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RA Application Process

To apply for a Resident Assistant position, complete the online application linked below, but please read the following information prior to starting your application:

Resident Assistant application process timeline:

February 22: Applications due
Week of February 15: Residence Hall zoom sessions (see schedule below)
February 23 through March 10: interviews will be held via Zoom
March 12: Offers will be communicated to candidates
March 15: deadline for offers to be accepted

For an overview of effective resumé and cover letter creation and revision: Join the Career Center's Zoom presentation on February 18th at 1:00 p.m. or you can connect with the Career Center via their office hours if unable to attend the Zoom presentation.

RA Information sessions via Zoom:

Corrado Hall: Friday, February 12 at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom
Fields & Schoenfeldt Hall: Tuesday, February 16 at 8:00 p.m. on Zoom
Lund Family Hall: Thursday, February 11 at 8:30 p.m. on Zoom
Mehling Hall: Thursday, February 11 at 8:30 p.m. on Zoom
Shipstad Hall: Session 1: Thursday, February 11 at 11:00 a.m. on Zoom
Shipstad Hall: Session 2: Thursday, February 11 at 8:00 p.m. on Zoom,
Villa Maria Hall: Tuesday, February 16 at 9:00 p.m. on Zoom

Applicants will need to write short essays as part of this application. We suggest that you work on this elsewhere and then copy and paste your response into the application.

New RA short response prompts:
- UP’s mission is guided by the following core themes: teaching & learning, faith & formation, service & leadership. How does the mission at University of Portland shape your experience? Please also share an example of how you’ve experienced one of these themes within the UP community.
- How would you develop a community that recognizes and values individuals with different social identities? Provide at least two (2) examples. (Social identities can include but are not limited to race, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, ability, etc.)
Returning RA short response prompts:
- Please describe a challenge you faced as a first-year RA. How have you grown and how would you apply what you've learned as a returner?
- What other areas are you seeking to grow in as an RA? What would you bring to the position as a returning RA?

As part of your application, you will be prompted to:

Upload a PDF version of your resumé and a cover letter.
New applicants must provide the names and contact information of 2 references from within the UP community that are not your residence hall staff members

RA Class and Leader Certificate

All new RAs are required to enroll in a 1-credit Pass/No Pass course titled LDR 375 - Residential Learning and Leadership, which will complement your RA training, reflection, and formation. This course is offered for Fall semester; there is no program fee for this course.

The Leader Certificate Program: The RA position aligns with the Leader Certificate. Through instruction, practice, and reflection over the course of 2-3 years, participants of the Leader Certificate Program are awarded a certificate upon graduation. The RA experience is a potential pathway to earning a Leader Certificate. We encourage interested students to enroll in LDR 225 - Applied Leadership, but it is not required for employment consideration.

How to Apply

CLICK HERE to open and submit the 2021-22 Application to be a Resident Assistant.

All rising juniors and seniors will be notified when the application becomes available. Applications are due February 22 at 5 p.m. If you encounter any difficulties in submitting any application materials, please contact the Office of Residence Life at 503.943.7205 or reslife@up.edu.