Hobart and William Smith Colleges

WHAT'S A COMMUNITY ASSISTANT?

Community Assistants (CAs) are student leaders and paid employees of Housing & Residence Life within the Student Engagement Center at Hobart and William Smith. A CA is assigned to each residential area and is responsible for creating a sense of community for the students who reside there.

In developing such a community, they often address issues of personal counseling, advising, policy enforcement, and programming (both within the residence halls and across campus). When students have questions or concerns about their living situations or about HWS in general, CAs are a great first stop for advice and tips.

In addition to acting as a role model both on and off-campus, CAs ensure that students act in accordance with the HWS' policies while in the residence halls, as outlined in the Handbook of Community Standards.

2026-2027 CA Application timeline

• 2026-2027 Job Description
• Application Available on Handshake

December 2025

• December 1: Applications are available via Handshake

January 2026

• January 22: Information Session #1 – Learn about the CA role and the selection process with current CAs
• January 28: Information Session #2 - Learn about the CA role and the selection process with current CAs
• January 29 – February 21: Duty Shadowing Conducted – Learn about the CA role by shadowing current CAs during a shift

February 2026

• February 6: Applications close
• February 22: Interviews take place
• February 27: Applicants are notified of status

March 2026

• March 6: New CA acceptances are due

BECOMING A COMMUNITY ASSISTANT

Community Assistants are selected from a competitive pool of applicants and undergo rigorous training as a team at the beginning of each semester. You are always well equipped to complete the work!

The Community Assistant application process occurs during every spring semester.

Need help writing a resume? Visit the Office of Career Services website.