Residence life and education, residential curriculum and curricular approaches, student housing, and technology.
Looking for a way to provide deeper, individualized support for your residents? Roompact's new book is a part of a series doing a deep dive into the "Three C" Framework for Residence Life and Education Practice (Community, Competencies, and Care). The initial book provided an overview of the Framework, while this new release does a... Continue Reading →
❄️ Biggest Year Yet? ❄️ We're releasing a small avalanche of big new software features including Tasks, and Staffing. Not to mention we've got our first stand-alone users conference this year. Keep reading on. What has Roompact been up to in 2025? Read our annual letter from our founder, Matt Unger, to find out! Read the Letter ⬆️... Continue Reading →
We're awarding a "Top Ten" Get a little something back for your time and effort. Roompact is holding its annual RA bulletin board contest! Here’s how it goes. This contest is only open to RAs at schools who currently use Roompact's software on their campus. Create a bulletin board and email us a photo (high-quality... Continue Reading →
In an effort to expand our support of schools, we developed the Fellows program. Roompact Fellows act as scholars-in-residence to provide support to Roompact schools. They will be contributing to our blog, podcast, and webinar series throughout the year. They'll also be available and present at our R2 conference! An additional service they will provide... Continue Reading →
Imagine: This time last year, you told yourself that when the start of the new annual performance review cycle came around, you’d complete your self-review gradually, taking note of accomplishments each month, better equipping you with the ability to showcase your work over the last year. Instead, time got away from you and now you’re... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, Host Paul sits down with one of our 2026 Roompact Fellows, Erin Long, to discuss all things co-curricular learning. Erin recently completed her PhD at the University of Texas at Austin and her dissertation focused on students perceptions of co-curricular learning and its implications for practice. Professionals who have curriculum and learning elements in their ResEd programs won't want to miss this!
The title of this article may have you a little confused, however student leaders in housing have responsibilities that can be compared (and maybe even confused with) what winter olympians are up to. Take this quiz to see if you are able to distinguish if it’s a description of a Resident Assistant (RA) doing their... Continue Reading →
Professionals supervising student staff, such as RAs and peer mentors, face unique challenges distinct from those supervising other professionals. Effective supervision involves understanding decision-making limits, providing clear instruction, and fostering collaboration. The role is both challenging and rewarding, emphasizing continuous learning and support for staff in their supervisory responsibilities.
Abstract Attending a national conference can be a transformative experience for graduate students and new professionals, if approached with intention and strategy. This session provides a supportive framework to help emerging professionals make the most of their conference opportunities. Participants will learn practical tips for planning and organizing their schedules, leveraging volunteer roles, and engaging... Continue Reading →
The role of a Residence Hall Director encompasses various helping professions, requiring emotional support, goal-setting, and difficult conversations. Implementing a trauma-informed approach emphasizes safety, communication, and relationship-building. Practical strategies for fostering this environment include prioritizing psychological safety, educating staff, and maintaining predictable communications, ultimately fostering growth and dignity among students.
In this episode of Roompact's RA*Chat, we sit down with Jose Rivera to break down how to distinguish typical roommate conflict from situations that require higher-level intervention. The conversation covers documentation best practices, referrals, collaboration with professional staff, and how to balance empathy with policy enforcement. Especially in complex, real-world situations, RAs like you face on the job.
"The Traitors" TV show highlights how confidence, rather than dishonesty, can lead players to failure, reflecting similar dynamics in Resident Advisor teams. Five archetypes illustrate how strengths can hide blind spots. The piece emphasizes the importance of clear communication and documentation to prevent unresolved issues, urging self-reflection and growth within teams.
February has one of my favorite holidays of the year. It is a holiday that is, in my opinion, criminally underrated. No, I’m not talking about the lovey dovey Valentine’s Day - I’m talking about Groundhog Day. I grew up in, and still live in, Western Pennsylvania, just a stone’s throw away from the town... Continue Reading →
by Citklali Ibarra-Hernandez As a mid-level residence life professional, there are so many times when I find myself thinking or talking to colleagues about how different this generation of students is from the students at the beginning of my career. One of the greatest tools in my toolbelt for working with different generations of students... Continue Reading →
By Vicente Román Starting your first year as an RA is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming. Between programming, on-call duties, conflict resolution, and administrative tasks, it’s easy to feel like you need to devote every moment to your role. One key lesson I’ve learned from supervising Housing Assistants in graduate and family housing... Continue Reading →
So, you’ve officially landed the RA job. First off, congratulations! You’ve survived the interviews, the group process, and the waiting game. Now that the initial "I got the job!" high is settling, you might be feeling a mix of excitement and a sudden, slight panic about what actually happens next. Being a Resident Assistant is... Continue Reading →
The semester is winding down, and if you’re like most RAs or student staff members, you’ve probably reached that point where the finish line feels both agonizingly close and impossibly far away. One minute you’re worried about your own final exams and summer internship plans, and the next, you’re staring down a mountain of key... Continue Reading →
by Claudia González Kanady We have all heard the saying, “We must meet our students where they are at.” I hear this when I was in undergrad from 2003-2008 and then again during graduate school from 2009- 2011. This saying was overused during my Resident Director years too, all 6.5 years. Meet them halfway. As... Continue Reading →
In this episode of ResEdChat, join our host Noah Montague and guest Keresa Murray, Resident Director at Ohio University as they talk about navigating conflict in the Residence Halls. Far too often, students and people at large avoid conflict whether it be out of fear, polarization, or even safety. That said, conflict and navigating disagreement are a crucial part of life and thus a crucial part of the residential experience that is important for us to talk about and reflect on as residence life professionals. In this episode, Keresa and Noah explore the talk about conflict management, share impactful stories, and provide practical advice to Residence Life Staff.
If you're an RA pondering whether to return next year, think about your schedule, commitment, and desire for the role. It’s important to know that being an RA isn’t just for benefits like free housing. Reflect on your experience and make sure it's the right fit for you and your residents!
The involvement of parents in residence life is increasingly vital due to the structured upbringing of current students. As many students rely on parents for guidance, engaging them proactively enhances support networks and promotes student autonomy. Strategies include providing resources, setting expectations, and facilitating parent-student communication, fostering a collaborative environment.
