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 →
Blog
Practical Tips for Being Trauma-Informed as a Residence Hall Director
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.
RA*Chat Ep 169: When Itโs More Than a Roommate Issue: Navigating Conflict, Care, and Crisis
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.
New Roompact Book Release: Developing A Care Infrastructure And Designing Intentional Conversations
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 →
โThe Traitorsโ RA-Edition
"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.
Navigating Res Lifeโs Groundhog Day: RA Interviews
February has one of my favorite holidays of the year. It is a holiday that is, in my opinion, criminally underrated. No, Iโm not talking about the lovey dovey Valentineโs Day - Iโm talking about Groundhog Day. I grew up in, and still live in, Western Pennsylvania, just a stoneโs throw away from the town... Continue Reading →
ResLife Generational Change: Our Practices Havenโt Changed, Our Students Have
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 →
1 Tip For New RAs: Starting Strong – Balancing Your RA Role with Academics and Passions
By Vicente Romรกn 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, itโs easy to feel like you need to devote every moment to your role. One key lesson Iโve learned from supervising Housing Assistants in graduate and family housing... Continue Reading →
You Were Just Hired As An RA! (YAY!) Now What?!
So, youโve officially landed the RA job. First off, congratulations! Youโve 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 →
From Finals to Furniture: Everything RAs and Student Staff Need to Know About the Move-Out Transition
The semester is winding down, and if youโre like most RAs or student staff members, youโve probably reached that point where the finish line feels both agonizingly close and impossibly far away. One minute youโre worried about your own final exams and summer internship plans, and the next, youโre staring down a mountain of key... Continue Reading →
ResLife Generational Change: How is Gen Z changing ResLife? Spoiler Alert! Being on TikTok is not enoughโฆ
by Claudia Gonzรกlez Kanady We have all heard the saying, โWe must meet our students where they are at.โ 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 →
ResEdChat Ep 168: Communication, Conflict, and Compromise: Navigating Conflict in the Halls
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 avoidย conflictย 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.
Should I really be returning as an RA next school year?
If you're an RA pondering whether to return next year, think about your schedule, commitment, and desire for the role. Itโs important to know that being an RA isnโt just for benefits like free housing. Reflect on your experience and make sure it's the right fit for you and your residents!
ResLife Generational Change: Parental Control
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.
ResLife Generational Change: Adapting Residence Life for a New Generation of Graduate Students
by Vicente Romรกn 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 →
ResLife Generational Change: Meeting the Rising Generation through Authentic, Low Energy, and Unpolished Engagement
by Mike Schilling, Ph.D. As a millennial student affairs practitionerโand more so as the millennial parent of a toddlerโgenerational changes are often on my mind. I see how students engage with our residential environments, I see how my kiddo already understands how to โswipeโ on a phone, and I know we need to continue to... Continue Reading →
ResLife Generational Change: Stop Being Nice To Your RA
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 →
Love is in the Halls: Planning Valentines Day Initiatives for Every Resident
Valentineโs 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 canโt wait for the season to end. Regardless of where on this spectrum you land, itโs undeniable that this holiday... Continue Reading →



