Residence life and education, residential curriculum and curricular approaches, student housing, and technology.
Every year, residence life professionals enter one of the busiest (and most consequential) periods of the academic year cycle: student staff selection. Applications open, information sessions are hosted, and teams prepare to interview and evaluate dozens or even hundreds of students. The goal is clear: to identify the best possible group of student leaders to... Continue Reading →
Student conduct work sits at the intersection of policy enforcement, education, and community building. At its best, the conduct process is a developmental opportunity that fosters student growth, accountability, and integrity. But even with the clearest policies and best intentions, ethical challenges often arise, particularly around bias, privilege, and the interpretation of policy. For entry... Continue Reading →
Stepping back into the Resident Assistant or student staff member role for a second (or even third) year is both a privilege and a challenge. You’re no longer the newcomer. You bring with you experience, insight, and the unique opportunity to deepen your impact on your residents, your team, and yourself. But with familiarity can... Continue Reading →
In their influential work Reframing Organizations, Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal describe four frames through which organizations can be understood. In previous articles we’ve explored the three of these frames. In this final post, we will be discussing the Symbolic Frame. Through the Symbolic Frame, we see how college housing is less about logistics and... Continue Reading →
In their influential work Reframing Organizations, Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal describe four frames through which organizations can be understood. In previous articles we’ve explored the structural and human resource frames. In this, we will be discussing the Political Frame, which offers a particularly relevant lens for examining university housing, a dynamic environment where competing... Continue Reading →
As final exams wrap up and residents leave campus for the summer, a quieter transformation begins to take place in dorms across the country. Residence halls, normally buzzing with student life, late-night conversations, and the complex rhythms of academic life, undergo a subtle but significant shift. No longer home to students immersed in learning and... 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 →
Even though ResLife is focused and committee toward development, performance reviews can sometimes feel like a grueling process. They do not have to be; it’s all about how you, as a manager, can provide outstanding feedback connected to specific observations that help to develop the staff member. A well-crafted review fosters motivation, improves performance, and... Continue Reading →
As the academic year comes to an end, closing a college residence hall requires careful planning and coordination. This process ensures a smooth transition for students, staff, and facilities teams. This is a detailed guide to assist in the structure of this process. While your ResLife department may have a process to follow, this guide... Continue Reading →
As the academic year winds down, residence hall teams - including Desk Assistants (DAs), Resident Assistants (RAs), professional staff, and student leadership - face the emotional challenge of wrapping up their time together. Throughout the year, they have supported residents, handled crises, built community, and developed lifelong friendships. The end of the year is a... Continue Reading →
University housing plays a critical role in shaping students’ college experiences. A well-organized residential system fosters academic success, social development, and personal growth. However, managing university housing requires careful planning, coordination, and adherence to established policies. One way to understand the complexities of this system is through Bolman and Deal’s Four-Frame Model. In this article,... Continue Reading →
Writing information or incident reports is a crucial responsibility for Resident Assistants in Housing. As a student staff member, you often witness and observe more issues than graduate or professional staff due to your direct engagement with residents. By writing clear and concise reports, you serve as the eyes and ears of your Hall Director,... Continue Reading →
As the academic year winds down, college students prepare to transition into summer, new opportunities, or even graduation and moving into a professional role. While this time can be filled with excitement, it can also bring uncertainty, nostalgia, and even sadness. As a student staff members or RA, you play a crucial role in helping... Continue Reading →
University housing plays a critical role in shaping students’ college experiences. A well-organized residential system fosters academic success, social development, and personal growth. However, managing university housing requires careful planning, coordination, and adherence to established policies. One way to understand the complexities of this system is through Bolman and Deal’s Four-Frame Model, particularly the Structural... Continue Reading →
This may be a hot take but I’ve always loved staff meetings, both from the perspective as a student staff member and as a Hall Director. It’s a great way to bring the entire team together during the week, checking in on how everyone is doing while getting some bigger picture updates for the community.... Continue Reading →
Most situations that you will encounter in Residence Life can be handled easily by following the ABCs of Confrontation (make sure to read that article if you haven’t done so already!). But, whether there are residents who aren’t ready to take responsibility for their actions or some other factor occurs, there may be some occasions... Continue Reading →
When people apply to be Resident Assistants, or RAs, they look forward to the connections they will have with residents, the events they will host on their floor, and the general community that they are able to build. Confronting policy violations is one of the least glamorous aspects of the RA role and for good... Continue Reading →
During my time in Residence Life as a Hall Director, I was located exclusively in the midwest region, specifically in Minnesota and Iowa. The Upper Midwest Region - Association of College and University Housing Officers (UMR-ACUHO) was the organization that I was predominantly involved with. But, while I was a Hall Director for four and... Continue Reading →
