Second-year College student Aisha Johnson eagerly checked her mail last week in anticipation of an offer to join the 2003-2004 Resident Staff, and her persistence was rewarded with an acceptance letter late last week.
Johnson said she was accepted to be a Resident Advisor in the first-year dorms, but does not yet know in which dorm she will live in.
Notices were mailed last Wednesday and those accepted must respond by Monday, according to Jason Shaffer, interim assistant dean of students.
"We were looking for a successful role model and someone who is passionate about the University," Dean of Students Penny Rue said, citing the criteria for applicants. "Most Resident Staff members love the University and want to share that with others."
Of the 230 Resident Staff positions, 142 were offered to returning staff members and 88 were offered to new applicants, Shaffer said.
About 330 people applied for the job, 256 of which passed the initial testing round. Those candidates were then interviewed, Shaffer said.
Other criteria for selecting Resident Staff members include students who encompass "a broad spectrum of interest" and who are "diverse in every way," Rue said.
Johnson cited promoting diversity as one of her primary goals.
"I am a strong advocate for diversity and pulling people together," she said. "My goal is to make sure everyone feels comfortable at the University."
Fourth-year College student Mariam Mitry, selection program coordinator, oversaw the entire selection process.
"The whole process was very competitive," Mitry said.
Every current Resident Staff member played some role in the evaluation process, according to Resident Staff Co-Chair Sarah Johns, a fourth-year College student.
First cuts were made after the initial application test, and those who passed it went on to complete two sets of interviews -- one individual interview and one group interview, Johns said.
"The interviewers evaluated personal and group interaction," she said.
First-year residences typically have an RA in each hall or every other suite and one senior resident per dorm. The ratio for Resident Staff to first-years is smaller, about 1 to 20, than that of upper class housing on Grounds, according to Rue.
"The first-year staff places a large emphasis on mentoring and crisis management," she said.
One potential problem for Resident Staff applicants was the issue of backup housing while waiting for acceptance letters.
"That is just the reality of the situation," Rue said. "Students are always faced with a lot of options and tough decisions."
Second-year College student Nidhi Sachdeva was among those who applied to be an RA without a guaranteed backup housing option.
"I was glad to find out that I was offered a spot," Sachdeva said. "I applied for on Grounds housing, but since I live off Grounds now, I was put on a waiting list after first-years."
Future Resident Staff members will attend a spring training session in April and also are required to return to school the week of Aug. 14, Johnson said.
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