RA*Chat Ep 165: Beyond the Bulletin Board: Meaningful Engagement in the Mid-Semester Slump

In this episode of Roompact's RA*Chat, we we are joined by Marcus Zacarias (UC Berkeley) to solve the puzzle of low attendance and low energy. The secret? It doesn’t require a massive budget or hours of planning. We dive deep into the art of micro-programming and intentional conversations. Discover how RAs and student staff members can maintain community momentum even during the busiest times of the year by focusing on low-effort, high-reward interactions that meet residents exactly where they are.

January 29, 2026

Navigating A New Team Member Joining Mid-Year

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 →

January 28, 2026

1 Tip For New RAs: Lean Into Curiosity, Clarity, and Care!

By Rachel Caine Welcome to an exciting new chapter in your college life! Being an RA requires a special kind of person, and I hope you are incredibly proud of yourself for landing this role! I invite you to go in ambitious, ready to take on new challenges and learn. You will learn so much... Continue Reading →

January 24, 2026

Moving From Resolutions to Intentions: Sustainable Goal-Setting for Resident Advisors

January on campus tends to arrive with a mix of hope and pressure. It brings with it that new quarter/semester energy and, sometimes, new resolutions that feel motivating on January 1 but disheartening by the end of the first week. As Resident Advisors, you are not only navigating your own growth but also being role... Continue Reading →

January 21, 2026

1 Tip For Returning RAs: Remember Why You Chose to Come Back

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 →

January 18, 2026

1 Tip For New RAs: The Boundary Skill You Don’t Realize You Need Yet As A New RA

~ Blog Posts Written By RAs for RAs ~ By Kiyauna Lewis When you start as an RA, your first initiative is to be as present for your residents as possible. Although this is a great way to start, it can become incredibly overwhelming and draining, almost immediately. The last thing you would want is... Continue Reading →

January 17, 2026

1 Tip For Returning RAs: It’s Okay to Ask For Help & When to Reach Out

By Kate Pilcher Returning to the RA role often comes with a quiet, unspoken pressure: you should know this by now. You’ve already navigated your way around campus, duty, rounds, roommate conflicts, crisis protocols, and the sometimes emotionally taxing labor that comes with supporting residents. Due to exposure and experience, returning RAs are frequently seen... Continue Reading →

January 16, 2026

New Boss: Advice for Working with a New Supervisor in Residence Life

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 →

January 14, 2026

1 Tip For Returning RAs: ‘Locking In’ Instead of Burning Out – Finding Meaning in the “Small Stuff”

By Erin Brown To all the returning RAs out there, welcome back and congratulations – you made it through at least a semester of staff meetings, on call nights, bulletin boards, and programming. You worked on building community, developing yourself through 1:1s and programs, and showing up as a leader to your area. You’re getting... Continue Reading →

January 11, 2026

1 Tip For Returning RAs: Don’t Fall for the “I’ve Heard It All Before” Trap

By Molly Murray Stop me if this sounds familiar. “Why do I have to go to training again? I’ve been an RA for years and I’ve already sat through all of this.” You’re not wrong. Attending RA training as a returner can feel like watching a rerun of a TV show. But hear me out,... Continue Reading →

January 9, 2026

Forming, Storming, Norming, and Adjourning in Residential Living

Resident Advisors (RAs) are first and foremost community builders. One of the simplest and most useful frameworks you can use to understand how your residents grow as a group is Tuckman’s stages of group development. This includes five stages (four of which I'm focusing on here): forming, storming, norming, (performing), and adjourning. In university housing,... Continue Reading →

January 7, 2026

RA*Chat Ep 161: The Spring Reset: Re-Energizing Your Community After Break

In this episode of Roompact's RA*Chat, it's a post-break reset for RAs focused on rebuilding momentum, re-establishing expectations, and reconnecting with residents after winter break, with Assistant Director Chasten Conway. This episode covers strategies for addressing burnout, re-engaging residents, and setting a strong tone for the semester ahead.

January 5, 2026

2026 Roompact Bulletin Board Contest!

We're awarding a "Top Ten" Get a little something back for your time and effort. Roompact is holding its annual RA bulletin board contest! Here’s how it goes. This contest is only open to RAs at schools who currently use Roompact's software on their campus. Create a bulletin board and email us a photo (high-quality... Continue Reading →

January 1, 2026

Keeping Momentum Over Winter Break!

Winter break provides a much needed time to rest after Fall semester, allowing students to reconnect with their lives away from campus. However, with this period of rest and recharging, it’s easy to lose the good habits that you developed during the semester– such as sleeping on a regular schedule, getting outside everyday, maintaining good... Continue Reading →

December 29, 2025

The Thankful Student Leader in Housing

It’s always around the holiday times that I find myself pondering the things in my life that I am grateful for. As a student leader in housing or a Resident Assistant, it is important to reflect on the things you are grateful for as well because the job can be demanding and stressful. While I... Continue Reading →

December 23, 2025

You are Not the Bad Guy! Shifting your Mindset as a Student Leader Who Addresses Policy Violations

Many students are originally interested in an RA or student leadership position because they love being with people. Often they have good, healthy friendships, people like them right off the bat, and they don’t cause a lot of conflict. These are great things! However, it does mean that many RAs are not as used to... Continue Reading →

December 10, 2025

Here’s What to Say to Your Resident That’s Interested In Becoming a RA

Person with question marks surrounding them

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 →

December 8, 2025

RA*Chat Ep 155: From Res Life to Real Life: Career Prep Before the Ball Drops

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 →

December 1, 2025

Category: For RAs and Student Staff