UCLA
Residential Life

Community Assistant

Community Assistants (CAs) are student staff who live in University Apartments South (UAS) and help make it a community for graduate students, undergraduates, and families.

  • Help neighbors feel at home.
  • Bring residents together through regular programs.
  • Respond after hours when residents need help.

What are the Role Responsibilities?

ResLife Welcomes

How belonging begins.

To foster a sense of belonging, inclusivity, and active participation among residents.

  • Be a visible, approachable neighbor and welcome new residents
  • Walk your assigned area weekly and report safety or maintenance concerns
  • Keep notices current in laundry rooms, on bulletin boards, and in community spaces
  • Serve as a resource for housing, university, and community services

ResLife Connects

How belonging deepens.

  • Plan and lead two community program shifts a week on average, built around what residents need
  • Create programs where graduate students, undergraduates, and families can all take part
  • Collaborate with the Residents Association and campus partners on larger events

ResLife Responds

How belonging is sustained.

  • Serve one overnight duty shift every two weeks on average from 7 PM to 7 AM
  • Respond to lockouts, maintenance concerns and work orders, noise, and roommate and neighbor conflicts
  • Assess each situation and bring in your supervisor or emergency services when needed
  • Support emergency response, drills, and disaster preparedness
  • Document every duty call accurately and on time
  • Protect residents' private information, and meet your mandated reporting obligations

What are the Qualifications?

  • Candidates must be full-time UCLA students and remain as full-time student, graduate, or undergraduate throughout the role. Incoming students and students enrolled at UCLA Extension are not eligible.
  • Candidates must meet housing eligibility criteria to live in University Apartments South.
  • Candidates must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.3 or higher, or meet graduate program's standards
  • Candidates must be in good conduct standing (conduct records are reviewed before job offers)
  • Candidates must have a valid U.S. driver’s license, required for duty response.
  • Candidates must provide proof of eligibility to work in the U.S.

What are the Terms of the Role?

  • Commitment: one academic year, renewable once
  • Summer training: five days, June 22 to 26, 2027
  • Quarterly training: three hours each quarter
  • Weekly rhythm: Monday Night Meetings (6 to 7 PM) and two community programs a week on average
  • Biweekly: a one-on-one with your supervisor, on average one overnight duty shift (7 PM to 7 AM)
  • Other commitments: jobs, internships, assistantships, and major involvements need your supervisor's written approval first

What are the benefits?

  • A biweekly stipend of $712.26. The annual compensation package is $18,518.76.
  • Developing leadership and communication skills that translate across any path
  • Building experience resolving conflict and responding in a crisis
  • Growing skills to building community across very different households
  • Connecting with a network of colleagues and mentors

Application & Timeline

  1. Apply

    About 10 minutes, no essay
    Mon Nov 16, 2026 at 9:00 AM to Fri Dec 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM

  2. Choose a Check-In Time

    Every eligible applicant is invited
    Invitation Wed Jan 6, 2027; Selection by Mon Jan 11, 2027 at 5:00 PM

  3. Interview

    15 minutes at five tables, one question each; about 40 minutes with check-in
    Wed Jan 20, 2027 or Thu Jan 21, 2027

  4. Hear back

    Thu Jan 28, 2027
    A group process invitation, or a note that you're not advancing

  5. Group process

    25 minutes with four other candidates; nothing to prepare
    A group process invitation, or a note that you're not advancing

  6. Decision

    A job offer, the alternate list offer, or no offer; respond by Tue Feb 23 at 5 PM
    Thu Feb 18

  7. Placement

    You learn your community and supervisor
    Thu Apr 8, 2027 at 5:00 PM

Applicants are encouraged to read our FAQ section below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for other Residential Life student staff roles too? Yes. If you're offered more than one position, you choose one by Tuesday, February 23 at 5 PM.

I'm a current UAS RA. Do I apply? No. You go through the returner process with your supervisor, and a Recommend means a CA contract.

Questions?

Email hello@orl.ucla.edu .