The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 42, No. 2 - 11

THIS QUALITATIVE STUDY EXPLORES THE MORAL BEHAVIOR
in the lived experience of resident assistants who administer
disciplinary policy at a large, public, urban institution
located in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The
12 participants volunteered to be interviewed by the first
author utilizing the research question, "What is the lived
experience of RAs who administer disciplinary policies at a
residential college in a large urban area?" Each participant
responded to 10 questions. Analysis of the interviews
followed Willig's proposed process. Interview transcripts
were read and reread along with notes that reflected the
first author's initial thoughts and observations from the
interview. Next, themes were identified, and these were
then organized into two clusters: the importance of RAs'
relationships with residents and the decision-making factors
involved when RAs hold residents accountable for policy
violations. Although there is an implicit expectation of RAs
to exhibit a higher level of moral behavior than typical
college students (i.e., administer discipline as needed based
on housing policies), a majority of the participants did not
uphold this expectation. They did not recognize the moral
problem of failing to fulfill their position responsibilities as
trained. Only two participants understood that, regardless
of the situation they were presented with, it was imperative
for them to respond to resident behaviors as they had been
trained to do and to hold residents accountable accordingly.
Implications for training of RAs are discussed.

The participants
discussed three
perceptions
residents have
of resident
assistants: RAs
as stereotypes,
RAs high on
authority, and cool
RAs. According
to participants,
residents tend
to stereotype
RAs because of
preconceived
notions of what
they will be like.

Bok (1988) asserted that the primary obligation of higher education is to help "students understand how to lead ethical, reflective,
fulfilling lives" (p. 50). Moral issues that occur on college and university campuses offer students an opportunity for learning and
often present puzzling and ambiguous problems that can create
educational dialogue (Guthrie, 1997). In addition, most American
higher education institutions embrace a mission that promotes the
moral leadership or character development of their student body

V O L U M E 4 2 , NO. 2 * 2 0 1 6

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The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 42, No. 2

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 42, No. 2

Contents
The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 42, No. 2 - Intro
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The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 42, No. 2 - Cover4
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