A Chat with Returning College Residential College Advisors (RCAs)
Meet three returning Residential College Advisors who share how their roles have evolved across the academic years
As students returned to the Yale-NUS College campus after a refreshing semester break, the Residential College Advisors (RCAs) have also adapted to significant shifts. RCAs are instrumental in shaping the residential experience for students. Initially tasked with mentoring incoming first year students, RCAs later transitioned to focus on community-building within specific Residential College ‘neighbourhoods’, where one ‘neighbourhood’ typically consists of suites on neighbouring floors that share a common garden space called a ‘sky garden’. Saying goodbye to Saga College last semester has also led to more changes in the College’s residential life. Students who were from Saga College have moved into Elm and Cendana College, and RCAs are now taking on an integrated approach to planning their event and services, where the entire College community is viewed as one whole instead of split into their individual Residential Colleges. To gain insights into these changes and the RCAs’ upcoming plans, we interviewed three returning RCAs: Ashley Koh (Class of 2025), Maleeka Hassan (Class of 2024), and James Ham (Class of 2025).
Tell us about yourself!
Ashley: Hi! I’m Ashley, a third year student doing a double major in law and liberal arts. I’m hoping to pursue a minor in Arts and Humanities (not sure how well that’s going though). In my free time I like to read, listen to music, play pool, and just do whatever my friends are up to!
Maleeka: My name is Maleeka Hassan (she/her) and I’m originally from Sri Lanka although I was born in Dubai. I’m from the Class of 2024, currently majoring in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, and minoring in Urban Studies. If you’ve heard about the Wellness Pod, then you may also know me from there!
James: I am a third year student, majoring in Law & Anthropology. I also serve as the President for the Good ‘Ol Yale-NUS Adventurer’s Club (“GOYAC”).
What prompted you to become an RCA? All three of you are returning RCAs — what made you continue to serve past your first term?
Ashley: When the position of RCA expanded beyond seniors, I decided to fill this role because it was similar to the work I was doing in the Cendana College Council, but with a broader impact and more opportunities to have one-on-one interactions. What made me join is also what made me continue. In the RCA position, I’ve been able to meet more people and extend a helping hand wherever it’s needed — it’s a very fulfilling experience.
Maleeka: In 2021 when the closure was announced, I was stuck in Sri Lanka after the COVID-19 Delta strain crisis. Missing a semester of in-person classes made me understand the grief that students were feeling, and I wanted to be an RCA to help our community learn how to cope and adjust. What I didn’t anticipate was how much I enjoyed planning events and creating an environment that felt neighbourly. Working with the team of Saga RCAs to come up with fun events (like the movie marathon we hosted in the Saga Rector’s Commons that ended up resembling a sleepover) made me want to do more, especially in the last year of my undergraduate studies.
James: My RCA in the first year played an important role in aiding my transition to the College, and I wanted to contribute back in a similar fashion. I really love organising events, and seeing people have fun! As a Double Degree Programme (DDP) Law major, a lot of my time is spent at NUS Law. Continuing as an RCA was a deliberate decision, so that I could remain connected with the Yale-NUS community that I love so much.
How is your job different this semester from last semester? Describe the RCA role of now.
Ashley: I personally haven’t seen a very different scope as I’m working with a sky garden in Cendana, similar to last semester. It’s definitely more interesting to work together with all the other RCAs instead of independently from other [residential] colleges. We’ve started implementing practices from Saga or Elm, like promoting collaborative events and combining Cendana’s Chilldana event with Saga’s Late Night Supper to make our new Late Night Chill series.
Maleeka: Previously, most of the RCA work is done within the Residential College the RCA belonged to. We now plan events for our neighbourhood, and the larger College community. RCAs will also be collaborating across sky gardens to encourage mingling and will carry out one ‘Educational’ event for their sky garden. These will follow the residential curriculum of Yale-NUS College, aligning with one or more of the three themes: Wellness, Community Living, and Intercultural Engagement.
James: Moving away from the Residential College model comes with changes, naturally. For instance, I am staying in Elm, but my RCA neighbourhood is in Cendana B. I personally don’t see this as a big issue — my first RCA neighbourhood event (ice-cream party) was well attended. As our community becomes smaller, everyone slowly becomes a familiar face. It feels very cosy, irrespective of where we stay.
What are some things we can look forward to as a community, from the college RCAs?
Ashley: The most immediate event would be the Late Night Chill series! The Chilldana event was honestly my favourite RCA event – sharing my love for food and passion for cooking with the extended college community.
Maleeka: You’ll just have to wait and see! Jokes aside, while we’re still planning the bigger campus-wide events, please reach out to any of us if you have an idea and we’ll try our best to help execute this or direct you towards resources that can. We want to host events that the whole community can enjoy and find memorable!
James: There are some combined RCA neighbourhood events in the works, such as Tapas Night after recess week. We are aiming to bring people staying across different towers together in a social setting over great food. I’m also considering handing out Brewhouse vouchers during exam season as a “morale booster” of sorts.
The College’s journey through various phases of transitions gives rise to new ways of engaging with the community. We are grateful to our steadfast RCAs for their unwavering adaptability and commitment to serving our community!
