What is the Residence Hall Association?
Residence Hall Association (RHA) is a student run organization at Georgia State University funded through University Housing. RHA is focused on making Georgia State University Housing a premier housing experience for its residents. Members of RHA Executive Board strive to advocate for the on-campus student population to ensure their concerns are shared with University Housing administrators. RHA also provides educational and social programming for residents and opportunities for leadership development through the implementation of Community Councils and Executive Committees.
Our Mission
RHA serves to provide a unified point of communication and representation between residential students and the larger university community. The organization advocates on behalf of residential students, provide means for improvements in the residential halls, and present programs for all students living in the residence halls on campus.
The Vision
As RHA’s involvement at Georgia State continues to progress over time, the organization strives to consistently maintain an active line of communication between Student Leaders in the residence halls and departmental faculty & staff. In doing so, the organization intends to better understand the needs of residents and create a living environment where residents are not feeling pressured to fit in, but instead feel like they belong.
In serving as liaisons between residential students and the campus wide community, RHA also aims to collaborate with other student led organizations on campus and foster new partnerships with several campus departments to deliver a premier housing experience for all of our residents.
Core Values Of The Organization
1. Leadership
- The primary function of RHA is to serve as a peer leader and be the voice of the residential student community. As such, members of the organization demonstrate a commitment to develop as self-aware, socially conscious, active leaders who can be role models for their peers.
- Members of the organization are expected to think and act as responsible leaders who not only meet the basic expectations of the job but also contribute to the development of self and others in the residential community both professionally and personally.
2. Social Justice and Inclusion
- As leaders of a diverse student population who make great efforts to empower others, RHA is committed to developing competency around social justice, learning about different identities and how identities inform leadership.
- RHA serves to create inclusive spaces for all residents, and continuously grow more knowledgable, skillful, and aware in this area.
- RHA serves to support students living on campus through various forms of advocacy.
- RHA strives to use and incorporate inclusive language and behavior that respects the inherent dignity of all people regardless of their identity.
3. Community Development
- RHA is committed to actively making efforts towards getting to the residential population.
- RHA is committed to engaging with other Student Leaders in University Housing as well as other campus partners to collectively create meaningful experiences for residents.
Structure of RHA
RHA is comprised of two distinct branches – the executive and legislative branch. The executive branch consists of the RHA Executive Board and the RHA Executive Committees, whereas the legislative branch is composed of the Community Councils and General Assembly.
Executive Board
The RHA Executive Board consists of nine RHA Executive Officers:
- President
- Vice President
- Adminsitrative Coordinator
- National Communications Coordinator
- National Communications Coordinator – in Training
- Spirit and Traditions Chair
- Marketing and Public Relations Chair
- Inclusion Chair
- Sustainability Chair
Executive Committees
RHA Executive Board Officers oversee the following seven Executive Committees:
- Student Leader Advisory Committee
- Community Outreach Committee
- Bid Committee
- Spirit & Traditions Committee
- Public Relations Committee
- Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Committee
- Sustainability Committee
Community Councils
Each residential area has a selected group of representatives who collectively support and advocate on behalf of the residents in their respective residence hall. Each individual group of representatives are recognized as the Community Council for the given residence hall. The following Community Councils exist:
- University Commons Community Council
- Piedmont North Community Council
- Piedmont Central Community Council
- Edgewood Community Council (Patton/Greek and Lofts)
General Assembly
General Assembly is required for all RHA Executive board members and Community Councils. Members of General Assembly act as the governing body of the organization.
“As student leaders and resources to their fellow peers, RHA members have the unique honor and prospect to co-create opportunities for growth, engagement, and transformation for all our residents; they set the cornerstone of the residential experience by showing up as their full and authentic self.”
“Aprende del pasado, vive el presente y trabaja para el futuro.”