Earning Criteria

• Through roleplay, case studies, and presentations, resident advisors are provided entry-level information on common mental health issues. They are informed on how to support people facing emotional crises including but not limited to: suicidal idealization, self-harm, depression, and anxiety. Resident advisors are also taught how to de-escalate intense situations and provide self-care techniques for people and themselves.
• Resident advisors are trained on bias and the common forms of harassment minority students face. Additionally, they are taught how to support minority students who have been victims of an incident involving bias. This includes connecting with counselors, filing incident and/or police reports, and sharing campus policies and procedures. Resident advisors are also taught how to use their role to help elevate the voices of minority students and promote social acceptance and tolerance.
• Resident advisors socially meet the members of the Merrimack College Police Department. In a formal setting, resident advisors are taught how their job works with the police department and how to best support first responders when they are on the scene.
• In an intensive three-day-long interactive training simulation, resident advisors respond to mock situations they will face on a regular basis. Resident advisors use emergency response protocol to handle situations containing student conduct violations. Throughout the response, resident advisors are assessed and provided feedback to improve. Scenarios include alcohol and marijuana, large gatherings, physical altercations, mental health, bias related incidents, and sexual misconduct, among others