The residence life “RA” can go by many names… Resident Assistant, Resident Advisor, Community Living Assistant, Community Advisor, Resident Mentor, etc. Finding quality materials and resources related to the “RA” position in residence life and college student housing can be difficult. The following are curated resources to help you improve your practice.

If you have a resource that you think we’re missing, let us know. We aim to keep this as up-to-date as possible.



Blog Posts and Web Articles


Video

ResEd Chat Podcast: Designing Effective Behind Closed Doors
MACUHO Webinar: Creating Virtual RA Training

ACUHO-I Online Coures


Magazines and Other Published Pieces

  • Green, D., Bollinger, J., Blattner, A., & Gonzalez, J. (2011, September-October). Rethinking resident assistant training. Talking Stick, 29, 44-46, 51. Columbus, OH: Association of College and University Housing Officers-International.

Dissertations


Books, Research, and Journal Articles

  • Bowman, R. L., & Bowman, V. E. (1995). Academic courses to train resident assistants. Journal of College Student Development, 36, 39–46.
  • Bowman, R. L., & Bowman, V. E. (1998). Resident assistant training: Current practices in in-service and retreat-based formats. The Journal of College and University Student Housing27(1), 20–26.
  • Elleven, E. K., Allen, J., & Wircenski, M. (2001). Resident assistant training: A Southwestern perspectiveCollege Student Journal, 35(4), 609–619.
  • Hipple, J., Weston D., & Harris M. (1975). Sex differences in resident advisor training programs. Journal of College Student Personnel, 16(1), 34-39.
  • Jaeger, A. J., & Caison, A. L. (2006). Rethinking criteria for training and selection: An inquiry into the emotional intelligence of resident assistants. NASPA Journal, 43, 144–156.
  • King, A. R. (2012). A social-justice-based resident assistant (RA) training program on a midsized rural community college campus. Community College Journal of Research and Practice, 36(12). https://doi.org/10.1080/10668920903182708
  • Koch, V. A. (2016). Current practices in resident assistant training. Journal of College & University Student Housing, 42(3), 80-97.
  • Peterman, D., Pilato, G., & Upcraft. M. L. (1979). A description and evaluation of an academic course to increase interpersonal effectiveness of resident assistants. Journal of College Student Personnel, 20, 348-352.
  • Petryk, T., Thompson, M. C., & Boynton, T. (2013). Building multicultural residential communities: A model for training student staff. In S. K. Watt & J. L. Linley (Eds.), Creating successful multicultural initiatives in higher education and student affairs (New Directions for Student Services, 144, 69–78). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. doi: 10.1002/ss.20070
  • Schilling, K. L. (1977). Impact of a training course on personal development of resident assistants. NASPA Journal, 14, 33-37.
  • Schroeder, C. C. (1976). Adventure training for resident assistants. Journal of College Student Personnel, 3, 30-32.
  • Servaty-Seib, H. L., & Taub, D. J. (2008). Training faculty members and resident assistants to respond to bereaved students. In H. L. Servaty- Seib & D. J. Taub (Eds.), Assisting bereaved college students (New Directions for Student Services, 121, 51–62). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
  • Taub, D. J., & Servaty-Seib, H. L. (2011). Training resident assistants to make effective referrals to counselingThe Journal of College and University Student Housing, 37(2), 10–24.
  • Taub, D. J., Servaty-Seib, H. L., Miles, N., Lee, J. Y., Wachter Morris, C. A., Prieto-Welch, S. L., & Werden, D. (2013). The impact of gatekeeper training for suicide prevention on university resident assistants. Journal of College Counseling, 16, 64–78.
  • Thombs, D. L., Gonzalez, J. M. R., Osborn, C. J., Rossheim, M. E., & Suzuki, S. (2015). Resident assistant training program for increasing alcohol, other drug, and mental health first-aid efforts. Prevention Science, 16(4), 508-517. doi:10.1007/s11121-014-0515-x
  • Wesolowski, M., Bowman, R., & Adams, V. (1996). RA training: A comparison of cognitive, vicarious, and experiential modalities. The Journal of College and University Student Housing, 26(1), 30–38.
  • Whitney, R., Early, S., & Whisler, T. (2016). Create a better flow through sequencing resident assistant training, The Journal of College and University Student Housing, 43(1), 28-43.