About the Residential Program Assistant Role (formally known as the Graduate Resident)
Residential Program Assistants (PAs) are key graduate student leaders who play a critical role in supporting, building, and managing a renewed campus community and residential experience centered around the QuadEx residential model. PAs in HRL play a major role in developing healthy and inclusive communities that deliver on the promise of a residential experience that is inspiring, engaging, and fun. The following is designed to provide a general overview of the PA position’s responsibilities.
Key Aspects of the Program Assistant Position
- Serve as a co advisor to a community programming council within the residence hall.
- 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.
Click here to review the full position description.
Program Assistant Eligibility Requirements
- PAs 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.
- PAs 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
- Program Assistants 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.
- PAs are required to attend the entirety of Fall PA Training and Winter PA training.
- Arrive early each semester and leave late at the end of each semester, as scheduled, to coordinate building openings and closings.
- PAs 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).
- PAs may take a total of twelve (12) pre-approved leave days per semester
Have Questions? Email rlselections@duke.edu
The Program Assistant search is closed. If you have any questions please email rlselections@duke.edu.
Want to learn more about the Program Assistant Role? Attend one of the upcoming information sessions this month.
No information sessions at this time.
The Program Assistant position application for next academic year is open to all graduate students (currently enrolled or accepted) at Duke University.
TO APPLY: Please submit the application using this link: https://forms.office.com/r/4Q04R4nfSe Please be prepared that the application will ask you to answer the following prompts:
1. Why you are interested in the PA role.
2. What you hope to gain through your experience as a PA.
3. Outline any previous college student leadership experiences you may have, especially within Residence Life.
The application will also ask for your availability for an interview and to submit your resume a copy of your resume to rlselections@duke.edu. Please note the priority deadline is Friday, March 31st at 11:59p.m (before Midnight).
Applications after this deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis as needed.
Selected candidates will be invited to participate in an interview for the Program Assistant role following a review of your application material.
Due to the limited number of roles and high capacity not all applicants will automatically receive an invitation to interview. Candidates can expect to hear whether they will advance to the interview stage or not by April 3rd the latest.
Program Assistant Interviews will be held April 6th, April 7th, and April 10th during select blocks of time. You will be scheduled for both interviews based on your availability, as communicated through your application.
Interviews will be occurring via Zoom.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Program Assistant Role
Yes. Incoming graduate students or those in the process of applying for a graduate course of study at Duke are welcome and encouraged to apply for the PA role. Our application will ask you to let us know where you are in the application process for Duke. We will ask you to keep us updated during the process on whether or not you will be attending Duke.
No. In order to be eligible to be interviewed, a candidate must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA. HRL reviews the GPA of all candidates prior to the interview process after applications have been submitted.
If you have just been admitted to Duke as a graduate student, we understand you will not have a Duke GPA. Instead, you will be asked to provide your final GPA from your previous institution.
No. In order to be interviewed, a candidate must be in good standing with the University. HRL facilitates a student conduct check on each candidate prior to the interview process.
No. The Program Assistant position is reserved for current or incoming graduate students only.
No (and yes). It is required for all Program Assistant to attend training. HRL does allow for PAs to apply for exceptions to be absent from training for specific academically-related reasons. If you have an academic conflict, please email rlselections@duke.edu.
The majority of our graduate staff apartments are 1-bedroom or studio-style units with a full-size bed, kitchen area, and bathroom. Some units do not have full kitchens. Apartment layouts vary depending on the location. PAs residing in a unit without a kitchen will be given additional meal points.
Yes. We have a few PAs who move to campus with a partner/spouse. Your partner/spouse will be required to complete and pass a background check before moving on-campus with you.
Any additional questions please contact rlselections@duke.edu.