By: Essence Buckman, Staff Writer
“My favorite part of recruitment [of Resident Assistants] is the individual interviews,” Demario Watts, assistant director of residence life says. “I enjoy hearing the response to questions and learning more about my staff. In my role, I supervise RAs but at times do not get to build the close relationships as the RDs do. So recruitment gives me the chance to learn more about them individually.”
Leading into every spring semester at Wofford, the Office of Residence Life opens up the application for being a Resident Assistant, better and simply known as RAs, on the Wofford website and advertises in the form of posters, flyers, t-shirts (that RAs and staff wear on specific days) and daily announcements.
“The Office of Residence Life looks for students who are able to balance their academics along with the duties of the position…,” Watts says. “[Residence Life] looks for students who want to engage and are intentional about the relationships they are building and sustaining during their duration of their college career and while in the position.”
All students interested are encouraged by current RAs as well as professors, campus safety officers and those who work in the Student Affairs office. Advertising and interest meetings are held to draw in students and explain to them what the RA job that they are considering requires, as well as explain what benefits they could receive from it.
“The Office of Residence Life have changed some items in regards to recruitment for the 2016-2017 academic year,” Watts says. “Dean Brian Lemere and I have split the recruitment process into different processes and have had each of our [Resident Directors or RD] participate in the process. [Such as] all of the aspects of the website and assisting with the new applicant process… group activity sessions… marketing and communications during the recruitment [and] complete the returner process. All of us began planning earlier this year. The RA Leadership team decided on the theme in October… so the changes, were taking a more proactive approach and finding a theme that will keep students and RAs engaged throughout the year…‘leave your mark’ became the new concept [as well as], adding an interview process to the returner process, to allow our RAs to have a chance to interview and talk about their year as a RA. We gain valuable feedback in order to continue improving through the interviews.”
The deadline for applying to a RA was Feb. 12.
“RA is a very unique student leader position. It allows each student on our staff to gain skills that they may not be able to gain in other positions… I have noticed RAs becoming stronger individuals, taking more risks to step outside of the box and feeling confident in themselves. They have a support system like no other on campus and are truly a family. They are able to notice differences and areas of improvement in each other and in turn encourage and motivate each other to push through. When you join the res-life family,” Watts says, “you are a vital member and will always build friendships that establish long lasting bonds. I am extremely proud of my staff because they are the ‘crème of the crop!’”
If you are interested in an experience like this one, then you are definitely encouraged to apply for this job next school year.