Housing and Residence Life: Community & Engagement | Competencies & Learning | Care & Case Management | Assessment
Bring On Opening! As residence hall opening season approaches, we've got updates for you and some helpful information to make sure you're prepared and ready. First things first, check out the opening checklist to make sure your Roompact environment is ready to go: Review The Opening Checklist ⬆️ Software Updates ⬆️ We've made a number... Continue Reading →
IT'S BACK! Roompact is holding its ninth annual door dec contest! This contest is open to student staff (RAs, CAs, etc.) at schools who currently use Roompact's software on their campus. Create a door dec with the name “Roompact” on it and email it to us at contests@roompact.com from your institutional email address (*.edu) with... Continue Reading →
During ACUHO-I's Residence Education Conference (and the Business Operations, and Housing Facilities Conferences) we'll be holding a social! Date: Tuesday, October 27th, 2026 Time: 5pm-7pm Location: On The ROX The social will have some free adult (and non-adult) beverages and nibbly bites. It's right across the street from the Hyatt Regency, next to the Sheraton.... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's RA*Chat, we’re joined by Alyssa Fisher, a seasoned professional in residence life with a strong understanding of resident engagement and community building. Together, we explore how RAs can recognize subtle signs of isolation and connect with residents who may be quieter or less visible in their communities while noting the importance of consistency and community building.
You've attended training, prepared for move-in, hosted welcome events, and done your best to make residents feel at home. You spend weeks learning policies, campus resources, referral processes, and community-building strategies. You prepare bulletin boards, create door decorations, and plan programs that you hope residents will enjoy. Then residents arrive. And sometimes they're not nearly... Continue Reading →
For housing professionals, move-in day often feels like the finish line. Months of planning culminate in a few hectic days of key distribution, check-in lines, and helping students carry far more belongings than they will ever actually use. Once the halls are full, it can be tempting to shift our attention to the next operational... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact’s ResEdChat, Crystal connects with Dr. Heather French, Associate Vice President and Dean of Students at San José State University, to discuss what AVPs need from Housing leaders. Heather shares how clear communication and trust can help leaders advocate for Housing at the senior level.
When you take on a student staff position, it is easy to focus on what comes with the role. There is the experience you will gain, the leadership skills you develop, the responsibilities you will take on, and maybe even how the position will look on your résumé. What often gets overlooked are the people... Continue Reading →
It’s professional development season, a great time to reflect on how you hope to grow and learn this year. Whether you prefer large conferences, smaller institutes, certifications, or something in between, there are so many ways to invest in your development. If your institution provides professional development funding, I highly encourage you to consider joining... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, join host Noah and students Chi Truong and Emma Elson as they reflect on their experience at the NextGen Institute and discuss their plans to pursue a career in Student Affairs. The three tell stories, share advice and experiences, and reflect on our field in an honest and thought provoking way.
The beginning of every year in residence life is a concoction of endless training. We spend weeks and countless hours lecturing staff, professionals and students, on their statutory and ethical obligations. We all cover the same sessions on how to do the various aspects of our work from assisting with students in crisis, lockouts, report... Continue Reading →
As Residence Life staff, we are often (digitally) swimming in data. We receive and analyze data related to students, rooms, incidents, programs, duty, inspections, and more. And while many wonderful software companies have made storing and reporting on these data much easier over time - and many of us work with awesome colleagues who can... Continue Reading →
What advice would you give to an incoming first year student? How can you enable them to build community and a sense of belonging? Consider writing your own or sharing this with your incoming residents. One of your first experiences in college is likely going to be meeting the individuals living near you in the... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, host Paul Brown sits down with Roompact Blogger Cohort member, Jordan Dedrick, to discuss her research into RA and student staff self-efficacy as it pertains to addressing conflict and mediations. Many campuses struggle with roommate conflicts in particular, and this episode provides some practical tips on equipping staff to help residents reach towards resolution.
It is relatively uncommon to meet someone who works professionally in residence life who was not a student leader at some point in their academic career. They may not have been an RA, but they likely found themselves connected to an office within the realm of student support. This is likely when they learned that... Continue Reading →
I have supervised three sibling groups in the past three years - on the same staff team and one year after the other! Many RDs intentionally do not hire siblings or departments have unwritten expectations that siblings don’t get hired to the same staff team. I was warned not to hire siblings onto the same... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's RA*Chat, we explore one of the most meaningful parts of being an RA with Iyanna Williams and her experience on this topic: becoming a trusted support person for residents. Beyond programs and policy enforcement, RAs are often the first people residents turn to during moments of stress, conflict, loneliness, homesickness, or personal challenges. This conversation focuses on how RAs can navigate vulnerable conversations with empathy, professionalism, and care while also understanding their role, boundaries, and available campus resources.
If you’ve worked as a Resident Assistant or student staff member for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard them all. “Do you have a stapler?” “Can I borrow a vacuum?” “Do you know where my package is?” “My roommate locked themselves out…again.” At first glance, these questions don’t seem particularly memorable. They’re quick interactions... Continue Reading →
Can you believe summer is over? While the actual calendar says there's still plenty of the year left, anyone who works in Residence Life knows exactly what's coming. Goodbye to quiet residence halls, summer planning sessions, and those ambitious plans to finally create the perfect new process that will solve everyone’s problems. Maybe next year,... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, join Noah and Taylor Hogan as they talk about joy. Being in a caring field can take its toll. Residence Life staff are often requested to do more with less all while living where we work and being constantly surrounded by the work itself. Thus, it becomes crucial to find the joy to make the work and being people in the work sustainable. Join Noah and Taylor as they talk about finding joy, tell stories, and provide advice to Residence Life staff.
Whether you're a new or returning RA or Student Leader, you've probably heard how important first impressions are. Chances are, you've also heard that the first few weeks after move-in set the tone for your community. A lot of Residence Life professionals will tell you the first two, three, or four weeks are the most... Continue Reading →
