RA360: Careers in Residence Life (and Student Affairs)
TL;DR
Residence life and student affairs work can be a career. A number of professional associations provide opportunities to explore this as an undergraduate including mentorship programs, internship opportunities, and conferences. Many professionals also get Masters degrees specifically in Higher Education and Student Affairs.
Do you enjoy your work as a student staff member or student leader so much that you’re thinking about doing it as a career? It’s possible! There are a number of ways to explore if it’s the right choice for you, but ask some of the professionals you work with for the “real talk” about what a career might be like.
Why Residence Life/Student Affairs?
When thinking about pursing a career in student affairs or residence life, know that the work is different from what you may do as an RA, student staff member, or student leader. Seek out mentors to help you understand what the work really entails.
Professional Association Offerings
If you are interested in working in residence life and college student housing, there are three associations you should get to know:
- Association of College and Univesity Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I): The main association for residence life professionals. There are also regional “ACUHO” associations that have more local offerings. Check them out.
- ACPA – College Student Educators International: One of the two main comprehensive student affairs professional associations that covers all aspects of student life, including housing.
- NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education: One of the two main comprehensive student affairs professional associations that covers all aspects of student life, including housing.
All of these associations offer a number of programs and resources that are specially geared towards undergraduate students interested in pursuing a career in the field.
ACUHO-I
- STARS College – A multi-day virtual experience for undergraduate students with a specialized curriculum that pairs you with mentors and allows you to learn more about the student affairs field of residence life and college student housing.
There are also a number of regional associations that will help you get involved. They all hold annual conferences and experiences as well:
NEACUHO | MACUHO | SEAHO | GLACUHO | UMR-ACUHO | SWACUHO | AIMHO | NWACUHO | WACUHO
ACPA
- Careers in Student Affairs Month – CSAM occurs every year in October and professional associations offer a number of special opportunities such as webinars, discounts on membership, and other recourses.
- Graduate Students and New Professionals Community of Practice – One of the entity groups of the Association, specially by and for graduate students and new professionals.
- NextGen – An opportunity for undergraduate students that occurs at the ACPA annual conference every spring, there is a specialized curriculum that pairs you with mentors and allows you to learn more about the student affairs field and start making connections.
NASPA
- Careers in Student Affairs Month – CSAM occurs every year in October and professional associations offer a number of special opportunities such as webinars, discounts on membership, and other recourses.
- NASPA Undergraduate Fellowship Program (NUFP) – A mentoring program for undergraduate students from traditionally underrepresented and historically disenfranchised populations.
- New Professionals and Graduate Students Steering Committee – One of the entity groups of the Association, specially by and for graduate students and new professionals.
ACUHO-I Internships
Looking to gain more experience? Learn what it’s like to work in residence life? Or new student orientation? ACUHO-I and NODA organize summer internship search programs where you can apply to, interview for, and secure internships at colleges and universities. The process for these kick off around December/January of each year. Check out this resource page to learn more about the process.
Graduate Programs
Did you know you can get a masters degree (even a PhD) in student affairs and higher education work? You can. Although not required for all positions, it can help you get a leg up on starting student affairs as a career.
Graduate Program Directory
If you’re looking for Masters programs in higher education and student affairs, the Graduate Program Directory is a great place to start. It allows you to look up programs by multiple criteria and filter the results according to your goals and needs. Another great way to discover programs is by asking other professionals, too!
Other Resources
Questions To Ponder:
- What interests you in pursuing residence life/student affairs as a career?
- Have you talked with your supervisor about it? Other professionals at the university about their path into their role?
- How can you gain more knowledge, either through an internship or other experience?
- Is a Masters degree right for you? It’s not always required, but can help when applying to jobs.
RA360 Outcomes:
RAs and student staff members will be able to:
- Recall where to find resources about careers in residence life or student affairs.
- Determine if a career in residence life or student affairs is good for them.
- Identify graduate masters programs in student affairs.
More To Explore
RA360 is a set of resources organized around skills, topics and competencies relevant to Resident Advisors and similar related student staff positions in college and university residence halls.
