Employment Opportunities in the Undergraduate Buildings

Assistant Residence Hall Directors & Resident Advisors live in the undergraduate buildings on campus. Both positions are seen as residence hall community leaders, which encourage residents to respect one another, get involved with floor, hall and area activities, and provide information about campus resources.

What is a Resident Advisor (RA)?  

RAs at Cornell have many different roles. They are peer counselors, community builders, academic resource people, programmers, and administrators. RAs spend a significant amount of time getting to know residents as individuals and generating enthusiasm as they bring students together to create floor and hall communities.

RA's are responsible for other students, which means that a successful staff member must be sensitive to the needs of many different people. Recognizing differences takes sensitivity, understanding, self-confidence, and strength or character.

As residence hall community leaders, RA's encourage residents to respect one another, get involved with floor, hall and area activities, and provide information about campus resources.

Finally, RA's are expected to be strong team players as members of a residence hall staff and Residential Programs. They are expected to display a commitment to the development of an effective hall staff.

RA application - click here.

What is an Assistant Residence Hall Director (ARHD)?

Campus Life/Residential Programs has an ARHD position in The Multicultural Living Learning Unit (McLLU), founded in 1990, located in Dickson Hall. The mission of McLLU is to promote respect, understanding, and amicable relations among students of different races, ethnic backgrounds and cultures through formal and informal learning experiences.

The ARHD is responsible to facilitate a sense of community within the program house and foster an appreciation of diversity, promote respect for individual, define limits of acceptable behavior, encourage open communication, and develop a sense of responsibility to self and others.

Finally, the ARHD will work closely with the Residence Hall Director and other Campus Life staff and university offices to meet the needs of the residents'. The ARHD will actively influence and create opportunities for students that anticipate their needs and difficulties.

Frequently Asked Questions:

• What is the minimum GPA to be on staff?
  
  RAs must be a full-time enrolled student with a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average which must be maintained during the selection process and during the appointment period if given a position. 
  
  • 2.3 minimum cumulative GPA for students with 30 credits, sophomore standing.
  • 2.4 minimum cumulative GPA for students with 60 credits, junior standing.
  • 2.5 minimum cumulative GPA for students with 90 credit, senior standing.

  The ARHD must be full-time enrolled student with a minimum cumulative Grade Point Average of 2.5 which must be maintained during the selection and appointment process.

• Is this a paid position?
  
  RAs are assigned a single room, and provided a stipend of $600 (1st academic year), $850 (2nd academic year), and $950 (3rd academic year). In addition, RAs receive a 20% discount on meal plan options if enrolled.
  The ARHD is assigned an apartment or suite, and provided a stipend of $2,000 (1st academic year), $2,500 (2nd academic year) and $3,000 (3rd academic year). In addition, the ARHD receives a partial tuition credit of $2,500 each semester, and $800 in Big Red Bucks per academic year.
• How early do I have to return for training?

  Student staff are required to return for training approximately 10 days before halls open in August as well as 3 days before in January.

For more information, please contact Suzanne Horning at 255-9506 or by email at sah48@cornell.edu.