Residence life and education, residential curriculum and curricular approaches, student housing, and technology.
Winter break provides a well-deserved respite for students and staff alike and, for some teams, a much-needed restart as you head into a new semester together. After the long break, RAs return with renewed energy but may feel disconnected from their team or uncertain about the semester ahead. Using the time set aside for Winter... Continue Reading →
Whether they’re corkboard, tackboard, or a completely different material, I don’t think it’s an understatement to say that bulletin boards have been a mainstay in residence halls since their establishment on college campuses. In the days before social media and email, bulletin boards were one of the best ways to spread the word on events... Continue Reading →
December is upon us and you made it to the end of the line with your team. The end of the semester is typically a pivotal time for a Residence Life staff. This is often when transitions happen with team members, students and full-timers alike. And even if there aren’t staffing changes on your team,... Continue Reading →
In any professional setting, transitions are inevitable and that’s especially true for Residence Life. Especially for entry-level positions, it seems a vast majority either move up, move over to another institution, or move out within about five years. When responsibilities shift to new hands, transition reports play a critical role in ensuring continuity and success.... Continue Reading →
Assessments and surveys are inescapable on a college campus. It’s an environment that prides itself on gathering information to identify how it can continue to improve for students and stay relevant among potential competitors. Residence Life is no exception to this: often there are assessments that are pushed out in fall and spring semesters to... Continue Reading →
Gratitude is a powerful force in the workplace and, with the culture of Residence Life, is a point of emphasis when it comes to team dynamics. We’re constantly looking to affirm those who go above and beyond, recognizing their efforts and contributions to our team, department, and to the profession as a whole. It’s fitting... Continue Reading →
You’ve seen your team through a lot: you have onboarded them during training in the forming stage, you helped them navigate the prominent conflict of the storming stage, and you supported the team as they found their new normal and made the role their own in the norming stage. But how do you push your... Continue Reading →
At this point in the semester, your staff should be falling into the natural rhythms of the semester and are getting more acclimated to the expectations of their roles. Sure, there will always be different questions about what-if scenarios but, by and large, the staff have a foundational understanding of what is expected of them.... Continue Reading →
October is here and that means that things are FINALLY starting to fall into a routine: the hectic panic of move-in is over and hopefully you are finding some balance in your position. Now is the perfect time to get back to your goals so that you can make the most of this academic year,... Continue Reading →
Adjudicating student conduct is a crucial aspect of the Hall Director role and, by taking on this responsibility, the Hall Director plays a pivotal role in maintaining a safe, respectful, and productive learning environment within their community. But, if you’re like most Hall Directors, this may be something that turns your stomach into knots. This... Continue Reading →
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 →
September is often when it feels like ResLife professionals are in the thick of it. The feeling of newness is starting to wear off, students are starting to test limits with policy and misbehave in a variety of ways, and your staff is moving past their seemingly fake smiles and are starting to lose their... Continue Reading →
Whether you are supervising students, graduate assistance, or full-time staff, identifying and sharing expectations are one of the most pivotal aspects of your role as a leader. It sets the tone in terms of how individuals are to perform within their role, ensuring that team dynamics remain positive and that tasks, whether they are door... Continue Reading →
With the arrival of August come preparations for the fall semester and the excitement of staff training. This is what you’ve been waiting for: getting connected with your staff and welcoming students as they make their way back to campus. When you consider the performance of your team, it will be helpful to view their... Continue Reading →
Residence Life training programs have been under a microscope for the past decade, trying to evolve and seek out what is most effective at helping onboard staff members into critical roles within our halls. The biggest shift is understanding how to create a better balance to prevent burnout within the process. However, there are additional... Continue Reading →
Take a second to reflect on some of your most meaningful mentors and supervisors. What qualities did they have that you want to emulate as you supervise your own staff? Many leaders strive to have deep connections with the individuals that make up their team: this helps to take the supervisory relationship beyond simply serving... 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 →
With diverse personalities, backgrounds, and lifestyles, conflict is an inevitable part of the human experience. So long as we interact with others, we will argue with them over our perspectives and injustices we’ve collected. Whether it’s over someone eating the last yogurt you were saving or how to coexist within the same space, conflict is... Continue Reading →
