Housing and Residence Life: Community & Engagement | Competencies & Learning | Care & Case Management | Assessment
In this episode of Roompact's RA*Chat, we’re joined by Alyssa Fisher, a seasoned professional in residence life with a strong understanding of resident engagement and community building. Together, we explore how RAs can recognize subtle signs of isolation and connect with residents who may be quieter or less visible in their communities while noting the importance of consistency and community building.
You've attended training, prepared for move-in, hosted welcome events, and done your best to make residents feel at home. You spend weeks learning policies, campus resources, referral processes, and community-building strategies. You prepare bulletin boards, create door decorations, and plan programs that you hope residents will enjoy. Then residents arrive. And sometimes they're not nearly... Continue Reading →
When you take on a student staff position, it is easy to focus on what comes with the role. There is the experience you will gain, the leadership skills you develop, the responsibilities you will take on, and maybe even how the position will look on your résumé. What often gets overlooked are the people... Continue Reading →
If you’ve worked as a Resident Assistant or student staff member for any amount of time, you’ve probably heard them all. “Do you have a stapler?” “Can I borrow a vacuum?” “Do you know where my package is?” “My roommate locked themselves out…again.” At first glance, these questions don’t seem particularly memorable. They’re quick interactions... Continue Reading →
If you’ve chosen to serve as a student leader, aside from the financial benefit, you were likely drawn to the role because of a desire to help people. You have likely found yourself to have tips and tricks for your friends or have been willing to be a listening ear to someone in need. However,... Continue Reading →
When you’re working in Residence Life or Housing, you’re going to interact with people you might not usually choose to hang out with in your personal life - it's part of what makes the job challenging and meaningful. Through this, one of the most common situations RAs run into is realizing they don't have a... Continue Reading →
It's August and all the RAs are creating their door decorations from their floor rosters. Just lists of names with no faces or descriptions to go with them. Like the participants of Love is Blind, they are hopeful they will find people they connect with, sight unseen. The RAs start to imagine what their floors... Continue Reading →
Resident Advisors (RAs) are first and foremost community builders. One of the simplest and most useful frameworks you can use to understand how your residents grow as a group is Tuckman’s stages of group development. This includes five stages (four of which I'm focusing on here): forming, storming, norming, (performing), and adjourning. In university housing,... Continue Reading →
Let’s be real: sometimes being an RA feels like you’re basically there for when something goes wrong. You’re the one who gets called when there’s a lockout, when someone’s too loud at 2 A.M., and when someone’s clothes get “stolen” from the laundry machine. And while those pieces of your job description can definitely feel... Continue Reading →
Welcome to the new and exciting world of being a RA! As you are going through intense trainings, busy move-in scheduling, and the start of the school year, things may seem a little crazy in your new role. Although your schedule and responsibilities may be a bit hectic right now, the beginning of a new... Continue Reading →
I love a good program calendar. Brightly colored posters, grids of events, deadlines, themes. They give the impression of structure, of energy, of things happening. But here’s the question: Do those calendars actually add up to a coherent experience for residents? Too often, I think the answer is no. A busy calendar doesn’t necessarily mean... Continue Reading →
One of the most important responsibilities of an RA is the development of a successful community within their space and wider residential community. However, this is a skill that is very specific to housing and you won’t hear the phrase “community development” very frequently outside of this environment. So, what does “community development” mean, and... Continue Reading →
Old school concepts of community development often cast an RA or student staff member as the sole “producer.” You plan events, advertise them, execute the logistics, and hope residents show up. Co-design reverses that dynamic. Student staff leaders step back from being the primary creator and instead act as facilitators and partners, inviting residents into... Continue Reading →
Some of the richest community moments in residence halls don’t come from polished programs. They are small, sometimes chance, encounters: two residents comparing studying tips on the elevator, someone tuning a guitar in the lounge, a kitchen impromptu conversation about food culture while waiting for a pot to boil. Those little moments are raw, authentic,... Continue Reading →
In this episode of RA*Chat, get ready to own move-in weekend! Join Katherine Gallardo, an RA, as she spills the tea on prepping like a pro and nailing those make-or-break first moments with new residents and their families. From managing the chaos to creating instant connections, this episode will transform you from nervous newbie to... Continue Reading →
If you’ve ever walked into your building early in the morning and noticed how clean the floors are, or how quickly something gets fixed after you submit a maintenance request, that’s the work of your custodial and facilities teams. These folks are the unsung heroes of our residence halls—and they can be some of your... Continue Reading →
Gratitude is a powerful force in any community, and as an RA or student leader, it’s one of the easiest ways you can make your floor feel more connected and supportive. November is National Gratitude Month, which makes it the perfect time to be intentional about recognizing and appreciating the people around you. Practicing gratitude... Continue Reading →
As an RA or student staff member, one of your most important jobs is helping residents feel like they belong. While this might seem straightforward, the truth is, your efforts contribute to something much deeper: helping students define and experience “home” in the residence halls. But what does “home” mean in a college environment? The... Continue Reading →
