WEST LIBERTY, W.Va., Sept. 19, 2017 — West Liberty University hired more Resident Assistants this fall due to the reopening of two dorms, Boyd and Rogers Hall. The RAs are enthusiastic and busy planning the many fall activities, including the annual Haunted Hall event scheduled for Halloween (Oct. 30 and 31) and taking place in Shotwell Hall this year.
“This fall has included several changes with our RA staff,” said Luke Tacosik, a 2014 graduate of WLU and former RA himself. “We reopened two dorms and combined two of the RA staffs of Curtis and Bonar Halls and Rogers and Boyd so these RAs can share the work loads and get to know more residents. It’s been going well.”
Originally from Belmont, Ohio, Tacosik enjoyed working in the Office of Housing and Student Life so much that he stayed on after earning his undergraduate degree and went on to earn a Master’s in Organizational Leadership degree at WLU. He is now in his second year as the area coordinator, meaning he supervises the RAs. Kimber Fox also is an area coordinator.
WLU maintains seven residence halls (Beta, Boyd, Bonar, Curtis, Hughes, Krise and Rogers). Boyd and Rogers halls now house students in private rooms at the regular room rate, with no additional cost for the private room, an option that has proved popular this fall.
Additionally, there are apartments available at University Place I and II, and the Commons, plus a few houses offering specialty housing and six rustic cabins.
“Student housing is very important and we work hard to provide a variety of options to students,” he added.
President Stephen Greiner even plans on adding more housing options in the near future since campus improvements and student satisfaction are important to him and to the Board of Governors.
The RAs are generally motivated students who enjoy campus life enough to get involved and help others make the most of the many clubs, activities and academic support offered at West Liberty University.
Duties include programming with residents on their floors, weekly meetings and duty nights from 4 p.m. – midnight. RAs also make “rounds” to ensure that our students are in compliance to our policies and procedures and perform health and safety inspections monthly.
“Our RAs also help out with admissions events and help us with prospective student tours. They are great ambassadors for a West Liberty education,” he said.
The RAs receive a room and board waiver for all their hard work.
“Just as important is the fact that RAs gain valuable working experience and good life experience to apply for jobs later. We ask a lot out of these students but they gain important time management skills, organizational skills, critical reasoning abilities and communication skills.”
For RAs that move up, the next step is Hall Director, which means that these students manage the halls that Tacosik and Fox don’t actually live in.
“Every residence hall has a staff of Resident Assistants who act as representatives of Student Life staff. The RA’s are skilled para-professionals who have been trained in many areas to make the student’s experience in the residence hall healthy, safe, fun, educational and memorable, which is our goal for all Hilltoppers,” said Executive Director Marcella Snyder, who supervises the Housing and Student Life staff.
Its main office is located on the first floor of Rogers Hall.