2026 - 2027 Student Staff Applications
Housing & Residence Life is now accepting applications for all student staff positions for the academic year 2026 - 2027. This includes Resident Assistants, Office Assistants, Desk Receptionists, and Night Desk Receptionists. Interested candidates must attend one informational session in order for their application to be considered. If you are not able to attend an in-person Information Session, contact the Student Staff Recruitment Team to learn more information about our online information session.
Information Sessions & Recruitment Timeline
Information Sessions:
Date |
Time |
Location |
Zoom Link |
Tuesday, October 7 |
12:30pm-1:30pm |
Webb Center - River Rooms |
|
Thursday, October 9 |
6:00pm-7:00pm |
Webb Center - Cape Charles/Isle of Wight |
|
Wednesday, October 15 |
5:00pm-6:00pm |
Webb Center - Cape Charles/Isle of Wight |
|
Monday, October 27 |
7:00pm-8:00pm |
Webb Center - SGA Senate Chambers |
|
Thursday, October 30* |
12:30pm-1:30pm |
Webb Center - Hampton Room |
|
Wednesday, November 5 |
8:00pm-9:00pm |
Webb Center - SGA Senate Chambers |
|
Tuesday, November 11 |
5:00pm-6:00pm |
Webb Center - Virginia Rice Webb |
|
Monday, November 17 |
6:00pm-7:00pm |
Webb Center - Hampton Room |
|
Tuesday, December 2 |
12:30pm-1:30pm |
Webb Center - Williamsburg Room |
|
Tuesday, January 20 |
5:00pm-6:00pm |
Zoom Only |
|
Thursday, January 22 |
6:00pm-7:00pm |
Zoom Only |
Recruitment Timeline:
- October 8, 2025: Applications go live.
- November 5, 2025, at 11:59 pm: Priority application deadline for consideration for a Spring 2026 Vacancy
- February 1, 2026, at 11:59 pm: Applications due
- February 8, 2026: RA Group Process (RA ONLY)
- February 12-13, 2026: Individual Interviews
- Late February/Early March, 2026: Employment Notices sent
Resident Assistant
Requirements
Resident Assistant Applicants will be required to complete the following steps to be considered eligible for an interview in the Spring for the following academic year.
- Attend an HRL Information Session 2. Complete the application on your Employment Portal (application will only be released to students that attend information sessions)
- Complete the application on your Employment Portal (application will only be released to students that attend information sessions)
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.75
- Currently not on Conduct Probation
- Have 24 completed credits by August 2026
Responsibilities
- RAs must have completed at least 24 credit hours by the start of employment. Current freshmen may apply for positions as long as they have 24 credit hours by start of their employment.
- Graduate students and incoming undergraduate transfer students are not eligible for the RA position.
- RAs must maintain full-time status (12 credit hours) and maintain at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA.
- RAs must be in good conduct standing (not on conduct probation by the time of employment or while employed) and abide by state and federal law, University policies, Housing & Residence Life policies and procedures, and the Student Code of Conduct while employed by Housing & Residence Life.
- RAs are expected to limit extracurricular activities due to the time commitment and demands of the RA position.
- RAs are not permitted to be student teaching, holding internship positions requiring more than 20 hours per week, or serving as Student Government President, Editor of the Mace and Crown, Student Activities Council President, and/or a member of the Residence Hall Association Executive Board.
- RAs are required to commit to a full academic year of employment. Applicants intending to graduate or study abroad at the end of the fall semester may not be considered for a position.
- Support Housing & Residence Life's mission, facilitate the growth and development of all residents, respect all residents, support and model appreciation of community, and maintain a healthy floor/hall community environment.
- Promote and maintain an environment conducive to academic success for the residential community.
- Plan and implement floor and hall activities, and additionally encourage residents to create and implement activities.
- Serve on duty for after-hours assistance during assigned evening and weekend hours.
- Work four to five non-paid hours at the front desk of their assigned residential community.
- Provide duty and desk coverage during University closings and/or emergencies, including buildings open over break periods.
- Applicants are required to commit to a full academic year of employment.
- All applicants must apply for on-campus housing and sign the Housing & Dining Agreement Terms and Conditions. Additionally at the time of application RAs will be required to pay the $250 housing application fee and deposit (Note: If you are not hired/placed at the conclusion of the hiring process, a period of release will be provided to cancel your Housing & Dining Agreement with no penalty.)
- RAs must attend mandatory fall training in August and winter training in January. (Note: Training dates may be added or altered.)
- $9,500 stipend per academic year and a residence hall room/apartment at the rate of $500 per semester. RAs placed in buildings that remain open during break periods will receive additional compensation for serving on-duty during these periods. Note: RAs are responsible for paying their own meal plan.
- RAs that live in suites will have suitemates assigned during the HRL Return Housing Process. RAs assigned to spaces that are normally reserved for double occupancy will be assigned a roommate at the discretion of Housing & Residence Life.
- International candidates must have all required paperwork (e.g. a work VISA) to obtain work approval through International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).
Desk Staff
Requirements
Office Assistant, Desk Receptionist and Night Desk Receptionist Applicants will be required to complete the following steps to be considered eligible for an interview in the Spring Semester to ultimately be considered for a position during the following academic year:
- Attend an HRL Information Session
- Complete the application on your Employment Portal (application will only be released to students that attend information sessions).
- Have a minimum GPA of 2.5
- Currently not on Conduct Probation
Responsibilities
- DRs must maintain full-time status (12 credit hours) and maintain at least a 2.5 semester and cumulative GPA.
- DRs must be in good conduct standing (not on conduct probation by the time of employment or while employed) and abide by State and Federal law, University policies, Housing & Residence Life policies and procedures, and the Student Code of Conduct while employed by Housing & Residence Life.
- Work to promote an environment that is conducive to academic success for the all Housing & Residence Life Communities and specifically the residential community that they are assigned to.
- Support Housing & Residence Life's mission, facilitate the growth and development of all residents, respect all residents, support and model appreciation of diversity, and maintain a healthy floor/hall community environment.
- Promote and maintain an environment conducive to academic success for the residential community.
- Assist students to feel that each resident is an important member of the residential community that they are assigned to.
- Maintain a positive and professional desk with a customer service orientation.
- Demonstrate care and support for all students of the residential community they are assigned to work in.
- Work collaboratively with the Resident Assistants at the residential community desk they are assigned to (the same applies for the Resident Assistants).
- DRs and NDRsmay be asked to provide desk coverage during University closings and/or emergencies. This is decided on a case by case basis by Housing & Residence Life Leadership.
- Work hours as scheduled by their immediate supervisor and meet with their immediate supervisor one-on-one on a bi-weekly basis.
- Read and become familiar with the 98ÌÃ Student Handbook, HRL Policies and Procedures Handbook, and Desk Receptionist Manual.
- Assist with the completion of front desk projects as determined by their immediate supervisor.
- DRs and NDRs residing in halls that are closed for the break periods will not be allowed to remain in the halls while the buildings are officially closed.
- Must be able to work at least 10-15 hours per week if needed (this includes weekend work). DRs and NDRs may not choose to not work weekends, as weekend work is part of the requirement for the DR and NDR position.
- Obtain approval in writing from their supervisor for requests to switch desk shifts prior to the switch.
- Be present during assigned desk hours. In addition, DRs and NDRs are asked to also be available during times of special needs as determined by their supervisor. These times include but are not limited to the following: Opening and Closing Weekends.
- DRs must attend mandatory fall training in August and winter training in January (Note: Training dates may be added or altered).
- Desk Receptionists: $13.66/hour
- Night Desk Receptionists: $16.16/hour
- International candidates must have all required paperwork (e.g. a work VISA) to obtain work approval through International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS).
Graduate Student Staff Recruitment
Housing & Residence Life employs 8-12 graduate assistants each year, primarily as Assistant Hall Directors. The Assistant Hall Director (AHD) position in Housing & Residence Life is a live-in graduate assistantship position that includes evening and weekend hours and live-in responsibilities. The AHD assists the Residence Hall Director (RHD) in the daily management and development of a residence hall program that fosters an environment that is conducive to personal, academic, and social growth. Principal AHD duties include RA supervision, student/community development through the Community Learning Model (CLM), community council, adjudicating conduct cases, addressing facilities concerns, and participation in an on-call rotation.
Any interested graduate candidates should reach out to 98ÌÃHRLGradRecruit@odu.edu for more information and a link to the application.
Qualifications
Assistant Hall Directors must have completed an undergraduate degree and have relevant residence life experience. The Assistant Hall Director must be enrolled as a full-time graduate student as defined by 98ÌÃ. While a particular graduate program is not required, priority and hiring preference is given to Assistant Hall Directors enrolled in a graduate program within the Higher Education department.
The Assistant Hall Director (AHD) position is a 10-month, part-time (20 hours per week) appointment with an annual stipend of $18,000, equating to $1,800 per month. AHDs receive a fully-furnished apartment during their employment, a subsidized rate for a reserved parking spot on campus, and a meal plan which includes 160 meal swipes and $3,000 flex dollars per year. Additionally, 98ÌÃ offers 61% tuition coverage for out-of-state students. Professional Development opportunities are provided to AHDs.
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Work collaboratively and promote good relationships with other internal and external campus partners.
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Support the mission and efforts of the Residential Curriculum
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Assists in the development and implementation of community experiences that address the needs of students in a diverse living-learning environment.
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Initiate and implement, with the assistance of the RHD, on-going training and staff development activities for students, such as motivation, confrontation, helping skills, handling crisis situations, housing policies, etc.
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Facilitate meetings with residents throughout the year to explain University and departmental policies and procedures.
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Refer students with personal concerns and needs to the appropriate campus resources and campus agencies within a timely manner.
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Recruit, select, train, develop, supervise, and evaluate a staff of Desk Receptionists and Night Desk Receptionists. Support a Residence Hall Director with a staff of Resident Assistants.
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Develop scheduling and implement staffing practices for Desk Receptionists and Night Desk Receptionists
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Maintain scheduled office hours and work schedule. This schedule should be designed so that the AHD is accessible and available to students and staff. On average, AHDs will work 20 hours per week, not including any on-call responsibilities.
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Respond to concerns, requests, and inquiries within a timely manner.
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Develop and awareness of campus resources to be better able to refer and assist students and parents.
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Support, implement, enforce, and interpret University and Housing & Residence Life policies and procedures
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Serve in a weekly on-call rotation for a residential campus of approximately 4,8000 students
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Respond to parent and student concerns regarding crisis and emergencies in a timely and professional manner
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Serve as essential personnel in the event of a Housing & Residence Life emergency.
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Serve as a hearing officer for the Office of Student Accountability and Academic Integrity for the adjudication of residence hall policy violations