Resident Assistant

About the Organization
At Vaughn College, our mission is to educate and train future leaders in the futureproof fields of engineering and technology, management and aviation. The college strives to provide a dynamic learning environment built on our aeronautical heritage that inspires a diverse and committed community of students to achieve success as leaders in the industries we serve. Just minutes from Manhattan, Vaughn College is in the heart of New York City in Queens, NY, adjacent to LaGuardia Airport. Queens is one of New York's most fascinating boroughs and has been ranked as the 'number one' US travel destination and the nation's single most diverse county.

What separates Vaughn College from other institutions is our uniquely committed faculty who come to the classroom with extensive experience in such fields as engineering, manufacturing, aviation, management and communications. Working closely with the industries we serve, Vaughn has developed rigorous curricula that incorporate the latest technology as well as the knowledge you need to succeed in your chosen profession.


We provide traditional degrees as well as professional, technical and certification programs that prepare our graduates for successful careers. Most importantly, a degree from Vaughn College provides the critical, analytical and communication skills that form the foundation for a lifetime of success. Our graduates have gone on to become leaders in many major industries. More than 98 percent of our graduates are employed or continue their education, 78 percent in their field of study, within one year of graduation.


Vaughn College has a six-acre campus and is convenient to major transportation routes. As part of the institution's strategic plan, a 200-bed residential hall has been built, enabling students to live and pursue their chosen field of study on campus.

Description


Effective date: August 2026

Job Title: 2026-2027 Academic Year Resident Assistant (Fall, Winter, and Spring semesters)

Department: Residence Life and Housing/ Student Affairs

Reports to (title): Director of Residence Life and Housing

Status -- Exempt ___ n on-exempt _____X__


Position Status -- FT_ PT X Temp_X__


Hours: (include if evening or weekends or attendance at functions are required)

Monday to Friday: yes Hours: vary depending on activities


Evenings: yes as needed Weekends: yes

**Company Conformance Statements

In the performance of their respective tasks and duties all employees are expected to conform to the following:


Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.


Interact professionally with other employees, customers and suppliers.


Work effectively as a team contributor on all assignments.


Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with other supervisors, coworkers, customers, vendors, agencies, etc.


Must be available:


The entire 2026 - 2027 Academic Year: September 2nd, 2026 - May 16th, 2027


August 16th, 2026- September 1st for training sessions and building preparations (20 PAY PERIOD: 9 PAY PERIODS IN FA26 & 11 PAY PERIOS IN SPR27)


A minimum of one-three days/evenings a week for building duty coverage as designated by the RA team.


Assist with closing the Residence Hall at the conclusion of the Spring 2026 semester: May 11th, 2027 - May 16TH, 2027.


**Company Conformance Statements

In the performance of their respective tasks and duties all employees are expected to conform to the following:


Perform quality work within deadlines with or without direct supervision.


Interact professionally with other students, employees, contractors, and vendors.


Work effectively as a team contributor on assigned projects.


Work independently while understanding the necessity for communicating and coordinating work efforts with supervisors, coworkers, customers, vendors, agencies, etc.


The Resident Assistant (RA) Mission

The purpose of being a resident assistant (RA) at Vaughn College is to ensure the celebration of diversity and community. They encourage the regular practice of community building with all students at Vaughn College, regardless of sex, orientation, gender, age, social background, or economic status, through their daily interactions inside and outside the Residence Hall.


This is approximately a 20-25-hour-per-week position and is comprised of both "active" time (around 10-15 hours) and "available" time (around 10 hours). Active time involves, but is not limited to, the following:


Intentional Conversations with Residents


Facilitating Residence Hall/ Vaughn programs/ events to fulfill the RA CAPS Programing Model


Creating Door Tags and Bulletin Boards


On Duty/Roving


Staff Meetings and One-on-One Meetings with Supervisor


On-Going Trainings and Staff Development


Administrative Responsibilities as assigned by the Director of Residence Life


Position Purpose

The Resident Assistant (RA) is a student leadership position. The RA facilitates the personal development of students who reside on campus through creating a sense of community in alignment with the College's mission. This is done through providing the residents with structure, opportunities for growth, and resource referrals to campus entities. The RA should be familiar with the College's residence life policies and the College's code of conduct, as the RA is expected to document and intercede with the adherence of peers to the policies as stated in The Student Handbook and other College catalogs. The RA is expected to, through effective programming, provide resident students with the opportunity to experience the College's Core Values (Demonstrate Integrity, Embrace Diversity, Practice Collaboration, Achieve Impact, Choose Courage). The RA should be well versed in the overall services provided by the College so that she/he may serve as a resource to consult on concerns raised by resident students and/or provide referrals to appropriate offices/departments to support student success.


Major Responsibilities/Duties/Functions/Tasks


Serve as a peer role model who is both generally knowledgeable about the campus and exemplifying high standards of behavior, i.e., integrity, communication, trustworthiness, etc.


Assist in the management of the residence hall, responding to all requests and emergencies during assigned duty coverage (nightly/weekend).


Attend and participate in staff training sessions held before each semester starts and in-service training throughout the year.


Serve as a resource to residents by demonstrating civility and addressing/escalating/referring concerns/issues, both academic and personal, that are experienced by the residents


Have a general presence and approachability to build community within the residence hall demonstrated by general availability and approachability.


Be present and contribute to the discussions in weekly staff meetings and periodic one-on-one meetings with the supervisor/Director of Residence Life and Housing.


Contribute to a vibrant living community by assisting residents in their adjustment to college, acclimation to community living, cooperating with roommates/suitemates, and sharing community spaces, i.e., lounges, kitchen, laundry facilities


Design and implement engaging experiences for residents/floor members that enhance the social, educational, community, and personal development of residents and connects them to the floor, building, and College community.


Conduct periodic floor meetings to plan experiences, disseminate information, and explain the residence hall policies and procedures.


Promote an inclusive atmosphere and relate well to individuals of all ethnic, racial, cultural, and religious backgrounds, encouraging better understanding of diversity and embracing differences on the floor and in the residence hall.


Respond to all violations (both observed and notified) of Residence Life and College policies and expectations for student conduct occurring in and around the Vaughn College residence hall. Prepare and submit the appropriate incident report within 24-hours (with pictures for evidence as applicable)


Attend and participate in college judicial hearings when requested.


Contribute to, and assist in the gathering of, assessment, both to understand levels of satisfaction and to gauge if learning outcomes have been attained.


Perform other tasks as required to manage a residence hall.


**Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.


Education and/or Experience Requirements:

Must be a full-time Vaughn college student


Be in good academic standing (minimum GPA of 2.5) and good behavioral standing


Excellent written and verbal communication skills


Flexible schedule and personal availability (outside of class schedules)


Availability

All RAs are expected to live in the residence hall which is required to successfully carry out the responsibilities in their job description and expectations. RAs will not be in class when serving on the duty(s) they have self-selected. In the rare event that the RA must be in class; while serving on duty, they will seek permission from the Director of Residence Life, before this can occur.Time away must be pre-approved by the Director of Residence Life.


Time off will not be considered before the first weekend of the respective semester the RA is working after classes start and during the last two weeks of each semester. Time off will not be considered during peak dates as determined by the Residential Life and Housing Office.


Basic Expectations


It is expected that RAs will fulfill all the duties outlined in this position description with enthusiasm and commitment. Failure to uphold any basic expectation may result in job disciplinary action or immediate dismissal.


A. The Vaughn College Residence Hall is expected to be the primary residence of each RA, to ensure an appropriate level of presence in the hall and effective community building.


B. The RA position is expected to be each RA's primary and/or sole job, and their priority after their educational program. Any other employment such as an internship or other job, whether on-campus or off-campus, needs to be approved in advance by the Director of Residence Life and Housing.


C. RA staff members are expected to maintain a consistent, regular presence in the hall and have flexibility to assist with unexpected community issues that may arise. RAs who need to spend more than 2 consecutive nights away from the residence hall must request advance approval from the Director of Residence Life and Housing. No more than 1 full weekend away per month will be approved.


D. RAs must be present and available before the start of each semester on the date specified by the Director of Residence Life and Housing, in order to participate in training and assist with building preparations for student move-ins. RAs also must be present and available until after each semester ends to assist with closing the residence hall and other related tasks.


E. RAs hired in the fall semester are expected to maintain eligibility in the spring semester for the continuity of the residence hall community.


F. The responsibilities of the RA position include being a community-builder, resource person, programmer, policy enforcer, administrator, and role model.


G. As a representative of the College and the Residence Life staff, RAs are expected to maintain a high level of job performance, behave ethically, and uphold College and departmental policy. It is implicitly understood that RAs will respect confidential issues and manage master keys appropriately.


H. As a representative of the College and the housing staff, RAs are expected to abide by and enforce all Vaughn College Community Standards, Human Resources policies, and Federal/State/Municipal Laws anywhere on campus or in Vaughn College owned or leased property.


Academics and Behavioral Good Standing:

Vaughn College is committed to seeking applicants with strong academic skills to serve as peer leaders. Candidates must have at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average to be considered for an RA position. Students with serious judicial violations will not be considered for an RA position. Anyone with special circumstances regarding GPA or judicial status should contact the Office of Residence Life and Housing.


Administrative

Actively inform residents of pertinent academic and College information.


Assist in the opening and closing of the residence halls, requiring time prior to the beginning of semester courses and time following the completion of the final exam period.


Observe, receive and promptly process requests for maintenance repairs and custodial needs.


Assess the physical condition of rooms before and after occupancy, preparing and filing the appropriate form with the immediate supervisor promptly.


Disseminate and explain information/directives from Residence Life/Student Affairs staff.


Assist in special events where Residence Life and Housing play an important role (i.e., Open Houses, Accepted Students Days, New Student Orientation, Springfest, Food Service Committee, and other events Vaughn College decides RA presence is needed.). The specific date and times of these events will be shared in advance.


Adhere to monthly calendar (new bulletin board presentation due the first of the month, conduct health and safety inspections the first week of the month, and host at least one program and floor meeting).


Collaborate and communicate with the residence hall staff (checking college email, participating in group chats, contributing to hall meetings, stopping by the residence life office and checking RA mailboxes no fewer than every other day for updates).


On-Duty

RAs are considered front-line residence life staff and should expect to be visible and accessible during duty days. RAs are expected to conduct duty rounds to observe and document building anomalies and to interact with the student residents they may encounter during the walk through. While on-duty, RAs may attend programs sponsored by peer RAs or be called upon to respond to lockouts, questions/concerns, emergency situations, and to document suspected policy violations.


Must be available overnight from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 a.m. to respond to emergencies for shifts during the week, and for 24 hours (6pm to 6pm the next day) for shifts during a weekend or during college breaks.


Must check in in the Residence Life Office at the start of your shift, for tasks to complete during your shift (to come from administrators, in your RA mailbox or in your Vaughn email).


Must be physically present for the office hours (Lobby presence - 6pm to 10pm).


Conduct rounds and send the duty log at the end of the night.


Address reported/observed incidents appropriately and in a timely fashion (within 24-hours).


Document incidents within 24 hours (include picture documentation as applicable).


It is expected that RAs will be available on the day(s) they are assigned for on-call duty. If there is a need for switching coverage between RAs, both RAs need to send an email to the supervisor to be approved.


Policy Enforcement and Safety

Understand, abide by and enforce the College's Code of Conduct and Residence Life policies and document all violations of regulations.

Educate, interpret, and hold residents accountable for community standards and College policies by assisting residents in developing a sense of responsibility for themselves and accountability for the living environment.


Treat information and incidents with the appropriate level of confidentiality.


Authorized room entry and use of keys is expected at all times.


Professional Skills


Proficiency with Microsoft Office as well as general technical aptitude with various forms of hardware and software


Possess strong interpersonal and communication skills


Have ability to understand and effectively communicate the mission of Vaughn College


Strong attention to detail and excellent time management skills


Trustworthiness


If any of the expectations listed in this job description are not met, the Resident Assistant may be placed on probation. During that probationary period, the RA must adjust their performance to meet those expectations, or the staff member may be released from his/her position.


Work environment and physical function

The position is in both an office environment and a more casual floating environment. Generally, an employee needs to be able to sit, stand, and navigate throughout the residence hall inclusive of an office area, the lounges, and the hallways. The office equipment either individually used or shared with the department is the responsibility of all employees, inclusive of the student staff.


Preferred Skills/Experience:

Holding a student leadership position elsewhere on campus


Experience living within a college residence hall


Bilingual is a plus.


****Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. ****


Compensation: The position covers an RA's full room and board (housing and a declining balance meal plan) charge during the time of employment. And a stipend within the range of $5,000 ($250 stipend per pay cycle) per year will also be provided.


Full-Time/Part-Time
Part-Time

Exempt/Non-Exempt
Exempt

Salary

EOE Statement
We are an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.


This position is currently accepting applications.