The Department of Housing and Residence Life, a unit of the Division of Student Affairs, is responsible for the overall operation and administration of all Ohio University housing, as well as the university's residential education program.
Ohio University operates 36 residence halls housing approximately 8,000 undergraduate students. All of the residence halls are coeducational, with the exception of Voigt Hall, which is reserved for female students.
Housing and Residence Life is one of the largest departments of Ohio University, with a staff of over 400 full-time, part-time, graduate, and paraprofessional student employees.
Specific departmental duties include...
- Operation, management and supervision of the residence hall system
- Residential education and programming within the halls
- Programming and outreach for off-campus students
- Administration of housing policies and regulations, including housing and dining contracts and requests for exemptions from OHIO's residency requirement
- Residence hall room assignments
- Administration of dining plans
- University apartment rentals
- Accommodations in accordance with the ADA
- Guest & interim housing accommodations
Units within Housing and Residence Life
- Business Operations
- Capital and Facilities Planning
- Commuter Services
- Guest & Interim Housing
- Off Campus Living
- Residence Life
- River Park Master Leased Spaces
- Skyview Apartments
Professional and Student Positions
The Department of Housing and Residence Life has over 300 staff members committed to making your living environment a community focused on learning, development, and acceptance. Below you will find descriptions of our in-hall staff that are here to help you.
Central Staff
Executive Director: The Executive Director represents Housing and Residence Life to the campus community and is responsible for all aspects of the Department.
Director for Business Operations: The Director for Business Operations coordinates the business functions of the department, including supervising the contract process and the physical facilities.
Director for Capital & Facilities Management: The Director for Capital & Facilities Management coordinates the facilities functions of the department, including supervising the construction and renovations of the physical facilities.
Director for Residence Life: The Director for Residence Life coordinates the day-to-day oversight of our Residence Halls, in-hall staff, crisis and behavioral management, and serves as a liaison to many offices on campus.
Assistant Directors & Associate Directors (ADs): The department has assistant directors and associate directors responsible for a variety of areas within the department.
Clerical and Support Staff: The department also has a support staff of administrative and clerical professionals, as well as student staff, that assist in the daily operations of the department.
To see individual names and contact information for the central staff, visit our administrative staff page .
In Hall Staff
Graduate Resident Director (GRD): A Graduate Resident Director is a full-time graduate student and a part-time employee responsible for overseeing a hall. The GRD supervises the residence hall staff, works with all residents to establish a positive living environment and a sense of community, and manages crisis situations. A GRD acts in an advisory capacity on personal and academic issues and helps to interpret and uphold university policies. GRDs will post office hours within their hall.
Resident Director (RD): A Resident Director is a full-time on-site professional responsible for a hall or complex. The RD supervises the residence hall staff, works with all residents to establish a positive living environment and a sense of community, and manages crisis situations. An RD acts in an advisory capacity on personal and academic issues and helps to interpret and uphold university policies. RDs will post office hours within their hall or complex.
To see individual names and contact information for the professional staff in the buildings, visit our in hall staff page .
Student Staff
Housing Ambassador (HA):Housing Ambassadors (HAs) are student staff members who support the Housing and Residence Life Business Operations team by helping both current and incoming students navigate on-campus living. HAs provide exceptional customer service at two primary locations: the Welcome Desk at Jefferson Hall on East Green and the first floor Welcome Desk in the Living Learning Center (LLC). Their responsibilities include assisting with key and lockout issues, answering housing-related questions, and supporting office operations through various administrative tasks and special projects. HAs are trained to provide accurate information about housing policies, procedures, and services, ensuring that all students feel informed and supported. In addition to working with current students, HAs also collaborate with Undergraduate Admissions to share their personal experiences of living on campus with prospective students and families during OHIO Admissions Events. Through these efforts, HAs play a vital role in creating a welcoming, helpful, and knowledgeable first impression of OHIO University.
Resident Advisor (RA): The Resident Advisor is a student who has completed a selection and training process designed to prepare them for working with students in the residence halls. The RA lives on and manages a floor section of residents. Part of the RA's job is to provide ongoing support for residents. During the academic year, you will interact the most with the other residents on your floor section. Your RA is a great source of information and should be the first individual that you contact with a question or concern.
Senior Resident Advisor (SRA):The Senior Resident Advisor, like an RA, is a student who resides in a residence hall and but does not manage a floor section. The SRA is responsible for assisting the Resident Director/Graduate Resident Director in coordinating administrative functions in the building such as room changes and key inventories. Additionally, the SRA assists in advising the hall council and coordinating hall programming efforts.
Student Services Ambassador (SSA):The Student Services Ambassadors are a group of undergraduate students who primarily work at the 2nd floor Housing and Residence Life front desk. They are responsible for permitting access to the main office as well as handling incoming calls and visits to Housing's main front desk. Student Services Ambassadors are charged with supporting current or prospective students and families on housing processes, policies, and campus resources.