting the application.

Students who are interested in applying MUST attend an Information Session in order to access the RA Application. If you have attended an RA Information Session, you will be granted access to the RA Application by noon the next business day and you will be notified of access through your JHU email address.

Once applicants have been notified of their access to RA Application, applicants can:

1. Log-in to The Birdhouse (Housing Portal).
2. Select the “RA Application” tab on the blue navigation bar or on the homepage by clicking the Olympic Rings.
3. You will now be directed to the New RA Application.

Below are questions you must answer on the application:

1. Please share why you want to be a Resident Advisor?
2. Time management is a key component to the RA Role, how would you balance the RA role into your academic life at Hopkins.
3. How do you describe diversity? What is the benefit of a diverse community?
4. Describe an event/program that you believe would be valuable to the residential student experience. Please use graphic design software (examples: Canva or Photoshop) to create a flyer that advertises the event/program you came up with.