subject: The Ra Is In - How To Help Your Floor Residents [print this page] As the resident assistant, you are expected to reach out to students and offer any help you can, of course as long as you are not violating any rule.
Inquire about papers or course works they are currently working on.
Share tips you learned, yourself, when you were working on the same paper they are currently working on. If they are under the same professor as you have had, then you can also give advice about areas they should be prioritizing.
Should they attend classes regularly since the professor is particular on attendance? Should they always participate in class since the instructor hates students who do not get themselves involved? Your residents will surely appreciate your help, especially if they already find themselves struggling to keep up in class.
Assist floor residents with research they are conducting.
Refer them to the library website, if there is any, so they can check right away whether the reference material they need is available. Accompany your residents to the library and introduce them to library assistants or librarians, especially to those you know personally.
It is much easier to seek for help when you have referrals, right? Your residents might even have the chance to join seminars or orientations conducted by the campus librarian. Then, they could gather more tips how to navigate bookshelves and card catalogs with ease.
Inform students of your contact details.
Sometimes, it's tough to find the right timing to consult someone for help. You never know when one of your residents feel like this. Also, there are also instances that you become too busy and that you need to go out of the dorm often.
Ensuring that everyone has your contact details gives you a peace of mind that you will know right away when someone wants to talk to you. It is also convenient for your residents. They do not have to search the campus to look for you. If it is something so urgent, then they can simply send you an email or a text message.
Meddling should be a last resort.
While you understand that you need to ensure a friendly living atmosphere, still you cannot be there all the time to fix issues between residents, yourself. These are college students we are talking about. Before you get yourself involved during a confrontation, advise your student to try resolving the issue privately.
No problem needs to be modified unnecessarily. It is good if your residents would be able to sort issues by themselves before raising their concern to you. In case you really would have to be there, do not speak for anyone. Listen and observe first. As the resident assistant, you should serve an instrument for residents to live harmoniously with the rest.
Avoid being intrusive.
Students would not appreciate that you keep butting in during conversations they are having with other students. It is your responsibility to serve residents but you should learn not to cross boundaries.
Respect floor residents so you too shall be respected.
