Resident Assistant Job Application Process

Recommendation Forms

Two Recommendation form submissions are required from supervisors, faculty, or professional staff members.

Please ONLY submit THIS form for the RA applicant who requests endorsement.

RA Candidate Recommendation Form

RA Contract 2024-2025

RA Job Description

Qualifications

• To be eligible for the RA position, applicants must be currently enrolled as undergraduate students at Ramapo College of New Jersey during their employment. Both resident and commuter students may apply; however, freshmen cannot interview during their first semester.
• Applicants’ disciplinary records will be reviewed to determine interview eligibility, and records will also be considered when deciding on job offers.
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 is required for both application and continued employment, along with a semester GPA of at least 2.0. Please review the position contract for detailed expectations regarding academic performance and ongoing eligibility.
• Participation in programs or activities that require significant time commitments, such as full-time internships or student teaching, may disqualify applicants from consideration.

Compensation

Compensation for RAs includes a single room compensated by Residence Life at approximately $10,900 and an RA Meal Plan valued at $1,400 ($700 per semester). Students selected as RAs can purchase a meal plan alongside this allowance.

The Residence Life Student Staff housing waiver may impact each student’s taxes and financial aid differently, especially for those with scholarships that include a housing waiver and international students. Please consult the Financial Aid Office for details on how this position may affect you.

It is imperative that applicants review the mandatory dates for RAs listed below, hired RAs will not be excused from attending the following (including remaining on campus overnight during Staff Training) if hired as an RA. These dates are extremely important for the RA role and must be taken into consideration when deciding whether to apply for the RA position and for RA Alternate Status. Applicants may wish to discuss these obligations with others who share in their decision-making, prior to applying.

Fall-Spring Mandatory Responsibilities: 

The following are anticipated dates that may change:

• Sneak Preview – TBD (typically March 2025) 
• *SARD Check-In – TBD upon release of Fall 2025 academic calendar
• *SARD Training – TBD upon release of Fall 2025 academic calendar
• RA Check-in – TBD upon release of Fall 2025 academic calendar
• ORL Staff Training – TBD upon release of Fall 2025 academic calendar
• Resident Check-in Dates – TBD upon release of Fall 2025 academic calendar
• Fall Closing/Release Date – TBD upon release of Fall 2025 academic calendar

The following are anticipated dates that may change:

• RA Check-in – TBD upon release of Spring 2026 academic calendar
• Winter RA Training – TBD upon release of Spring 2026 academic calendar
• Spring Check-in – TBD upon release of Spring 2026 academic calendar
• Spring Break – TBD upon release of Spring 2026 academic calendar
• Annual Year End Celebration – TBD upon release of Spring 2026 academic calendar
• Spring Closing/Release Date – TBD upon release of Spring 2025 academic calendar

Housing Selection Deposit

RA applicants who complete the interview stage will be notified of their selection status before “Step 2” of the housing selection process, but this notification will occur after the deadline for submitting the housing deposit. Therefore, applicants interested in on-campus housing must pay the deposit by the specified deadline, regardless of their RA status. This deadline will also be posted on the Residence Life website.

RAs and SARDs are assigned single rooms by the Office of Residence Life, but they will have suitemates. If hired before the Housing Selection Process, RAs and SARDs must choose their suitemates, except in first-year residence areas. If staff cannot provide eligible suitemates by the deadline, the Office of Residence Life will assign residents to fill those vacancies.

Housing Accommodations

Any resident, who is requesting specific housing accommodations, due to a medically related condition, will need to register with the Office of Specialized Services (OSS). Once affiliated, OSS will inform the Office of Residence Life of any residents who require specific housing accommodations based on medical documentation provided to their office. Please submit requests for housing accommodations no later than published deadlines.

Phone 201-684-7514
Email: oss@ramapo.edu
www.ramapo.edu/oss

RA Alternate

A select few RA applicants who are not offered an RA position may be offered RA Alternate Status. RA Alternates may be hired to fill any RA position in any residence hall, wherever a position becomes available and is offered to the RA Alternate.

• RA Alternate Status is not compensated. Beyond attending ORL Staff Training, RA Alternates have no other work responsibilities during the academic year and there is no guarantee of employment.
• RA Alternates must attend ORL Staff Training and follow the Training Attendance Policy.
• RA Alternates will be evaluated during and after ORL Staff Training to ensure they still qualify to be an RA Alternate.
• RA Alternates “Shadow” a particular residence hall staff during ORL Staff Training.
• RA Alternate Status expires within the same academic year. If no RA position is offered by the time the next RA Staff Selection Process begins and the RA Alternate is still interested, they must re-apply for an RA position.