Student and Professional Leadership

Students have the opportunity to make a difference at Gettysburg College by actively engaging in the community as a student leader with the Office of Residence Life.  You can apply to be a Resident Assistant (RA) or Community Leader (CL), and returning staff can apply to serve as Residence Coordinators (RC).  We look for students who are responsible, motivated, organized, and willing to develop strong communities within our residence halls and houses.  They must be willing to accept the label "Role Model."  As a Residence Life staff member you are expected to develop relationships with your peers, enforce college policies, assist students with concerns, and facilitate community building activities.  Becoming involved on campus as an RA, CL, or RC provides you with the chance to learn from your peers and impact the lives of others.  The professional staff, within the Office of Residence Life, approach their work as educators and seek to provide student staff with a rich learning experience.  As a residence life staff member you will be challenged to:

• Consider the principles and significance of being an effective citizen leader
• Explore ways of being creative through exploration of multiple perspectives
• Gain a clearer sense of your own self while also better understanding others
• Develop and hone your communication skills
• Cultivate a leadership and administrative skill set that will help you be successful in your work with Residence Life and beyond

View the Residence Life Staff Photo Gallery

Read "In Their Own Words" to learn how being a Residence Life staff member has impacted students.

Student Staff Roles:

Resident Assistants - RAs provide leadership with a focus on community development within highly interactive living environments in traditional style residence hall.  At Gettysburg there are 30 RAs with 26 of them working with first-year students and 4 of them working with upperclass students.  In the first-year buildings most RAs work in pairs on each floor.  First-year building RAs are also part of the Orientation and First-Year Experience staff and are therefore integral in new students' transition to the College. RAs are directly supervised by one of two Area Coordinators (East or West Area AC).

Community Leaders - CLs provide leadership with a focus on community development and facilities management in more independent living areas where students reside in suites, apartments, or small houses.  At Gettysburg there are 24 CLs and 7 of them work specifically with the Theme House Program. CLs are supervised by either an AC or an Assistant Director (Assistant Director with supervision of Central Area or Theme Program AC)

Residence Coordinators - RCs serve as RAs or CLs for their assigned location while also provide staff leadership for their building or complex.  RCs have at least one year of experience as part of the Residence Life staff.  The role of RCs is critical to both the success and effectiveness of a building or complex staff.  In addition to their responsibilities within their building or complex, each RC works closely with a team of Area RCs and their supervisors to provide guidance and leadership to the entire Area. There are 12 RCs with 7 of them working in traditional style housing; 4 in suites, apartments, or small houses; and 1 overseeing the R.I.S.E Program (Gettysburg's substance-free living option).  RCs are supervised by one of the three Area Cooridnators or the Assistant Director.

Professional Staff Leadership Roles

Office and Student Staff Documents for 2007-2008 (.pdf documents)

• Office of Residence Life Mission and Values
• Office of Residence Life Ethical Expectations
• East & West Area Staff Position Description (RAs and RCs)
• Central & Theme Staff Position Description (CLs and RCs)