Student Employment and Leadership Opportunities

RAs are student staff members in the Office of Housing and Residential Life and members of Berklee's Office of Campus Life. RAs fulfill a vital role in the residence hall system by helping students integrate learning experiences gained from both inside and outside the classroom. The primary function of the RA is to facilitate interpersonal relationships and to create living situations that maximize the opportunities for students to learn and grow. 

RAs are full-time undergraduate students and must be enrolled in a degree-granting program each semester, taking no less than 12 credits. They report directly to a full-time professional staff member and are expected to work closely with other staff members within the building as well as across campus. Emphasis is placed on the concept that the RA is an active and integral staff member of the campus community. An RA has a position of responsibility and leadership that extends beyond the immediate scope of their own floor. 

RA applications open late in the fall semester and are due early in the spring semester. Visit the Student Leadership Programs page (login required) for information on upcoming student leader information sessions, or reach out to your RA for more information. 

Residence Hall Association (RHA) provides Berklee students with a volunteer leadership opportunity that will complement and enhance their experience as artists and musicians during their time in the residence halls. The students in RHA manage a budget, put on events for the residential community, and serve as a liaison between the residents and the staff. Students in RHA will learn skills and be exposed to topics such as budget management, collaboration, project management, data collection, and event facilitation. This is the perfect opportunity for students who are looking to become more involved in their residence hall and want to occupy a student leadership role. 

The summer RA is a student member of the residential education staff who works in the residence halls roughly 30 hours per week during the summer, assisting with the Aspire: Five-Week Music Performance Intensive and additional programs that use the residence halls during this time. Summer RAs are expected to know all of the residents on their floor, serve as a resource for them, and assist with roommate conflicts and academic concerns. Summer RAs must be devoted to helping students learn how to live successfully in the residence halls by enforcing regulations in a fair and consistent manner. They are required to be mature, exercise good judgment, and be able to handle potentially negative situations in a constructive way. Summer RAs will also perform various administrative tasks, such as making reports, performing rounds of the building, issuing supplies, assisting with check-in and check-out, and more. 

Summer RAs are chosen during the process for selecting academic year RAs; you can apply for both positions or only one. Summer RA applications open late in the fall semester and are due early in the spring semester. Visit the Student Leadership Programs page (login required) for information on upcoming student leader information sessions, or reach out to your RA for more information.