Residence life and education, residential curriculum and curricular approaches, student housing, and technology.
Labor movements are seeing a new burst of unions following COVID-19 impacts on working conditions. This session will work to demystify the world of unions by discussing the history and impacts of the United State's first Resident Assistant Union and how that's shaped daily life working as a residence director.
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, Crystal talks with Kristen Rollins about how gatherings and various forms of communication in residence life can move beyond routine to become catalysts for change. Kristen shares lessons on leading transformation in student affairs, emphasizing the power of honoring people’s time, presence, and humanity to create lasting cultural shifts.
The use of preferred names has become increasingly common over the last decade, though they have always existed. This increase is especially noticeable for students entering higher education as higher education is an environment that typically encourages students to explore and showcase their unique identity and background. Many college students have just become adults and... Continue Reading →
One of my most beloved autumnal traditions is re-reading the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark book series. For those who aren’t aware, this is a children’s book series containing urban legends, folklore, songs, and ghost stories. The trilogy of books are perhaps best known for the macabre hand drawn illustrations that accompany the... Continue Reading →
As the semester winds down and winter break approaches, in this episode of Roompact's RA*Chat Dr. Asha Jones guides listeners through the essential practice of year-end reflection, offering practical strategies for processing the past year's experiences and setting intentions for the future. She explores how to navigate end-of-year stress and use winter break for both rest... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, guest host Dustin Ramsdell chats with Abby Groth, a current Roompact blogger from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln about her unique journey from art museums to residence life and how she’s using that perspective to reimagine student support. Abby shares how learning communities, peer mentorship, and early intervention surveys are transforming the student experience and contributing to academic success outside the classroom. She also gets candid about what doesn’t work—and why residence life doesn’t need to do it all.
My blog post for Roompact this month is a reflection on my past few weeks, which have frankly been one of the most difficult times of my life. A close family member of mine suddenly passed away with no warning. I was thrown into planning a funeral a couple states away from my home, a... Continue Reading →
When I was a brand new staff member at my institution—my first full-time, 40 hours a week “big girl” job—I remember the feeling of validation and pride when I was approved to attend a professional conference. “They trust me and believe in me enough to spend actual US DOLLARS to put me on a plane... Continue Reading →
Craft measurable learning outcomes for residence life programs using the Audience–Behavior–Condition–Degree model. A – Audience Who are the learners? Example: Residents, student leaders, first-year students B – Behavior 1️⃣ Choose a Domain: Select a level Remember Understand Apply Analyze Evaluate Create 2️⃣ Select a Verb: Select a Bloom’s level first 3️⃣ Define the Behavior: Describe... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, join our host Noah and guest Evelyn Mendlowitz, Resident Director at Miami University of Ohio, to talk about ghost stories. What do ghost stories have to do with Residence Life, you ask? Well, let us tell you. Most, if not all college campuses have at least one ghost story, and oftentimes, these stories are clung to and repeatedly told and known. These stories, while often dark, provided important history into college campuses and can even invite students and staff alike to learn, lead, and build community together Noah and Evelyn discuss this topic, tell stories themselves, and provide advice rooted in trauma informed care and emotionally intelligent leadership for Residence Life staff to further incorporate storytelling into their regular practice.
Imagine posting a story where you complain about some aspect of serving residents. Maybe you caption it, “If one more person knocks on my door I’m quitting.” Or, imagine you and your Resident Advisor (RA) friends dancing to a viral sound. The text on the screen reads, “Getting called out at 3am to clean vomit... Continue Reading →
The midpoint of the first semester often arrives quietly. Between midterms, conduct meetings, and fall programming, we might suddenly realize that the semester is half over, and with it, the feeling that our course is already set. The communities are established, the RAs have found their rhythms, and the energy of opening has been replaced... Continue Reading →
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 →
What does it take to rebuild a program from scratch-and make it better than before? In this session, we'll explore the journey of revitalizing a Camps and Conferences program by centering feedback, refining systems, and embracing innovation. Whether or not you work directly with Camps and Conferences, you will gain practical, transferable strategies for managing change, leading projects, and creating systems that actually work. This presentation is for anyone looking to improve a program, build from the ground up, or simply work smarter with the people they serve.
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, with Bernard Nichols, Assistant Director of Student Conduct at Johns Hopkins University, we explore the importance of professional networking and conference engagement for student affairs professionals. From cultivating meaningful relationships to making the most of conferences, listen to learn more about how to make the best impression with your professional presence. So let's discuss!
In 2014, Taylor Swift dropped the album “1989”. I won’t forget this because it was my first year of college. I met a Swiftie in my residence hall, Brianna, and asked her if I could burn a copy of the album. From that moment, my friendship with Brianna was written in permanent ink. This year,... Continue Reading →
This summer marked my third RA training where I didn’t have an RA staff to supervise. After spending four summers with boots on the ground in the thick of training season, the first RA training I experienced without a staff was tough. Seeing the energy, the triumphs, the chaos, it all made me miss being... Continue Reading →
There isn’t a guidebook for firing an RA. I mean, there are usually work rules, job descriptions, and an HR department that lead us to the decision. But none of that will prepare you for the human side, like how it feels to deliver the news, how to cope afterward, and how to move forward... Continue Reading →
