RAs decided for next year
Applicants complete training interviews
by Kristen Payne
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: News
Resident assistants for 2008-2009 have been chosen. According to resident director Justin Koonz, the turnout for this year was much better than last year.
"The selection process is lengthy, including applications, a rush weekend and interviews," says Koonz. "However, the most important aspect is to get a good mix of students.
To be considered for an RA position, students are required to have lived on campus for at least one year and have maintained a 2.5 GPA. Once chosen, the students have multiple duties. These include helping with check-in and check-out, making rounds in the dorms each night to make sure that students are safe, and being available to talk with students and help them cope with social and academic struggles.
RAs must also attend training for a week-and-a-half before students move in. They must be involved in either the campus activity board, CAB, resident hall council, RHC, or preparing for series, PFS.
Mark Maynard, residence life coordinator, says the selection process focuses on discovering leadership potential in students. "It is about creating the best team," Maynard says. "This year was difficult because we had a lot of good applicants."
All applicants should attend the rush weekend on campus. This weekend is designed to develop critical thinking in difficult, real life situations. One of the chosen RAs, Zack Seymour, says he wasn't excited about the weekend at first because he thought he would have to attend classes all day. However, he had a lot of fun doing the team building activities. Seymour says he applied because he's good friends with Ryan Bailey, an RA this year. "I really like the leadership qualities he showed through our friendship," Seymour says.
Nathan Dean is another one of the 12 new RAs that have been selected. He decided to apply for an RA position because of the role residence life played his freshman year. "I am ready to turn the tables around and impact others' lives the way they have impacted me," Dean says.
Although it's too late to apply for an RA position for 2008-2009, Koonz says it's a good idea to let residence life know. If there's an opening during the year, you can be considered first for the position. Official applications are available every February and the process last through the beginning of March.
"The selection process is lengthy, including applications, a rush weekend and interviews," says Koonz. "However, the most important aspect is to get a good mix of students.
To be considered for an RA position, students are required to have lived on campus for at least one year and have maintained a 2.5 GPA. Once chosen, the students have multiple duties. These include helping with check-in and check-out, making rounds in the dorms each night to make sure that students are safe, and being available to talk with students and help them cope with social and academic struggles.
RAs must also attend training for a week-and-a-half before students move in. They must be involved in either the campus activity board, CAB, resident hall council, RHC, or preparing for series, PFS.
Mark Maynard, residence life coordinator, says the selection process focuses on discovering leadership potential in students. "It is about creating the best team," Maynard says. "This year was difficult because we had a lot of good applicants."
All applicants should attend the rush weekend on campus. This weekend is designed to develop critical thinking in difficult, real life situations. One of the chosen RAs, Zack Seymour, says he wasn't excited about the weekend at first because he thought he would have to attend classes all day. However, he had a lot of fun doing the team building activities. Seymour says he applied because he's good friends with Ryan Bailey, an RA this year. "I really like the leadership qualities he showed through our friendship," Seymour says.
Nathan Dean is another one of the 12 new RAs that have been selected. He decided to apply for an RA position because of the role residence life played his freshman year. "I am ready to turn the tables around and impact others' lives the way they have impacted me," Dean says.
Although it's too late to apply for an RA position for 2008-2009, Koonz says it's a good idea to let residence life know. If there's an opening during the year, you can be considered first for the position. Official applications are available every February and the process last through the beginning of March.
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