The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 43, No. 3 - 47

The Evolution of the Resident Assistant

Once relatively straightforward,
the RA position has become
multifaceted, routinely
affected by court decisions,
legal mandates, and societal
influences. And while the
fundamentals of the RA role
remain the same-helping,
guiding, addressing rule
infractions-the fullness of this
position has never been more
apparent.

and Title IX-related matters. We expect the
trained observer role to become more prominent as Congress maintains a keen interest in
higher education.
Increasing technology use, including
advances we cannot begin to envision, will
require RAs to be convergent thinkers and
develop community, provide educational programs, and communicate with residents in
new ways. Databases maintaining student assignment and conduct information require
training as institutions implement new approaches to document information about residents. As computerization has impacted RAs,
so has the advent of social media by broadening the ability to connect with residents and
promote programs. Yet because students tend
to spend more time on computers and smart-

phones, it is difficult for RAs to foster student
engagement with one another. Additionally,
problems arise with reduced face-to-face social
interaction, including cyber bullying and lack
of skill development in building relationships
(Martinez-Aleman, 2014).
Now, more than ever, housing and residence
life needs paraprofessionals who can lead residents in developing positive residential communities and help them learn and live together
(Johnson & Kang, 2006; Petryk, Thompson, &
Boynton, 2013). This is especially relevant as
Americans struggle with social class and multicultural differences. Helping residents become
aware of differences, increase their knowledge
of diversity, and develop skills to communicate in multicultural settings is essential to an
educated citizenry and strong American communities (American Association of Colleges
& Universities [AAC&U], 2002). These three
roles-problem solver, trained observer, and
community builder-are likely to become especially relevant in the coming years.
A larger question, expressed by McCuskey
(2013), is whether housing and residence life
programs will be able to balance perceived
conflicts between a learning orientation and
a focus on fiscal stability and sustainability.
How these programs and their institutions
answer this question will have substantial implications for RAs. Those oriented towards financial stability and growth may slant the RA
role towards customer service and financial accounting, perhaps through detailed cost analysis of health and safety checks or fee-for-service
amenities with RAs assuming roles as customer service managers. Programs focusing
on student learning may increase expectations
related to training and ongoing professional
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The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 43, No. 3

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