Residence life and education, residential curriculum and curricular approaches, student housing, and technology.
When being hired/re-hired as a live-in student leader, there is one big question that most student leaders think about: “Where am I going to live?” First, I’d like to share my personal experience with this: The first time I applied to be a Community Advisor (CA, often called an RA), it was exciting to apply... Continue Reading →
If you're an RA pondering whether to return next year, think about your schedule, commitment, and desire for the role. It’s important to know that being an RA isn’t just for benefits like free housing. Reflect on your experience and make sure it's the right fit for you and your residents!
Within your role in Residence Life as a student leader there can be turnover. Sometimes a fellow student leader needs to step away, leaving a position that needs to be filled. Depending on the timing of this occurrence, it is typical for the now open role to be offered to a student leader candidate from... Continue Reading →
Residence Life practices are changing with the times, or at least they should be. Technology is everywhere, including in the way the residential spaces are designed. The historic residential spaces persist and that age old motto “if it aint broke, don’t fix it” will continue for as long as possible, mostly due to replacement costs... Continue Reading →
Returning as a Resident Advisor is a deliberate choice. It’s a decision made after you’ve already experienced late-night duty rounds, difficult conversations, paperwork, and emotional labor. No one accidentally signs up to do this job twice. That’s why, when the year becomes demanding, it’s essential to remember why you came back to this job in... Continue Reading →
At some point in your time as a student leader, you may get a different supervisor. Sometimes this happens because you are put on a different community/building team at the start of a new school year, while other times it is because a supervisor has left and a new supervisor is hired in their place.... Continue Reading →
Change is a constant in campus life, but when your supervisor leaves their position, it can feel especially unsettling. Supervisors play a vital role in shaping the culture of a residence life team. They provide mentorship, guidance, and stability. When they move on, student staff and residents alike may feel uncertain about what comes next.... Continue Reading →
If you clicked on this article…you just might be feeling like you have a terrible co-worker who isn’t good at their job. Having a bummer colleague makes any job worse, but when you have to live in the same building/community as them!? That’s a real challenge. Here are some steps you can take to navigate... Continue Reading →
In 2014, Taylor Swift dropped the album “1989”. I won’t forget this because it was my first year of college. I met a Swiftie in my residence hall, Brianna, and asked her if I could burn a copy of the album. From that moment, my friendship with Brianna was written in permanent ink. This year,... Continue Reading →
Article by Amusement Park Enthusiast and Community Director, Tamarah Humphreys A school year being a student leader in Residence Life is a lot like riding a rollercoaster. Let’s climb in, securely fasten those seatbelts, and get ready for a wild ride of a school year as a Student Leader. Waiting in Line - You’ve got... Continue Reading →
Question: “Are you a new Student Leader?” Answer: “No, but I wasn’t over here last year, so idk.” - You, probably. (After all, you clicked on this article.) This response seems casual, but being a returning student leader to a new space is both familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. You’ve done the job... Continue Reading →
with your DJ, Tamarah Humphreys Being a Student Leader living and working at a college or university during the Summer term is a unique time to be on campus. Unique parts of the Summer Student Staff Member experience can include: different work tasks, a different team than in the past, a different supervisor, and oftentimes... Continue Reading →
So, you're not going to be a live-on student staff member anymore. The day comes for every RA or student leader when the keys get handed in, the last door gets closed, and campus life becomes a memory instead of your everyday reality. Here’s the thing: there’s more to this next chapter than just finding... Continue Reading →
Have you ever had a crush on someone? When I did an internet search for “romantic relationships” the first suggestion that popped up was “romantic relationships in the workplace” followed by “romantic relationships in the workplace policy”. This is a common issue! It can be tricky to navigate having a crush on a coworker. It’s... Continue Reading →
Though you probably won’t be attending Dear Old Shiz University anytime in the near future, being a Resident Advisor (RA) at your respective university comes with its own set of challenges. One challenge that every RA will eventually face is the inevitable roommate conflict. What would you do as an RA if you found your... Continue Reading →
At many universities, live-in residence life professional positions such as residence hall coordinators, assistant directors, and area coordinators are seen as "entry-level stepping stone" roles for individuals aspiring to move into higher positions within higher education or student affairs. This perception undermines the significance of these positions and the professionals who occupy them. These live-in... Continue Reading →
I didn’t do an assessment. I didn’t know how. I didn’t do an assessment. It seemed too time-consuming. I didn’t do an assessment. A student crisis took priority. I didn’t do an assessment. I had a creative idea for gathering data, but the university denied my funding request. I didn’t do an assessment. I have... Continue Reading →
“Do I really have to go through training again?” “Training is boring, we just sit there.” “I’ve already done this twice! It’s the same thing every year.” “Can I skip this session?” If these laments sound familiar to you, you might just work with student staff in Residence Life. While training is mandatory for a... Continue Reading →
