by Sophia Muta
My current favorite topic to talk about with my 18-year-old sister in her first year of college is about her use of AI. The big-sisterly advice I like to give her is to stop asking ChatGPT questions and start asking me first, so far, ChatGPT is winning the battle. While she may not turn to me for all her questions, she has called me multiple times for my knowledge as a ResLife professional. The first time she needed her ResLife big sister was when she was worried about her friend who drank too much and didn’t know what to do. Most recently, she called to ask for help writing emails to her RD and RA about her current roommate conflict. My sister, like many college students, is living in dual realities – her physical reality and her digital reality, especially now with the rise of AI. What my sister has taught me about the rising generation of college students is that they need support in both of those realities – digital and physical – and is demanding Residence Life Professionals to change their practices to support both.
This blog series features different writers responding to the prompt, “How is the rising generation of college students changing residence life practice?”
Supporting Digital Reality:
Most of my interactions with students are virtual interactions (emails, GroupMe messages, etc), which is unsurprising for the generation of kids who had access to iPhones, who were forced into online courses during the COVID pandemic, and who absolutely HATE to make phone calls (current writer included). I take no issue with virtual interactions and also understand the digital world is much more comfortable for our current students because that is a main part of their lived reality. How do we engage with them meaningfully and support them in digital landscapes?
1. Clear, kind communication
What happened to hello, how are you, my name is… We don’t always get clear or nice communication from residents and part of that is because they don’t know us irl (in real life). I have found myself getting frustrated and even defensive when students email me making unrealistic demands. Something I have to remind myself that the emails I am getting from students could be the first time they have asked for help or the first time they have advocated for themselves in their lives. While I may want to respond in a way that makes sense to me (telling them exactly how unrealistic they are being), that kind of response is likely going to cause more harm to the student and may result in them not getting the actual support they need. In these situations, my supervisor has encouraged me to tap into extreme empathy and kindness while also clearly addressing the students questions and concerns. By overwhelming the student with kindness, I create a virtual sense of trust and approachability. The student is likely to be so taken aback by my “kill them with kindness” approach that they de-escalate and are more likely to hear/understand the advice I am offering.
2. Social media presence
ResLife professionals are always praised for our creativity and instead of doing things as we always have (I’m looking at you flyers and bulletin boards) we should be communicating with residents in the landscape they are engaging in most – their digital world. We know students are on their phones all. the. time. What better way to engage with them and offer support than via social media? This past year, I partnered with our marketing team to create videos at the beginning of the year explaining what a Hall Director and what a RA was and what we do. We also created content about our policies and procedures as well as creating digital media of all our bulletin boards. Putting faces of employees onto social media can help residents feel like they know you even if they have never interacted with you. Gen Z are also prone to fomo (fear of missing out) so showcasing videos or photos from awesome events could guarantee attendance at the next one, so residents don’t miss out!
Combining Digital and Physical Reality:
As much as students may wish their digital realities could be their actual reality, they do have to interact with the physical world at some point. We as professionals can help combine those spaces and support students in the physical world.
1. The theme matters
As a gen-zer myself, I LOVE a theme. Themes are easy ways to add whimsy and fun to the Residence Halls. Residents are more likely to care when they can tell someone put time and energy into curating a themed experience for them. As digital natives, residents LOVE taking pictures and an aesthetic theme can almost guarantee attendance for an event – even if residents don’t stay long, you can count on them to show up for the promised themed photo op that you know they are sharing in their digital world. This year my hall hosted a first day of school picture event with a cutesy backdrop and polaroid pictures and students showed up for that event because they could share it with their family via their phones and friends via their digital reality.
2. Be a trend-chaser!
Trends are popular for a reason and students are flooded with trending ideas any time they open their phones. A great way to support residents building community is to take trend ideas and host them as your next Residence Hall event. Crafts are big right now as are themed food nights. My favorite online trend that I brought to my staff team as a team builder was making shrinky dink 2026 bingo cards (you shrink plastic pieces in the oven). We could have made regular bingo cards, but following the trend made it more fun!
A Break from (Digital) Reality:
While most of this blog post has been about connecting with students in their digital world or bringing the digital world into the physical world, we as professionals know that being chronically online can be draining and harmful. Our events and our Residence Halls can and should be spaces residents can take a break from being online and find community in-person in physical reality. We do have the power to support genuine human connection through in-person events and by offering in-person support. Students need a break from the online world, even if they don’t know it, so the next time you have an event or an in-person meeting, encourage students to be phone or screen free, so they can find space for in-person connection.
The internet and social media are not going to disappear overnight. Neither will the importance of supporting students as they live in our halls and navigate being on their own for the first time. Residence Life professionals have to be able to support the rising generation of college students through and beyond their digital reality.
