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Graduate Assistant Positions in Residence Life

Home Leadership experiences Graduate Assistant Positions in Residence Life

Available Grad Specific Positions & Application Process

Have any questions about the info below? Email rlselections@duke.edu

Applications for the 2025- 2026 Academic Year are now closed. Should positions open up, this website will be updated.

Positions

Assistant Residence Coordinator

Assistant Residence Coordinators (ARCs) in Housing and Residence Life play a major role in supporting department initiatives by developing healthy and inclusive communities that deliver on the promise of a residential experience that is inspiring, engaging, and fun. This is done through direct oversight of a residential community, supervision of student staff members, and collaboration with Residence Coordinators for programmatic and student support. There are available positions on both East and West campuses. These positions will live on campus and serve in the graduate on-call rotation.

Program Assistants

Residential Program Assistants (RPAs) in Housing and Residence Life play a major role in supporting department initiatives by developing healthy and inclusive communities that deliver on the promise of a residential experience that is inspiring, engaging, and fun. The roles available provide support to Residence Life Hall Council operations and programming as well as support the Residence Life Quadex initiatives. These positions will live on campus and serve in the graduate on-call rotation. 

Functional Program Assistants

Learning and Development

The Functional Program Assistant (FPA) for Student Staff Training will play a vital role in developing and supporting the training, processes connected to the student staff roles within Residence Life. This is a live on position that will provide logistics and administrative support for training and serve in the graduate on-call rotation. 

First Year Programming:

The Functional Program Assistant for First-Year Programming will play a vital role in the development of programming efforts that seek to enhance the first-year experience. This position primarily focuses on the planning and execution of the Devils After Dark experience, which is a late-night, weekend event series that occurs throughout the academic year. In addition to Devils After Dark, the FPA for First-Year Programming will be expected to support greater East Campus-wide initiatives that are programmatic in nature, including but not limited to both Midnight Breakfasts and the Bricks to Stone Ball. This position requires someone who is strong in adaptability, administration, long-term planning, and program / event facilitation. This position will live on campus and serve in the graduate on-call rotation. 

Training, Recruitment, & Selection:

The Functional Program Assistant (FPA) for Student Staff Recruitment will play a vital role in supporting recruitment, and selection processes connected to the student staff roles within Residence Life. This is a live on position that will provide logistics and administrative support for recruitment, and selection processes, assist with the marketing and recruitment efforts for student staff, and serve in the graduate on-call rotation. 

Graduate Resident for Lancaster Commons

Lancaster Graduate Resident in Housing and Residence Life play a major role in supporting department initiatives by developing healthy and inclusive communities that deliver on the promise of a residential experience that is inspiring, engaging, and fun. The roles available provide support to Lancaster Commons operations and programming, live within Lancaster Commons, serve in the on-call rotation for that community, serve as a resource for students, and support community activities held by DISC and other departments.

Key Aspects of our Grad Positions

  • Advise student Groups (Program Assistants)
  • Supervise Residential Assistants (ARCs)
  • Promote student leadership and development to volunteer student leaders. 
  • Contribute to the relational and intellectual development among residents in the residence halls. 
  • Support the programmatic efforts within the residential community. 
  • Serve on a limited on-call duty rotation. 

Eligibility Requirements

  • Candidates must be a full-time enrolled, graduate, or professional degree-seeking student in good academic standing at Duke University. 
  • Must maintain a cumulative 2.5 GPA while in the PA position. 
  • Candidates must also remain in good conduct and disciplinary standing with the university at all times. This includes adhering to all University and Housing & Residence Life policies as outlined in the Duke Community Standard and Housing License. 
  • Must be able and willing to adhere to all positional conditions and expectations.

Important Information

  • Grads are expected to maintain a maximum of 19.9 hours/per week availability for PA related activities. 
  • The term of appointment spans one academic year. Reappointment for an additional academic year is contingent upon satisfactory performance and successful completion of the annual reapplication process. 
  • Grads are required to attend the entirety of Fall Training and Winter training
  • Arrive early each semester and leave late at the end of each semester, as scheduled, to coordinate building openings and closings. 
  • Grads are expected to help provide residential team leadership presence when the residence halls are officially open (including Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Winter Break, Spring Break, and Commencement/Beach Week, as required by the Residence Coordinator/Campus Dean). 
  • Grads may take a total of twelve (12) pre-approved leave days per semester 

Have Questions? Email rlselections@duke.edu

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