Residence life and education, residential curriculum and curricular approaches, student housing, and technology.
Springing Forward... We're well into 2024 and are looking ahead to the closing of the halls and the starting of summer. We've got a TON of new content for you as well as some exciting Insight report updates that we think you will find particularly useful. Read on to find out what you may have... Continue Reading →
Roompact is pleased to announce its fifth annual user's conference scheduled for this fall on Wednesday, October 9th, 2023 between 12:00pm and 2:00pm at the Westin O'Hare Airport. Our "mini conference" this year will feature Roompact updates, a showcase session on specialized use cases of our software, and the opportunity to interact with Roompact teammates... Continue Reading →
Every year, Roompact puts out a ton of content on topics of interest to college student housing and residence life professionals. This year included nearly 200 new posts, including 45 new podcast episodes and 4 webinars. Come take a look at our most viewed content of 2023. Our top two most popular new posts of... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, we chat with Ali Martin Scoufiled who is completing her doctoral research into the experiences of disabled students on campus. In this episode we explore the spectrum of how (dis)ability shows up on campus and tangible steps residence life professionals can take to better support disabled students in the residence halls and as they navigate the college environment. If you have a topic idea or want to engage in the community discussion, use the hashtag #ResEdChat.
Anyone who has worked in residential life, from student staff to professional staff of all levels, have most likely come across training and strategies regarding students and how to build connections with them, but how effective are they really? Here, the fundamental aspects of a resident conversation are broken down, identifying not only their strengths,... Continue Reading →
Have you ever asked yourself that question? If not, do it now…like for real pull up a mirror and ask that question. Or better yet, ask one of your staff members the question. If you are afraid of the answer, there might be a good reason why. I can’t imagine you were expecting to read... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, Stewart chats with Jean MacKimmie, the Director of Residential Life at University Massachusetts Amherst as they explore the potential emotional impacts of student staff unionization drives. They explore Jean's experience at University Massachusetts Amherst over two decades ago when the RA team became the first successful Resident Advisor unionization in the US and what her experiences have been since then working in this environment. Hear first hand from Jean, as she details sage advice that she has provided other campuses that have faced similar events, and discover the support required for all levels of staff. Roompact invites you to join to hear why Jean is regarded as THE expert when it comes to student staff unions!
With diverse personalities, backgrounds, and lifestyles, conflict is an inevitable part of the human experience. So long as we interact with others, we will argue with them over our perspectives and injustices we’ve collected. Whether it’s over someone eating the last yogurt you were saving or how to coexist within the same space, conflict is... Continue Reading →
So, you’re a higher education professional about to begin your job search wondering, “What’s my next step in my career?” Vertical trajectory up the organizational chart is alluring for many, as it represents an idealized version of professional success in a capitalist society. After all, what’s a more concrete example of your hard work than... Continue Reading →
Housing is a unique place to hold a career due to all of the elements this functional area is responsible for. There are a lot of great experiences that can translate to future opportunities in which you can continue to build on a career within Student Affairs or pivot to a new field entirely. I... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact’s ResEdChat, Crystal sits down with Liz Toombs, a Certified Interior Decorator and Owner of PDR Interiors. Liz shares her thoughts on several topics, including Greek Life, the connection between student living spaces and wellness, and the importance of belonging for college students. She offers tips on the dos and don'ts that come along with designing spaces and supporting students who are members of fraternities and sororities.
When I first entered the field of Higher Education as a Residence Hall Manager, I remember feeling that there was no way I had time to collect data, find meaningful ways to communicate said data, and depending on the day, if I knew where to start in looking for data. Between ensuring the safety and... Continue Reading →
“Professor, what’s your favorite song on the album?” The question was from one of my students in our student leadership seminar, a course designed for incoming resident assistants, peer mentors, and orientation leaders. They were talking about ‘Cowboy Carter,’ the 27-track musical journey by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter that’s got everyone donning cowboy hats, slipping into boots, ... Continue Reading →
Other Posts in This Series: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 Within Student Affairs, assessment is often an expectation of everyone’s work. Whether you are someone in an entry level role or have been around the block for 20 academic years, assessment likely comes up. I believe it is critical... Continue Reading →
Resident Advisors (RAs) have the unique task of creating community with the residents of the residence halls. This task of creating community is a big undertaking, which requires care, kindness, attentiveness, and is the responsibility of each member of the community. Collectively, the students living in our residence halls create a community atmosphere. Creating community... Continue Reading →
Housing professionals are well accustomed to the process of handling a crisis. When your work involves maintaining the everyday homeostasis and safety of an unpredictable community, your ability to maintain calm and handle a situation can become almost uncanny. In our roles, we encounter a variety of urgent issues, from the most ridiculous of situations... Continue Reading →
Getting involved in a professional association has a number of benefits. Luckily for professionals working in residence life and college student housing, there are a number of ways to get involved. The Association of College and University Housing Officers - International (ACUHO-I) represents professionals on the national level, but there are also regional associations that... Continue Reading →
We’d like to introduce you to our ACUHO-I intern for 2024, Seferine Baez! Seferine is helping us out with the development of a professional development curriculum for student staff. She brings a wealth of experience and talent to the team. We're excited to have her. Seferine Baez Pronouns: She/Her/They Hometown: Bronx, NY Alma Mater: Fitchburg State... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's RA*Chat, Crystal sits down for an insightful dialogue with Edwin Serrano, a Senior Learning & Development Specialist at the University of Southern California. Edwin offers his unique perspective on leadership, tackling the age-old debate of whether leaders are born or made. He offers invaluable advice to Resident Assistants (RAs) on harnessing their leadership capabilities to navigate the landscape of internships and job opportunities. Additionally, he provides RA supervisors with practical strategies to foster leadership growth within their student staff teams. Moreover, Edwin candidly shares his personal journey of self-discovery, recounting how he cultivated confidence and unearthed a vocation that resonates deeply with his passions.
This blog series features different writers responding to the prompt, "What is the future of the RD position and role?" Read More From The Series “A jack of all trades is a master of none,” might just be the phrase epitomizes my experience as a Community Director. For the first hour of the day, I was... Continue Reading →
