SCRIPT: “Insight on what being a Residential Advisor is like”

Mariam Elbanna
October, 2019

The purpose of this audio feature is to inform students about the role of a Residential

Advisor, also referred to as an R-A, and give them insight about the job that they will

not typically get from a website or staff member. Yasmeen Negoum, an R-A here at

the American University in Cairo, commonly referred to as A-U-C, gives us inside the

scoop on the job.

Now, for those who don’t know what an R-A is, it is basically a student resident, who

also acts as a staff member. Their job is to mentor students, help them deal with living

independently and adjust to a new environment, all while maintaining the rules and

codes of conduct.

Upon reviewing the R-A requirements here at A-U-C, as well as at other schools it is

evident that the job description is pretty much the same for most institutions, one

main difference may be the compensation which can be either monetary or perks such

as a discount on your room or a combination of both. Another difference may be the

number of residents you are responsible for. For instance, at A-U-C you are

responsible for a unit composed of 41 students, while at Illinois University you are

responsible for one floor. Now let’s move on from the technical information that you

can get from a website or a staff member and let’s get to the inside scoop.

During her interview, Yasmeen, who has had the position for two years now, explains

how being an R-A has benefited her.

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S.B: I've learned a lot, I’ve learned the fact that we're very different, I’ve learned how

to be more emotionally intelligent. I’ve learned how to deal with different people

according to their needs. Which will definitely help me later on when I go to work in a

place that every single person is a totally different one. I think I’ll be capable to deal

with every single one as an individual because, like, I took this experience earlier in the

university. ([04:29] - [04:57])

However, like any other job it does come with its challenges, some arise from the

residents themselves…

S.B: Some students do abuse the fact that you are an RA. ([05:20] - [05:23])

S.B: ..especially those who know that you might get compensated for that… that it's

your work and accordingly you just can't say no or even delay any of their requests, it

becomes, like, a bit hard to deliver to people that you are a student too. ([05:30] -

[05:47])

Other challenges arise from the nature of the job….

S.B: It's not a work study program where you, like, work for a couple of hours per day

and then you go and completely forget about it, no you have nightshifts, you have, like,

you can get… receive a call at any point of the day where there is a crisis and you just

have to act upon it. ([06:00] - [06:17])

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If you are interested in becoming an R-A here at A-U-C, applications usually open in

November for the following spring semester, or in April for the following fall. The

Office of Residential Life also sends an email every recruitment cycle, with the exact

dates, application form, and selection criteria. For those who do not attend A-U-C, ask

at your university’s residential office, and stay alert for emails and announcements.

This is Mariam Elbanna, A-U-C Radio.

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 Resources

Definition of RA: https://documents.aucegypt.edu/Docs/about/8111%20-%20Brochure%20-

%20RESIDENTIAL%20LIFE%20BROCHURE%20-%204.pdf

RA programs in different schools: https://reslife.ucla.edu/employment/ra

https://housing.illinois.edu/AboutUs/staff-employment/parapro/resident-advisors
https://willamette.edu/offices/studentaffairs/leadership/apply/job-descriptions/resident-
advisor.html
https://www.southwestern.edu/life-at-southwestern/office-of-residence-life/ra-position/
https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/on-campus/accommodation/residential-advisors.html