Frequently Asked Questions

Applications will require answers to short essay questions and a resume. Individuals who meet the qualifications for a position and with completed applications will be invited for an interview with members of our current staff. Interviews are approximately 30 minutes long. During the interview, candidates will be asked to complete a short presentation (those invited for an interview will be given more details). 

RAs must be matriculated, full-time, undergraduate students at Stonehill College. RAs must have completed two full time, consecutive semesters at the institution. RAs are required to have a minimum semester and cumulative GPA of 2.5. 

All course loads above 18 credits per semester must be approved by the Director of Residence Life or her designee.

Because of the time commitment for August RA training, students are limited to one other Stonehill sponsored position that requires training or attendance during the two weeks of RA training.  Examples of these types of positions include Peer Mentor, ABS Leader, Student Ministers, and fall Athletic teams. 

Start early! We encourage you to talk with your family about this position and what impact it could have on your college experience. Take time to write and edit your essay responses before submitting your application. Essay responses that are very short do not give our staff a good indication of who you are and why you are applying. The more detail you put into the response, the more we are able to learn about you.

We encourage students to make an appointment with their counselor in Student Financial Assistance to discuss how the RA grant may impact their aid package. 

The Career Development Center offers resume and interview preparation, both of which are highly encouraged. If you are preparing a resume for the first time or you have not had it reviewed recently, the workshops below are great resources. This is not a requirement of the application, but are highly recommended.    

Yes. If you were selected as an alternate, you will need to reapply for the position, the following academic year. Your alternate status applies to the 2020-2021 academic year.

A training is held in August for the two weeks prior to the halls opening, as well as in January for three days prior to the halls opening. Training topics include programming, mediation techniques, College and departmental policies and procedures, duty responsibilities, leadership, and interpersonal communication. 

Because of the time commitment for August RA training, students are limited to one other Stonehill sponsored position that requires training or attendance during the two weeks of RA training.  Examples of these types of positions include Peer Mentor, ABS Leader, Student Ministers, and fall Athletic teams. 

The Office of Residence Life requires RAs to attend Bystander Intervention, QPR, and One Love trainings, offered through the Health and Wellness office. If you are interested in signing up for a session or learning more about the program, please click here. 

All newly hired and alternate RAs are required to attend RA Class during the spring semester (please see following question for more information). 

RA Class is a pre-training for all newly hired and alternate RAs held in Spring 2021. This not-for-credit class will provide general leadership training for students. The class will be offered in two “sections” in order to accommodate the schedules of those attending. 

Returning RAs participate in a separate rehire process. Based on the number of returners, we will be able to hire and place new RAs. We hire a total of 56 RAs and about 15-20 alternate RAs. Alternate RAs are not placed on a staff but may be offered a position at a later time if there is a vacancy. 

The RA position is considered a job and does require a significant time commitment. Therefore, the position should be the highest nonacademic priority. RAs are required to be present in the halls, attend meetings with supervisors and staff members, attend trainings, offer programs for residents, and participate in a duty rotation with other staff members in the residence area. RAs must work with others on their staff to cover duty nights during Thanksgiving, Easter, and Spring Breaks and must plan to assist with the opening and closing of the residence halls.

There are certainly the financial benefits of the RA position. The cost of room and board is covered by the Office of Residence Life for the duration of employment. This amounts to approximately $15,000 per year. If you have questions about how this may impact your financial aid package, it is important that you speak with someone in Student Financial Assistance.

 In addition to the financial benefits, members of the Residence Life staff gain leadership, communication, and organizational skills. Through training and experiences, RAs become more confident in their abilities and are better prepared for employment after college.