RESIDENT

In addition to all the other roles of a RA, RAs are also residents. That means all the things we want for your residents, we want for you too. Your sense of belonging (i.e. community), your academic and personal success and your leadership development are extremely important. Success as a resident is necessary for success as a RA. The guidelines in this section help you balance all roles of a RA, while remaining true to yourself.

First and foremost, you are at Carnegie Mellon to be a student, and the Sudent Life Office fully supports you in this endeavor. Your Housefellow and CA are more than happy to help you with any academic issue, and if they don't know exactly how to help, they certainly know how to find someone who will. The Sudent Life Office is here for it's staff as well as the residents. Please do not hesitate to ask for assistance or even just a listening ear. 

The following requirements have been established by the Sudent Life Office as minimum expectations for academic performance by students holding certain student staff positions associated with this office. The goal of these requirements is to ensure that the primacy of students' academic and curricular pursuits remains intact and that the responsibilities associated with student leadership opportunities does not impede the academic progress of any student. Additionally, these requirements operationalize the Sudent Life Office's belief that student staff members whose positions afford a developmental impact on student growth should serve as academic role models for their peers.

Any student interested in becoming a Resident Assistant must hold a current cumulative QPA of 2.25 or above in order to apply. Once hired for a position, it is expected that the student will maintain a minimum semester and cumulative QPA of 2.25 throughout his or her tenure on staff. If at any point after being hired for a position the student's most recent semester or cumulative QPA falls below 2.25, his or her employment status is jeopardized, and the Sudent Life Scholarship Committee will be convened. The committee (comprised of the Director of Sudent Life and Housefellows) will seek input from the student, his or her Housefellow, and any other involved parties regarding the student's academic and job performance. The committee will then render a decision, which will likely fall into one of three categories: (1) no action; (2) academic probation, along with an action plan for remedying the situation; or (3) dismissal from staff with appropriate referral for any necessary academic support or assistance.

Generally, staff members whose cumulative QPA falls below 2.25 will be dismissed from staff. Further, in most cases, staff members on academic probation who fail to make substantial progress toward meeting the minimum semester and cumulative QPA criteria will also be removed from staff. The Sudent Life Office, however, recognizes that each situation is unique, and the Sudent Life Scholarship Committee will thus judge each case on an individual basis.

All individuals who are released from their positions for academic reasons will be encouraged to reapply when their academic performance improves. 

As a RA, it is essential that you take good care of yourself. Keep in mind that you too are are a resident. That means your sense of belonging, your academic and personal success, and your leadership development are important. If you do not take time for yourself or get the support you need, you will not be able to successfully meet the needs of your residents. You are not a professional counselor, programmer, administrator, emergency responder, community member or any other role you may play as a RA, and you should enlist support when you need it. Please be open and honest with your HF and CA and let us know when you need support or assistnace.

Your residents will undoubtedly experience some unpleasant and difficult situations during the year. As difficult as it may be, it is important to refrain from getting emotionally involved in the issues of your residents, because the issues are just that, your residents' issues. This message is extremely important, and is to your benefit to NOT learn it the hard way.

Living a balanced life is another way to take care of yourself. Although some RAs find they need to limit their participation in former campus activities, regardless of your time management style, academics, relationships, exercise, sleep, and fun all should remain a part of your life while you are an RA. Modeling such a lifestyle for your residents will assist them in living balanced life as well.