Residence life and education, residential curriculum and curricular approaches, student housing, and technology.
When I first became a Resident Assistant, I thought it would just be a fun job to help pay for college. I had no idea that it would end up teaching me some of the most important skills I still use every single day. If you’re an RA or a student staff member right now,... Continue Reading →
Hey there, I just wanted to take a minute to tell you something that I wish someone had told me when I was in your shoes: Being an RA is going to change your life. Right now, it might feel like a lot of late-night duty rounds, roommate drama, bulletin boards you threw together at... Continue Reading →
If you’ve ever watched Ted Lasso, you know he’s not your typical leader. He’s positive, patient, and fiercely believes in the people around him even when things get tough. Honestly, if Ted Lasso were looking for a side hustle, he would make an amazing RA. Being a student leader means facing hard conversations, supporting your community,... Continue Reading →
Opening the residence halls each year is one of the most exciting (and stressful) times for student staff. It sets the tone for the entire year, making those first few days and weeks critical for building trust, community, and a sense of belonging. You have an incredible opportunity to create a welcoming environment that feels... Continue Reading →
Have you ever had a crush on someone? When I did an internet search for “romantic relationships” the first suggestion that popped up was “romantic relationships in the workplace” followed by “romantic relationships in the workplace policy”. This is a common issue! It can be tricky to navigate having a crush on a coworker. It’s... Continue Reading →
Lately, it feels like journaling has become super popular again. You might see it all over social media. People using journals to set goals, save memories, or even just collect stickers and random scraps from their day (shoutout to junk journaling fans!). Maybe it's time to try out a new habit. One that could seriously... Continue Reading →
Congrats on your new role! Of course, before you get started, you need to learn and get train for your job. Staff training is an exciting (and often exhausting) time where you'll have the opportunity to learn a lot of new information, meet and develop relationships with your team members, and begin preparing your community... Continue Reading →
~ Blog Posts Written By RAs for RAs ~ Oh joy, you made it through the first semester. Hopefully it went well, and hopefully you were able to build relationships with your residents, and they were able to build relationships with each other. That being said, the Spring semester can be completely different than the... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact’s RA Chat, Crystal is joined by Brooks Hetle, Associate Director of Residence Life at North Dakota State University and current President of the UMR-ACUHO region. Join them as they unravel the myths surrounding introverts and their leadership potential, with Brooks sharing invaluable insights on how to care for yourself and recharge while juggling a student staff position full of social interactions and activities.
August is here, and for most of us, that means it is RA training time! If you are a returning RA, hopefully coming back to campus and continuing your role excites you. However, for many returning RAs, the thought of sitting through training for a job you have already done is gruesome. You may be... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact’s RA*Chat, Crystal is joined by Brittney Henton, former RA and an Educational Services Representative in schools and libraries, and a Brand Partner with PaperPie (formerly Usborne Books & More). Brittney shares the things she learned as an RA and how they continue to influence her life as a wife, and... Continue Reading →
~ Blog Posts Written By RAs for RAs ~ Chances are, if you’re reading a blog post preparing for being an RA before you have even started training, your mind is probably already in the right place. That being said, you might want to know a few tips, tricks, and strategies to help you get... Continue Reading →
I am going to go ahead and preemptively start this post off with a small disclaimer/apology: I will try as hard as I possibly can to say all of this with complete sincerity, while also hopefully not sounding too much like the “you need to wear more flair” manager. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ChQK8j6so8 During my time as an... Continue Reading →
~ Blog Posts Written By RAs for RAs ~ Balancing the responsibilities of being an RA with the often overwhelming demands of academic life can be a challenging endeavor. Being an RA comes with unique duties and expectations, while your work at school often requires substantial time and focus...sometimes too much. This can be a... Continue Reading →
Congratulations on your new position as a Resident Assistant (or CA, or CM, or whatever you institution may call the role)! As an RA, you have a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of your residents, build a sense of community, and create a supportive environment. While the role can be... Continue Reading →
Getting back on campus can be a busy time! You have to move into your new space, meet your new team, engage in training, and prepare for your next semester of classes. On top of all of that, you are expected to help build a community with a whole new set of residents. Before all... 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. As a new RA, you are tasked with many competing demands and expectations... Continue Reading →
