Residence life and education, residential curriculum and curricular approaches, student housing, and technology.
A little over a year ago, I left my “covid institution” and transitioned into a role that allowed me to get back to the things that excited me about higher education. I was able to learn and flex new skills, I was shaping the student experience through systems and policies, and I generally felt that... Continue Reading →
Moving out of the residence halls is a rite of passage for many of us working in Residence Life. For however long we called campus home, we did not pay rent; we got perks such as a meal plan, access to a gym, and free amenities (wifi, cable packages, utilities); and probably one of the... Continue Reading →
Working in Residence Life enables us to be jacks of all trades. We Adjudicate, Budget, Counsel, Coach, Plan Events, Manage Projects, Respond to Crisis and more. You name it, we likely do it. But being a multifaceted generalist is not necessarily a long-term goal for all of us. Maybe you have an interest or passion... Continue Reading →
Have you heard of the yes-no-yes sandwich? What about using I statements during difficult conversations? How about the phrase, “Praise in Public, Punish in Private?” I suspect your answer to one or all of these questions is yes as they all related to a popular topic for Residence Life Professionals—feedback. However, have you noticed that... Continue Reading →
When it comes to finding your fit in Residence Life, it seems the differences in working at a private or public institution are not often discussed. Perhaps this stems from a tendency for professionals to stay within a certain institution type throughout their career or maybe it suggests that institution type is not a key... Continue Reading →
If I asked you when recruitment season happens in your office, what would you say? Do you typically post positions early in the Spring, interview a slew of candidates mid-semester, and make offers before move-out? If you do, that’s something to be celebrated as this “traditional” timeline is becoming a rarity in our field. What... 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 →
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 →
When you hear the word retreat, what comes to mind? For me, it’s statements like, “Lets start with an icebreaker,” “Everyone say your name, title, and what you do,” and “What is a fun or little known fact about you?” It’s traveling to a near or far location and blocking off your calendar. It’s sharing... Continue Reading →
This post is part of a three-part series on starting a supervisory relationship in residence life. Following a chronological timeline, this series is broken up into three parts:The Beginning: Staff Performance Begins with YouThe Middle: A ResLife Supervisor's Guide: Managing Performance Through InquiryThe End: Preparing for Performance Evaluations The end of the year has arrived... Continue Reading →
This post is part of a three-part series on starting a supervisory relationship in residence life. Following a chronological timeline, this series is broken up into three parts:The Beginning: Staff Performance Begins with YouThe Middle: A ResLife Supervisor's Guide: Managing Performance Through InquiryThe End: Preparing for Performance Evaluations In the previous segment, we explored how... Continue Reading →
This post is part of a three-part series on starting a supervisory relationship in residence life. Following a chronological timeline, this series is broken up into three parts:The Beginning: Staff Performance Begins with YouThe Middle: A ResLife Supervisor's Guide: Managing Performance Through InquiryThe End: Preparing for Performance Evaluations They say beauty is in the eye... Continue Reading →
This blog series features different writers responding to the prompt, "What is the future of the RA role?" Read More From The Series Guest Post by Justin Mason, Professional, Georgetown University Do you remember waiting in the doctor’s office as a kid? Can you recall any of the toys they typically had out to keep... Continue Reading →
