Few University faculty or staff positions have closer involvement in the lives of College students than the Resident Head (RH) position in Housing & Residence Life. By living in close proximity to students, Resident Heads 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 the University of Chicago.
Information & Application Materials
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 an RHIT session here. All sessions commence at 10 AM.
| Date | Notes |
|---|---|
| Saturday, November 18 | |
| Saturday, December 16 | |
| Saturday, January 20, 2024 | |
| Saturday, February 17, 2024 | |
| Saturday, March 16, 2024 | Attendance at this session would be in preparation for the 2025-2026 cohort |
| Saturday, April 20, 2024 | Attendance at this session would be in preparation for the 2025-2026 cohort |
| Saturday, May 18, 2024 | Attendance at this session would be in preparation for the 2025-2026 cohort |
| Saturday, June 15, 2024 | Attendance at this session would be in preparation for the 2025-2026 cohort |
| Saturday, July 20, 2024 | Attendance at this session would be in preparation for the 2025-2026 cohort |
| Saturday, August 17, 2024 | Attendance at this session would be in preparation for the 2025-2026 cohort |
General inquiries about the Resident Head position can be made by emailing hrlrecruitment@uchicago.edu
Resident Assistants (RAs), are assigned to the 48 Houses that make up Housing & Residence Life. Simply put, their responsibilities are to assist the Resident Heads in helping to develop House communities that are supportive of the educational mission of the University. This task requires that Resident Assistants serve in several roles. The most common involve serving as an informal counselor to residents in academic or personal matters and providing a variety of activities – social, cultural, recreational and educational – for residents. In addition, Resident Assistants must serve with their Resident Heads 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 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. Sign up for an information session here. If you are unable to attend one of the sessions below, email hrlrecruitment@uchicago.edu.
| Date | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, January 11, 2024 | 8 PM | Woodlawn Residential Commons, East Resident Dean Commons | |
| Monday, January 15, 2024 | 5 PM | Baker Dining Commons (Campus North), Private Dining Room | |
| Wednesday, January 17, 2024 | 6 PM | Campus North Residential Commons, East Resident Dean Commons | |
| Friday, January 19, 2024 | 6 PM | Max Palevsky East Residential Commons, Blue Room | |
| Saturday, January 20, 2024 | 10 AM | Campus North Residential Commons, Classrooms | |
| Monday, January 22, 2024 | 7 PM | International House, Home Room | |
| Saturday, January 29, 2024 | 7 PM | Virtual Session |
Financial Aid Packages
All candidates are strongly recommended to connect with Financial Aid to discuss their individual financial aid package prior to applying.
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 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!
Click Here to Access the Orientation Aide Application
Recruitment Timeline