RPS to look for new RAs

Potential resident assistants anxiously awaited the interview process this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The new batch of potential RAs underwent an interview process with a professional and graduate student staff member.

RAs go through a lengthy process to get the position. Students apply online and provide a resume and recommendation letters. Staff members then check each student’s application, bursar and judicial standings and GPA.

Professional staff members then go through the applications and decide which students are eligible for interviews and then for the staff class that all potential RAs must take.

The students’ performances on the application and in the interview and class help staff members decide which potential RAs to put into “hirable” and “non-hirable” pools, said Ramona Bolden Fether, assistant director for Selection, Retention and Staff Development.

There are about 180 RAs, and about 80 return the next academic year while the rest are selected through the interview process, said Bob Weith, director of Residential Operations Administration.

Selecting RA positions is a competitive process; students must have a minimum 2.5 cumulative and semester GPA.

The average GPA for RAs is a 3.1 to 3.2, a good GPA for a group of students that works so hard, said Cedric Harris, Teter Center residence manager.

Not only does being an RA have tangible benefits, but the job has intrinsic advantages as well, officials say.

An RA is in a leadership role and becomes a better public speaker, Fether said.