Housing and Residence Life: Community & Engagement | Competencies & Learning | Care & Case Management | Assessment
Abstract: Throughout this webinar, you will have the opportunity to learn about some of the scariest assessment stories out there. The near 0% response rate on a survey. A 20-page report poured over for months that no one ever touches again. Do you feel the chills of data past upon you yet? Join us for... Continue Reading →
The academic year is in full swing. You’re supervising student staff, building community, answering emails, navigating yet another roommate conflict, and putting out a million little fires. Then your duty phone rings at 2 a.m. You probably got into this work because you wanted to make a difference. Maybe you had an incredible Res Life experience yourself. Maybe... Continue Reading →
National Coming Out Day is October 11. For some people, it is a day of celebration. For others, it may be a reminder of a journey they are still navigating. As student staff, we may never know which residents are questioning their identity, looking for resources, trying out a different name or pronouns, or simply... Continue Reading →
There’s an interesting paradox with loneliness that always fascinates me. One can be alone but not feel lonely, just as someone can be lonely, but not be alone. The two ideas are often conflated and interchanged, but there is such a clear delineation between the two. It’s unfortunate that idea gets lost because stripping the... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact’s ResEdChat, Crystal connects with Dr. Catherine LaRoche, Assistant Vice President for Student Engagement at Western Kentucky University, to explore what AVPs need from Housing and Residence Life leaders. Catherine shares how housing leaders can communicate data and risk, build trust, anticipate their AVP’s needs, and help senior housing leaders confidently advocate for the department.
Halloweekend is one of those times when campus tends to feel a little different. Residents are probably going to parties, dressing up, staying out later than usual, and making plans with friends both on and off campus. For many students, it’s a fun weekend to look forward to. For student leaders like RAs, though, it’s... Continue Reading →
🍂 New Academic Year, New Look 🍂 A new academic year deserves a new look, and that's just what our software received. Read on to find out what else is new. From Our webinars From Our Fellows From Our Podcast From Our Blogs In this Edition: Software Training Software Updates Door Dec Winners Poster/Advertising Contest... Continue Reading →
We all have moments in our careers where we cringe. I remember a regular departmental staff meeting my second year of graduate school, where our director shared with us that we were doing something new today. Depending on your demeanor, the words, “something new” can either be very exciting or terrifying. I wasn’t quite sure... Continue Reading →
IT'S HERE! Roompact is holding its annual residence hall "poster" contest! This contest is open to student staff (RAs, CAs, etc.) at schools who currently use Roompact's software on their campus. Send us your one best poster (or social media images... or similar type "advertisements") you've created this year (for an informational/educational campaign, a program,... Continue Reading →
Roompact's door dec competition is now closed and we're ready to announce the winners. We received 110+ entries (!), so picking ten was incredibly difficult. We tried to select a diverse group of winners that reflected the diversity of the submissions themselves. Thank you to all who entered! Your ideas are now a resource for... Continue Reading →
As an RA, hosting programs that build community is a big part of your role. However, simply having a program and asking people to come isn't enough to build human connections. The goal of programming isn't just to check off an RA requirement; it's to support students, foster community, and create a sense of well-being... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, Host Paul sits down with Citklali Ibarra-Hernandez to dig into how to cultivate a learning-centric mindset amongst staff in the residence halls. They discuss the challenges of developing this within oneself as well as translating for different audiences. Also get a little preview of the upcoming Institute.
An often under-discussed perk of being a student leader is the opportunity to be the first student to enter a completely new building or newly renovated building. This opportunity is fun and exciting but as a student leader, you lay the foundation of how the year will progress. While you are still a student leader... Continue Reading →
Recently, a colleague, Paige Harris, and I were working on a presentation about incorporating joy at work. We were brainstorming about what joy looks like for each person and that each supervisor doesn’t have to create joy in the same way for it to be meaningful for a team. We ended up coming up with... Continue Reading →
A quick and essential disclaimer to start: I have never been one to believe in perfect work/life balance. Or at least not what many folx see as that perfect balance - complete segmentation and no crossing of boundaries between apportioned “work time” and “life time.” Maybe it’s because I am the child of secondary school... Continue Reading →
“Buy-in” is one of the most common challenges in student affairs. Whether it’s residential curriculum, assessment, or new initiatives, staff are often told they need to “get others on board”—but rarely given tools that actually work on a Tuesday when they’re trying to do their job. This session reframes the conversation. Instead of focusing on convincing people to care, we’ll explore how everyday work can be designed so that key priorities are easier to follow through on—and harder to avoid. Participants will walk away with practical ways to build expectations, simplify processes, and reduce friction in their own roles, regardless of position.
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 →
