How To Resolve Roommate Conflict As a RA

Around one-third of college students in the United States have problems with roommates, which can impact their academic performance. A resident advisor can reduce these disputes, resulting in more satisfying experiences for students living on campus. 

Using a student housing platform like Housing.Cloud can also support a harmonious and supportive student living environment. Learn more about how to resolve roommate conflicts below.

Key Responsibilities of a Resident Advisor 

A resident assistant or advisor (RA) is an undergraduate (usually an upperclassman) or graduate student who resolves problems between residents in campus accommodation. RAs typically live in residence halls, meaning they can quickly provide support to those in your student housing who need it. 

An RA's responsibilities include:

• Managing conflicts between roommates

• Ensuring residents communicate any problems they experience while living on campus

• Responding to situations that happen in student rental properties, such as fights, medical emergencies, and reports of bullying and discrimination

• Organizing activities for residents that encourage social interaction, such as sports games, movie screenings, and trivia nights

• Making sure residents comply with their leases and roommate agreements

• Providing a welcoming environment for residents

Depending on the college, RAs might get paid to carry out these responsibilities or receive free accommodation in exchange for their services. Students who take up this role can also learn/improve their skills of communication, active listening, and community building. These skills might help an RA find work after graduation.

Roommate Conflicts And Their Impact

While many conflicts in college housing are the result of miscommunication, these disputes can have a profound impact on residents. Students who argue with their roommates, for example, might experience stress and anxiety, leaving them unable to concentrate on their academic studies. In some cases, students might become increasingly isolated and not show up for classes and college events. 

Roommate conflicts can also impact your institution. Students might drop out of school because of their living environment, resulting in lost revenue. Additionally, residents could complain about their situations on social media, which could reflect poorly on your college and deter future students from living on campus.

How To Resolve Roommate Conflict

RAs can settle conflicts between roommates by creating clear channels for communication, promoting respect and understanding, executing fair solutions, and using the latest technology. 

Establish Clear Communication Channels

It's always a good idea for residents to share their grievances with an RA. You should set up forms of communication that allow this to happen, such as phone, email, and text messaging. That way, dorm students have a direct line to an RA if they encounter college roommate problems and can receive guidance about their living situations. 

Posting an RA's communication preferences in welcome packs and other documentation can increase awareness about your residency advisory services. 

RAs should provide impartial advice about conflicts rather than take sides. However, they need to escalate serious issues to the appropriate member of your housing team in cases that involve discrimination, physical violence, and sexual harassment. Residents should also know how to contact the college police department if a current roommate is making them feel threatened or unsafe. 

Encourage Respect And Mutual Understanding

RAs promote respect and mutual understanding when resolving current and potential conflicts. Even if roommates can't see eye to eye, they can learn how to live in harmony and share common ground, reducing the likelihood of disputes happening down the road. 

The best RAs listen to the perspectives of everyone involved in a conflict. This allows residents to communicate their differences and hopefully come to a resolution based on respect and understanding. This approach can prevent more significant problems from occurring in the future, such as physical fights.  

Implement Fair And Equitable Solutions

An RA needs to solve conflicts in a way that benefits all parties, which means implementing fair and equitable solutions that don't benefit some residents more than others. 

Suppose two students can't live together in the same residence halls. Rather than suggesting one student move to another unit, an RA might recommend that both residents relocate if it's possible for them to do so. The job of an RA is to mediate conflict and not decide who's right or wrong in an argument. 

If an RA already has a friendship with someone involved in a conflict, they should step away from the situation and ask someone on your housing team to intervene. Otherwise, the RA won't be able to implement a fair and agreeable solution when managing disputes. 

Leverage Technology For Conflict Management

The latest technology streamlines conflict resolution in your residence halls and gives RAs the support they need. Some digital tools, for example, allow you to train RAs how to effectively manage disputes, resulting in better living experiences for students. RAs can also report incidents to your housing team and escalate serious issues they need help with. 

One of the best ways to leverage technology for conflict management is to allow prospective residents to select their roommates online before moving into campus accommodation. The best college housing platforms consider each student's interests, personality characteristics, and preferences, which improves room assignments and matches. 

For example, students can choose to live with like-minded people who share the same hobbies as them. While this approach won't prevent all conflicts, it can reduce the likelihood of them happening. 

Simplify All Housing Operations Today

RAs play an essential role in your college housing operations and are the first port of call when residents experience conflict living in residence halls. Investing in a student housing platform can streamline housing responsibilities even further by automating various processes for your team.

Housing.Cloud is a cloud-native platform purpose-built with today's technology that improves housing management in several ways:

• It optimizes roommate matches and assignments, thereby reducing the chances of conflicts happening in your residence halls and other accommodation. 

• It simplifies application forms and roommate contracts, allowing students to submit important information through one centralized system. 

• Its simple interface makes it easy to train your housing staff as your team changes. 

• Its affordable price means even small schools can enhance housing operations with this software. 

Want to improve college roommate interactions and student living experiences? Request a demo of Housing.Cloud now, and try out its features for yourself.