University of Vermont Department of Residential Life

Spring 2012 Resident Advisor Application Form

Thank you for considering the Resident Advisor position. We are excited to have you enjoy our dynamic team in Residential Life. Please be mindful that to complete the process you need to complete the following:

1) Resident Advisor Application Form (this form) 2) Group Interview Process (RA application website) 3) Individual Interview Process (RA application website)

To better prepare yourself for what to expect, please keep in mind the following important dates:

RA Selection Group Interviews February 8-11 RA Application Form Deadline February 17, 2012 RA Selection Individual Interviews February 27-March 17 RA Applicant Notification March 23 RA Applicant Accepts/Declines Position March 30 New Staff Social April 16 Summer Training Begins August 11

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

The application process for becoming a Resident Advisor includes duty shadowing, interviewing a staff member, attending a program, and writing short essay responses. Please use the guidelines below to complete the application.

Resume and References Each applicant must submit the following documents with their application: . One (1) copy of their updated resume . Two (2) reference forms with letters (found on the RA application website) o Reference forms and letters must be mailed by references to Robinson Hall by February 17 o References can be a current or former instructor, supervisor, your current Resident Advisor, etc.

Shadowing & Interviewing Guidelines In order for applicants to have a good sense of what is involved in the Resident Advisor position, each applicant is expected to shadow a staff member. Applicants must shadow a staff member outside of their home complex. They can arrange a time to shadow a staff member by contacting the Residence Director (RD), the Assistant Residence Director (ARD) OR an RA of the complex based on availability. Once scheduled, applicants should arrive no later than 7:00pm at the designated location. During shadowing, applicants will observe staff members on community walks from 7:00pm to 8:00 pm. and on desk attendance from 8:00pm to 9:00pm. Applicants are not required to stay the entire length of a staff member’s duty shift. Applicants must also interview each of the staff members on duty that evening. The questions below are guiding questions to help the applicant process the shadowing experience and get a feel for the RA position. These questions and the shadowing experience in general will provide context for the essay response questions below. . What inspired you to become an RA? . What does your relationship with your residents look like? . What is the purpose of doing community walks? . What purpose does documentation serve? . What fears or concerns that you brought in to the job? . How do you deal with difficult students? . How do you manage your time? . What have you gained from this position? . What do you like about working with your staff?

Revised January 19, 2012 UVM Resident Advisor Application Form Page 1 . What have you learned since becoming an RA?

Program Attendance and Observation Another large component to the RA position is to promote community through programming. Each applicant must attend a program created by an RA within a complex of their own choice. While at the program, applicants must observe the program in process and assess strengths and areas of improvement. Applicants must have proof of advertisement for the program, signed by a staff member. At least one RA staff member must sign the program attendance section on the Applicant Signature Form.

Essay Response Questions Please attach typewritten responses to the following prompts and staple with your application before submitting it. The responses should in some way include reflections from the shadowing experience and programming observation. Applicants should also strive to illustrate a clear understanding of the concepts they choose to introduce in each response. A clear understanding can be shown when an applicant uses specific, often personal examples, or defines terms and concepts using their own words. Other methods of showing understanding are welcomed. Responses should be no more than 1-page double-spaced, 12pt font for each response.

Prompt #1: Knowledge of the RA Position What surprised you about the RA position, or what have you learned that you did not know before? What strengths and weaknesses do you bring to the RA position? Prompt #2: Leadership in the Residence Halls How do you define leadership in the context of the residence halls? What opportunities have you taken to develop your leadership skills? What do you personally believe to be the most difficult facet of being a leader in the residence halls? How do you plan to overcome that difficulty to be a successful leader for your community? Prompt #3: Diversity and Social Justice Diversity and Social Justice are priorities for the Department of Residential Life. Considering this, what does social justice mean to you? Describe an experience that made you aware of one or more of your identities.

Applicant Signature Form In order to verify your attendance at the shadowing experience, you and the two staff members that you shadow must sign the confidentiality agreement. This agreement must be signed to ensure that you understand the importance of privacy and confidentiality within the Resident Advisor position and that you agree to keep private any information that you encounter while on community walks with staff members. For the program attendance section, a staff member is required to sign this form stating the program, and proof of advertisement (e.g. flyer, email, image of poster, etc.) must be attached verifying that this program was legitimate.

Submitting the Application When submitting the application, make sure to have the following completed:

 Pages 3-5 of THIS application form (make sure you have signed page 4)  Updated resume  Three essay prompts (one page per prompt)  GPA Statement (if applicable, see page 4)  CSES Statement (if applicable, see page 4)  Proof of Advertisement for RA Program

Please print and paper clip all of the above materials together and submit to Robinson Hall (on Redstone Campus) by February 17, 2012.

Reference letters for each applicant must be to the following address:

Department of Residential Life The University of Vermont 406 So. Prospect Street Burlington, VT 05405-1754

Revised January 19, 2012 UVM Resident Advisor Application Form Page 2 Questions? Applicants with questions can email [email protected] or call (802) 656-3434.

Revised January 19, 2012 UVM Resident Advisor Application Form Page 3 Spring 2012 Resident Advisor Application Form

Applicant Information

Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text. Last Name First Name Middle Initial

Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text. Preferred Name Gender Preferred Pronoun

Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text. UVM ID Number UVM Email Address Cell Phone #

Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text. Alternate Email Address Home Phone # Alternate Phone #

T-Shirt Sizes: Unisex Size : Choose an item. Gendered Polo Size : Click here to enter text.

Academics Information

Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text. Major(s) Minor(s) # Semesters at UVM (not current)

Undecided Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text. Schools/Colleges (Choose One) Anticipated Graduation Date # Credits

Campus/Local Address

Click here to enter text. Address

Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text. City State Zip

Home/Permanent Address

Click here to enter text. Address

Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text. City State/Province/Country Zip

Revised January 19, 2012 UVM Resident Advisor Application Form Page 4 Summer Address

Click here to enter text. Summer Address

Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text. Click here to enter text. City State/Province/Country Zip

ANTICIPATED TIME COMMITMENTS

Please list your anticipated time commitments for next academic year (e.g. employment, work-study jobs, Greek Life, athletics, student organizations, etc.). Include an estimate of the number of hours weekly it will take as well as your role within each commitment.

Commitments Hours/Week Role

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

When reviewing candidates for the Resident Advisor position, the following information is requested and added to each candidate file. Please read over the statements below and sign to indicate you have done so. This is not a consent form, as these are required checks, but a disclosure statement to ensure your awareness of this process component.

Grade Point Average (GPA) The Department of Residential Life requires a minimum 2.5 grade point average (GPA) for any student employed as a Resident Advisor (RA). Not only is being a current UVM student a prerequisite for holding the RA position, but being a role model academically is also an expectation.

Both cumulative and most recent semester GPAs are retrieved for reference. It is taken into account what potential the current semester has to impact the GPA standing as well. If you would like to provide some context for your GPA standing, you may add a statement to your candidate file at any time prior to the end of the RA Selection Process. To do so, please attach an additional page and submit along with this application.

Center for Student Ethics and Standards (CSES) The Department of Residential Life requires students hired as RAs to adhere to all university and residential life policies and procedures throughout the term of employment. Violating policy prior to employment as an RA may not necessarily prohibit you from employment. However, if you have been found responsible for a university policy violation by the Center for Student Ethics and Standards CSES) prior to or during consideration as an RA candidate, this information will be reviewed and taken into consideration.

☐ Yes ☐ No I have been found responsible for a UVM policy violation by the Center for Student Ethics and Standards (CSES, formerly the Office of Judicial Affairs or OJA).

If you selected “yes” in the above question please attach another page to provide more context for the situation or violation if you so desire. We recommend taking the time to be thoughtful and thorough since this documentation can significantly impact consideration of you as a viable candidate.

Candidate Verification By signing below, I verify that I have read the above information provided to me and: Revised January 19, 2012 UVM Resident Advisor Application Form Page 5 I understand that my GPA will be checked via university systems in the course of my consideration as an RA candidate.

I understand that the Center for Student Ethics and Standards will provide any data regarding university policy violations to the Department of Residential Life in the course of my consideration as an RA candidate.

Applicant Name (please print) Applicant Signature Date

Revised January 19, 2012 UVM Resident Advisor Application Form Page 6 Spring 2012 Resident Advisor Application Form

Applicant Signature Form

RA Shadowing and Confidentiality Agreement

Confidentiality is a major issue for all Residential Life staff members. Imagine how you would feel if you violated a policy or regulation, or if you went to the hospital for medical treatment and suddenly the entire campus knew about it because your RA talked about it with someone else. A breakdown of confidentiality could mean a loss of credibility for the entire staff.

RAs come into contact with information that should be privy to staff members only. It is important that as a potential staff member you realize that information discussed in staff meetings, while on duty, or in the office should not be discussed with or around other students.

As a prospective Resident Advisor, I will respect the confidentiality of all information pertaining to students and matters discussed with staff members of the Department of Residential Life. I also agree to maintain confidentiality when encountering situations on community walks with the RA staff. Problems will only be discussed with the Residence Director.

I, ______(please print name) understand and respect the importance of confidentiality with the Resident Advisor position. By signing below, I agree to uphold confidentiality standard set forth by the Department of Residential Life.

Signature of Student Date

Signature of Resident Advisor Date

Program Attendance Confirmation

My signature below verifies that the applicant stated above attended a program within my complex, and that I was present through a majority of the event.

Name of Program (please print) Date/Time of Program

Signature of Resident Advisor Signature of Resident

Revised January 19, 2012 UVM Resident Advisor Application Form Page 7