Few University faculty or staff positions have closer involvement in the lives of College students than the Resident Head 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.
Application materials & Important Information:
Resident Head Application for 2023-2024
Dean of Students Approval Form for 2023-2024
Resident Head Recommendation Form for 2023-2024
Resident Head FAQs for 2022-2023
Resident Head Job Description from 2022-2023
RH Information Session: All candidates must attend one information session (couples are encouraged to attend together)
We are asking that all interested parties attend one (1) of the informational sessions we are hosting to learn more about the position and the interview process. Please follow the link below to let us know which session you will be attending.
Link to sign up for an information session: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0949A8A82BA4FAC34-resident
If you have any issues with the sign up process, please contact Senior Assistant Director of Residence Life Jessica Beaver at jbeaverhollman@uchicago.edu
Resident Assistants, also known as 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.
All Resident Assistants candidates are required to attend one of the information sessions offered during the RA selection period. These sessions provide critical information regarding the process and what to expect from the RA position. For further questions, please contact us at (773) 702-7366 to speak with or arrange an appointment to meet with one of the Assistant Directors of Housing & Residence Life. All RA candidates should also speak with Financial Aid to discuss their individual financial aid package prior to accepting the RA position.
RA Information Sessions for Candidates for 2023-2024:
All information sessions will be in person for the 2023-2024 RA selection period. If you are unable to attend one of the seven information sessions below, please contact housingselection@uchicago.edu directly. Please use the google link below to sign up for a time slot. More information to follow.
Google Link: https://forms.gle/ZywKgCtVnoVfRfFr7
Information Session Dates & Times:
Application Materials & Important Information about the RA Selection Process for 2023-2024:
RA Eligibility, Qualification Criteria, Terms of Appointment, & Time Commitment
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.
Please contact your Resident Deans for more about their expectations for this role and application information.
Outside of resident staff, Resident Heads (RHs) and Resident Assistants (RAs), House O-Aides are an integral part of the welcoming group for incoming first-year students in each House. House O-Aides are volunteer returning residents, who have been through their own Orientation experience and are excited to pay it forward. This informal group of House leaders become familiar with all Orientation materials and schedules. They are available to work flexible hours to assist RHs and RAs and specifically to prepare door decks, lounges and common areas prior to the arrival of the incoming class. They host a meeting to inform first-years about the transportation options around Hyde Park and throughout Chicago, including preferred walking and biking routes, use of daytime and NightRide shuttle busses, Metra, ride sharing and the use of their U-Pass for CTA buses and trains. O-Aides plan informal trips around Hyde Park and Chicago throughout O-Week, and attend important events over this period as well, notably, House Activities Day, Resident Deans Activity Night, and the Aims of Education Address and House colloquium.