Residence life and education, residential curriculum and curricular approaches, student housing, and technology.
Assessments and surveys are inescapable on a college campus. It’s an environment that prides itself on gathering information to identify how it can continue to improve for students and stay relevant among potential competitors. Residence Life is no exception to this: often there are assessments that are pushed out in fall and spring semesters to... Continue Reading →
Gratitude is a powerful force in the workplace and, with the culture of Residence Life, is a point of emphasis when it comes to team dynamics. We’re constantly looking to affirm those who go above and beyond, recognizing their efforts and contributions to our team, department, and to the profession as a whole. It’s fitting... Continue Reading →
You’ve seen your team through a lot: you have onboarded them during training in the forming stage, you helped them navigate the prominent conflict of the storming stage, and you supported the team as they found their new normal and made the role their own in the norming stage. But how do you push your... Continue Reading →
When you hear the word silo, what comes to mind? For me, I immediately think of the Midwest and a tall structure housing grain or feed or something that is very unfamiliar to this Floridian turned North Carolinian. However, there may be no need to travel to the Midwest, there could be silos right there... Continue Reading →
Whether you’re looking to advance your higher ed career, transition to a role outside of higher education entirely, or just looking to gain some new skills for your current role, it’s important to utilize the professional development resources at your disposal. While I personally believe that pro devo funding should be a thing of the... Continue Reading →
At this point in the semester, your staff should be falling into the natural rhythms of the semester and are getting more acclimated to the expectations of their roles. Sure, there will always be different questions about what-if scenarios but, by and large, the staff have a foundational understanding of what is expected of them.... Continue Reading →
October is here and that means that things are FINALLY starting to fall into a routine: the hectic panic of move-in is over and hopefully you are finding some balance in your position. Now is the perfect time to get back to your goals so that you can make the most of this academic year,... Continue Reading →
In my years working in higher education, I've witnessed first-hand the intensity of crises that can arise in residence life settings. Whether it’s a natural disaster, a mental health emergency, or an unexpected altercation, crises in campus housing can shake the foundation of a community. Managing the immediate aftermath of a crisis is only the... Continue Reading →
Adjudicating student conduct is a crucial aspect of the Hall Director role and, by taking on this responsibility, the Hall Director plays a pivotal role in maintaining a safe, respectful, and productive learning environment within their community. But, if you’re like most Hall Directors, this may be something that turns your stomach into knots. This... Continue Reading →
In last month’s post, we explored some examples of programming ideas that are both fun and educational. However, programming is only one of the many strategies that make up a residential curriculum. For those that are newer to the world of curriculum, a strategy can be thought of as any intentional effort to interact with... Continue Reading →
Roompact's door dec competition is now closed and we're ready to announce the winners. We received 70+ 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 Higher Ed professionals, we are positioned at the intersection of students' personal, academic, and social lives. To take it one step further, it often feels like when we are trying to help students, we can only pick two of those three priorities (insert a woozy face emoji here.) During a high-pressure political season, emotions... Continue Reading →
The other day there was a hint of Fall in the air when I stepped outside to do my morning walk. It brought a much needed level of excitement and joy! Excitement and joy because it’s September and we made it here (goodbye August!) also because yay for cooler weather… especially here in the South. ... Continue Reading →
Programming has always been one of my favorite parts of being in ResLife. Bringing people together to share ideas, foster community, or just to have fun has always been useful in galvanizing an identity of unity within residence halls. And, when it comes to hosting educational events, the name of the game is work smarter,... Continue Reading →
September is often when it feels like ResLife professionals are in the thick of it. The feeling of newness is starting to wear off, students are starting to test limits with policy and misbehave in a variety of ways, and your staff is moving past their seemingly fake smiles and are starting to lose their... Continue Reading →
For Pro Staff For Student Staff Roompact's "Quick Tips" series highlights ideas and suggestions you can put into your practice as either a professional staff or student staff member working in residence life and education. Click to read more from the series. Creating a strong sense of community is a core goal for residence life... Continue Reading →
“We are not here to lecture our students after they’ve been in class all day.” “I think we need to remember how to just have fun.” As someone who has worked with residential curriculum across several different universities, one of my greatest frustrations is hearing phrases like these. On one hand, I totally agree with... Continue Reading →
Belonging is a fundamental human need, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the residence halls. As we all know, creating a sense of belonging is crucial for student retention and success, as it impacts not only their academic performance but also their emotional and social well-being. Who better to help us explore the... Continue Reading →
