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Live. Learn. Lead. With UPS!

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2025-2026 Academic Year

Thank you for your interest in applying for a position on the Residence Life Student Staff team at the University of Puget Sound. Staff Selection is an extensive and thorough process; applications will be reviewed to assure that everyone continuing through the selection process meets the minimum qualifications. Final offers for Residence Life will be sent via email. Before applying, please review the Position Description in detail. To be considered, you must complete the New Candidate Application.

Qualities and Skills of Student Leaders

So what qualities and skills does a Residence Life Student Leader have? Here are some of the qualities and skills we are looking for in your application and throughout the interview process:

  • Interpersonal Skills & Boundaries
    • Skills related to building relationships, connections, and understanding of others; as well as being able to develop and maintain strong boundaries.
  • Communication
    • Skills related to receiving, relaying, and understanding complex and challenging information from a variety of sources.
  • Responsibility
    • Skills related to ownership over decisions and actions, accountability, and strong time management.
  • Problem Solving & Critical Thinking
    • Skills related to solving problems and issues in different situations, finding solutions and logical actions to address issues.
  • Teamwork
    • Skills related to working on a team and with other folks through support and a joint commitment to the role, and qualities such as flexibility/adaptability.
  • Support & Care
    • Skills related to supporting others, including emotional intelligence, handling conflict, and supporting the development of others.
  • Leadership
    • Skills related to being a strong community support, advocating, being a positive role model to others, and taking initiative.

IMPORTANT NOTE: We do not expect any one candidate to possess all of the above qualities or skills, an do know that many of these skills are significantly developed during training and even in the role! However, you should take these into account when writing your cover letter for the application.

New candidates are students applying for a Residence Life position who are not currently on the Residence Life team and have never been a Resident Advisor (RA), Resident Community Coordinator (RCC), Resident Programming Assistant (RPA), or Greek House Coordinator (GHC).

Apply Here! 

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Please make sure to read the Position Description page with the requirements of the roles. Your application will have a few questions that you will submit, but you should prepare two things before you begin your application:

  • Resume

    • You should draft a resume showing your experience(s), including jobs, volunteer work, and other experiences that you feel are relevant to consider as part of your application.

  • Cover Letter

    • Your cover letter should be a glimpse into you as a candidate for the Residence Life Student Leader positions, including why you are interested in becoming a Student Leader, and highlighting your skills and qualities that would help make you an outstanding Student Leader.

APPLICATION PROCESS

  • Review the Position Description in detail!
  • Review the Dates to Remember to ensure you can commit
  • Submit completed New Candidate Application online by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2025.
  • Practical Interview: The Practical Interview will be a time where you and other candidates come together and participate in exercises that simulate Student Leaders are often involved in. You will be able to gain an understanding of the position better, as well as observe important values of residence life.  
    • Practical Interviews take place February 8, 2025  from 10 a.m. to noon. 
  • Individual Interviews: Individual interviews will be thirty minutes long, held between February 18, and February 25, 2025 in the Residence Life office. These will be interviews with two professional staff from the Student Experience Department. You will sign up for your interview time at the Practical Interview.
  • Final decisions will be made by March 7, 2025 via email.

 

Important Dates to remember

November 15, 2024 6:00 p.m. Wheelock Rotunda Information session
December 4, 2024 6:00 p.m. in Wheelock Rotunda Information session
January 29, 2025 6:00 p.m. in Tahoma Room Final Information session
January 29, 2025 7:00 p.m. in Tahoma Room Student Leader meet and greet
January 31, 2025 5:00 p.m. Applications due!
February 8, 2025 10 a.m.-noon Practical interview process
February 18-26, 2025 Candidates schedule their date/time at Practical Interview Individual Interviews
March 7, 2025   Final decisions; decision letters sent out via email
March 13, 2025   Deadline to accept position
April 6, 2025 1:00 -5:00 p.m. Spring Orientation/Training

 

Tips on Submitting a Well-Prepared Application

  • Talk to current staff about their experience before preparing your application.
  • Make sure you allow enough time to complete all questions and prepare your resume!
  • Be sure to submit your application on time!
  • Utilize CES's Resume and Cover Letter Guide for pointers.
  • Attend the Residence Life Meet and Greet and one of the Info Nights.