Date Approved
5-7-2021
Graduate Degree Type
Project
Degree Name
Education (M.Ed.)
Degree Program
College of Education
First Advisor
Reginald A. Blockett
Academic Year
2020/2021
Abstract
Resident Assistants (RAs) are student leaders who serve on the front lines of college student care. Due to the demanding and often conflicting nature of their assigned responsibilities, students who serve in this role do so at high risk for mental and emotional burnout. This project will assess and interrogate the main factors that contribute to RA burnout. These factors include role ambiguity, compassion fatigue, and job severity. This project will also provide intervention strategies that will prevent and mitigate this risk of burnout. These strategies include implementing a mental health-centered RA training, mandating RA-specific counseling services, and implementing an on-call counselor or social worker to address resident crises. Student Affairs Professionals (SAPs) must work to reform the current preparation, responsibility, and care of these critical student leaders if institutions of higher education are to continue to utilize their services for community development, resource referral, and crises intervention.
ScholarWorks Citation
Murray, Caroline Ellen, "Assessing and Preventing the Risk of Burnout In the Resident Assistant Position" (2021). Culminating Experience Projects. 96.
https://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/gradprojects/96
