SCC IS LOOKING FOR ITS FIRST SET OF RESIDENTIAL ADVISORS

If getting to live in a free, fully furnished studio apartment on campus and becoming more involved in SCC’s leadership sounds appealing, there might be a new job for you.

The 7000 Building is nearly complete and needs tenants, but there isn’t anyone to hold responsibility for the soon-to-be filled residence halls.

This is where residential advisors (RA) come into play.

Sundi Musnicki, SCC’s Student Life director, is overseeing the development of the new residence hall and starting the school’s very first Residential Life program. This program will support students in academic and personal endeavors as well as create a warm and welcoming environment.

What RAs Do

Each RA will be responsible for one segment of the building and the students in it for an entire school year. The RAs will connect these students to resources on campus, help build a community around them and plan group activities to get the residents involved in Student Life.

RAs will also be expected to be role models and to enforce policies, such as making sure there is no alcohol or drugs of any sort (as it will be a dry building) and that people are following the rules. They will also be there for on-call emergency response and will be expected to be able to keep an open mind and respond to issues accordingly.

The four RAs will be expected to work together as a team to create off-campus activities that will be held mostly on weekends and holidays. These activities are intended to show the students the resources available to them around the campus, get a chance to feel out the city and have some adventures.

Position Requirements

According to Musnicki, the position is a huge time commitment, so a cumulative GPA of 2.75 or higher is required at the time of application to show that a potential hire is already doing well enough to handle the expected workload. Afterwards, a student only needs to maintain a 2.5 to hold the position. The candidate must be enrolled in at least 10 credits per quarter, but those classes don’t have to go toward a degree.

The time commitment is contractual and will run from September 2019 through June 2020. Summer work is being discussed but nothing conclusive is worked out. You also have to live on campus and be available to students between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Most of the 12-hour shift  entails being available for student needs. There will be required training and background checks to ensure the safety and success of residents.

Student Life is looking to hire four people from varying backgrounds that work well in a team. The aim is to represent the diversity of SCC and have an assorted set of skills for residential students to utilize.

Skills that are encouraged but not required are leadership experience and familiarity with Microsoft Office, as well as cooking abilities for shared kitchen events.

Why Become an RA?

If you’re the kind of person looking to know the ins and outs of college and gain leadership experience, becoming an RA can be a fast track to that. You’ll also have to become the type of person that students can rely on in a pinch. Many leadership positions at SCC engage students, but living on campus keeps you in the thick of it. Becoming an RA also serves as a great resume builder when applying to universities or jobs that look for teamwork and leadership skills.

RA Role in Student Government

Student Life and RA responsibilities will overlap in a capacity that hasn’t been fully worked out yet. RAs will have a role in Student Life and in the Associated Student Government pertaining to any crossovers that happen between residential students and students living off campus. The RAs will not be petitioning for mini grants like other segments of Student Life for residential activities because the students living on campus pay an activity fee as part of their rent.

Application Process

You can submit an application at tinyurl.com/sccreslife19. From there, group interviews will be conducted. The group interviews will involve group activities to see how well everyone works together as a team.

The following week will consist of individual interviews in which Musnicki said she would be flexible, due to each student’s class schedule. The final step will be a call back where the candidate is offered the position; or, if you were not a fit for that particular job, you may be offered another option that would better suit your skills.

Advice from a Former RA

Musnicki is a former RA and gave some advice for potential candidates. She encourages students to challenge themselves to make every resident they interact with feel included. This position poses unique challenges that present themselves sometimes late at night and early in the mornings. Students often have an uncommon array of issues that takes an open mind and the ability to be confidential in order to deal with them.

She also said that you only get out of the job what you put into it. If you put in 110 percent effort, it could be one of the most rewarding jobs that you have. “You see that in the long-lasting relationships that you cultivate with students,” Musnicki said.

Important dates:

• Information session: 1:30 p.m., April 23; Rm. 9102
• Application Deadline: April 29
• Group Interviews: 5-8 p.m., May 3
• Individual Interviews: May 7, May 9
• Applicant Notification: May 17
• Acceptance Deadline: May 24

7000 Campus Living Specs:

• 239 Beds
• 4 RA dorms + 1 Assistant Director Dorm
• Studios, 2 and 4 bedroom units
• Utilities included (no cable) (Wifi included)
• Large Lobby and Great Room
• Outside Patio with BBQ and Fire Pit