Residence life and education, residential curriculum and curricular approaches, student housing, and technology.
~ 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 →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, Graduate Residence Hall Coordinator Mckenzie Howard at Eastern Kentucky University will share what's proven to be best practices to provide ongoing care, taking the time to debrief, and creating a culture that prioritizes well-being after critical incidents for student staff. Howard developed a "Comprehensive Care Plan" that she and other co-workers have used throughout the academic year to maintain the standard of care that has been set for her department. Let's discuss!
We’ve all been there - you have a long night of duty, rushing around campus from one crisis to the next, and now you’re sitting at home, unwinding from the night. You might pop a favorite movie on (Shrek 2 was always my duty night comedown movie), eat a sweet treat (Cosmic Brownies have a... Continue Reading →
In Residence Life, leading with care starts by taking care of ourselves and our teams. This session offers practical ways to build resilience, strengthen a culture of mattering, and support well-being within professional staff communities. Join us to reflect, recharge, and explore how intentional care can sustain both you and the students you serve.
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, Crystal talks with Markayla Clayton, a Community Director at the University of Oregon as they explore what it means to set and protect boundaries as a live-in professional. From saying no without guilt to communicating needs with supervisors and students, our Markayla shares real strategies for balancing presence with self-care.
In the dynamic and emotionally nuanced environment of residence life, professionals are expected to lead, support, and mentor students while navigating their own complex personal and professional development. One often-overlooked challenge that many in the field face is imposter syndrome. The persistent feeling of self-doubt despite evident success or qualifications. But what is it? How... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, we will be discuss "The Superhero Complex in Student Affairs." The superhero complex refers to a mindset where student affairs professionals feel the need to "save the day" constantly—taking on excessive responsibilities, overworking, and sacrificing personal well-being in the name of student support. This can stem from a deep commitment to student success but often leads to burnout, lack of boundaries, and an unhealthy work culture where self-sacrifice is the norm.
Picture this: the halls are closed, your end-of-year report is done, and students have departed for summer. This feeling is right around the corner! Even if you’re heavily involved in orientation, camps and conferences, or preparing for training, the beginning of summer has a way of getting residence life professionals to reflect, rest, and dream... Continue Reading →
Closing season in college housing is often described with two words: chaos and exhaustion. As student staff, you’re balancing final exams, emotional goodbyes, resident check-outs, paperwork, and last minute emergencies - often all at once. And the only thing that may be different for the full-time staff members may be final exams, as you are... Continue Reading →
Let’s be real: Burnout isn’t a maybe—it’s a guarantee. If you work in higher education, you already know that burnout is part of the job. The emails never stop, the crises don’t schedule themselves at convenient times, and despite all the work we do, there’s always someone who thinks we aren’t doing enough. I’ve been... Continue Reading →
Maybe I’m stuck in my own social media bubble, but it feels like there’s been a huge resurgence in journaling as a hobby within the last few years. Everywhere I look, I see people using journaling as a way to set and track goals, capture life’s memories, and even collect the random scraps and stickers... Continue Reading →
An attitude of gratitude. I often have to remind my son, being grateful for what you have should never be taken for granted. The world does not owe anyone anything. So I try my hardest to have an attitude of gratitude. I personally celebrate Thanksgiving so when November rolls around each year, I get extra... Continue Reading →
Summertime in education (but not the good kind where you get summer off) presents many opportunities during the break. Although the campus might be quieter during these months, it also poses a challenge in deciding how best to use our time. Should we rest and recuperate from the academic year's demands, or should we plan... Continue Reading →
In residence life, we’re constantly hiring! Every year, we launch the recruitment and selection process for student staff, exploding the outlook calendars of everyone. From marketing, to reviewing applications, facilitating interviews, and spending out offer letters–it doesn’t stop! Professional staff vacancies can pop up at any time, keeping the hiring cycle humming. Hiring new student... Continue Reading →
Housing professionals are well accustomed to the process of handling a crisis. When your work involves maintaining the everyday homeostasis and safety of an unpredictable community, your ability to maintain calm and handle a situation can become almost uncanny. In our roles, we encounter a variety of urgent issues, from the most ridiculous of situations... Continue Reading →
When I was younger, September held a different significance for me. It was when the trees would begin changing colors. The nights would get a little bit cooler and bearable from the scorching Summer. School had started up again and I got to see my friends after what felt like a long break. It was... Continue Reading →
The fall semester is a time of great change and excitement for all of us higher education professionals. New students are arriving, new classes are starting, and there is a renewed sense of purpose and energy. However, the fall semester can also be a time of great stress and anxiety. Long hours, heavy workloads, and... Continue Reading →
Summer is quickly coming to an end for those of us in Residence Life, which marks a significant shift in the cadence of our work. Soon we say goodbye to our free time, our hobbies, our energy, and maybe a bit of our sanity as we start a multi-month marathon to reopen our doors for... Continue Reading →
