By Khari Smart//
Hood College Residence Life is about to begin the process of hiring new resident assistants (RAs) for the 2021-2022 academic year.
There will be two information sessions for students to find out more about the RA position. The first was held on Oct. 19 and the second will be held on Oct. 29, both on Zoom.
Students must attend one of the two sessions to receive an application for the job. After students complete their applications, they will be interviewed by the assistant directors as well as current RAs.
Following interviews, current RAs will give their feedback and the assistant directors will make selections for the new RAs.
“We are looking for leaders with high emotional intelligence that have a desire to help people as well as hold people accountable,” third-year RA Lanre Aribisala said.
The hiring process is beginning much earlier this year than it has in years past, due to COVID-19.
“Having a J-term this year as well as COVID still going on, we had to make adjustments this year,” Aribisala said. “It’s definitely added stress.”
COVID-19 has changed how the RAs are doing their jobs this year. With a large portion of students taking online classes from their dorm rooms, there are always more people in the dorms at once.
New COVID-19 guidelines in the dorms have also made a change for the RAs. They must enforce the new policy that prohibits visitors who do not live in the dormitory. In addition, there are new enter and exit signs on all the doors and stairwells, as well as a two-person occupancy limit on the elevators.
“COVID-19 has definitely added work this year,” Aribisala said. “We have to enforce a whole new set of rules that no one is used to.”
There are currently 26 RA jobs on campus this year and with a fair number of seniors filling those roles, Residence Life is looking to fill many spots for next year. Anyone interested in becoming an RA, should look for informational emails or ask an RA.
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