Innovate Community: Apply to be a Resident Assistant

Application opens October 20, 2025 and closes December 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.

RA Application & Hiring Process Timeline:

  • Application opens: October 20, 2025
  • Applications due: December 12, 2025 at 11:59 p.m.
  • First status update: Friday, January 16, 2026
  • RA Interviews at Geoffroy Hall:
    • Thursday & Friday, February 5 – 6, 2026,
    • Monday-Wednesday, February 9 – 11, 2026
  • First round of job offers and notifications: End of February 2026
  • Rolling offers: Continuous after first round of job offers

A resident assistant (RA) has an extremely important job and is critical to the DOR mission. Each house, building, and/or area has one live-in RA who provides leadership to the development of programs and activities, serves as a resource to residents, and enforces policies and procedures to ensure the safety of residents.

RAs come from many different backgrounds with a wide variety of skills and talents. However, there are some qualities that we look for in RAs we work with, including:

  • Ability to problem solve
  • Strong commitment to academics
  • Flexibility and adaptability
  • Willingness to learn from, with, and about others
  • Commitment to creating and participating in an inclusive community

Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, ethnicity, religion, national origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, genetic information, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. veteran. Inquiries can be directed to the Office of Equal Opportunity, 3350 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.

Questions? Email resh_stustaff@iastate.edu

RA Job Description

Summary of Duties and Responsibilities:

The Department of Residence (DOR) is committed to the development of living/learning communities that foster intellectual and personal growth. The RA is responsible for developing a strong community that welcomes and supports all community members. The RA should establish a personal relationship with each student living in their community. In addition, the RA is responsible for ensuring that students are aware of campus resources, utilizing effective learning strategies, and engaging in activities designed to stimulate academic achievement and social development.

Compensation:

  • Free housing in an assigned space
    • Residence Hall RAs: Single room
    • Apartment RAs: Ability to choose roommates
  • Stipend information available upon hire.
  • Residence Hall RA Meal Plan
    • May be subject to change for 2026-2027 academic year
    • Only for those RAs within the residence halls. Apartment RAs do not have a meal plan and that is reflected within the stipend.
      • 135 dining center meal swipes
      • 80 Flex Meals valued at $13.50/meal

Required Minimum Qualifications:

Must be a current Iowa State University student

Living experience: Must have one full semester of community living experience completed at time of hire. For example, this can include, but not limited to: residence halls, apartments, boarding school, military barracks, etc.

GPA requirement: Must have an established ISU GPA at time of application (First year students: Put in your estimated GPA, as we do grade checks for all applicants).

  • 2.5 cumulative GPA
  • 2.0 semester GPA

Conduct standing: Must be in good conduct standing with the university to apply. For example, students with current judicial standing of conduct probation, deferred suspension, and/or who have been removed from on-campus housing are not eligible to apply.

Core Responsibilities

Time Commitments

  • Live in your assigned space for the duration of the year.
  • Work 4 hours per week at desk in your respective community.
  • Perform scheduled on-call shifts, which includes weekends and can include university breaks (usually on a volunteer basis).
  • Resident Assistant Student Staff Training:
    • Fall 2026 training will start on Monday, August 3, 2026, at 8 a.m. and last through the start of the academic year.
    • Spring 2027 training will start approximately one week before the start of class for the spring academic semester.
  • Dedicate 20 hours per week to the position.
  • Outside commitments cannot exceed 16 hours each week (10 employment and 6 extracurricular or a combination of both, but not to exceed 10 hours of employment).
    • International students are not permitted to hold any other job outside of the Resident Assistant role

End dates and breaks:

  • Residence hall RAs go through the Sunday after finals in May, and through the Monday after finals in May for apartment RAs.
  • RAs may be assigned work responsibilities during break periods for communities that are open.
  • RAs are required to perform additional hours before transitioning to break staff.
  • Take no more than 18 credit hours per semester as a student.

Administrative

  • Complete weekly reports, incident reports, program forms, etc. professionally, thoroughly, and on time.
  • Create bulletin boards and door decorations for residents.
  • Follow up on maintenance concerns in your area by doing daily and weekly walk-throughs.
  • Attend all staff meetings, trainings, workshops, and other appointed meetings.
  • Conduct weekly walk-through of your area and report facilities issues.
  • Actively participate in the move-in/move-out processes for the community, arriving before classes and remaining after classes have ended. This includes students who move out during the semester.
  • Be available for special situations and/or assignments. For example, surveys, community events, and high profile university events.

Leadership Skills

  • Be an academic and behavioral role model on and off campus, as well as effectively and consistently abide by and enforce university regulations and policies.
  • Follow policies and procedures when dealing with stressful situations.
  • Assist community leaders in the development of their leadership skills.

Communication Skills

  • Maintain regular and effective communication with other DOR staff.
  • Collaborate with others in the DOR and across campus.
  • Confront and address any issues in the community.

Helping Skills

  • Be knowledgeable of resources and services on campus.
  • Strive to create a sense of trustworthiness with residents and listen to residents.

Developing Community & Programming

  • Plan and implement opening/closing programs, as well as events throughout the semester.

Understanding and Appreciating Human Differences (UAHD)

The DOR is committed to challenging ISU Students to broaden their world view in a campus culture that values and respects individual differences. In accordance with federal and state law, Iowa State University does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, creed, disability, genetic information, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and protected U.S. veteran status in its programs, activities, or employment.

It is important to create a culture that gives voice to all members of our community. This includes RAs being responsible for (but not limited to): 

  • Creating dynamic communities for individuals of all backgrounds.
  • Working effectively in cross-cultural situations.
  • Being willing to learn from, with, and about others.
  • Developing an environment that encourages and supports residents’ personal growth.
  • Examining one’s personal identities as it relates to performing the responsibilities of the RA position.
  • Reporting potential incidents of discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct promptly.

More Information

The application for the RA role is for the role itself, not for placement in a specific residential community. Placement will be determined based on community and staffing needs.

  • Example 1: Billy, a resident of Friley Hall, may be placed as an RA in Frederiksen Court due to staffing needs. 
  • Example 2: Jane, a resident of SUV Apartments, may be placed as an RA in Wallace Hall based on community requirements.

The Department of Residence also offers opportunities for graduate students. For more information about the positions of Graduate Hall Director and/or Graduate Apartment Director, please contact: klumeh@iastate.edu