Housing and Residence Life: Community & Engagement | Competencies & Learning | Care & Case Management | Assessment
Chances are you may have an international student on your floor or in your community. Although they may face some of the seem challenges as your domestic residents, International students on U.S. college campuses face a unique set of challenges. These challenges can also differ based on your resident’s country of origin, their command of... Continue Reading →
When I was a new RA, I was placed in a hall with a majority of international students. Being from a small town I had little experience with people from other countries. I was intimidated by my residents. I was scared I would not pronounce their names correctly, that I wouldn’t understand their accent, that... Continue Reading →
~ Blog Posts Written By RAs for RAs ~ As the year plugs on, and a staff feels more comfortable, the list of challenges changes from introducing yourself and getting to know your coworkers to how to maintain a strong work environment and contrary to popular belief–not getting too comfortable! Maybe you’re really good friends... Continue Reading →
As the year slowly comes to a close, you are eying the finish line. You have focused all year on your residents. You hosted programs (likely including an ice cream night), created bulletin boards, been a listening ear in times of crisis, and supported students through some of their worst moments while on call. Through... Continue Reading →
Regular meetings with an RA and their supervisor are very beneficial in helping RAs thrive in their roles, help communication to be effective in the workplace, and assist in making the Residence Hall community better. Often these meetings are called one-on-ones because it is a designated time for RAs to individually have an opportunity to... Continue Reading →
~ Blog Posts Written By RAs for RAs ~ Oh joy, you made it through the first semester. Hopefully it went well, and hopefully you were able to build relationships with your residents, and they were able to build relationships with each other. That being said, the Spring semester can be completely different than the... Continue Reading →
There are a number of researchers and faculty who specialize in something called "student development theory." These theories study how college students grow and develop during their time at school. Although you're not expected to be a "theory expert" as a student staff member, there are nevertheless some simple concepts and take aways than can... Continue Reading →
Most situations that you will encounter in Residence Life can be handled easily by following the ABCs of Confrontation (make sure to read that article if you haven’t done so already!). But, whether there are residents who aren’t ready to take responsibility for their actions or some other factor occurs, there may be some occasions... Continue Reading →
~ Blog Posts Written By RAs for RAs ~ Determining the line between being friends and friendly with your residents is a vital part of being a resident assistant. However there may be times when you have a pre-existing relationship with a resident, or you develop a closer relationship with a resident over time. This... Continue Reading →
As an RA, one of the first challenges you’ll face in any group setting is creating an environment where participants feel comfortable and ready to engage. Whether you’re hosting a floor meeting, team gathering, retreat, or any group activity, the success of the event often hinges on how well you set the stage for open... Continue Reading →
As a student staff member, you dedicate significant time to supporting your peers, learning on the job, and growing in ways that might not always be obvious. Whether you aim to pursue a career in student affairs, apply for an internship, or step into an entirely different field, your experience in this role is invaluable.... Continue Reading →
Though you probably won’t be attending Dear Old Shiz University anytime in the near future, being a Resident Advisor (RA) at your respective university comes with its own set of challenges. One challenge that every RA will eventually face is the inevitable roommate conflict. What would you do as an RA if you found your... Continue Reading →
When people apply to be Resident Assistants, or RAs, they look forward to the connections they will have with residents, the events they will host on their floor, and the general community that they are able to build. Confronting policy violations is one of the least glamorous aspects of the RA role and for good... 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 →
~ Blog Posts Written By RAs for RAs ~ Everyone has their own perspective. With different values, opinions, and backgrounds, it’s reasonable that some topics are difficult to discuss without descending into madness. Whether it’s a topic such as…a heated national election for example, maintaining civil dialogue is important, and especially so on a university... Continue Reading →
~ Blog Posts Written By RAs for RAs ~ Quick, think of the worst policy-related incident you can respond to. Chances are, some event like a massive dorm party or maybe a vandalism event came to mind. These, however, have nothing on the more emotional side of the job. Such as, when is it proper... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact’s RA Chat, Crystal is joined by Kathryn Palmieri, Managing Director at the Engineering Student Success Center and College of Science Student Success Center at San Jose State University. Join KP as they share tips on making the most of your campus resources, how to connect with your academic advisor for personalized guidance, and the best ways to create spaces in your residence halls that foster both community and academic success.
In this episode of Roompact’s RA Chat, Crystal is joined by Brooks Hetle, Associate Director of Residence Life at North Dakota State University and current President of the UMR-ACUHO region. Join them as they unravel the myths surrounding introverts and their leadership potential, with Brooks sharing invaluable insights on how to care for yourself and recharge while juggling a student staff position full of social interactions and activities.
