Alicia Meehan, Campus Carrier deputy news editor
Residence Life is currently struggling to find resident assistant (RA) applicants for next year, with few new candidates applying and many current RAs choosing not to return to the job.
In January, Community Coordinator Mya Sedwick (23C) began working professionally for Residence Life. Sedwick started as a RA at Berry for two years before moving up to the Head Resident position.
Currently, there are around 72 RAs working. According to Sedwick, Berry’s ideal capacity for RAs is 85, but most colleges struggle to completely fill all of their positions.
Sophomore Riley Wilson works as an RA in Dana, and she plans to continue in this position for the remainder of her time in college. According to Wilson, not many new candidates applied to be an RA this year, and many current RAs declined their offers to continue to work in this position next year. Previous RAs usually decline to continue working because they were placed in a hall or building that they dislike.
“There were a lot of returners that declined their offer, so they might have gotten placed where they didn’t want to,” Wilson said. “If you apply, get the job, get placed and then decline it, it’s normally because you don’t want to live wherever you got placed.”
Wilson estimated that about a quarter of this year’s current RAs returned, compared to the half that returned the last year. She said Residence Life may be relying too heavily on returning workers without focusing on advertising for incoming applicants. And the inability to choose residence halls and the stress and workload that comes with the position may also be deterring new applicants, according to Wilson.
“We all have to live on campus, and when the choice of where you live on campus is taken away from you, I definitely think that’s a reason why [there is a lack of new applicants],” Wilson said. “And then, maybe, just a lack of recruitment and relying on returners when that’s just not very reliable.”
Sedwick said that Berry is a place with lots of leadership opportunities outside of Residence Life, and an RA’s job might serve as the first step into higher positions. She said these numerous opportunities could be a reason why not as many RAs are returning.
“Maybe they got their foot in the door as an RA, and now they feel more comfortable in leadership positions after that,” Sedwick said. “And then they get another opportunity that’s more directly aligned with their post-grad plans, so they choose that other opportunity. And in those cases, we are very much so excited for them.”
Sedwick began working in Fall 2020, the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She said that this made for uncertainty, but she adapted her hall programs to the restrictions.
Sedwick preferred working with freshmen and sophomores but has served students of all years. For her final year, she chose to be the Head Resident for Dana, which houses mostly underclassmen.
“They are probably my favorite group because they’re really excited to be here,” Sedwick said. “They’re really focused on their next few years versus juniors and seniors, who have more of an outward focus where they’re trying to figure out what to do next.”
Sedwick said that she’s proud of the current RAs’ creativity when it comes to programming. RAs have to create five programs per semester.
“I have seen some wonderful opportunities come through over the last few years, including one of my current RAs in Centennial” Sedwick said. “She is doing a wonderful program about post-grad resources. That is something that I never even thought to do as an RA. It just blows me out of the water every time I see a program proposal come through.”
Wilson’s favorite aspects of her job are being able to connect with her residents and the staff she works with under Residence Life.
“A lot of residents feel like they can’t come to me with problems, but when they do, it’s very fulfilling for me, to be that resource and help them wherever they need, whether that’s classes, registration or something that’s going on in their life,” Wilson said.
The RA position comes with a housing discount. RAs are paid a stipend under an advanced LifeWorks classification at 16 hours per week at $10.25 per hour.
“It’s not for everybody, but if you like working with people and your peers, it’s definitely a good, fun job for that,” Wilson said. “And then, the relation aspect as well, working with the residents and working with your staff, is very fulfilling.”
On April 14, Dana Hall residents are hosting “The More U-NO” event at the Jewel Box where students can learn more about the position. Sedwick and Wilson, the hosts of the event, will provide forms for those who decide to apply.