MTSU Housing resident assistants sort items in the shelter at the Salvation Army on New Salem Highway in Murfreesboro during their day of service while training for the fall 2011 semester. (photo submitted)

Resident assistants in MTSU Housing and Residential Life added some off-campus work to their regular on-campus preparation for the new academic year.

Also known as RAs, the students, who live on each floor of MTSU residence halls, go through training every semester, including a day set aside for public service. This fall’s destinations included the Rutherford County Salvation Army, the Domestic Violence Shelter and Meals on Wheels, where the RAs helped clean, paint and perform other necessary tasks to serve others.

RAs, who have completed at least 24 credit hours at MTSU and have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA, are selected for their academic and leadership abilities and for their skills in personal interaction.

They provide assistance and guidance for students living in MTSU dorms and also help with counseling, crisis intervention, communication of information and encouraging students to get involved in campus activities. For more information about MTSU Housing and Residential Life, visit www.mtsu.edu/housing or call 615-898-2971.

— Tom Tozer (Thomas.Tozer@mtsu.edu)