Crown Residential Assistants

Applications for the 2017-2018 RA staff are now closed. The selection process for the 2018-2019 Crown RA staff will begin at the end of the 2017 Fall Quarter. Information below will be updated at that time, but will generally be similar from year to year. Thank you for your interest!

What is an RA?

RAs (Residential Assistants) are student leaders who live in the communities they serve. RAs are the front line responders for most resident needs, and an RA's average day may change radically depending on what time of year it is, what challenges a given community is facing, or what type of students live in a given community. RAs may be assigned to work in either the Residence Halls or the Apartments, and would report to the supervising Coordinator for Residential Education (CRE) for either community. Shane Sanchez supervises the Apartment Community, and Derek DeMarco supervises the Residence Halls. Feel free to email Derek or Shane if you have any specific questions.

In a nutshell, RAs partner with students to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities for lifelong engagement in caring and socially just communities! If you are interested in some more detail, you can read this description! (Description from academic year 16-17, and subject to updates) 

Who makes a good RA?

RAs ultimately serve communities made up of people from all walks of life. Ideally, the Crown RA staff will be as diverse as the communities they serve. In addition to embracing diverse backgrounds, there are some basic qualifications that must be met to be considered a candidate. You can find an exhaustive list of qualifications in the job description, but here are some of the important ones to start with:

• Must be full time student for the entire year of hire
• Must maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA from the time of application throughout employment
• Must be in good student conduct standing (Good student conduct standing is defined as anything below probation, and after submitting an application, candidates must not be found responsible for any campus policy violation)
• Must have completed one year of college prior to start of position
• Enroll and pass a two-unit [leadership and training] class in the spring quarter prior to year of hire
• Complete Mental Health and First Aid (MHFA) Training/Certification - Full day (8:15-5:00) trainings offered the following dates (choose one): 
  • Saturday, April 8, 2017
  • Friday, April 14, 2017
  • Saturday, April 15, 2017
  • Saturday, April 22, 2017
  • Make up day may be available by arrangement
• Be present for RA Fall training (approximately three weeks prior to student move-in)

In addition to the minimum qualifications listed above, some skills are particularly useful for RAs to have. Strong communication skills are key, as well as the ability to manage your time and commitments. Successful RAs often have experience facilitating group living (sports camp, music camp, etc), but such experience is not required.

Sometimes RAs are imagined to all be the bubbly, happy, crafty types. In reality, many different personalities are good fits for the RA team. Some RAs are boisterous, others are quiet. Some RAs enjoy large groups, others prefer one on one interactions. Some RAs are extraordinarily crafty, while others are more analytical. If you plan to apply for an RA role - just be yourself! We want to see who you are, and what your natural strengths are!

How do I apply to be an RA?

To be an RA for the 2016-2017 academic year, interested students will need to participate in the 2016 Crown RA hiring process. The hiring process includes the following bulleted items (detailed explanations/timeline below):

• RA Q&A Session
• Submission of RA Application
• Candidate Group Interview
• Candidate Individual Interview
• Position Offers & Formal Acceptance/Declination

In past years, current RAs and CREs would be available a few nights before applications were due to share information about the requirements of the job, and what work as an RA is really like. The job description would be reviewed in some detail and the selection timeline would be explained before closing with some questions from interested students. This year, we are trying something new! We expect you to be able to read the job description and selection timeline on your own. Then we will offer one night, Wednesday, January 11 at 9:30pm in the Crown/Merrill Dining Hall, where any interested students can meet with current RAs and CREs and ask any questions they may have. While participation at our Q&A night is not required, it will be a good time to get to meet current staff and gather wisdom from their experiences if you have questions. 

Crown RA applicants must submit a completed supplemental application. When the supplemental application is live, it will be posted at the top of this page, and instructions will be included on that form. Failure to complete the form (per the included instructions) may result in a failure to move forward in our process. In addition to the Crown Supplemental Application, interested candidates must also submit an application through the University ER System (0489). 

All completed applications received by the deadline will be reviewed by the Crown CREs. Candidates who meet the minimum requirements of the position will be invited to participate in a group interview. During the group process, candidates will be asked to participate in a number of activities. Graduating RAs and CREs will evaluate the interactions during those activities to learn how candidates approach communication and teamwork. The group process date is already set (see timeline below), and participation in the group event is required.

CREs will extend invitations to candidates who move forward after the group process to individually interview for the position. These individual interviews will be scheduled around each candidate's availability over a week (see dates below) and the availability of the CREs. The individual interview will provide an opportunity for candidates to share information about themselves; specifically about personal experiences, skill sets, and how the candidate hopes to successfully serve with the Crown RA team. 

Finally, after all of the interviews have been completed, the CREs will send position offers to selected candidates. A formal acceptance will be required, and candidates will need to formally accept any offered position before the required date (listed below). 

Crown College 2017 RA Selection Timeline (for academic year 2017-2018):

Questions? Contact the Coordinators for Residential Education:

Derek DeMarco: ddemarco@ucsc.edu, 831-459-5230

Shane Sanchez: sasanche@ucsc.edu, 831-459-3969