RA Selection

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Group Process Activities

These are activities that can be used in the "group process" of RA selection. "Group process" is fading in popularity for a variety of reasons, but if your department uses this process, consider these activities. They can also be used as Teambuilders or to develop other skills.  

In this activity, participants determine who will avoid nuclear destruction by entering the fallout shelter. This activity can be used to examine critical thinking, support one's ideas, and reach consensus. I was introduced to this exercise by Idonas Hughes, Student Conduct Administrator at California State University at Monetery Bay. Its origins are unknown.


In this activity, participants have hypothetically wrecked on the moon. They need to determine which supplies they are going to take with them on their 200-mile journey to the mother ship. This activity can be used to examine critical thinking, support one's ideas, and reach a consensus. I was introduced to this exercise by Idonas Hughes, Student Conduct Administrator at California State University at Monterey Bay. Its origins are unknown.

In this activity, participants play a Clue-like game to determine the what, who, when, and why of a crime. This activity can be used to examine critical thinking, communication, and reach a consensus.  I was introduced to this exercise by Idonas Hughes, Student Conduct Administrator at California State University at Monterey Bay. Its origins are unknown.

In this activity, participants determine who is responsible for the death of one of the characters. This activity can be used to examine critical thinking, support one's ideas, and reach a consensus. I was introduced to this exercise by Idonas Hughes, Student Conduct Administrator at California State University at Monterey Bay. Its origins are unknown.

This activity presents the participants with several tasks they may encounter as an RA. They have to prioritize the tasks based on how they would respond to them.

RA Applications 

RA Application #1 - This application originated from Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY

RA Application #2 - This application originated from Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, NY

Position Descriptions & Hiring Paperwork

This document consists of 3 items: 


I did not create these and these are not specific to my staff. These were from the central Office of Residence Life and set for all Resident Assistants.

RA Interview Questions & Evaluation Sheets

This set of RA interview questions originated (to my knowledge) from Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY between the years of 2000-2010.

This is another set of RA interview questions placed in an evaluation sheet. These were used for a mid-year hiring process for a few people, rather than the large-scale hiring process. This set of questions originated from the U of Mary Washington.