The Residence Hall Association (RHA) at Christopher Newport University is a student-led organization that indirectly represents the Office of Residence Life and all residential students. RHA is advised by a professional staff member from the Office of Residence Life. The main purpose of RHA is to advocate on behalf of the residential student population to make improvements and/or effect change in
residential buildings, residential programming initiatives and/or residential policies. RHA represents and is the umbrella organization to Hall Councils in every residential building or area. Hall Councils are student-led, governing councils that represent their respective residential building and the students who reside there. Every residential student is automatically a member of RHA. Voting and decision-making is carried out by the Executive Board comprised of 12 residential students. All Hall Council representatives may also actively engage in voting and decision-making on behalf of the residential student population they advocate for during RHA General Assembly meetings. RHA also conducts assessments of residential student interests and needs in order to develop and implement quality programming and campus-wide initiatives. Programming includes, but is not limited to the following: social and community development, educational and awareness initiatives and/or campus collaborations. Funding for programming comes from the $20.00 Residence Life programming fee collected at the start of each academic year. Portions of the fee (varies year to year) comprise the total RHA budget. The budget is overseen by the Director of RHA, the Adviser. All purchase requests are made through the Office of Residence Life. The Executive Board is selected every March of the academic year via application process. Executive Board members are interviewed and selected by current Executive Board members, the adviser, and other Residence Life staff members.