St. Kate’s Resident Advisors Demand Change

By Ella Tracy

On Sunday April 13, the newly-formed St. Kate’s Resident Advisors Demand Change submitted a formal collective bargaining proposal to members of St. Kate’s administration, Campus Life staff, Student Senate and more.

The purpose of the 6-page proposal is explained to be the following: “...as the role becomes increasingly demanding as years go on, our ability to care for both ourselves and our residents is depleted. It is often alluded to by pro staff that if an RA can not meet these demands they do not have the functional capacity to be an RA. In reality, the majority of RAs agree that no student can adequately accomplish all that is being asked of us—especially alongside a workplace culture of fear that has been created by our supervisors and directors.”

The authors also state: “As student workers for St. Catherine University Campus Life we have been overworked, misled, underpaid and even emotionally depleted by supervisors in the department. We demand change and accountability in this dysfunctional system for our wellbeing and, in turn, that of our residents.”

The proposal extensively details the concerns of the resident advisors, their requested changes and suggested solutions. Sections address changes to policies and procedures, training requirements, on-duty responsibilities and decorum.

RAs said that they currently do not have access to an employee handbook that contains policies and procedures. The document states that “there have been many instances where even senior RAs have broken rules they were not made aware of and otherwise would not have broken” which has created a “culture of uncertainty and fear” among the RA staff. Their demands request consistency and clarity surrounding communication, shift change notifications and absences, coaching meetings and incident reports. They also request more flexible meal plans for RAs with dietary restrictions and the choice to select roommates should housing placements require roommates. 

Requested training changes include having a week-long training with clear hours and “no last minute tasks assigned that require us to work during evening downtime,” a required walkthrough of the employee handbook and having an off-campus professional conduct bias, white supremacy and Title IX training. They also request training to not include enactments of triggering “Behind Closed Doors” situations and breaks between intense training sessions. 

RAs are required to spend time “on duty” each week, where they man the On Duty RA phone for residents to report issues or request help. They also conduct rounds in campus dorms to physically check spaces. The proposed changes to these shifts include limiting the number of rounds to three overnight on weekends due to unspecified safety concerns, allowing RAs to leave campus for more than 15 minutes while they are on duty and clarity regarding whether a professional staff member or an RA will answer to duty/safety calls. 

Finally, the RAs request changes in general decorum. This section demands that “ housing security and job security should not be held over our head or used as a threat or ultimatum so regularly, if at all by pro staff.” The RAs request professional Campus Life staff arrive on time and prepared to staff meetings and be held accountable to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) laws for the protection of student information to the same extent that RAs are. The document also notes situations in which professional staff members “used tones and approaches that could be considered verbal abuse or bullying.” The examples described by the RAs include “pro staff calling staff names that are inappropriate for the workplace as well as admitting that during Pro Staff meetings they mock the vulnerable moments that RAs experience.” 

The RAs note that this is not a strike, resignation letter or attack, but “an invitation to a bargaining meeting.” 

According to an email sent by St. Kate’s president Marcheta Evans, PhD, and shared with the Wheel by Student Senate leadership officials, an “internal review” of the document is underway. The president referred the RAs to the Vice President of Human Resouces, Latisha Dawson, who will “support the process and ensure that your voices are heard as we work toward a constructive path forward.”

The full bargaining document can be read here.

This is a developing story. Please continue to check back for updates.

Last updated April 15, 2025 at 8:22am.