By Julia Mericle
News Editor
Beginning this year, all resident assistants (RA) will be paid hourly wages rather than a stipend, said Nichole Gonzalez, executive director of residential living.
According to Gonzalez, RAs were previously paid a flat stipend through six installments during the course of the academic year. Gonzalez said the stipend totaled around $6,000 per year.
The current RA payment is $9 an hour. Gonzalez said RAs work an average of 15-20 hours per week, but they might work a few extra hours if they pick up an extra night of duty or respond to an emergency.
Therefore, if an RA works 17.5 hours a week throughout the year, not including the time off for breaks, he or she would earn approximately $5,2000.
According to Gonzalez, RAs will be paid for every task they perform, from making door tags and bulletin boards to being on duty and implementing programs. They will have the opportunity to earn up to the amount they had in previous years.
RA duties have not changed. However, according to Gonzalez, resident assistants plan to decrease their amount of floor programs, which are usually only effective with freshmen.
Instead, Gonzalez said RAs will implement “Bonnie Chats,” or one-on-one meetings between residents and resident assistants.
The change to hourly pay was implemented due to a law that no longer allows payment in the form of stipends.
Gonzalez said she has resisted the transition for the past few years but believes the new system will be positive for the program.
“I wasn’t thrilled about having to move to [hourly pay], because it is more difficult. I have to sign thirty time sheets every other Monday morning, and there is a lot of unknown with it,” Gonzalez said. “But I do believe that this is a more fair system.”
Gonzalez said she believes the new payment method will improve the quality of the RAs work because they are paid in accordance with the requirements and tasks they fulfill rather than the same amount across the board.
After reaching out to several RAs about their thoughts on the new payment system, some responded by saying they were told to withhold comments in regard to the changes in pay.
mericlje13@bonaventure.edu
