Housing and Residence Life: Community & Engagement | Competencies & Learning | Care & Case Management | Assessment
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 →
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 →
Let’s be honest: no one aspires to be an entry-level, live-in hall director their entire career. From my experience, most Hall Directors make it five years before they are looking to move up or out. And that’s kind of how the role was designed: it’s meant to be a stepping stone, not a forever role.... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact’s ResEdChat, Crystal sits down with Liz Toombs, a Certified Interior Decorator and Owner of PDR Interiors. Liz shares her thoughts on several topics, including Greek Life, the connection between student living spaces and wellness, and the importance of belonging for college students. She offers tips on the dos and don'ts that come along with designing spaces and supporting students who are members of fraternities and sororities.
“Professor, what’s your favorite song on the album?” The question was from one of my students in our student leadership seminar, a course designed for incoming resident assistants, peer mentors, and orientation leaders. They were talking about ‘Cowboy Carter,’ the 27-track musical journey by Beyoncé Knowles-Carter that’s got everyone donning cowboy hats, slipping into boots, ... Continue Reading →
Guest Post by Alex Baker, Student Affairs Professional In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, creating inclusive environments is not just a moral imperative but also a modern necessity. Inclusivity is not just a concept for policymakers and senior leadership; it's a practice that can and should be implemented at every level. This article aims... Continue Reading →
Resident Assistants (RAs) play a crucial role in fostering a supportive and inclusive community within university residence halls. Understanding the dynamics and relationships among residents is essential for creating a positive living environment. A floor sociogram is a powerful tool that can help RAs gain valuable insights into these dynamics. In this blog post, we... Continue Reading →
“Belonging is the feeling of security and support when there is a sense of acceptance, inclusion, and identity for a member of a certain group. It is when an individual can bring their authentic self to work. When employees feel like they don’t belong at work, their performance and their personal lives suffer.” Cornell University Take... Continue Reading →
Hopes and Fears is an icebreaker game that can be used to help process through new beginnings or periods of transition. Typically, a facilitator will pass out an index card--one side will be for the participant to list "hopes" and the other side for "fears." It is supposed to be a moment of vulnerability and... Continue Reading →
Residential curricula are focused on student learning. Ultimately, curricular approaches primarily concern themselves with what we hope students will know and be able to do once their time with us comes to an end. Community building falls outside the learning-focus of the curriculum but it is critically important for its effectiveness. A switch to a... Continue Reading →
Roompact "Perspective" posts are opportunities for individual staff members to work out ideas and provide their individual thoughts and opinions on a given topic. Believing that community building happens naturally and doesn't require intervention is a myth. This "myth" is often not one that is widely believed by most professionals that work in residence life,... Continue Reading →
