Residence Student Affairs Specialists (RSAS) Information

Residence Student Affairs Specialists (RSAS) are part of the team of professional staff who strive to make the residence educational, intellectual, comfortable and stimulating places to live. RSAS work with and are frequently the first point of contact for residents, residence staff, and Resident Fellows. The RSAS must be a successful communicator, sensitive to student concerns and skillful in running an administrative office smoothly. She/he contributes in large part to providing a pleasant living situation with stimulating and well-run educational and social programs. The RSAS is in the position to speak for and act on behalf of the University and has the sole responsibility for the operation of the office; there is minimal supervision. The RSAS establishes and implements policy and procedures for the office and is in the position to analyze situations and/or problems and implement solutions. The RSAS operates with a minimum of supervision and, thus, must set priorities and see that deadlines are met. In responding sensitively to student needs, RSAS must be flexible and able to juggle emergencies, unexpected requests, and student problems and still meet job requirements in a timely manner.

The RSASs have four main functions:

1. First, RSASs are the initial contact with the students. They represent Residential Education in the dorms and we uphold University policies and abide by University procedures. They convey the values and goals of Residential Education, and they are the local support for the students.

2. Secondly, RSASs support the Resident Staff, the Resident Fellows, the RAs and their program. They maintain records for new staffs, give some guidance and support all their efforts in developing new and exciting programs for their residents. They directly support the Resident Fellows and are responsible for accounting for their budgets and processing their receipts. They are required to complete reports as to how RF's spend the money in the quarterly SCE reports, (expenses are divided by the categories, staff, community and education), and they produce financial spreadsheets for the program and administrative budgets. The SCE reports are a crucial resource for Res Ed, used in its effort to convey the academic connection to the University. Each RSAS supports varying numbers of RFs and the RFs themselves vary in the amount of program support required. Some complexes include theme houses or focus houses with theme assistants or focus assistants. RSASs also support TAs and FAs and special events these houses might put on. One example of a theme house would be Casa Zapata in Stern and Lantana in Manzanita II is a focus house. These houses are competitive in the housing Draw and some require additional support during the Draw. RSASs are also a programming resource for Resident Fellows, suggesting programs which might interest the residents of the house. They process honorariums, reserve guest rooms and organize transportation and meals for guest speakers. We are a good resource for each other in regards to programming and encourage RAs to complete their quarterly program summaries which are a great resource for all staffs.

   In addition to supporting the RFs and the RAs, the RSASs assist the Residence Deans and four of the RSASs are in direct contact with the Deans as they are located in the same residences. Our offices are often the place where RAs gather and generate ideas, work out problems and discuss issues. We are there to help the community develop in anyway we can and that often means being a sounding board or sometimes just a good listener.

3. Thirdly, RSASs spend a significant amount of time performing Housing Assignment Services functions. At the end of each year the RSASs must work with the new staffs organizing the in-house draw (room assignments for the following year) and producing theTRIP, (The Room Information Project) report for HAS. The RSAS must provide the HAS with quarterly configuration reports and vacancy reports. In addition, they produce quarterly rosters for our offices and for the RFs. They also do any miscellaneous fees billing in regards to housing. At the beginning of each academic year they prepare welcome packets for each resident which include pertinent information from various departments, and are responsible for giving each student their room and exit keys. They are responsible to HAS for the official contract for each student as they enter into the housing agreement with the University. In freshmen houses RSASs assist RAs in checking in the students for the first time and providing information to the parents accompanying their students. They are often the first direct contact the parents have with the University and are always asked a multitude of questions. At the end of each quarter and the beginning of the next we must prepare for those students departing and for new assignments. They also work with the Disability Resource Center and Housing Assignments Office to be sure rooms are ready and/or available for disabled students who will be moving in.

4. Fourthly, RSASs are a liaison with other departments: Housing Assignments Office, Undergraduate Advising Research Center, Dean of Students' Office, Events and Labor Services, Disability Resource Center, and Judicial Affairs. They are in constant contact with the Facilities Supervisors and work daily with them in regards to the upkeep of the buildings and students responsibilities in their communities. RSASs coordinate the lockup of the building by either hiring a resident or helping the RAs to organize the duty. Guests rooms are located within many of the residences and we coordinate their upkeep with facilities, make reservations and deposit the income for Facilities. They keep track of student damage and help facilities to locate responsible parties. They disseminate information from all these departments and are required often to facilitate communications between the students and these departments. They assist Residence Deans with their cases by providing information or contacting students, etc. They often deal with confidential information and do so reliably. Because they are actually in the buildings, they often hear significant pieces of information that can help resolve confusing situations.

If you are currently a RSAS, there is a Resource Page that might be of some help.