Housing: About Us

Resident Assistants (RAs) act as a liaison between University Housing and the students that live within the residential community. RAs are responsible for facilitating an environment conducive to living and learning by way of role modeling, programmatic opportunities, maintenance referral, as well as policy enforcement. RAs are also given training in order to learn what is necessary to perform duties and responsibilities effectively.

While performing the duties of this job, an RA is regularly required to:

• Effectively communicate, give directions, and lead students in the event of an emergency
• Read documents such as policy manuals and safety procedures
• Prepare reports and correspondence
• Lock and unlock doors using a key system
• Operate the master key release system
• Observe surroundings, identify problems or students in distress, and respond according to University Housing protocol
• Respond immediately to potential crisis situations throughout the entire building or area during all hours that an RA is on duty
• Plan, execute, and support community development efforts, including monthly programs and intentional interactions with residents
• Conduct regularly scheduled room safety checks, perform check ins and check outs, and attend weekly meetings
• Serve night and weekend duty on a rotating schedule (an average of 1 weeknight per week and 1 full weekend per month)
• Complete assorted tasks as assigned, such as key inventories, maintenance checks, and preparing check in packets
• Each RA must work at least 5 hours per week at a community desk

Resident Assistants (RAs) must be students currently enrolled at NKU and have a 2.5 cumulative and semester GPA for undergraduate candidates and a 3.5 cumulative and semester GPA for graduate candidates. RAs must be able to live in University-assigned, on-campus housing. RAs must be able to perform light physical tasks. RAs must be available to attend weekly staff meetings and must be able to serve night and weekend duty on a rotating schedule (an average of 1 weeknight per week and 1 full weekend per month.) RAs cannot teach or have an internship during their employment and must have permission to work an outside job. Outside jobs are limited to 10 hours per week or less. Approval for an outside job is not guaranteed.

Preferred qualifications include previous experience working and/or living in residential housing. 

Any candidate who is offered this position will be required to go through a pre-employment criminal background check as mandated by state law.

Northern Kentucky University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/Affirmative Action institution. We embrace inclusiveness, equity, and global awareness in all dimensions of our work and seek excellence through diversity among our students, administrators, faculty, and staff. Application by members of diverse groups is encouraged.

RAs receive the following:

1. A bed-space in University Housing, including all utilities. Campus residency is required for the role. Depending on occupancy, RAs may have roommates.
2. A set stiped of $1,000 for the academic year, prorated across bi-weekly pay periods as established by Payroll.
3. A "225 Block + $200" meal plan each semester.

RAs are expected to be available starting three weeks before the beginning of the Fall semester for training and one week before the start of the Spring semester for rejuvenation. RAs are expected to work a minimum of two University breaks (Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, Spring Break) during the academic year. RAs are expected to work until the Wednesday after the end of exam week each semester. RAs will typically work an average of 10-15 hours per week, exclusive of weekend duty responsibilities.

A limited number of summer RA positions will be available each year. Summer RAs must be available to work from the Monday after the end of the Spring semester until the Friday before the start of the Fall semester. Summer RAs are expected to take no more than 5 working days of vacation during the Summer semester.