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General Overview
RHA History
RHA Representative
RHA Staff
Hall Association Applications

General Overview:

The Residence Hall Assembly (RHA) of the University of California, Berkeley is a student-run government body structured around the importance of providing student representation in the decisions that affect them and their community. Representing over 6000 students in UCB’s residential community, the assembly is an important link to the Berkeley community and campus. The assembly’s mandate is to “improve the quality of life in the residence halls” and with this in mind RHA works with the division of Residential and Student Service Programs, campus officials, the City of Berkeley, residence hall systems throughout the continent and other on campus organizations.

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RHA History:

The Residence Hall Assembly grew out of the President’s Council in 1998. The President’s Council was a weekly meeting of all Hall Presidents to discuss issues regarding the system as a whole. In 1998, RHA was established. This assembly allowed for Presidents to stay focused on their individual hall needs. The RHA Representative was the new voice of their hall association in system wide matters. The organization has continued to grow since its founding in 1998, making it what it is today.
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RHA Representative:

Each of the University’s Residence Halls has one or two residents that serve a year-long term as an RHA Representative. During the academic year, the RHA Representatives assemble at the weekly meeting to discuss issues and plan events that better the residence hall community. RHA Representatives also meet in weekly committee meetings that focus on a specific aspect of RHA’s mission. Overall responsibilities include:
1. Position is a 1 year term, both fall and spring semesters. Each representative has 1 vote in the Residence Hall Assembly. If a co-Representative, then they receive ½ vote each.
2. To attend weekly hall association and executive meetings
3. To participate in and support through attendance and assistance the efforts and events of hall association
4. To represent the hall association at the Residence Hall Assembly meetings; serve as liaison between your hall community and the body of representatives from all campus residence halls (serving the 6000 residence hall students)
5. Must attend and participate in weekly RHA meetings, serve on one committee and assist with planning and participation in all RHA sponsored programs and activities
6. Vote on Assembly Bills and funding Sponsorships for programs, events and advocacy for residence hall and/or campus community
7. Carry out other duties as set forth in the bylaws and residence hall constitution or assigned by the hall association

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RHA Staff Positions:

RHA has a six member executive staff that organizes and facilitates RHA initiatives, advises RHA committees, and serves numerous other purposes that are necessary for the day to day operations of RHA.

President Duties
1. Preside over assembly and staff meetings and develop agendas
2. Schedule guest speakers for assembly and staff meetings
3. Administer RHA policies (requires knowledge over the RHA constitution and bylaws)
4. Advise high level administrators in Residential & Student Service Programs (RSSP) and the community
5. Write the Communiqués to RSSP Directors, Resident Directors, ASUC, NRHH staff and other officials
6. Maintain relations with the Resident Directors, Program Assistants, Hall Staff, NRHH Staff, Assembly through on-going communication as well as weekly RHA announcement emails
7. Stay updated with staff activities, advise, and motivate staff through regular contact as well as facilitate one-on-one meetings with RHA staff
8. Delegate additional responsibilities as needed
9. Serve on RSSP and campus-wide committees to represent the student population living in the residence halls
10. Visit RHA committees as necessary
11. Support a link to Hall Associations and Executive Committees (Ex Comm)
12. Coordinate, plan, facilitate, and execute Ex Comm Training along with RHA staff
13. Support all RHA programs and conferences
14. Ensure a smooth transition for successor by providing detailed wrap-up report for position as well as hold transition meetings

Vice President of Public Relations and Development Duties
1. Serve in the role of President in the absence of the actual President
2. Serve as facilitator of the hall association president roundtable meetings/listserve
3. Serve as a resource to hall associations for community service opportunities
4. Create publicity within the residence halls, including RHA newsletter and/or e-letter
5. Pilot projects to increase RHA presence and awareness in the residence halls, campus and larger community
6. Explore collaborative efforts with other organizations to achieve common goals
7. Type, copy and distribute minutes of executive staff meetings
8. Organize representative social activities for assembly bonding
9. Help representatives build a balanced identity between the assembly and hall association executive committee
10. Motivate and recognize representatives
11. Plan RHA banquet and leadership recognition event in conjunction with NRHH
12. Serve as historian
13. Ensure a smooth transition for successor by providing detailed wrap-up report for position as well as hold transition meetings

Fall 2008 VP of Public Relations and Devlopment Wrap-Up Report

Vice President of Administration and Finance Duties
1. Oversee assembly committee structure
2. Keep track of RHA finances budget
3. Design and maintain sponsorship applications
4. Keep sponsorship applicants updated on status of sponsorships
5. Serve as advisor and resource to the finance committee
6. Plan and execute fundraising opportunities
7. Maintain organization and functionality of RHA office
8. Work with historian to maintain RHA records and office files
9. Develop and update RHA website
10. Ensure a smooth transition for successor by providing detailed wrap-up report for position as well as hold transition meetings

Fall 2008 VP of Administrartion and Finance Wrap-Up Report

Vice President of Programming Duties
1. Oversee the execution and planning of RHA annual programs: Dance & Casino Night, All Hall-O-Ween, Bearfest, Spring Program, and Boat Dance
2. Serve as advisor and resource to all programming committees
3. Organize system-wide programs
4. Maintain consistent, quality communication between Residential & Student Service Programs (RSSP) and Hall Staff to ensure the quality of programs
5. Ensure a smooth transition for successor by providing detailed wrap-up report for position as well as hold transition meetings
6. Encourage participation within the Residence Hall Assembly, Hall Associations and general residents in planning processes of programs
7. Strive to improve the quality of RHA programs each year

Fall 2008 VP of Programming Wrap-Up Report-All-Hall-O-Ween

Vice President of Communication and National Communication Coordinator-Duties
1. Serve as parliamentarian
2. Oversee RHA rep training and retreat
3. Maintain and update the constitution
4. Serve as National Communications Coordinator (NCC)
5. Maintain affiliation to NACURH
6. Write and submit bids for regional and national awards with other staff help
7. Utilize NACURH and PACURH resources to help RHA with goals
8. Utilize NACURH Information Center (NIC)
9. Serve as advisor and resource to the internal affairs committee.
10. Ensure a smooth transition for successor by providing detailed wrap-up report for position as well as hold transition meetings

Fall 2008 VP of Communications and National Communications Coordinator Wrap-Up Report

Vice President of Advocacy and Outreach- Duties
1. Counsel disputes between residents and Office of Student Development: Residential Living (OSD: RL)
2. Oversee RHA representation in various committees, both in RSSP and larger community
a. Representation on behalf of residents.
b. Representation on behalf of RHA
c. Representation on behalf of various committees and relay their information back to the residents
3. Explore collaborative efforts with other organizations to achieve common goals
4. Act as an advocate for all units within Residential & Student Service Programs (ie Facilities, Dining, Residence Life, Academic Services, etc).
a. Maintain an e-mail that will collect complaints or concerns and categorize them as such that they can provide data for RSSP at the end of the year.
5. Maintain a working knowledge of policies and procedures found within "Bear Necessities: Guide to Living on Campus".
6. Maintain/improve RHA reputation, branding and appreciation of hall staff through Of The Month Awards (OTMs) on a regional/national level.
7. Create a minimum of one advocacy and outreach program per semester (active or passive).
8. Serve as advisor and resource to the advocacy and outreach committee
9. Ensure a smooth transition for successor by providing detailed wrap-up report for position as well as hold transition meetings.

Fall 2008 VP of Advocacy and Outreach Wrap-Up Report

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