Apply to be an RA/NA
What is an RA/NA?
Resident Assistants (RA) / Neighborhood Assistants (NA) play an important role in creating community, serving as resources for other students, and being peer leaders.
Live-in student staff are committed, invested, and active members of the community. They provide a vital link between Student Life staff and the student body by utilizing training in education and curriculum dissemination, leadership, peer counseling, crisis intervention, cross-cultural communication, and activities planning.
Application timeline for 2026-27 RA/NA positions
October 30, 2025: Handshake Application* available
November 24, 2025 by 5:00 pm: Handshake Application deadline
November 5–November 20, 2025: Attendance at one (1) Information Session is REQUIRED for all applicants, except those who are presently hired as an RA/NA
November 24, 2025: Supplemental Application* emailed to students who complete the Handshake application
December 5, 2025 by 5:00 pm: Supplemental Application* deadline
January 12-16, 2026: Individual interviews
February 6, 2026: Decisions sent to candidates
* To be considered, all candidates must complete both a Handshake AND Supplemental application.*
For more information on RA/NA positions, contact lead@ucsc.edu
Applications for the 2026-27 academic year
Colleges Resident and Neighborhood Assistant
Position description: Colleges Resident Assistant (RA)/Neighborhood Assistant (NA) (PDF)
For positions at one of UCSC’s 10 colleges, apply in the Colleges RA/NA Application on Handshake
ARCH Resident Assistant
Position description: Affiliated Residential Community Housing (ARCH) Resident Assistant (RA) (PDF)
ARCH areas included in this recruitment are The Village, University Town Center, and a new apartment community being built near Delaware Ave. and Swift St.
RA/NA Information Sessions
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, November 5 | 9:00–10:00 a.m. | Namaste Lounge |
| Wednesday, November 5 | 6:00–7:00 p.m. | Cultural Center at Merrill |
| Monday, November 10 | 5:00–6:00 p.m. | Zoom, Passcode: 131229 |
| Tuesday, November 11 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. | FSH 712 Lounge |
| Wednesday, November 12 | 3:00–4:00 p.m. | Stevenson Apartments Community Room |
| Thursday, November 13 | 5:30–6:30 p.m. | Oakes Learning Center |
| Sunday, November 16 | 12:00–1:00 p.m. | Zoom, Passcode: 492792 |
| Sunday, November 16 | 6:00–7:00 p.m. | Village Lounge (F5 Bldg) |
| Monday, November 17 | 7:15–8:00 p.m. | I-Lounge |
| Tuesday, November 18 | 7:00–8:00 p.m. | UTC 4th Floor Community Room |
| Thursday, November 20 | 6:00–7:00 p.m. | Zoom, Passcode: 679684 |
Additional information
For more information on RA/NA positions, reach out to us at lead@ucsc.edu.
Career Center Workshop
Interview Preparation
Check out interviewing resources
The RA/NA position is a casual restricted student employment role that requires onboarding. As part of the onboarding process, you must provide documentation that establishes your identity and employment authorization. Please contact Career Success at ucscel@ucsc.edu if you have any questions.