Housing and Residence Life: Community & Engagement | Competencies & Learning | Care & Case Management | Assessment
At many Universities, the “RA” role is a competitive and highly sought-after student job. Because of this passion and drive students have for wanting to become a RA, as a current RA, you might get questions from residents about the role, your experience as a RA, and any advice you may be willing to share.... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's RA*Chat, join us for an insightful conversation with Dwayne Peterson as we delve beyond traditional resume tips to explore the full spectrum of career preparation, from strategic networking to intentional job applications. Learn how your RA experience translates into valuable, transferable skills that employers seek. This deep dive session will... Continue Reading →
Being a student worker for a housing department is both a high demand and high pressure environment. It requires extreme prioritizing, balancing, and accountability. While there can be considerable perks, your education and long-term health and goals should come first. It’s safe to say that being a Resident Advisor (or whatever your institution may call... 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 →
The use of preferred names has become increasingly common over the last decade, though they have always existed. This increase is especially noticeable for students entering higher education as higher education is an environment that typically encourages students to explore and showcase their unique identity and background. Many college students have just become adults and... Continue Reading →
As the semester winds down and winter break approaches, in this episode of Roompact's RA*Chat Dr. Asha Jones guides listeners through the essential practice of year-end reflection, offering practical strategies for processing the past year's experiences and setting intentions for the future. She explores how to navigate end-of-year stress and use winter break for both rest... Continue Reading →
My blog post for Roompact this month is a reflection on my past few weeks, which have frankly been one of the most difficult times of my life. A close family member of mine suddenly passed away with no warning. I was thrown into planning a funeral a couple states away from my home, a... Continue Reading →
Imagine posting a story where you complain about some aspect of serving residents. Maybe you caption it, “If one more person knocks on my door I’m quitting.” Or, imagine you and your Resident Advisor (RA) friends dancing to a viral sound. The text on the screen reads, “Getting called out at 3am to clean vomit... 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 →
Roompact's door dec competition is now closed and we're ready to announce the winners. We received 85+ 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 →
Do you love video games? Me too, and I am willing to bet a lot of your residents do as well. Instead of fearing video games as something that takes residents away from meeting others or getting out of their rooms, you can use video games to your advantage - by involving them in programming!... Continue Reading →
Let’s be real: sometimes being an RA feels like you’re basically there for when something goes wrong. You’re the one who gets called when there’s a lockout, when someone’s too loud at 2 A.M., and when someone’s clothes get “stolen” from the laundry machine. And while those pieces of your job description can definitely feel... Continue Reading →
During the first year of being a RA, you are typically focused on learning the role, balancing being a RA on top of school and other commitments, and building your confidence in your new position. Now that you’ve learned the ropes, it’s time to start using your time as a RA to help you grow... Continue Reading →
As an Resident Assistant or student staff member, being able to write incident reports is an important skill to have. This is because in your role you will frequently be the first responder when different incidents occur. Housing departments need to abide by both government and their institutions policies regarding tracking conduct trends and student... Continue Reading →
Welcome to the new and exciting world of being a RA! As you are going through intense trainings, busy move-in scheduling, and the start of the school year, things may seem a little crazy in your new role. Although your schedule and responsibilities may be a bit hectic right now, the beginning of a new... Continue Reading →
Let’s be real: almost everyone has enjoyed a quirky Buzzfeed quiz! These quizzes are addictive because they make self-discovery fun and weirdly accurate. What if we could bring that same energy into one of the most challenging parts of our job as student staff members? Personal assessments aren’t just enjoyable wastes of time. When used... Continue Reading →
One of the most important responsibilities of an RA is the development of a successful community within their space and wider residential community. However, this is a skill that is very specific to housing and you won’t hear the phrase “community development” very frequently outside of this environment. So, what does “community development” mean, and... Continue Reading →
