Being a Resident Assistant or a CommUNITY Educator is more than just free housing and a line on your resume—it’s a tradition.
RAs are leaders within the residence halls, providing personal and academic guidance to students as they navigate their time at IU, while CUEs are focused on shaping the residential environment to be a place of learning and growth related to community, identity, and social justice.
Ethan Hood, current resident assistant in Walnut Grove Center, began his journey after the positive impact of his first-year RA.
“She really emphasized the community that you get while being an RA and that idea sounded like the perfect fit for me,” he said.
Along with that community comes events that bring residents together for unforgettable memories. Hood’s mock formal event for his Walnut Grove residents was filled with fancy attire, charcuterie boards, sparkling grape juice, and more.
“I had about 30 residents show up, and they all said at the end of the year that that event was a highlight of their year,” he said. “Being able to put on something fun like that for my residents was really fulfilling and is a memory that will stay with me.”
Larger events like the Northwest Block Party give residents and RAs a chance to come together. In a moment that combined creativity and community, an RA from McNutt painted Briscoe Quad RA Xavier DeVany’s face like Spider-Man.
For DeVany, he was inspired to become an RA by his own RA who made his residence hall feel like a home. He also had prior experience working with Residence Life, which made the environment feel familiar once he began his time in the Civic Leaders Center.
“I worked in Bloomington over the summer as a conference assistant, which gave me a taste of what being an RA would be like and solidified my decision to apply,” DeVany said.
If you’re looking for a way to express yourself in the residence halls, consider becoming an RA. Keith Burge, current RA in Wright Quad, showed off his creative side with inspiration from one of 2024’s hit albums.
“Last year, I did a floor theme based on Brat by Charli XCX, which ended up going viral but sadly didn’t land me any brand deals,” he said.
Burge’s advice to future RAs is simple: be yourself.
“While you are in a leadership role, you can be personable and add your own flair to things to make the job more fun,” he said. “You’re able to create a more comfortable environment on your floor and in your building.”
If you’re a natural leader, love being social, or thrive when you bring people together, then becoming an RA or CUE would be a perfect fit.
“You will meet so many people and make so many connections,” Hood said. “If you are at all interested, I think you should apply and see how you feel through the process.”
RA and CUE applications are open now! Submit your application by Wednesday, October 15, on the IU Housing website.
Leave a Reply