Residence Life: Leadership & Involvement

Leadership & Involvement

The University of Portland residence halls offer a variety of leadership positions for students to consider while living on campus.  Student leadership and involvement contribute to a strong and vibrant residence hall community.  The following are several leadership and employment opportunities students can pursue to engage more deeply in their college experiences.

For more information about various student leadership opportunities for current UP students, click here.

Student Leadership Opportunities

Resident Assistants

Resident Assistants (RA) are full-time students carefully selected for their leadership experience, interpersonal skills, and desire to have a positive impact on the residential community. Responsibilities of an RA include educational programming, planning community activities, providing individual advisement/referrals, assisting in the general management of the hall, attending staff and training meetings, serving as a role model to residents, and explaining, confronting, and reporting violations of campus and residential policies and regulations.  The RA is a University official who lives in the hall and reports to a hall director.  RAs are compensated with a full room and board scholarship.  Click here to access the 2013-2014 RA selection application website.

Residence Hall Association (RHA)

The Residence Hall Association (RHA) is a student-run organization comprised of four officers and a general assembly consisting of the hall council executive board members from each of the traditional residence halls. The RHA promotes student leadership development, coordinates programs for the UP residence hall community, and strives to enhance residential student life through advocacy and partnership with the administration. The RHA works collaboratively with all the halls and serves as a unifying organization for residence hall students.  Residence Hall Association Executive Board Position Description

RHA meetings are held on Monday nights starting at 8:00 p.m.  Marcie Abreu (Shipstad), Nathan McCarty (Villa Maria), Chelsea Shannon (Mehling), and Sydney Weber (Kenna) comprise the 2012-2013 executive board.

Hall Council

Each residence hall has a Hall Council consisting of officers and wing representatives. Hall Councils exist to enhance the residence hall community through programming, advocacy, and hall improvements. Hall Council members work closely with residence life staff and the RHA to promote positive change and foster tradition, in an effort to provide students with an exceptional residence hall experience. Hall Councils focus mostly on the endeavors of a particular residence hall community, yet partner with the RHA for campus-wide programs and initiatives.  Elections for Hall Council officers are held in the fall.

If you are interested in participating in your hall's Hall Council, please see your Assistant Hall Director or members of the hall's executive board for more information.