Thank you for your interest in applying to be a Resident Assistant (RA). We believe the RA position is one of the most rewarding and developmental leadership experiences on campus.
RAs are student leaders who oversee communities within our residence halls. RAs have many varied responsibilities and are critical members of our team. Here you will discover more about the RA position, how to apply and how to prepare to be an RA.
November: RA information sessions begin and RA application opens
January: RA application closes and recommendations due
February: Interviews (individual and group)
March: RA candidates notified of hiring decision
April–May: RA admin days and new staff meetings
The application process to become an RA for the 2024–2025 academic year is closed. Feel free to reach out to your Residence Hall Coordinator to express interest in future opportunities!
We encourage any potential applicants to review the Conditions of Appointment and Position Description linked above.
The RA role is very rewarding, but also unlike most other on-campus employment. Information sessions can help you ensure the expectations are a good fit for you and your academic, personal and lifestyle needs.
Dates, times and locations for RA information sessions will be posted in fall 2024.
Use this section to learn about the position, application, how applying to be an RA impacts your on-campus housing assignment and find answers to other frequently asked questions.
We pride ourselves on hiring a staff who represent a wide range of experiences, backgrounds, strengths and talents, but there are several things we hope for in our candidates. First, we look for candidates who are excited at the prospect of building new relationships with others and taking ownership in helping to build a community where students can thrive. They’re also genuinely curious about expanding their understanding of perspectives different from their own. Finally, the RA position can be challenging at times; we look for candidates who have the ability to be flexible and are willing to try multiple approaches to solving complex problems.
Yes! Students who don't currently live on campus are eligible for the position if they can demonstrate
No, candidates are not required to attend an information session. However, these sessions provide everyone with a strong understanding of what life is like in the RA role and living on campus, regardless of whether they have on campus living experience or not.
First, be sure to attend one of the required RA info sessions! You can also attend a resume and interview preparation workshop through the Career Center.
While we expect our successful RA candidates to have contributed to a residential community, we also value the outside involvement many of our candidates engage in. Spend some time considering how your involvement in clubs, internships, employment and academic experiences can translate to being a successful RA.
It could; everyone is a little different. The RA position includes a room waiver and a stipend. We encourage all candidates who have questions about their financial aid to consult with Student Financial Services prior to accepting the RA position to better understand how it could impact their aid package.
All applicants will be asked to provide a resume and answer several short essay questions. We strongly recommend completing the questions in a Word or Google doc, then copying/pasting your essays into the application.
Additionally, you will be asked to provide contact information for at least one recommender who can speak to your qualifications. Your RA will also write a recommendation as part of your application.
No, changes cannot be made to an application after it has been submitted. Only the Recommendations page will remain open (until the deadline) for applicants to return to and review the status of recommendations or to make a change to a recommender.
Interviews will take place near the start of the spring semester. Applicants will receive an email with their interview dates and times. The RA Selection Timeline at the bottom of this page will be updated as we finalize details.
Please contact raselection@udel.edu as soon as possible if you cannot attend your scheduled interview time. We ask applicants to hold all possible interview dates and times until you receive your specific time slot. We will ask for your availability in your application and expect you to hold all dates and times you indicate you are available.
You will receive email confirmation once your recommender has submitted your recommendation form. Should they need the form re-sent, you can resend them the email by logging back into the application, going to the Recommendations page and clicking "re-send" by their name.
If you want to live on campus regardless of whether or not you are offered an RA position, you must complete the housing application by the deadline. Details about the housing application deadlines and process can be found on our Application Guide. More information about returning student housing can be found on our Current Students page.
The RA selection process is very competitive. The percentage of applicants hired for the RA position varies from year to year based on needs in our buildings and the number of RAs who choose to return each year, but we typically hire less than half of the candidates who apply.
The Resident Assistant position is a time-intensive position and should be a top priority; however, we encourage our applicants to maintain some involvement in other activities. If you are offered an RA position, and are looking to work outside of the RA position (including on and off-campus jobs), we require you receive prior approval.
Candidates needing to complete intensive academic commitments, like clinicals and student teaching, within their first year of employment as an RA will not be eligible for hire.
If offered the RA position, an introductory meeting will be held in late April or May with your supervisor and fellow Resident Assistant staff. RA Training is required for all staff and typically begins in mid-August.