University Housing Helps Students Manage High Cost of Education

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – University Housing at the University of Arkansas does more than provide a place to live for some 4,700 students. This academic year University Housing will pay more than $1.7 million in support to nearly 450 students, helping them meet a significant part of their college expenses. Housing is a self-supporting department of the university so this support comes out of its own budget, directly from the revenue generated through housing contracts. In tough economic times, when many students and their families are struggling to pay for an education, this financial support from University Housing makes an important difference. The bulk of that support goes to 140 students who work as resident assistants in the university’s 12 residence halls during the fall and spring semesters, and another four who work during the summer semesters.

 Resident assistants serve as mentors as well as monitors on each floor of the halls: They are the ones that students go to first for help, whether about a rule violation or a personal problem. Resident assistants have a broad range of duties: from getting new students oriented, to teaching them the campus rules of conduct; from getting students involved in campus activities to explaining meal plan options. Resident assistants are responsible for the safety and security of the students on their halls, but they also work to create a comfortable, engaged community.

There are actually three types of resident assistants: traditional, academic and citizenship, with each type handling additional responsibilities. Academic RAs, for example, host regular study hours and coordinate group sessions for students who are taking the same courses. Citizenship RAs run community forums and encourage students to take part in community service projects.

In return, University Housing pays room and board for each resident assistant, plus an annual stipend: $700 for first year RAs, $900 for second year, $1,100 for third year and $1,300 for fourth year, paid monthly.

Two students work as interior design assistants, helping with the design elements of small and large projects in the halls and are paid, in addition to receiving room and board.

Nine graduate assistants are also employed, some working with administrative services, helping to manage the Duncan Avenue apartments and several Greek houses. One graduate assistant serves as a counselor in residence providing one on one advising, psycho-educational workshops, staff training and consultation. Another graduate assistant works with the University Housing leadership development program, while a third staffs recruitment, training and development efforts.

These students receive tuition, room and board.

In many ways, these are all more than full-time jobs – these students are essentially on call at any time. On the other hand, there are benefits beyond tuition, room and board.

“The resident assistant position is excellent preparation for future full-time employment in a variety of fields because it provides invaluable experience in working with a wide range of people,” said Randy Alexander, executive director of University Housing. “Many recruiters know these are students who have some real life experience, who are willing to accept responsibility and have demonstrated a degree of maturity. Students have also told us that having ‘resident assistant’ on their resume has made a positive difference when they were looking for a job after graduation.”

University Housing also hires 287 students to work part-time in and around the residence halls. The largest group, 139 resident desk assistants, provides desk coverage and assists students in the evening and weekends at the front desk in each hall. Others do maintenance and repair work, provide security services, or serve on the Residents’ Interhall Congress. Another group is essential to the university’s extra summer programs.

“Our summer conference program could not exist without the services these 35 students provide,” said Florence Johnson, director of administrative services for University Housing. “This is especially true when it comes to the Walmart Shareholder meeting. These students prepare the facilities, check visitors in, are on duty responding to calls and performing dozens of other important jobs.

 Housing will pay nearly $243,000 in wages to all of these part-time students during this academic year.