Residence life and education, residential curriculum and curricular approaches, student housing, and technology.
How are you thinking about your impact on your university's environment? What about your university's environment and its impact on your students? As Residence Life professionals, we often focus solely on the environments that we actively create in our own buildings. However, the campus environment is a complex and nuanced factor in a college student's... Continue Reading →
When it comes to finding your fit in Residence Life, it seems the differences in working at a private or public institution are not often discussed. Perhaps this stems from a tendency for professionals to stay within a certain institution type throughout their career or maybe it suggests that institution type is not a key... Continue Reading →
Getting involved in a professional association has a number of benefits. Luckily for professionals working in residence life and college student housing, there are a number of ways to get involved. The Association of College and University Housing Officers - International (ACUHO-I) represents professionals on the national level, but there are also regional associations that... Continue Reading →
You were asked to do some benchmarking across institutions. You were told we need to understand how students are using lounges. You found out that your director needs information about how people are feeling following your recruitment processes. Well, have no fear! Regardless of your assessment needs, this list is meant to assist you with... Continue Reading →
Getting involved in a professional association has a number of benefits. Luckily for professionals working in residence life and college student housing, there are a number of ways to get involved. The Association of College and University Housing Officers - International (ACUHO-I) represents professionals on the national level, but there are also regional associations that... Continue Reading →
Getting involved in a professional association has a number of benefits. Luckily for professionals working in residence life and college student housing, there are a number of ways to get involved. The Association of College and University Housing Officers - International (ACUHO-I) represents professionals on the national level, but there are also regional associations that... Continue Reading →
As a higher education professional, you may work with a variety of vendors, from those who provide essential supplies and services to those who offer more specialized products and services. When I think about my time as an earlier career housing professional, I recall very clearly being told by higher-ups not to tease or engage... Continue Reading →
If I asked you when recruitment season happens in your office, what would you say? Do you typically post positions early in the Spring, interview a slew of candidates mid-semester, and make offers before move-out? If you do, that’s something to be celebrated as this “traditional” timeline is becoming a rarity in our field. What... Continue Reading →
A special guest post from Rose Waples, Ed.D. Based on her dissertation, "A Program Evaluation of Crisis and Conflict Management Training for Resident Advisors at the University of Rochester." Available upon request. Previously on the blog, Natasha Monteith posted an article entitled Should We Even Be Doing Behind Closed Doors? This engaging post brought up... Continue Reading →
Many professionals in residence life begin their professional staff journey with time as a paraprofessional under their belt. Some served as an RA at their undergraduate institutions. Others took on a different residence life role, perhaps navigating front desk operations or in-hall mentorship relationships. However, many professionals enter the residential world with little to no... Continue Reading →
Getting involved in a professional association has a number of benefits. Luckily for professionals working in residence life and college student housing, there are a number of ways to get involved. The Association of College and University Housing Officers - International (ACUHO-I) represents professionals on the national level, but there are also regional associations that... Continue Reading →
As a resident advisor, you likely have heard your department talk about assessment. What in the world do they mean when they say assessment? University housing assessment is a process where the university evaluates and gathers feedback from students about their experiences living on campus. It helps the university make improvements to housing services and... Continue Reading →
Getting involved in a professional association has a number of benefits. Luckily for professionals working in residence life and college student housing, there are a number of ways to get involved. The Association of College and University Housing Officers - International (ACUHO-I) represents professionals on the national level, but there are also regional associations that... Continue Reading →
When I was younger, September held a different significance for me. It was when the trees would begin changing colors. The nights would get a little bit cooler and bearable from the scorching Summer. School had started up again and I got to see my friends after what felt like a long break. It was... Continue Reading →
Roompact's door dec competition is now closed and we're ready to announce the winners. We received 70+ entries (!), so picking ten was incredibly difficult. We tried to select a diverse group of winners that reflected the diversity of the submissions themselves. Thank you to all who entered! Your ideas are now a resource for... Continue Reading →
The year is kicking off, training is in the rear-view mirror, Welcome Week has flown by, and we caught our breath as we said goodbye to summer with Labor Day. Now, we are looking at the experience we are offering our students this year and wondering: how am I supposed to assess these events we... Continue Reading →
The fall semester is a time of great change and excitement for all of us higher education professionals. New students are arriving, new classes are starting, and there is a renewed sense of purpose and energy. However, the fall semester can also be a time of great stress and anxiety. Long hours, heavy workloads, and... Continue Reading →
For Pro Staff For Student Staff Roompact's "Quick Tips" series highlights ideas and suggestions you can put into your practice as either a professional staff or student staff member working in residence life and education. Click to read more from the series. As a resident assistant (RA) or student staff member, you play a pivotal... Continue Reading →
