Resident Assistant Recruitment Information

Resident Assistants (RA) are important and valuable team members of the department of residential education within Campus Residences. Students who serve as an RA have the opportunity to develop leadership skills, communication skills, foster strong relationships with peers, residents, and their supervisor and promote diversity and inclusion in their area. In this position, students can grow exponentially in their personal and professional life. Both undergraduate and graduate students can be RAs in the residence halls and our apartment areas on campus.

How to Apply
The application cycle for the 2025-2026 academic year RA positions is in progress.

The RA Application is due by 11:59 pm on November 27th, 2024.
In order to gain access to the application, you must attend an RA Informational Session.

• • You must have submitted the application in its entirety by the above deadline. There are no extensions to submitting the RA Application, so if you are unable to submit the application, you will not be able to apply for the position this year and will need to apply for the 2026 - 2027 academic year RA position in October 2025.
  • You will hear back in January regarding your application status and whether you have moved on to our interview process.

 RA Information Sessions

Date	time	location	sb engaged link
DateWednesday, October 9th	time12:00 PM	locationBauman Center	sb engaged linkMore Information
DateThursday, October 17th	time3:00 PM	locationBenedict South Lounge	sb engaged linkMore Information
DateSunday, October 20th	time12:00 PM	locationZoom	sb engaged linkMore Information
DateWednesday, October 23rd	time1:00 PM	locationDevries Center	sb engaged linkMore Information
DateThursday, October 24th	time10:00 AM	locationUnion Auditorium 103-2	sb engaged linkMore Information
DateMonday, October 28th	time7:00 PM	locationWest E Commons	sb engaged linkMore Information
DateTuesday, November 5th	time3:00 PM	locationZoom	sb engaged linkMore Information
DateThursday, November 7th	time8:30 PM	locationBauman Center	sb engaged linkMore Information
DateSunday, November 10th	time2:00 PM	locationChapin MPR	sb engaged linkMore Information
DateMonday, November 11th	time8:00 PM	locationBauman Center	sb engaged linkMore Information
DateTuesday, November 12th	time11:00 AM	locationUnion Ballroom	sb engaged linkMore Information
DateFriday, November 15th	time6:00 PM	locationTabler Community Center 110	sb engaged linkMore Information
DateWednesday, November 20th	time12:00 PM	locationDevries Center	sb engaged linkMore Information
DateThursday, November 21st	time7:00 PM	locationZoom	sb engaged linkMore Information

If you have any questions about information that was not addressed above, your inquiry will be answered by a member of the committee in the next few days.

Questions? Contact CampResRASelection@stonybrook.edu  

RA Responsibilities

Resident Assistants are responsible for ensuring safe and welcoming conditions within the residence halls and apartments. RAs work to build inclusive communities in their assigned area through peer to peer interactions, programming, and bulletin boards. While the specific responsibilities of an RA will vary from area to area and building to building, some of the responsibilities include:

• • Attending staff meetings on Tuesday evenings.
  • Attending and participating in Fall training in early August and Spring training in early January.
  • Knowing the residents of your building/hall/area in an effort to be aware of their personal, social, and academic concerns.
  • Referring concerns to your supervisor and other appropriate entities on campus if someone can benefit from professional attention.
  • Being visible, available, and approachable by the residents of the area.
  • Holding floor socials and meetings at intervals determined by your supervisor.
  • Keeping the Residence Hall Director (RHD) in the loop about trends in your community.
  • Being familiar with and able to communicate/uphold housing and university policies and procedures in a positive manner.
  • Sitting duty for your building/area on a rotating basis. While on duty you serve as the point person for any issues that arise in your duty area after normal business hours. This includes weekends and holidays.
  • Assessing the needs of your residents on a continual basis. Initiating, planning and organizing programs of a social, educational, cultural and recreational nature.
  • Encouraging students to take responsibility for their own actions by establishing behavioral standards that promote the concept of common courtesy and consideration for others.
  • Role modeling appropriate behavior.
  • Assessing building prior to and post occupancy to ensure damage is rectified each year.
  • Completing administrative tasks that are necessary for the smooth operation of the building.
  • Other duties as assigned by your supervisor, your area’s professional staff, or the department as a whole.

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Resident Assistant Development and Recruitment Committee at CampresRASelection@stonybrook.edu. This email is monitored by committee members and you should expect a response within 2-3 business days.

Frequently asked questions 

• What is the timeline for RA Recruitment each year?

  The application timeline varies from year to year but our estimated timeline for 2025-2026 RA Selection is as follows:
  

  • The RA Information Session will become available as of mid-October.
  • The RA Information sessions will be online and in-person.
  • Attendance will be taken at the end of each info session.
  • Completion of the RA Information Session and attendance is required for your application to be considered.
  • RA Applications will go live in mid-October and will be accepted until November 27th at 11:59pm.
  • References have until December 2nd at 11:59pm to submit their reference form.
  • References will receive the form once you submit your application by the November 27th deadline.
  • While references are filling out information on your behalf, professional staff in the department will review applications.
  • Once we have all references and application scores in January, we will extend offers for interviews.
  • If you are offered an in-person interview, they will occur sometime between February 21st and 22nd.
  • Once interviews have concluded, staff will make selections and offers will be extended in March.
• Can I apply off cycle?

  RA recruitment for the following academic year occurs each Fall Semester. We only accept applications during the main application cycle and do not solicit or accept applications received at other points throughout the year.

• How long is training?

  Training occurs prior to each semester. Training for the Fall semester typically spans two full weeks, including weekends and nights, and starts in Mid-August. Training for the Spring semester typically starts a week prior to the beginning of the spring semester in mid-January. Training periods may encompass weekends, holidays, and nights as needed.

• Is training a requirement of the position?

  Yes, training is required every semester while employed as a resident assistant. Training is an important aspect of the RA position as it serves as an invaluable opportunity to learn various aspects of the position, participate in professional development, and bond with your immediate and extended building/community teams. If you are enrolled in a course during a training period, please speak to your immediate supervisor.

• What is the remuneration for an RA?

  RAs receive a bed waiver, RA meal plan (varies depending on room type), and priority course registration after your first semester as an RA. The RA position may impact your financial aid package, and you should speak to the financial aid office before accepting an offer if one is extended to you.

• If I am hired, can I pick my roommates/suite mates?
  • Candidates hired for 2025-2026 are not guaranteed the ability to choose their own suite mates.
  • RAs who are hired prior to RA room selection will have the opportunity to fill a suite/apartment.
  • RAs are not required to fully fill their space and can opt to fill as many spaces in their space as they wish.
  • RAs that are hired after RA room selection will not have the ability to pull suite mates as those spaces are available for returning students to pick from.

  Additionally, please be aware that RAs can only pull students who are eligible for their community into that specific community; RAs cannot pull commuters into on-campus housing, undergraduates into graduate communities, graduates into undergraduate communities, or those who do not meet eligibility requirements for a specific community (ie. West/Chávez/Tubman) into those communities.

• If I don’t like where I am placed, can I decline that offer and wait for another one?
  • Each person applying for the undergraduate RA position will only receive one offer. If you decline the RA position that is being offered, then you will not receive another one in a different building/community/area. Thus, if you decline the offer you will not be an RA for the following year.
  • Each person applying for the graduate RA position will only receive one offer and may be placed in Schomburg and West or Chapin apartments.
• What are the requirements to be a Resident Assistant?

  RAs in Undergraduate College Communities:

  • Cumulative and Semester GPA of 2.5 for every semester employed
  • Good Student Conduct Standing
  • Full-Time Student Standing

  Undergraduate RAs in West Apartments, Chávez, and Tubman:

  • Cumulative and Semester GPA of 2.5 for every semester employed
  • Good Student Conduct Standing
  • U3/U4 Class Standing (Minimum of 57 credits)
  • Full-Time Student Standing

  Graduate RAs in Chapin, Schomburg, and West Apartments:

  • Cumulative and Semester GPA of 3.0 for every semester employed
  • Good Student Conduct Standing
  • Full-Time Standing (Dependent on Class Year)
• What does the application entail?

  A successfully completed application encompasses a few parts:

  • Fully answered application questions
  • Current resume
  • Names and emails of one paraprofessional or professional reference

  We highly recommend using the resources of the Career Center for assistance with creating a resume.

  Career Center - Job Search Tools & Strategies

• Who should my references be? Should I ask them to write a letter?
   

  • When applying, you will be required to submit the names and emails of one professional or paraprofessional reference.
  • References can be professional staff members, faculty members, former employers, Advisors, Resident Assistants, etc. 
  • References should not be from parents/guardians, friends, etc.
  •  Prior to listing someone as a reference, you should speak to them and inform them that you intend to use them as a reference for your application.

  Please note that we are not looking for a letter of recommendation from your reference. Rather, we will contact your provided references directly and ask them to fill out a recommendation form with standardized questions on your behalf.

• What communities could I potentially be an RA within?
  • Find more information about our different communities on our Campus Residences website
  • There are a several specialty living communities, including:
    • Gender Inclusive Housing Communities (offered in select suites/apartments and on select floors in most residential Communities)
    • Our Living Learning Communities
      • 2nd-Year Living Community (2YLC) located in Lauterbur Hall
      • Honors College and Simon STEM Housing in Yang Hall
      • Socially Just Seawolves is located in Tubman Hall
      • Chavez Community Changers (C3) in Chavez Hall
      • Women in Science and Engineering Housing (WISE) and University Scholars programs are housed in the Eleanor Roosevelt Community
• What are some traits we value in a resident assistant?
   

  Being an RA requires the student to possess a large number of traits such as; accepting of different cultures and diversities, highly motivated, friendly and customer service oriented, cool under pressure, dedicated, professional, trustworthy, flexible, and trainable.

• What is the employment period/ period of obligation for a resident assistant?

  RAs in Undergraduate Community and West Apartments (Building A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K):

  The RA position is a 10-month position (mid-August to the end of May). The position starts prior to the start of the fall semester and extends beyond the end of the spring semester.

  Chapin, & Schomburg Apartments:

  The RA position is a 12-month position. The Period of Obligation is June 1 through May 31 of the following year.

   It is important to note that the campus housing does not close during break periods including, but not limited to, Fall Break, Winter Intersession, Spring Break, and the Summer Session. As such, RAs may be required to work during these break periods.

• I am transferring to Stony Brook, can I apply to be an RA?

  If you are a new transfer student who began in the Fall semester, you do not need to do anything special to apply.

  As long as you have an SBU GPA by the end of the Spring semester, the committee will completes grade checks for all applicants.

  If you are a transfer student who will be matriculating in the Winter or Spring semester, please reach out to the committee via email (CampResRASelection@stonybrook.edu) as those scenarios are reviewed on a case by case basis. It is important to note that all applications are due by the posted deadline.

• My GPA prior to the Fall semester does not meet the requirements, but I am confident that I will meet the requirements by the close of the Fall semester. Can I still apply?

  Yes, you can still apply. After the fall semester ends, the committee will conduct a grade check on all candidates. If your GPA meets the minimum requirements at that time, you will be able to move forward in the process.

• I am studying abroad, how do I go about submitting an application and being interviewed?

  If you will be studying abroad during the RA recruitment and selection process, please reach out to CampResRASelection@stonybrook.edu.

  If you are studying abroad during the fall semester, please reach out to the RA selection committee so that we can send you important information about the application process including deadlines and a recorded info session.

  If you are studying abroad in the spring semester, please reach out so we can schedule a virtual interview with you. While spring Study Abroad students will not have the opportunity to participate in the group process interviews, their scores will be adjusted so that they are not negatively impacted by their ability to participate in this portion of the selection process.

   
• Can I apply to be an RA if I have accommodations through SASC?

  Generally, yes, but being an RA must align with your ability to fulfill the role. If your accommodations prevent you from participating in essential tasks like mandatory trainings, Tuesday evening staff meetings, community engagement, serving on duty, or working with diverse populations, the RA position may not be a suitable fit. If your accommodation involves a specific room type, you will be placed in a space that meets your accommodation on file.