University of Miami - Ibis Yearbook (Coral Gables, FL)

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24 Residence Halls

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Resident Assistants Desk Assistants Behind the Scenes Resident assistants and desk assis- tants are vital sources of information that students who live on campus de- pend on. RA ' s are full-time undergraduate or graduate students w ho live in residence halls and apartment areas. They w ork with students, faculty members and staff to develop a community atmo- sphere which supports the students ' in- tellectual, social and cultural growth. The responsibilities of being an RA are many. RA ' s, who are assigned a cer- tain group of residents for the fall and spring semesters, are role models for their residents. They are also responsi- ble for actively integrating the on-going academic and social life of students by providing programming for residents three times a month. Some of the more popular programs are movie nights and home cooked meals. These valuable people also provide counseling for students with personal, social and academic concerns, main- taining confidentiality of residents at all times. They also monitor the academic environment in their residence area by maintaining an environment conducive to studying and the development of suc- cessful study habits. RA ' s are also responsible for educat- ing students about safety. They encour- age students to act rsponsibly in the care of their environment and act as a liaison between the housekeeping- maintenance staff and residents. RA ' s also enforce University policy by con- fronting students who violate communi- ty standards. In conjunction with provid- ing residents with a general orientation to the campus, RA ' s provide information concerning roommates and room changes. Students who wish to become RA ' s must be either a graduate or an under- graduate student with a minimum cu- mulative GPA of 2.75 at the time of ap- pointment. RA ' s must have one year of group living experience and be in good Eaton Resident Assistants Marli Voigts and Randi Clein prepare a Halloween bulletin board in the lobby. Michelle Lutman Residence Halls 23

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University disciplinary standing. The RA position is compensated witii free room and board and a monthly stipend. Desk asssistants also work closely on a day-to-day basis with the students who live in residence halls. DA ' s monitor activities at the front desk of each resi- dence hall. They are responsible for an- swering the phones, filing the mail, dis- tributing spare room keys and coordi- nating emergency maintenance. DA ' s, who must have work study assignments, constantly dispense information to peo- ple who make inquiries at the desk. DA ' s also work with RA ' s to keep the oper- ations of the hall running smoothly. Eaton Resident Assistants Marii Voigts and Randi Clein construct a display in the lobby. Residence Halls 25