Resident Assistants (RAs) are assigned to the 48 Houses that make up Housing & Residence Life. RAs’ main responsibilities are to assist the Resident Heads (RHs) in helping to develop House communities that are supportive of the educational mission of the University. This task requires that RAs serve in several roles. The most common responsibilities of an RA are to serve as an informal counselor to residents in academic or personal matters, and to provide a variety of activities – social, cultural, recreational, and educational – for residents. In addition, RAs must serve with their RHs as administrators of University policy and procedure, and as sources of information about the University, the Hyde Park community, and the City of Chicago

Information & Application Materials

• Resident Assistant Information & Timeline
• Resident Assistant Eligibility, Terms of Appointment & Time Commitment
• Resident Assistant Application Checklist
• Resident Assistant Application
• Resident Assistant Recommendation Form
• Resident Assistant RH Evaluation Form

This recruitment cycle the application can also be accessed via Handshake

Resident Assistant Information Sessions

All candidates must attend one in-person information session to learn more about what to expect from the position and critical information concerning the process. If you are unable to attend one of the sessions below, email hrlrecruitment@uchicago.edu.

Financial Aid Packages

All candidates are strongly recommended to connect with Financial Aid to discuss their individual financial aid package prior to applying.

Inquiries

General inquiries about the Resident Assistant position can be made by emailing hrlrecruitment@uchicago.edu.

The Resident Dean Assistant (RDA) plays an important role in each residential hall, supporting the Resident Deans (RDs) in their work with students. RDA responsibilities can include many tasks, but their primary focus is supporting their RDs as they organize intellectual and social events, both within the halls and at off-campus locations, which inform scholarship outside the classroom and support the sense of community within the House system.

RDAs are scheduled to work between 2-12 hours per week during the academic year, with the exceptions of reading periods, finals week, winter break, and spring break. RDAs are directly supervised by the Resident Deans.

To maintain employment, an RDA must be in good academic standing with a GPA of at least 2.0 per quarter. In addition, RDAs must remain in good judicial standing with The College and Housing & Residence Life.

Contact your Resident Deans for more about their expectations for this role, and for application information.

Do you have House Spirit? Is your House something that keeps you excited about attending UChicago? If so, the House Orientation Aide (O-Aide) position may be right for you! House O-Aides serve as the main welcoming group to the residential community, and set the foundation for House culture for all incoming new students. House O-Aides are volunteer returning residents who are excited to welcome the incoming class into the House community. This group of House leaders is tasked with becoming familiar with all Orientation materials and schedules, and works to assist Resident Heads and Resident Assistants with preparing the House for Orientation Week (O-Week) (calling all students who love to decorate!). House O-Aides bring the energy and fun not just during move-in, but all throughout O-Week! A successful O-Aide should be familiar with common questions new students may have surrounding transportation, fun attractions, campus navigation, and the general management of starting your first year off right.

Students who are active in their houses, attend house meetings and events regularly, have served on House council, and overall look for ways to engage and interact in their community would be ideal candidates!

Application
Check back later for the 2025 application.

Few University faculty or staff positions have closer involvement in the lives of University students than the Resident Head (RH) position in Housing & Residence Life. By living in close proximity to students, RHs share in many aspects of students’ lives, from the excitement of intellectual discovery and the enthusiasm of new friendships to the loneliness of being away from home and the adjustments that come with learning one’s limits. It is a demanding job, one that requires genuine enjoyment of students, a willingness to relinquish private time, and an acceptance of a semi-public lifestyle for ten months of the year. The position, however, is also a deeply rewarding one, and an important element in the education students will receive at UChicago.

Information & Application Materials

• Resident Head Position Description
• Resident Head FAQs
• Resident Head Application
• Resident Head Recommendation Form
• Dean of Students Approval

Resident Head in Training (RHIT) Sessions

All candidates must attend one RHIT session (couples are encouraged to attend together) to learn more about the position and interview process. Sign up for a session here. All sessions commence at 10 AM and will be held in the Campus North Residential Commons classrooms.

• Saturday, January 18
• Saturday, February 15
• Saturday, March 15

Inquiries

General inquiries about the Resident Head position can be made by emailing hrlrecruitment@uchicago.edu