Photo taken by Olivia Jodrey
The Resident Assistant position is fundamental for the positive and welcoming atmosphere that persists year after year in Acadia dorms. The RA position has existed for years, but many changes have been made to improve the position, so that residents can have the best experience on campus.
I interviewed an Acadia alumna who held an RA posting in 1989 to 1990 in Chase Court. She was able to offer unique insight into how the foundation of the RA position has remained the same, however there have been many changes to both improve the experience of the RA, and their residents.
One fundamental feature of the RA position is that they are compensated. This position is a time consuming job, and to make it an enticing position, there are financial incentives. This Acadia alumna pointed out the differences in compensation for this job from the 90s, to present day. During her time as an RA, they were given a $1500 stipend to be applied to their Acadia fees, however this stipend did not cover the cost of their rooms, and only chipped away at their fees. In 2025, the financial incentive to be an RA is significantly more, with the financial stipend covering the cost of their room completely. Could this increase in financial support for the position be due to a lack of interest in students to fill this role. Once work starts to outweigh the reward, interest in the position would inevitably decline, and Acadia could have been left without any RAs.
This Acadia Alumna also offered insight into building events. Like today, RAs were required to host section events for their residence, but the type of events have changed significantly. In the 90s, these events were typically movie nights in the dorm lounge, and occasionally hikes at Cape Split depending on the number of residents with cars, who would be able to carpool to the trail. Currently RAs will host events ranging from ice cream socials, to pumpkin carving, or craft nights. Given this shift, to have a wider range of events to include residents with a variety of interests, it seems like the university may have allocated more funds to RAs to create a more diverse profile of events.
Finally, the application process to be an RA has changed in numerous ways. With the rise of technology, inevitably the RA application has shifted from paper in the 90s, to online in the 2000s. When asked about the application process in the 90s, she wasn’t certain on all the details, but it wasn’t nearly as comprehensive as the applications in 2025 are. She remembers a resume being included on the 90s application, however, now a resume, headshot, and audio recording of why you would make a good fit as an RA are all required to be submitted online, as well as a reference letter to accompany your application. As technology has evolved, Acadia has changed the RA application process to incorporate newer and more efficient methods of communication.
I feel that the changes made to the RA position by the University has allowed for students to have a significantly better experience while in dorms, specifically first year students who do not have experience in communal living or university life. Additionally, the increase in the variety of events has offered an important third space, a place where students can socialize outside of their work and classes. There is a wide variety of events that RAs are now offering that allow for many more people to attend a social event where they can meet others and do so in a safe and sober environment. I feel that because the RAs of the 2020s offer a larger variety of events, they are able to create a very inclusive atmosphere within the residents buildings on campus.
Additionally, I believe the increase in compensation for the RAs reflects how the job description has widened. In 1989 the compensation was around $1500, a fee applied to the student’s account and did not cover their full room cost. When converted with inflation, it would be worth around $3800 in 2025. In reality, RAs in 2025 have their room fees covered which ranges from $6000 to $9000 depending on your building. I believe this increase in pay correlates to the increase in job description. Over the two week August training session that current RAs attend in preparation for the position, they learn how to cultivate a positive atmosphere within a building, and first aid skills in the event of an emergency, including naloxone administration. During the 1990s training, naloxone kit training was not included in the training session leading up to the position. RAs are no longer just here to make the residences atmosphere comfortable, they are also there to ensure physical safety of students and act as the first responder on the scene.
