Resident Assistants (RAs) are a critical member of the Residence Life team. They are undergraduate students specially selected for their maturity, leadership skills, academic achievement, and commitment to student development who undergo rigorous training prior to the start of each term. RAs are an important resource for students to foster personal and professional growth while helping them to become a thriving member of the campus community. RAs also provides social and enrichment programming to meet the needs of the students in their specific area.
Why Become an RA?
Serving as an RA is not only a rewarding opportunity, but it provides you with the skills and experience that are in high demand by employers and graduate schools. While all students graduate with knowledge and experience, RAs graduate with proven success in key areas including:
- Leadership
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Communication
- Conflict Management, and
- Program development.
Former Pitt-Johnstown RAs have gone on to enjoy highly successful careers in several areas including medicine, law, education, business, technology, and media (to name just a few).
Qualifications
A good RA is conscientious, dedicated, personable, and able to interact with a wide variety of students in a positive manner. The RA role is time-intensive. Good RAs are also able to balance conflicting commitments with academic, social, and job responsibilities. RAs are required to maintain a minimum 2.5 GPA (cumulative) and participate in professional development opportunities during their time in the role.
RA Application Process
Spring 2025
The Spring 2025 RA application is now open and will close on February 5, 2025. Students applying in this application cycle will begin work in August 2025 for the Fall 2025 semester. To apply for an RA position, visit the Johnstown Campus Housing & Dining Services task center on the Pitt portal (my.pitt.edu). Select the Resident Assistant application link. Once you apply, you will be notified if you were accepted into the RA selection process on a rolling basis. All candidates who are accepted into the process can expect to shadow both a first-year and upper-level housing area, and participate in the RA hiring weekend events from February 23-25. More information about these events will be shared after applications are submitted.