RA applications for the 2026-2027 school year will be open until Feb. 2. After review of all applications selected, candidates will be notified about an interview offer through their WSC email. The selected candidate interviews will be held Feb. 27-28, and final decisions will be made and finalized on March 7. What is an RA and what do they do?
“An easy way to summarize the response to this question would be to just say: connection,” associate director of residence life Abby Shuck said. “Connecting with residents is the epicenter of the position and using those connections points to create a welcoming community where students are able to feel a sense of belonging.”
RAs or resident assistants ensure that students live comfortably in their dorm hall and enjoy their college experience. Here at Wayne State College, RAs influence the community through social programming and interacting with residents. Social programming is done through bulletin boards and door decorations personally made by RAs to make the dorm halls more fun and educational. They also hold socials which are fun activities that everyone is invited to which gets students involved and interacting with one another. Freshman Jo Farr is an applicant who has been supported by RAs.
“RAs are important to have because they keep the students safe and keep the halls orderly,” Farr said. “They are great help to guide and lead young adults who are adapting to living alone.”
This role helps individuals develop lifelong skills and habits that can be applied to any job outside of college. Current RA Hannah Nieto said that she has gained many positive experiences through her time as an RA and made some of her best friends.
“The RA role provides opportunities to grow in important personal and professional areas including conflict resolution, creativity, critical thinking, event planning, oral and written communication, problem solving, time management, and teamwork,” Shuck said.
Students tend to ask “what kind of characteristic does Residence Life looks for in applicants? What kind of person do they need to be, and what characteristics should they reflect?”
“I would want someone that understands what is involved with the role”, Assistant Director Michael Heller said. “It is a big time commitment, and there will be days that everyone gets to leave and I have to stay, or everyone is free on the weekend, but I have duty.”
The RA application and role is open to every student at Wayne State College.
