The HCO vacancy application period closed on Thursday, September 2 at 11:59pm. Looking for up-to-date information regarding Hall Council Officer positions and openings in your community? Check out our Hall Councils page.
Introduction
On Sunday, August 29, the primary round of Hall Council Officer (HCO) applications closed. While we received over 60 applications from residents across campus, some communities received no applications for select HCO positions. We are now conducting a second round of applications, and we need YOUR help to fill vacancies across campus. Below, you’ll find information about our current vacancies and the abbreviated timeline for this second round of applications.
Want to learn more about RHA, Hall Council, HCO positions, and the HCO elections/application process? Check out this previous HCO elections news post to watch an informational video about Hall Council, learn more about the format of the application, campaigning rules, and more. Do note that, while the majority of the content on the previous HCO elections news post is still accurate, some information—such as dates, timelines, and positions available—now differs as we’re in the vacancy filling stage of our application process. Refer to the previous HCO elections news post for general information about being an HCO, but use the information here to determine what positions are still available for you to run for and when you need to submit your HCO vacancy application by.
Available Vacant Positions
Bobby Dodd [BRN, HRS, SMT]: None
Brittain [HOW, HRN, CLD]: Finance Coordinator
Burger Bowl [FIT, FRE, MON]: Finance Coordinator
Commander [HEF, ARM, FUL]: None
Eighth Street [ESS, ESE, ESW]: Communications, Finance, and Events Coordinators
Glenn [GLN]: None
Grad & Family [GLC and Tenth & Home]: Events Coordinator
Hemphill [CRE, CSN, CSS]: Meetings and Communications Coordinators
Nelson Shell [NSL]: Finance and Events Coordinators
North Avenue East [NAE]: Meetings, Communications, and Finance Coordinators
North Avenue North and West [NAN, NAW]: Meetings and Event Coordinators
North Avenue South [NAS]: Meetings, Communications, and Finance Coordinators
Stamps [ZBR, MLD]: Meetings and Communications Coordinators
Third Street [PER, MTH, FLD, HOP, HAN]: Events Coordinators
West Village [FLK, CAL]: None
Woodruff [WDS, WDN]: None
The other Hall Council Officer position(s) not listed above did receive applications and will either be voted on or announced as appointments on Friday evening.
Timeline
Thursday, September 2nd, 11:59PM EDT: application deadline
Friday, September 3, 5PM EDT – Sunday, September 5, 5PM EDT: voting
Monday, September 6, 10AM EDT: election results are released, at the latest
A number of our events and activities are hosted outdoors. Subsequently, the success of these events is weather dependent, and we may have to cancel or reschedule events due to inclement weather throughout the week. Keep an eye on this page and our Instagram for any event reschedules, and make note of rain plans for certain events below.
Events
Chalk the Walks | Monday, 8/16, 12:00-2:00pm, GT Connector & Sidewalks Across from West Village Lawn
Description: It may only be the first week of classes at Tech, but it’s not too early to leave your mark on campus—literally! Come out to the sidewalks next to the West Village and GT Connector lawns to help make campus beautiful while jamming out to some music before the semester picks up. Each attendee will be provided chalk, and we’ll also have snow cones for attendees to enjoy on West Campus and ice cream bars on East Campus.
Rain Plan: If this event has to be cancelled due to rain, we’ll push the event back to Wednesday from 12:00-2:00pm—same place, same event, same time, just different dates!
Second Year Backyard Bash | Friday, 8/20, 5:00-7:00pm, Peters Parking Deck
Description: Come out to Peters Parking Deck to catch up with your other second year and new transfer friends! We’ll have music, lawn games, and good vibes, along with plenty of food and drinks for you to enjoy as you play games like cornhole, ladder toss, giant connect 4, giant jenga, and more. Be sure to come out early—we’ll have Tiffs Treats, Jeni’s ice cream, and more treats, but only while supplies last. After the event, be sure to catch Avenger Endgame at Bobby Dodd Stadium!
UPDATE: Due to this week’s Georgia Tech Post Office shipping delays, we’re unable to purchase Jeni’s ice cream for this event. Jeni’s ships with dry ice and needs to be reliably picked up on the same day that it is delivered; because the Post Office is experiencing delays due to a mechanical fire, we’re unable to ensure that our order of Jeni’s ice cream would be made available for pick-up from the Post Office on time. We’ve purchased Tiffs Treats cookies, brownies, bomb pops, and fruit bars for this event, instead.
Rain Plan: Keep an eye on our Instagram for live updates! Rain or not, we’ll have lots of free food to distribute, so you might see us riding around on campus in our GEM Cart passing out food at residence halls if the event is cancelled due to rain.
Artlanta| Saturday, 8/21, 12:00-4:00pm, Tech Green
Description: Artlanta’s purpose is to expose students to different art mediums found in Atlanta. Participants will take the art pieces they make during the event back to their residence halls as decorations and memorabilia for the Week of Welcome: Handcrafted Jewelry, Spray Painted Door Decorations, Mini Acrylic Paintings, Decorated Pots with a Plant. Until supplies last!
Rain Plan: Meet us in the Exhibition Hall to pick up a to-go bag of craft materials to make decorations anywhere you’d like to!
The Price is Pretty Close | Saturday, 6:30-8:30pm, Ferst Theatre
Description: How well do you know the prices of everyday objects? Our on-campus version of the hit show “The Price is Right!” is here to test just that. Be sure to come out to win your share of over $3000 worth or prizes or play our 8ft tall Plinko Board!
Note: This event is a game show, with a pre-planned schedule, staging, and more. Doors will close to the event at 7:00pm, and guests are expected to stay through the duration of the show. At check-in, attendees will be able to designate whether or not they’re interested in being game show contestants; we’ll randomly select our game show contestants live on the night of the event from this pool of interested candidates. Whether you’re a contestant on stage with us or an audience member watching the fun happen, you’ll be able to walk away with prizes.
Rain Plan: This event is completely indoors!
Workshops
Technology is Your Friend: A Dive Into Tech’s Resources for Success | Tuesday, 8/17, 10:30-11:30am, Instructional Center (IC) 211
So you made it to the Institute – you know, the one with the Technology in Georgia – but what tech resources are available to YOU to ensure YOUR success? In this workshop we’ll dive into a curated list of the thousands of resources available to all Tech students, focusing on the most important as well as the ones no one ever tells you about. From free printing, to registration tools, to checking out a library book, we’ll set you up for success on campus. Not to mention, we’ll also send you home with a list of even more resources and walkthroughs so you can be prepared and strapped with resources when you need them, and can help your fellow yellow jackets to success along the way.
ATL: A City of Music, Arts, Coca Cola, and Tiny Doors | Tuesday, 8/17, 1:30-2:00pm, Howey Physics L1
Between Shaky Knees, Dragon Con, Music Midtown, the Atlanta Film Festival, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Fox Theatre, High Museum of Art, World of Coke, Georgia Aquarium, 18 Tiny Doors, Atlanta Pride, Zoo Atlanta, Botanical Gardens, and more, dozens of festivals, museums, and venues call Atlanta home. In this workshop, we’ll run through nearly 100 different places to visit and things to do in Atlanta while also discussing the city’s rich culture, exploring its history, and featuring the best restaurants and eateries off-campus. This is the perfect workshop for students new to Georgia or the city of Atlanta!
Hidden Gems and Secret Spaces on Campus | Wednesday, 8/18, 1:30-2:00pm, Howey Physics L1
Mickey Mouse clocks, bakeries and cafes, nap rooms, foam toilets, cisterns—here’s what they don’t show you on your average campus tour. In this workshop, we’ll discuss the nooks and crannies that students love to study in and the parts of campus beneath your feet and above your head you didn’t know existed. Part fun-fact, part pragmatic introduction to your new favorite secret spot on campus, this is the perfect workshop for students looking to explore Tech’s 400+ acres. (Oh, and speaking of secrets, we’ll also touch on Tech’s oldest and most elusive secret society—the ANAK Society)
Opportunities in Residence Life | Thursday, 8/19, 1:30-2:00pm, Instructional Center (IC) 211
If you want to get paid to live on campus, be a part of the second largest student organization on campus, plan and host events, build community in residence halls, help first-year and upperclassman students acclimate to Tech, or experience the magic and craziness of making a system with nearly 9,000 students run, residence life is for you! In this workshop, we’ll discuss the life of a Resident Assistant (RA), how to become an RA, Hall Councils and the Residence Hall Association (RHA), how you can help plan events in your residence halls and help decide the fate of thousands of dollars worth of funds, student employment opportunities in Housing Area Offices, the National Residence Hall Honorary, and more.
The International’s Guide to Surviving the US | Thursday, 8/19, 3:00-4:00pm, Howey Physics L2
So you finally made it to the “US of A,” my international friend. Are you feeling excited? Worried? Scared? Come and check out this workshop, by international students, for international students! You will hear from people who have lived through the same experiences you will as a new inhabitant of this wild and amazing country. Ask some questions, make new friends, and learn about the most important rule for an international student to know: That we international students have each others’ backs!
Let’s be honest: living with other people and sharing amenities can be challenging, especially if this your first time living in a traditional-styled residence hall. In this workshop, we’ll discuss navigating roommate conflict, must-have conversations on everything from masturbation and sex to sleep and room temperature, living on a floor with 40 other college students, taking care of common maintenance issues, and, yes, doing laundry. We’ll also briefly talk about upperclassman apartments and what living on campus looks like after your first year at Tech.
Tabling
Members of our Executive Board will be tabling around campus throughout the week. Come say hello, learn more about RHA, our upcoming events and activities throughout the week, and how to become a Hall Council Officer! We’ll have free RHA merchandise at each tabling session:
RHA Stickers—we have a brand new collection of 7 stickers, featuring residential locations around campus, the Ramblin Rec, and more!
Color Changing Cups—when these cups get cold, they turn from frosted clear color to a vibrant red, orange, blue, or green!
Keypers—these silicone phone wallets have room for you to store your Buzzcard AND your room key!
Come grab swag at the following dates and times:
Tuesday, 8/17, 11:30am-12:30pm — East Campus, right outside of Brittain dining hallcancelled due to rain
Tuesday, 8/17, 5:30-6:30pm — West Campus, right outside of the “Taste of Tech Square” dining event bus pick-up location at West Village
Wednesday, 8/18, 3:30-4:30pm — Tech Green
Wednesday, 8/18, 6:00-7:00pm — Folk/Caldwell Courtyard, right near the entrance to West Village North Avenue Dining (location change!)
Other Happenings
Be sure to check out these other offerings during Week of Welcome:
Vaccine Clinics—Be sure to read this short post, summarizing all you need to know about COVID-19 vaccination opportunities throughout the week.
Green Goodbyes—Green Good(Buys) is a no-cost market of clothing, small appliances, and other essentials for your residence hall, all of which were donated during last Spring’s Housing move-out. Our hope is you’ll find something useful and reduce the overall materials purchased and thrown away in our residence halls each year. We look forward to seeing you there, at the Kendeda Building from 12:00-5:00pm on Sunday, August 15.
RHA Executive Board members will also be volunteering at the following events. Be sure to say hi if you see us!
Stamps Health Services is hosting a series of vaccine clinics during Week of Welcome to help vaccinate incoming and returning students who are not yet vaccinated and are interested in receiving a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine! To learn more, visit health.gatech.edu, and to schedule your appointment today, visit mytest.gatech.edu.
Routine surveillance testing is also available throughout the entirety of Week of Welcome, and all students may participate in testing regardless of vaccination status. To view testing information, visit health.gatech.edu/coronavirus/testing. Self isolation housing is also available, by request, and can be explored more at housing.gatech.edu/super-block/827.
The regular Fall 2020 – Spring 2021 application is now closed; the information on this page is just informational. Looking to submit a vacancy application and fill one of our vacant HCO positions? Check out this post.
The hundreds of events in and around all 49 residence halls across campus every year, the voice of thousands of residents, and one of the leading student leadership organizations at Tech—that’s us, and if you live on campus, you’re a part of it! RHA is the second largest student organization on campus, and we’re looking to recruit our next team of Hall Council Officers! If you’re interested in helping determine how over $250,000 gets spent annually for residents, planning events for your residence halls, or advocating for residents in your community, RHA is for you. Learn more about what RHA is here, and learn more about Hall Council Officers and Hall Councils here.
Although Hall Council events, meetings, and day-to-day operations will be hosted in person, Hall Council elections will be hosted completely virtually this year. Residents interested in running in their Hall Council elections must complete an application. Residents will then be able to view candidate applications and vote digitally for their Hall Council Officers.
Looking for an overview of RHA, Hall Councils, and Hall Council Officer elections? We encourage every prospective candidate to view the below video in full, as it walks you through everything you need to know to be a successful applicant and Hall Council Officer!
Looking for a copy of the slides shared in the presentation? Check out the PDF below!
As discussed more here, each Hall Council has four open Hall Council Officer positions:
Meetings Coordinator
Communications Coordinator
Finance Coordinator
Events Coordinator
Elections Timeline
Sunday, August 29, 11:59PM EDT: application deadline
Friday, September 3, 5PM EDT – Sunday, September 5, 5PM EDT: voting
Monday, September 6, 10AM EDT: election results are released, at the latest
Application Overview
The application to serve as an HCO can be found here!
Your responses, unless indicated otherwise, will be compiled into a candidate profile and distributed to residents of your Hall Council to review prior to voting.
This application is divided into two main components: (1) general information about you and (2) your leadership experience, platform, and goals and ideas as an HCO.
All candidates will write out answers to questions in Section 1.
Candidates will choose to respond to questions in Section 2 EITHER via video OR essay-styled written responses.
Bidding Down
We utilize a process called “bidding down” in HCO elections to offer prospective candidates the ability to run for more than one position. When you fill out your application, you will be able to indicate a primary position of interest and a secondary position of interest (your “bid down” position). If you do not win your election for your primary position of interest, you will be instantly considered for your second position of interest. Note that your primary position MUST be higher in gavel order than your secondary position of interest (Refer to the above section titled “Positions Available.” Your secondary position of interest must be lower in position than your primary position of interest).
If you are only interested in one position, you do not need to bid down to a secondary position of interest. If you win your election for your primary position of interest, you will not be considered for your secondary position of interest.
No Campaigning
No campaigning is allowed during HCO elections; your submitted application will be provided to every resident in your community to review, and the application must stand alone.
You may:
Inform friends and residents about HCO elections, generally
Encourage friends and residents to vote in HCO elections, generally
Introduce yourself to residents and start meeting other people in your community, so that residents and voters generally know who you are
You may not:
Use any campaign strategies that encourage residents to vote for a specific candidate
Create posters, flyers, or other physical/print campaigning materials
Create websites or other digital campaigning materials
Send out emails or mass messages that encourage residents to vote for a specific candidate
Why do we have a no campaigning policy?
Right now, the RHA Executive Board is a team of six people. We cannot realistically oversee campaigning and elections in 17 communities and 49 residence halls across campus; accordingly, if we allowed campaigning, there would be no feasible way for us to ensure that all candidates are following campaigning policies.
Forbidding campaigning and only allowing submitted applications to represent candidates allows us to preserve integrity and equity in our elections process. Not all candidates have equal access to resources (whether those resources be printing capabilities, the financial means to pay for posters or custom websites/domain names, or something else entirely). By disallowing campaigning, we believe that we create a more level playing field for all candidates, regardless of background and access to resources.
Recruiting HCOs and conducting a resident-wide elections process means that we already communicate lots with residents—over the past two weeks, we’ve sent every resident on campus multiple emails about RHA/Hall Councils/HCO Elections, hung door hangers on residents’ doors, encouraged RAs and HDs to send residents flyers and informational materials about HCO elections, and more. In the coming days, we’ll be reaching out to every resident yet again to share voting forms and candidate profiles with them. We don’t want residents to feel spammed with communications related to RHA and/or HCO elections, so we accordingly disallow campaigning to minimize the number of emails, flyers, knocks on doors, and more that residents receive during elections.
If you notice any candidate campaigning, please notify the RHA Executive Board by emailing rha-exec@groups.gatech.edu. Candidates caught campaigning will be subject to election penalties depending on the severity of the infraction.
Tabling
Have questions? Want to talk to the RHA Executive Board in person about Hall Councils and learn more about what RHA is all about? We’ll be tabling during the first week of classes, and we’d love for you to swing by! We’ll also have RHA merchandise—including stickers—for you to grab.
Monday, August 23, 7:00 – 8:00pm — Folk/Caldwell Courtyard
Tuesday, August 24, 7:15 – 8:15pm — Brittain Courtyard Outside of North Ave Dining
Thursday, August 26, 5:30 – 6:30pm — North Avenue Turnstiles
Friday, August 27, 3:00 – 4:00pm — 10th & Home
Contact Us
Have additional questions or concerns that you’d like to talk to us about? See our contact us page for information on how to reach out, and don’t hesitate to swing by our office hours to chat face-to-face.
Georgia Tech’s Residence Hall Association (RHA) is hiring Executive Cabinet members, and we’d love to have you join our team. We have seven openings:
IT Coordinator
Visual Media Managers (2)—ideally, one visual media manager will specialize in graphic design, and one will specialize in photography
Resource Room Manager
Auditor
Resident Assistant Liaison
Elections Chair
Except for the Resident Assistant Liaison and Elections Chair roles, all positions are compensated between $900 and $1100 per semester. You can learn more about each position, RHA, and our Executive Cabinet in the attached Job Descriptions PDF. Note that these positions are not open to incoming first-year students.
Applications for the Executive Cabinet will be live through Friday, August 20, and an interview period will follow applications. A full timeline, along with more information, can be found in the Executive Cabinet application, here.
If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out!
This weekend, RHA is hosting four unique events across campus, and you’re invited to all of them! These events are free to all on-campus residents and RAs—regardless of where you’re living this summer—and will feature delicious treats from Atlanta vendors or prize packages that you can win.
Friday, July 16, 6-8pm | Pop Up Party on West Campus, with Free Tiffs Treats
We’ll be out on the West Village Lawn with music, lawn games, and the Tiffs Treats Food Truck!
If this event has to be cancelled due to inclement weather and rescheduled, we will share information about the new date/time on our Instagram Story (@rhagt).
Saturday, July 17, 2-4pm | Pop Up Party on East Campus, with Jeni’s Ice Cream
Meet us at the GT Connector Lawn (between Glenn and Towers residence halls) for music, lawn games, and free ice cream from Jeni’s!
This event is rain or shine! If it rains, we’ll move indoors to the bottom and top floors of the GT Connector.
Sunday, July 18, 2-4pm | Pop Up Party at Tenth and Home, with Kona Ice
Come find us at the Tenth and Home roundabout and courtyard for music, lawn games, and free Kona Ice (snow cones/shaved ice)!
If this event has to be cancelled due to inclement weather and rescheduled, we will share information about the new date/time on our Instagram Story (@rhagt).
Sunday, July 18, 8:15-9:30pm | Bingo Night at Brittain
Join us in Brittain Dining Hall after hours for 10 rounds of BINGO, music, and the chance to win various prizes, including a Bluetooth Speaker, Amazon Echo Dot, Hydroflask, Whiteboard, LED Light Strips, and more!
Each prize package has an average retail value of over $30!
Last Monday, I announced the resignation of RHA’s elected Director of Programming and explained the need for an emergency application and appointment process to fill the new vacancy. I’m excited to announce that the first round of the search process—an internal search—yielded four qualified applicants for the position. Following careful consideration of each candidate’s application, resume, qualifications, commitments, and energy for the position, I’m pleased to announce that a further search is not needed and Gabe Gauderman will serve as RHA’s Interim Director of Programming, effective immediately, until the first Legislative Council session of the Fall 2021 semester.
Gabe has previously served with RHA as a Hall Council Officer in the Third Street community during the 2020 – 2021 academic year and has a demonstrated history of achievement and excellence in the residential landscape. The recipient of this past year’s Meetings Coordinator of the Year award and leader of the Hall Council of the Year, Gabe has engaged in nearly every facet of RHA and contributed immensely to developing the residential student experience in his community. Both outside and inside RHA, he planned 18 events during his first year at Georgia Tech and has worked first-hand with RHA’s Permanent Improvement process, which the Director of Programming currently oversees. Gabe understands the scope of the organization and, I’m confident, will be able to meaningfully contribute to not just his roles and responsibilities as Director of Programming but also the larger development and success of the organization. A great resource for running successful and engaging meetings, planning events, building community, advertising initiatives, engaging residents in submitting bills and attending Hall Council, pursuing large-scale projects for his residence halls, and collaborating with diverse groups across campus, Gabe Gauderman will be a great addition to our team.
When it comes time to do so, I hope that the Legislative Branch will support this decision emphatically. I’ve made this decision with the support and advice of the rest of the Executive Board and believe that this is the best decision for the protection and successful operation of the organization.
On April 26, 2021, RHA’s elected Director of Programming (DOP), Maria Costa, amicably resigned from her position for personal and medical reasons. Because RHA’s Legislative Council is not currently in session—and won’t be until Fall 2021—and per Article VIII, Section C of the organization’s Constitution, I, as the Executive President of the organization, have the authority to appoint an eligible candidate as an interim officer to fill the vacancy of the Director of Programming position.
Until an interim is appointed, I shall fulfill all duties and responsibilities of the position. Once an interim is appointed, they will remain in the position until the first Legislative Council meeting of the Fall 2021 semester, which is tentatively scheduled for September 2021, during which elections for the position will be held and the Legislative Council will formally elect a successor to the position. It is my intent to appoint an interim who fully plans on and will commit to serving in the elected Director of Programming position for the entire 2021-2022 term, in addition to their role as an interim DOP.
Although, come Fall, the Legislative Council will formally and constitutionally have the right to elect a new successor to the position—different from the interim officer appointed—I strongly recommend and encourage that the Legislative Council treat the election as a confirmation, formally electing the candidate who was appointed as an interim and not another candidate who may run for the position. The situation that is before us—of a vacancy that must be filled by appointment while Legislative Council is out of session for at least four months—is unprecedented, and the organization will benefit from as little turnover as possible. Over the next four months, the interim Director of Programming that I appoint will receive comprehensive training, contribute hundreds of hours to the organization, and begin planning campus-wide programming for the entire 2021-2022 academic year. By the time elections are held in Fall 2021, it is my belief that there will be no better candidate for the position than the interim officer that has been appointed.
To fill the vacancy for the Director of Programming position, I will conduct an internal search for a successor candidate starting Monday, April 26, 2021. This internal search will last no longer than a week; if, after one week, an internal search has not yielded an adequate interim, I will begin an external, resident-wide search for a successor starting Monday, May 3. This external search is to last, at most, two weeks. If, by Monday, May 17, an adequate successor has not been identified, the search for an interim will be called off, and the position will remain vacant until further notice, with the Executive President fulfilling all duties and responsibilities of the position until election proceedings can resume, per the normal methods, once Legislative Council is back in session.
The Vacancy Application Period Has Closed
Application Closed
