Being a university student isn't easy, and sometimes students need a little support. That's where the residence advisor comes in.

Residence advisors are peers, students who are going through the same challenges, but who are trained to support, coach and mentor peers.
They live in each community to help foster a safe and engaged living and learning environment.
Plan events for the community
Residence is an amazing opportunity to learn new skills, explore personal identity and values, gain an understanding of new perspectives, learn about CapU resources and get to know more people in our community.
To facilitate this learning, once a month each residence advisor hosts an event for the community that targets the intentional learning outcomes for students living in residence.
Host monthly floor meetings
Each floor has a unique group of students who are living in a shared space. Each community has various priorities and challenges that can be facilitated through a group discussion.
The residence advisor hosts a monthly floor meeting to share upcoming events, community updates and hear any ideas or concerns from community members.
Some of the things discussed include the community guidelines for the communal spaces, noise levels and upcoming maintenance requirements.
Complete on-call shifts
In the evenings, most students are in residence to study, hang out with friends or rest. To help ensure a safe and respectful environment, residence advisors do rounds of the community.
You'll have the opportunity to connect with students while you are on rounds of the building. One of the residence advisors holds the on-call phone which allows students to reach out if there is a need for support.
Work on a dynamic team
The residence advisor team is composed of up to 12 student staff members. You will have the opportunity to meet new people, collaborate on amazing events, and be part of a team working towards the same goal. As a team, we work together to support students and each other.
Emergency response
We believe in preparing for the worst and hope for the best. During training, you will have an opportunity to learn all of the emergency procedures for student housing.
In the event of a situation that requires an emergency response, you'll be able to help facilitate the safety of the community with your knowledge and expertise.
All residence advisors are trained as fire safety floor wardens and each residence advisor must have first aid training.
Build community
Residence advisors are often the first point of contact for student concerns and the person to organize events or activities for their community.
As the person who both facilitates concerns and is building connections with the community members, you have the opportunity to take a 360-degree approach to support students through the good times as well as the challenges.
Meet with students one-on-one to provide support
Being a student can be really challenging, but Capilano University has some amazing services that can help students overcome these challenges.
This is why, during key points of the year, residence advisors connect with each student on a one-on-one basis to see how everything is going and if support is needed.
Residence advisors are full-time students with good academic standing. RA's are required to maintain this standing throughout the duration of their contract.
Additionally, residence advisors must abide by the residence standards, have a valid certification for emergency first aid with CPR/AED Level C or higher, and they must have completed a minimum of one semester at a university.
- You love interacting with people and helping to connect people with resources
- You would like to be part of a tight-knit community
- You believe in celebrating diversity
- You want to work on a small team of peers
- You are interested in working a part-time job during university
- You would like to increase your knowledge about the resources available at Capilano University and in Vancouver
- You are looking to expand your skills and certificates
All residence advisors are compensated with a single-dorm room and a meal plan. Part of the meal plan includes $300 dining dollars to spend on campus.
Additionally, you will receive training that will expand your skills and help develop your professional resumé.
See also:
- Review the Residence Advisor Job Description (pdf)
- Review the Senior Residence Advisor Job Description (pdf)