Prospective RAs must maintain full-time student status (12-18 credits), hold a semester grade point average of at least 2.0 and a cumulative GPA of at least a 2.25 (a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.25 is required to go through the selection process), and must have completed a minimum of nine credits post high school graduation to be considered for an interview for the RA position. (When provided, transfer student GPAs from their former institution may be used to determine current cumulative GPA.)
RESIDENT ASSISTANTS
Discover the dynamic leader inside you by becoming a Resident Assistant at UW-Whitewater. You’ll engage with a group of Warhawks to help them live their best lives as students living on campus and support our university-wide effort to create a safe, welcoming, inclusive environment. As a part-time student staff member, you’ll live in the residence halls (in your own college dorm), serve as a resource and positive role model, and help build a sense of community. You make the residence halls home for students, and we offer a great package of benefits to make this leadership position even more valuable.
What is a resident assistant?
Resident Assistants (RAs) are student staff members who help facilitate positive learning environments in the residence halls. Every residence hall floor has at least one RA who is available to serve as a resource for residents, to offer individual assistance, and to promote community development by interacting individually with students and encouraging group interactions.
RAs help to maintain a positive community by explaining community standards — and assisting residents in meeting those standards — and by encouraging the creation of an environment that promotes academic success. As leaders and role models on their floors, RAs have the opportunity for an extremely rewarding personal experience.
What does a resident assistant do?
Demonstrate positive leadership
Serve their residents and community
Foster student learning
Collaborate with University Housing staff
Resident assistant facts and qualifications
Facts and important dates
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- Applications are accepted throughout the year for the RA position
- The application process begins early in the spring semester for the following academic year, but we also hire RAs for a limited number of spring openings in the fall
- Applications received by October 22, 2025, are guaranteed consideration for any openings that may occur in the spring 2026 semester
- There are about 120-130 RAs living in the UW-Whitewater residence halls
- Approximately 60 new RAs are hired every year
Remuneration, benefits, and outcomes
The leadership and communications skills developed through the position creates a valuable work experience for students in any major. For their efforts, RAs receive:
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- A stipend $500 per semester (First year, with increases for additional years in service)
- A single room (subject to availability)
- A board meal plan
Resident assistant facts and qualifications
Prospective RAs must have previously resided in a residence hall-type environment for the equivalent of two semesters prior to beginning the position.
Prospective RAs must:
- Give the RA position priority over all other areas of outside involvement and activity with the single exception of academic work.
- Be available to residents a minimum 3 nights a week and a minimum of two weekends per month.
- Return to campus approximately two weeks early (fall semester) and one week early (spring semester) for RA training. Forego all other non-academic activities during training periods.
- Participate in an ongoing RA training series during each semester of employment.
- Participate in no more than one varsity athletic sport during the academic year (sport cannot interfere with fall or winter training).
- Be at the university when classes are in session and remain on the job through hall closing for both spring and fall semesters.
- Return to campus for hall openings.
- Participate in weeknight and weekend duty on a rotating basis with other staff members.
- Complete all required training, including a two-week intensive training experience usually beginning the second week of August.
- Not be on university or residence hall probation when they START the position. If you are currently on probation for tenure and would like to apply for an RA position, please contact Maria Glorioso, assistant director of residence life, at 262-472-5275. Anyone having pending conduct or an outstanding sanction to complete will not be hired.
RAs must:
- Fulfill the duties outlined in the Resident Assistant (RA) job description and meet the expectations of their complex director.
- Follow departmental restrictions regarding other employment.
- Demonstrate positive leadership in the residence halls and the UW-Whitewater campus community.
- Assess and respond to the needs of residents.
- Promote the growth and development of residents and facilitate their academic success and connection to the residence hall and campus community.
- Develop and maintain a hall environment that is conducive to student learning.
- Ensure adherence to community standards which will maximize residents' academic and personal success.
- Work collaboratively with staff and leaders in the complex, and other staff members in University Housing.
- Attend to administrative responsibilities.
- Assume responsibility for personal learning and development in the Resident Assistant role.
How to apply
- Read the material on this page.
- Prepare a completed resumé. (After completing the application, you will be required to upload a resumé.)
- Print two reference forms. Each applicant must turn in two references by the application deadline. One reference should be from a UW-Whitewater staff member. (If you have recently lived on campus, it is preferred that one of these references be from a hall staff member). The reference may submit a letter of recommendation instead of completing the standard form, but the form is encouraged.
- Be sure you have all the information you need to complete the application before starting the next step — you are not allowed to revisit your application to make modifications.
- Watch this video. You will need to know this information to pass the quiz in step 2.
- Take this quiz to test your knowledge of the RA position. (You can continually retake the quiz as many times as you would like.)
- Once you earn a score of 90 percent or higher, you will be automatically sent to the online RA application.
Housing student jobs
Interested in other opportunities to work in University Housing?
Contact us
Want to learn more about being a resident assistant at UW-Whitewater? Contact your complex director or reach out to housing@uww.edu or call 262-472-5275.