Become an IDEA Ambassador

Be the Connector. Be the Change.

You have the power to help ensure everyone in your residential community feels at home. As an IDEA Ambassador (IA), you are a leader in fostering a true sense of belonging for your peers.

• Empower Students: Connect others to key resources like Student Affairs community, access, and success units, Student Disability Resources, and various student clubs and organizations that support their success.
• Spark Dialogue: Facilitate important educational conversations with fellow students about personal, social, cultural, and academic growth.
• Bridge the Gap: Support residents experiencing homesickness by helping them find their community on campus

Collaborate, Connect, and Create Change

It takes all of us to make a difference. As an IDEA Ambassador, you'll be part of a supportive team environment, helping to build a more inclusive campus community.

• Building Your Network: You will grow a network of fellow ambassadors across campus and connect with the supportive Residence Life team around you.
• Active Team Participation: Be an active team member by participating in bi-weekly Residence Life staff meetings with Resident Assistants and attending regular meetings with your supervisor.
• Community Engagement: Connect with area and residence hall governments to amplify student voices.
• Supporting Students: Provide crucial support by making referrals to university agencies when needed.

Shape Your Community. Build Your Network. Be the Change.

It takes all of us to make a difference, and it starts here. The IDEA Ambassador role is your opportunity to join a supportive team and help foster a campus community where everyone feels they belong.

• Grow Your Connections: Develop a strong network of fellow ambassadors and mentors within the Residence Life team.
• Make a Tangible Impact: Provide essential support to your peers, guide them to university resources, and be a leader in creating a safe and aware campus environment.
• Become a Community Advocate: Engage directly with student government to champion the needs and ideas of residents.

Recognize your Impact.

Your influence doesn't have an "off" switch. Students in this role embody the Penn State values in conversations and engagements.

• Serve as a highly visible campus leader and representative of Residence Life and Penn State.
• Remain in good social, financial, academic and conduct standing with the University.
• Uphold high standards and live in accordance with the policies outlined in the Student Code of Conduct, the Housing Terms and Conditions, and the Residence Life IA Manual.
• Understand that role modeling behavior is considered during your appointment at the University including on and off campus as well as in cyber profiles and social media outlets. 

• Attend all Residence Life and IA-specific staff meetings and training programs including pre-semester arrival preparations in the entirety. No exceptions will be granted without appropriate consultation. 

• Limit outside activities to avoid conflict with residence hall responsibilities which are a priority. 

• Review and receive approval for any significant additional commitments with supervisor prior to start of term and throughout the semester. Employment and other commitments must not interfere with the IA duties. 

• Cap the amount of hours at an outside job at no more than 15 hours per week; all outside employment must be approved by the Senior Assistant Director for Inclusive Excellence 

• Restrict being a president of a governing student organization. 

• Restrict positions on executive boards of other student organizations unless there is prior approval from the Senior Assistant Director of Inclusive Excellence. 

• IDEA Ambassadors are not necessarily reappointed for the following academic year. Reappointments are contingent upon the IDEA Ambassador’s performance during the previous year. Some of the factors taken into account are successful and timely completion of tasks, positive evaluation by the supervisor, demonstration of continued engagement for the IA role, and needs of the students population.
• Residence Life maintains the right to reassign the IDEA Ambassador to a different residence hall based upon the needs of our office and the student population.
• Each IDEA Ambassador is limited to serve 2 consecutive academic year terms. Exceptional IDEA Ambassadors may have the opportunity to interview and apply for a 3rd academic year term. 

• IDEA Ambassador training before the start of every Fall and Spring semester for the duration of your time as an IDEA Ambassador.
• IA-specific staff meetings and Resident Assistant supervisory group (RA SuperGroup) staff meetings, alternating every Wednesday, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
• A scheduled 1-on-1 with your Graduate Assistant supervisor at least every two weeks.

• Committing to your IA role as a top priority and managing time accordingly
• Facilitating educational dialogue with residential students and RAs around social, cultural, academic, and personal growth.
• Engaging with other IA peers in a committee to advance the IDEA Ambassador and Residence Life Mission, Vision, and Educational Priority
  • Examples of committees from the 2025-2026 academic year include Assessment, Area Government Liaison, Historian, Marketing and Outreach, Morale, Research and Understanding
• Maintaining a high level of visibility in your community with Visibility Hours, around 6 hours weekly
• Completing a weekly report log of your activities during the week
  • Examples of areas within the weekly report log include Community and Residential Engagement, Supergroup Sessions, Professional Development, Visibility Hours tracking, and questions for your next 1-on-1.
• Participating in at least one tabling event every semester depending on area needs.
• Assisting in the IA Selection process for new IA staff between semesters.
• Working with a diverse population and meeting specific needs posed by the community.

• IA’s are always encouraged to be involved on campus in groups, organizations, etc.; however, attendance and participation in these groups is secondary to the IA role; these time commitments will be worked out individually with your supervisor.
• IA’s are permitted to work up to 15 hours outside of their IA role with the prior approval of their supervisor; however, this is to be considered secondary to the IA role which must take priority.

• This is a live-on position with where high visibility and engagement in the residence hall community is required. Your time away from the residence halls should be cleared with your supervisor prior to leaving.