Thank you for your interest in applying to be a Resident Advisor (RA) at SUNY Polytechnic Institute!
RAs are student leaders who demonstrate positivity, kindness, compassion, creativity and who are genuinely interested in the well-being of other students. RAs act as a role model, liaison, and a resource in assisting students navigate living on campus, encouraging involvement in campus events and activities, support and foster an inclusive living and learning environment for all, and possess an understanding including disseminating information regarding institutional policies and procedures.
RAs encourage group interaction, create a positive living and learning environment, and establish relationships with their residents. A key component of being an RA is being present in their assigned hall to build community and to make connections with their residents. RAs must demonstrate respect for all students and foster an inclusive living environment with diverse races, ethnicities, gender identities, and sexual orientation as well as other social identities. Due to job responsibilities and confidential information, RAs are required to sign a Confidentiality and Expectations Contract and the RA Contract when hired.
Eligibility
- Applicants must have one year of academic collegiate experience prior to becoming an RA.
- First-year students may apply during their second semester (to become an RA during their third semester/second year)
- Transfer and graduate students may apply during their first semester at Poly, considering they have previous collegiate experience at another institution.
- Continuing students may apply for fall or spring RA appointment.
- Undergraduate applicants must have a semester and cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or higher. Graduate applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0. Applicants must also maintain the GPA requirement while serving as an RA.
- Students who are on conduct probation are not eligible candidates for RA positions.
- Applicants may not enroll for more than 18 credit hours per semester without prior permission from the Director of Residential Life and Housing. Approved enrollment in more than 18 credit hours will negate eligibility for other employment.
RA Timeline
| Information | Dates |
|---|---|
| Application Opens | February 20, 2026 |
| Application Due | March 4, 2026 |
| Community Conversations Lunch | March 10, 2026 |
| Individual In-person Interviews | March 23-27, 2026 |
| Decisions Emailed | April 3, 2026 |
| Offer Acceptance Deadline | April 7, 2026 |
Benefits & Compensation
The Office of Residential Life and Housing will provide compensation equivalent to the cost of a single room per semester for the academic year in which the RA is on staff. Compensation is granted in the form of a scholarship credit at the beginning of the semester. If the RA is released from their position or if they do not complete responsibilities associated with the final two weeks of the semester, the daily rate of the room will be applied back to the student account on the day of termination. If closing responsibilities are not completed, room rate credit for the two weeks associated with closing responsibilities will be revoked. The student will be responsible for payment and any associated implications related to the financial aid status resulting from scholarship termination due to position separation or failure to complete check out/closing duties as assigned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Employment or paid positions in addition to serving in the role of an RA are generally not permitted. Rare, special circumstances related to specialized academic skills MAY be granted, but must be approved by the supervisor in advance of accepting any other employment opportunity. Additional employment opportunities may not exceed 9 hours per week for any reason. RAs may not be employed in stipend-paid positions that do not define hours per week as 9 or less in the work/employment/position contract.
Benefits include obtaining leadership skills and professional development, obtaining marketable job skill, as well as creating new relationships with students and staff. Additionally, RAs learn about conflict resolution and crisis prevention and intervention. RAs also receive a room scholarship.
No, a resume is not required.
Yes, RAs are allowed to play a team sport.
The RA position may affect your financial aid or scholarship award. To inquire, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 315-792-7210 or email finaid@sunypoly.edu.
Yes, but students who meet the eligibility requirements above must have one year of academic collegiate experience prior to becoming an RA. Students may apply during their second semester (to become an RA during their third semester or second year). RAs must live on campus in their assigned hall.
Yes, but students who meet the eligibility requirements above must have one year of academic collegiate experience prior to becoming an RA. Students may apply during their second semester (to become an RA during their third semester or second year).
RAs don’t have set hours per se. However, they must balance duty and desk shifts including evening and weekend duty as well as overseeing their residents within their assigned areas.
IRAs may have between have 25 to 35 residents depending on their assignment which varies per residence hall/suites.
An Alternate RA is one who has qualified for the position but is not offered a position and is placed on the alternate list. An Alternate RA will remain on the alternate list for the academic year and could be hired should a vacancy occur.
Faculty and staff are invited to engage in casual conversation with the RA candidates during a one-hour lunch. The topics are everyday table conversations and reflections about the candidates’ experiences at SUNY Poly. In this exercise, applicants will get a glimpse of what being an RA entails which may help them decide if this role is a proper fit. At the conclusion, the faculty and staff complete a written evaluation regarding the candidates’ awareness of campus and community issues and their impression of the candidates’ readiness to be peer mentors. The evaluations are then reviewed by Residential Life staff.
The formal interview process is composed of an interview with the Residential Life staff. The interview process will include a category from the RA Application.
Candidates are asked to wear clean, well-presentable attire for the interviews. We recommend something the student is comfortable in. However, pajamas are not appropriate!
No, hall assignments are determined by need and fit for the community.
Yes, but it is necessary for some RAs to remain on campus and to be on duty for fall mid-semester break, Thanksgiving recess, and Spring Break. At the conclusion of each semester, RAs are expected to remain on campus to complete room inspections after all students have departed.
The RA staff is required to arrive on campus for training two weeks prior to the beginning of the fall semester and one week prior to the beginning of the spring semester. The Director of Residential Life and Housing will email the RAs to notify them of the return date and time for the fall and spring semesters. These dates and times are also listed in the Residential Life Advisor Handbook.
RAs are required to return to campus prior to RA training for both fall and spring semesters.
Yes, current RAs have to reapply every year.
Contact Us
For additional information or questions about the RA application process, please email reslife@sunypoly.edu.
