Resident assistants (RAs) are expected to be problem solvers, effective communicators, and strategic thinkers. They must also foster a sense of community and serve as empathetic mentors. Recognizing the need for leadership skills in these roles, the Residential Education leadership team has developed a program that allows RAs to earn academic credit for their work.
Alysse Kavanagh, associate director of first-year residential experience and LLCs; Keeosha Hamlet, assistant director at Chapin Apartments; Richard Czyzyk, assistant director at West Apartments; and Urszula Zalewski, director of experiential education at the Career Center, collaborated to create an experiential learning course called RA EXP+.
“[We] have long envisioned bridging the RA experience with academic recognition by offering course credit for their work. Developing a meaningful and impactful curriculum required careful planning and collaboration,” said Kavanagh.
Throughout the 2023/2024 academic year, the team worked with Zalewski and Associate Vice President for Career Readiness Mariana Savoca, along with Campus Residences staff including Unity Watts-Bailey and Michelle Singletary. Together they developed a comprehensive program aimed at enhancing professional and leadership development for RAs.
The program follows a cohort-based model that began in 2024 with seven students. This group will continue until 2026. The next cohort is planned for Spring 2026, with potential expansion due to increased interest.
“The cohort-based model was chosen to best support our students’ needs while fostering an interactive learning environment that emphasizes collaboration, group work, and effective communication,” said Kavanagh.
RA EXP+ uses a backward design model focused on learning outcomes rather than content. This approach aligns assignments with overarching goals to help students achieve specific objectives.
Eligibility requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0, returning resident assistant status, good academic standing, and a recommendation from their direct supervisor.
Hamlet emphasized that this program extends beyond typical RA duties: “Not only are these students in an interactive learning environment but they top it off with a Capstone project designed to foster critical thinking...”
Czyzyk added: “With a strong emphasis on professionalism...students critically engage with and refine competencies necessary for professional growth.”
Emily Cappiello contributed reporting on this story.