Residence life and education, residential curriculum and curricular approaches, student housing, and technology.
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.
by Vicente Román The rising generation of college students is reshaping residence life practice in ways that require both reflection and adaptation. For professionals working with graduate and family housing populations, these shifts are especially pronounced. Students today are not only navigating academic responsibilities but also balancing professional careers, family obligations, and complex social and... Continue Reading →
by Mike Schilling, Ph.D. As a millennial student affairs practitioner—and more so as the millennial parent of a toddler—generational changes are often on my mind. I see how students engage with our residential environments, I see how my kiddo already understands how to “swipe” on a phone, and I know we need to continue to... Continue Reading →
by Diego Abraham The rising generation of college students is changing residence life practice through their earnestness, determination, and yearning for wealth, success, and admiration. I am of the very firm belief that in order to develop an excellent RA, you have to develop an excellent person. This particular role, alongside with the professional staff... Continue Reading →
Valentine’s Day can signify many different things for people. Some love the holiday, and will use it as a chance to celebrate everyone, no matter if the relationship is familial, platonic, or romantic. While others can’t wait for the season to end. Regardless of where on this spectrum you land, it’s undeniable that this holiday... Continue Reading →
by Sophia Muta My current favorite topic to talk about with my 18-year-old sister in her first year of college is about her use of AI. The big-sisterly advice I like to give her is to stop asking ChatGPT questions and start asking me first, so far, ChatGPT is winning the battle. While she may... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, Jas chats with Sydney Rigdon, Assistant Director of Housing & Residence Life at Transylvania University. They explore why regional and state involvement matters, how professionals can find their way into their networks, and ways this engagement supports both individual growth and the broader field of student affairs. Let's discuss!
This might be a controversial hot take, but I’m grateful for how the pandemic impacted my career trajectory – let me explain. Throughout my career, I’ve worked in both bifurcated and non-bifurcated Housing and Residence Life departments, and my four years of working as a Residence Director were split by Covid – I have two... Continue Reading →
Every year (yes, academic AND calendar) I like to spend some time with my tarot cards as a point of reflection on what I’ve done and where I might need to go to live my best life. I think a lot about the messages that we can learn from the Major Arcana, which tell an... Continue Reading →
By Danielle Jones Becoming an RA for the first time is an exciting time. There are many possibilities of what the future may hold and the impact one may get to have on their residents. However, returning as an RA can sometimes bring challenges. With a year or two of experience, returning may feel draining.... Continue Reading →
by Alli Hurtado Residence life is a field deeply rooted in tradition. Many of our core practices, health and safety inspections, multi-week student staff trainings, door decorations, on-call rotations, and structured programming models have remained largely unchanged for decades. These structures were built with care and intention, designed to create safe, supportive, and engaging residential communities, places... Continue Reading →
by Matthew M. Inman During a recent focus group with resident assistants (RAs), one staff member said, “I’m supposed to talk with my residents about leadership, but some can’t even speak to their neighbors.” As an educator, this statement had a lasting impact. It represents a misalignment between what we currently focus on in resident... Continue Reading →
By Austin Korynta In the (highly unlikely) event that nobody has told you this yet, congratulations on accepting the RA role! Being an RA is such an integral part to so many students’ lives. Throughout your time, you will make a significant impact on your community of residents’ lives, providing care in critical moments, outlets... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact's ResEdChat, Crystal is joined by Jennifer Pridemore, Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual, for a practical and compassionate conversation about financial wellness for live-in housing professionals. Together, they explore how living on campus shapes financial habits, the importance of planning early, and ways to build healthy, realistic money practices. This episode encourages listeners to approach financial goals with flexibility and confidence.
Students with chronic illnesses deal with many additional stressors that other college students would struggle to imagine. As someone who went through cancer while in college, this topic is important to me, especially as I haven’t seen it talked much about in Higher Education circles. Resident Assistants (RAs) and student leaders won’t always know which... Continue Reading →
Do you actually know how to have a 1-on-1 meeting? For most of us in residence life, one-on-one meetings with supervisees are built into the job. But when’s the last time you thought about how you’re doing them? Too often, we slap them on the calendar and call it “supervision,” when in reality, they’re structured... Continue Reading →
Changing Residence Life Practice to Meet Current Student Needs by Austin Korynta As a young professional, one of my least favorite phrases from mid-to-upper-level administration is the phrase “I’m old school.” In my personal reflection on that phrase, “I’m old school” communicates, to me, an unwillingness to change and adapt to the current environment, the... Continue Reading →
by Yoke Tassent In many ways, college students will always be college students. They will be under-rested and over-caffeinated. Planning their days full of opportunities to prepare them for the work force while making “core memories”. They will have a large appetite they must fulfill on a small budget. Relying on ramen and a meal... Continue Reading →
