Housing and Residence Life: Community & Engagement | Competencies & Learning | Care & Case Management | Assessment
National Coming Out Day is October 11. For some people, it is a day of celebration. For others, it may be a reminder of a journey they are still navigating. As student staff, we may never know which residents are questioning their identity, looking for resources, trying out a different name or pronouns, or simply... Continue Reading →
You've attended training, prepared for move-in, hosted welcome events, and done your best to make residents feel at home. You spend weeks learning policies, campus resources, referral processes, and community-building strategies. You prepare bulletin boards, create door decorations, and plan programs that you hope residents will enjoy. Then residents arrive. And sometimes they're not nearly... Continue Reading →
When you think about preparing for a new academic year as a student staff member, your mind probably goes straight to everything you need to accomplish. Complete training. ✅ Learn your policies. ✅ Set up your community. ✅ Prepare your bulletin boards. ✅ Meet your staff team. ✅ Make sure you are ready for residents... Continue Reading →
You spent time planning the program. You created the flyers, reserved the space, picked up supplies, and maybe even told your supervisor this would be the event to watch out for. Then the start time arrives, and instead of a packed room, only a handful of residents walk through the door. I’m talking five people... Continue Reading →
If you've found yourself browsing job postings while preparing for summer, you're not alone. For many student staff members, summer employment in Housing and Residence Life comes with a significant benefit: housing. Depending on your institution, you may also receive a stipend, meal plan, or other compensation. Because of this, there can sometimes be an... Continue Reading →
May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month. It is a time when conversations around wellness, balance, and self-care become more visible. As student staff, you likely can easily list approaches for supporting mental health. Strategies such as sleep, boundaries, exercise, connection, and mindfulness. You’ve probably discussed these in training sessions or workshops. The challenge... Continue Reading →
If you’re applying to be housing staff - whether as an RA, HA, CA, or another resident support role, you’re probably trying to figure out what the process is really looking for. There’s often pressure to give the “right” answers in applications or interviews, to appear polished, experienced, and fully prepared. It can feel like... Continue Reading →
