FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: 
Dan Oltersdorf
280 Edwards Hall

Fort Collins, CO
PHONE: (970) 495 4131
EFAX: (707) 276-2054
http://www.residentassistant.com/contact.htm

International Recognition Day Puts the Spotlight on RAs                 

February 16, 2000 is the first annual "International Residence Hall Student Staff Recognition Day."  On the third Wednesday of every February campuses around the world are recognizing those individuals who are hired or volunteer to be the leader of their floor.  While many titles are used to describe this position, the most commonly used is Resident Assistant (RA)."  Student staff in residence halls (or dorms) are the resources for some 3.5 million students living on campuses in the US, and many more around the world.  There are an estimated 100,000 RAs in the US alone, with 50,000 new RAs stepping into the position every year.  

Resident Assistants (RAs) act as a resource, a friend, community builder, and policy enforcer in their residence halls.  On average, each RA has 35 residents on his or her floor.  The RA is responsible for creating an environment conducive to academic success and personal growth.  This responsibility is carried out through various social and educational programming. 

ResidentAssistant.com, a resource website for RAs, and the sponsor of the International Recognition Day, contains over 400 pages of ideas and information from RAs around the world on how to better serve their residents.  Receiving over 160,000 page views a month, the site is where RAs share ideas, concerns and questions with professional staff and peers on every topic from homesickness to suicide threats.  There is also an interesting listing of famous former RAs, including Hillary Clinton, Sheryl Crow, Katie Couric and many others. 

The idea for the recognition day came from Grant Anderson, a hall director at Colorado State University, who proposed it to Dan Oltersdorf, the creator of ResidentAssistant.com.  Oltersdorf, an RA himself, was excited about the idea, stating, "RAs are active student leaders on their campuses, and deserve recognition and praise for a hard job well done." 

For more information about RAs or about the International Residence Hall Student Staff Recognition day, visit http://www.residentassistant.com.

If you have any questions or comments, please email me via the contact page!