What is The Future of RDs? – How should I know?

Guest Post by Trinity Brooks, Residence Life Professional

In Student Affairs and Higher Education (SAHE), we often feel led to always have the right answers to questions. SAHE is ever-changing, so I’m confident when I say that I don’t know the right answer to this question; however, I feel uniquely qualified to offer suggestions for what I believe the future of the RD (Residential Director) role will be. I currently serve as an Assistant Hall Director (fancy title for a graduate assistant) within Residential Life at Indiana State University. While I have not been an RD, my direct supervisors are RD’s. They are valuable in how I am growing professionally, so I get a chance to advocate for them in this blog post. To all the RD’s who have supervised, supported, and helped me in these past 2 years, this one’s for you. 

• Advocating to leadership on behalf of residents, RAs, and GAs 
• Being a safe haven for RAs & GAs 
• Being a servant leader by positively contributing to students’ on-campus experience
• Building working relationships with residents 
• Providing support to RAs and GAs who are navigating their role within Residential Life
• Responding to all the crazy emails from parents asking if their child can get a room change because they don’t like how their roommate breathes 

When I think of the RD role, I think of full-time live-in professionals who are hired to provide leadership, supervision, and guidance to students fulfilling a position as a residential assistant (RA) or graduate assistant (GA). The RD role looks different at each institution; however, their vitality to Offices of Residential Life worldwide is consistent. RD’s bring something I like to call that #ResLifeEnergy. You’re probably wondering, “What the freak is #ResLifeEnergy?” I would describe #ResLifeEnergy as the energy that RD’s bring to the role while carrying out their responsibilities. RD’s bring that energy by: 

#ResLifeEnergy is unique to the RD role, and of course, there’s much more to the RD position; but, these are just a few responsibilities that my past and current RD’s have made apparent to me! Thinking about the future takes an ultramodern mindset, and because futuristic is one of my top 5 CliftonStrengths, I got this. I’m going to put on my practical hat for a second and give you the facts. 

1. Postsecondary institutions faced a 4.9% decline in enrollment between 2019 and 2021, with many still fighting to recoup from the deficit (Hanson, 2023). 
2. Public, private, and independent institutions are experiencing budget cuts (Lederman, 2023). 
3. Working for any Office of Residential Life is for the strong-willed, and not for the faint at heart (OK, this was more of an opinion than a fact, but stay with me). 

I believe the RD role is valuable, and should continue to be cherished– assuming that Residential Life departments are already cherishing those serving in the role. An RD’s responsibilities could be split between leadership, GA’s, and possibly RA’s. The distributed tasks would either be

executed by inexperienced individuals–providing them with experience and professional development?– or add additional work to other individuals in the department (let’s talk about being overworked and underpaid in the workplace, next). This could be a fiscally responsible choice, as we consider budget cuts happening at institutions, but we would also be sacrificing quality individuals to accommodate a short-term budget crisis. Although we are facing a decline in enrollment, budget cuts, and potential job loss, institutions are still responsible for providing students with the experience they are paying for. According to the Education Data Initiative (2023), students pay an average of $11,520 for room and board at public institutions compared to the $13,028 average at private institutions; therefore, if a student is paying thousands of dollars to live in a residential hall on campus, they deserve to have a multi-thousand dollar, on-campus experience. The experiences and environments created for residents living in residential buildings come from the RA’s and GA’s working and living in the buildings under the leadership of RD’s. 

In the words of my executive director for Residential Life at Indiana State University, Ardell J. Sanders, “We are in the business of relationships,” which is something RD’s must do to create an inclusive and welcoming environment. This multi-thousand dollar experience includes a living space, furniture, utilities, a meal plan, and highly qualified professionals– RD’s who are ready to bring that #ResLifeEnergy! Unfortunately, with budget cuts and low enrollment, the future of the RD role may include more work as positions are eliminated or combined. With that, the future of the RD role should include: 

• A pay raise (especially if tasks are being added to their workload)
• Greater access to professional development opportunities to cultivate their abilities
• Intentional mental health initiatives for those working in Residential Life departments

Like I said earlier, working for any Office of Residential Life is for the strong-willed, and not for the faint at heart. RD’s who genuinely bring that #ResLifeEnergy deserve to be compensated, cultivated, and cared for in their time served as an RD. 

I could go on and on about what I want the future to look like for the RD role, but we’d be here awhile, so for now take my thoughts as suggestions for how we can value RD’s in the upcoming years to ensure their longevity. I’m optimistic, so the future of the RD role looks positive. RD’s better not go anywhere anytime soon. Who will I cry to if I don’t have an RD? Who will respond to the outlandish emails from parents? If you’re an RD reading this, keep bringing that #ResLifeEnergy, we need it. Until next time, when we talk about being overworked and underpaid while working in student affairs and higher education…

References 

Hanson, M. (2021, November 18). Average Cost of College & Tuition. Education Data Initiative. 
Henson, M. (2023, October 1). College Enrollment & Demographic Statistics. Education Data Initiative.
Lederman, D. (2023, October 2). Citing Significant Budget Deficits, Several Colleges Face Cuts. Inside Higher Ed.