Resident assistants at Colorado Mesa University are not currently required to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation and are not officially allowed to interfere in medical emergencies with their residents. They are not allowed, legally, to perform medical acts such as giving a band-aid. 

“Currently, we do not have our RAs take CPR,” Resident Life Assistant Director Emily Bollinger said. “However, we are looking into and exploring options surrounding the subject.”

Although CMU is a dry campus, it is possible for a student to come back to dorms under a dangerous amount of alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs. Even though they may have consumed these off campus, it is still a relevant danger to themselves and others in their dorms. If something were to happen physically to these residents, RAs are not legally required or allowed to interfere further than calling the police.

The lack of CPR training does not mean RAs are completely untrained. According to Bollinger, RA training is very thorough and useful, and they learn everything one would need to know about caring for their residents emotionally and mentally.

“Every year we require our 76 RAs to attend a two and a half week training in August. It is a very long and intense training. Training begins each morning at 9 a.m. and often ends at 9 p.m. Our goal for training is to equip our team with the necessary skills and knowledge to successfully complete their job responsibilities,” Bollinger said.

During the August training, RAs go through diversity, suicide intervention, mental health, lockdown and active shooter training, sexual assault, mediation and emergency protocols education. The training is conducted by a combination of CMU professionals and the Grand Junction Police Department.

It is unclear if or when RAs will be trained and allowed to perform CPR or other medical assistance, but for now, it is not something that is required or permitted.