Residential Life
The Residential Life program at John Cabot University (JCU) encourages students’ personal development by expanding their individual, social, and cultural understanding through community engagement.
The Office of Residential Life is committed to providing a living environment that supports academics while promoting a healthy social outlet for students to better connect with their peers and positively interact with the community.
The Residential Life program at JCU is designed to reflect the structures commonly used in universities in the United States but adapting them to be functional both within Italy and JCU’s multicultural community.
Resident Life Education Program
The purpose of the Residential Life Education Program is to enhance experiential learning outside of the classroom. Students’ personal growth is fostered through activities and events specifically designed to provide opportunities for engagement in the residence halls and in the wider Roman community. The program leverages partnerships across campus with other departments and members of the Faculty to offer a well-rounded curriculum to promote self-development, community responsibility, and intercultural competency.
Examples of programs and events proposed by Residential Life include a Housing Kick-Off during Orientation, educational workshops and activities to adapt to life at a U.S. institution in Rome, and multicultural celebrations. Throughout the semester both Resident Assistants and Residence Directors will host programs to help residents build relationships with their peers.
Residence Directors
JCU Residence Directors (RDs) are professional staff members whose main responsibilities include creating, facilitating, maintaining, and promoting a safe and secure residential community that supports the learning mission of JCU and enhances residents’ personal development. RDs are available to assist all JCU housing students with issues ranging from emotional support, roommate conflicts, or medical emergencies.
RDs collaborate with students serving as Resident Assistants and other housing staff members to create educational events that are designed to foster a sense of belonging and community and to help residents integrate and thrive in the Roman community. Additionally, the RDs serve on an on-call rotation to provide assistance to residents 24/7 and ensure students feel safe in their living environment.
Resident Assistants
JCU Resident Assistants (RAs) are an integral part of the Office of Housing and Residential Life. Although RAs collaborate with the housing staff in a professional capacity, resident assistants are considered peer advisors and student role models. For this reason, RAs are often approached by students to assist with academic, social, or personal issues beyond those directly related to the Housing Office or Residential Life. They are an important resource to reach out to when adjusting to the new environment.
RAs take the lead in creating an environment of mutual respect that supports the rights of the community while simultaneously safeguarding the rights of individual residents. RAs assist Residential Life in achieving the mission of the University by enabling students to appreciate, benefit from and contribute to the richness and diversity of other cultures.
Experienced RAs have the opportunity for additional professional development by becoming a Senior RA. Students who are selected for this position are given more responsibility and provided with additional compensation.
Are you interested in becoming a Resident Assistant?
Being a Resident Assistant at JCU is an unparalleled experience that will provide
participants with the possibility to grow both personally and professionally. The
soft skills that RAs learn and develop during their experience are in high demand
by employers and make RAs competitive candidates in future job searches. RAs are
friendly and approachable Degree Seeking students, and they wear a variety of professional
hats throughout the semester. The JCU Residential Life Office seeks dynamic, committed
individuals who are also expert problem solvers and good at thinking on their feet.
A great way to get a head start on being part of the Residential Life team is by attending Residential Life programs and events as well as getting to know our current RA team.
For more information, please see the RA program document or contact [email protected].
Roommate Requests
You are welcome to indicate your preferred roommate in the roommate section of the housing application by using their screen name in the search field. In order to be considered, the roommate requests must be mutual. Please note that the fulfillment of roommate requests is not guaranteed. Note: Your requested roommate must have also applied for JCU housing and be enrolled in JCU for the same semester as your request.
When you arrive, you will find that you are not assigned to a specific bedroom (unless you have been granted a single upgrade, in which case your name will be on the door), but only to an apartment. Feel free to choose your bedroom on a first-come first-served basis.
Roommate Agreements
During your first meeting with your RA (or RD for Neighborhood apartments), you and your roommates will be required to fill out a Roommate Agreement. This set of guidelines has been established to help you and your roommates clarify certain issues to help prevent misunderstandings and avoid future conflict. The Roommate Agreement functions in conjunction with - not in place of - the pre-established Housing Rules and Policies. The agreement will ask all of you to discuss things like cleaning schedules, the use of others’ belongings and more. You are encouraged to be as open and honest as possible during these conversations so that all roommates will have clear expectations. You and your roommates will be asked to sign one copy of the agreement to keep, and another to be left with your RA. This document will be one of the first things your RA will consult if any difficulties among you and your roommates arise.