Due to the high quantity of students that apply for both RA and SOAR leadership positions, the applications processes may be combined into one.

Austin Drake, COM 250 Reporter

MOUNT BERRY, Ga. – Students who wish to become either RAs or SOAR leaders currently have to submit separate applications for each leadership position, although the process is nearly identical. However, students may end up being able to apply for both positions with the same application process in the near future.

                  Berry offers a wide variety of leadership positions on campus, and many of the applications for these positions are nearly identical, namely those for the RA and SOAR leader positions. Because of these similarities, there has been some recent thought about the institution of a common application for the positions.

                  “In terms of cutting down paperwork, I think there’s a lot of potential for a common application,” said Dana and Mountain Residence Life Area Coordinator Stephen Wyatt. “I think that’s an idea that could work.”

                  Wyatt says that he first heard of the idea recently at a conference, where a representative from another college described their common application process. He believes the process would become far more efficient not only for students wanting these leadership positions, but also for those hiring.

                  “At least at the front end of the application, you submit one application for all leadership positions,” Wyatt said. “Something like one résumé, one set of recommendations, two generic essay questions and then one essay question per area for which you would like to be considered could work.”

                  Assistant for Vice President of Student Affairs Lindsey Taylor, who plays a large part in the selection of SOAR leaders, agrees with Wyatt.

                  “If we could figure out as a campus a common application for leadership, it would be great,” Taylor said. “The problem is the timelines vary so much.”

                  The application due dates vary across Berry’s leadership positions, although RA and SOAR applications are due around the same time. Taylor noted that the difference would be the biggest challenge in creating a common application.

                  Many RAs and SOAR leaders stand behind the common application, including sophomore 2-time SOAR leader Alex Eberhart.

                  “A streamlined process could potentially allow for a less complicated selection process,” Eberhart said. “I think it’s important to have more individual interaction later on in the process through in person interviews, but I think a common application for RA and SOAR leaders could be successful.”

                  Although there hasn’t been much discussion about the common application, it is certainly something that the staff at Berry could support.