The Residence Hall Association

Hearty Maine Hello!

Thank you for your interest in the Residence Hall Association at the University of Maine. Joining RHA is one of the best ways to bring about positive changes and events to the campus and the residence halls. RHA is responsible for being the voice of students to campus officials and also provides funding towards events that will benefit the residents living on campus.

There are two ways you can join RHA. First and foremost, you must be living on campus to join RHA in general. The first recommended step to join RHA is to join your Residence Hall Council (RHC). These are based on the complexes on campus: Somerset/Oxford/Knox, Androscoggin/Gannett/Cumberland, Hart/Hancock/Oak, Balentine/Colvin/Estabrook/Penobscot, York/Aroostook/Kennebec, and DTAV/Patch. To get more information about joining your RHC, talk to your RA or contact RHA Advisor Cam McDonnell (cam.mcdonnell@maine.edu) and we can put you in touch with the RHC Advisor of your complex. The second way to join RHA is to become a paid executive leader. You must have lived on campus for at least two semesters and apply for the position in the spring. 

As part of RHA, you will work closely with the Residence Life staff, including RA’s/CA’s, Assistant Community Coordinators, and Community Coordinators, Area Coordinators, Assistant Director, and Director. In fact, quite a few of our members continue on to be RA’s themselves!

Purpose of RHC

RHCs are a group of residents from each building and complex that represent advocate for the needs of their hall communities. Each RHC has a hall council board and a group of general members. RHCs work RHA to improve the on-campus living experience and create a sense of community amongst all residents!

If you are interested in being a part of your RHC, please contact your Area Coordinator, Community Coordinator, or Assistant Community Coordinator.

The complexes are broken down as such:

• Hilltop
  • Somerset, Knox, Oxford
• Stewart
  • Gannett, Cumberland, Androscoggin
• Hart, Hancock, and Oak
• York, Aroostook, and Kennebec
• Balentine, Colvin, Estabrooke, and Penobscot
• DTAV/Patch

RHC Positions

Each RHC has a board similar to RHAs. The basic responsibilities for the different positions are as follows:

• Council Chairperson: Oversees the RHC, plans RHC meetings, works with the RHC advisors, and attends a monthly RHC Chair Committee meeting held by the RHA President.
• Advocacy Chair: Oversees the DEI efforts of the RHC, works with chairperson to advocate any community concerns, tries to create an inclusive space for all RHC members, promotes educational resources for council, and attends Diversity & Inclusion committee meetings.
• Finance Chair: Oversees the RHC budget with the VPFA, attends budget council meetings and helps write funding requests or budgets for programs.
• Engagement & Outreach Chair: Develops programming initiatives for residence halls, works with VPP to create campus-wide programming, helps coordinate social media, and works for recruitment and retention of RHC members.
• RHC Representative: Attends general assembly, helps with the social media and outreach for RHC members, is a member of RHA committees, and provides RHA/NEACURH updates during RHC meetings.
• General Members: Residents that volunteer time to help with programming, attend RHC meetings, participate in General Assembly, provide concerns to their RHC, help with the recruitment of RHC members, and participate in RHA or NEACURH committees. They are the backbone and support to RHC!

Here are the committees commissioned by the RHA President. Each one lists what it does, when it meets, who it’s open to, and the committee chair that oversees it. If you would like to create a committee or join one, please email us with your interest at um.rha@maine.edu.

No committees are currently active.