Each year the Office of Residential Education looks for responsible, motivated, organized students who want to develop strong communities within our residential communities! As Residential Education staff members you are expected to develop relationships with their peers, address and assist students with concerns, facilitate community building activities, and serve as educators helping their peers develop through the residential experience.
Becoming involved on campus as a Resident Assistant (RA), Community Advisor (CA), or Assistant Residential Life Coordinator/Residence Coordinator (ARLC/RC) provides you with the chance to learn from your peers and impact the lives of others. The professional staff, within the Office of Residential Education, approach their work as educators and seek to provide student staff with a rich learning experience.
As a Residential Education 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 Residential Education and beyond
Student Staff Roles:
Resident Assistants (First-Year Area): RAs provide leadership with a focus to serve as an educator and a resource in the first-year residence halls. RAs serve as orientation leaders, develop relationships, foster community, address violations of community standards, and assist students in reflecting on their experience at Gettysburg College. They perform all of these functions in the context of the Citizenship Pillars (Be Curious, Own Your Experience, Engage Difference, and Make an Impact). In the first-year buildings, most RAs work in pairs on each floor. RAs are also part of the Orientation staff and are therefore integral in new students' transition to the College. RAs are directly supervised by professional staff who oversee the First-Year area (East or West Quad).
In order to be selected as an RA you must be in good academic and conduct standing.
Community Advisors (Sophomore Resources/Upperclass Area): Community Advisors are involved in developing relationships with their residents and facilitating the formation of a sense of community within their living space. The CA position is unique in that students are specially trained to serve as peer advisors with the skills to facilitate discussions that support their residents’ academic progress, personal development, and career exploration. They work collaboratively with the Sophomore Success Program. CAs are pivotal in the work of enhancing the College’s outreach to sophomore students. They perform all of these functions in the context of the Citizenship Pillars (Be Curious, Own Your Experience, Engage Difference, and Make an Impact). CAs work with students in various areas on campus including Traditional Halls, Motels, and Apartments & Suites. CAs are supervised by professional staff who oversee the areas where sophomores, juniors, and seniors live. In order to be selected as a CA you must be in good academic and conduct standing.
Residence Coordinators: RCs serve as RAs or CAs for their assigned location while also providing staff leadership for their building complex or area. RCs have at least one year of experience as part of the Residential Education 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 supervisor to provide guidance and leadership to the entire community. There are nine RCs with six working in the first-year quads and three in the upperclass area. RCs are supervised by either the Residential Life Coordinators or the Assistant Director.
Assistant Residential Life Coordinator for College Houses: The Assistant Residential Life Coordinator (ARLC) oversees the day-to-day operations of the College House program. The ARLC supports the House Leaders in their programming efforts and assists in maintaining a healthy, welcoming community. The ARLC also coordinates community-wide events that strengthen the relationship of College House residents.
Staff Selection Information
Applications for Resident Assistants (RA) and Community Advisors (CA) closed on February 12 and are currently under review.
Position Descriptions & Ethical Expectations
First-Year Area Position Description
Upperclass Area Position Description
You must be a rising sophomore, junior, or senior to apply. You must be in good academic and conduct standing with the College in order to be considered for the position(s).