Housing and Residence Life: Community & Engagement | Competencies & Learning | Care & Case Management | Assessment
You spent time planning the program. You created the flyers, reserved the space, picked up supplies, and maybe even told your supervisor this would be the event to watch out for. Then the start time arrives, and instead of a packed room, only a handful of residents walk through the door. I’m talking five people... 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 Abby Schuck It’s 7:30pm on Tuesday night (the time your Cocoa and Coloring program is set to start) but only you and a couple other RAs are there. You decide to give it a little more time. but now it’s 20 minutes later and still…nothing. You can’t figure out what happened. You were intentional... Continue Reading →
Craft measurable learning outcomes for residence life programs using the Audience–Behavior–Condition–Degree model. A – Audience Who are the learners? Example: Residents, student leaders, first-year students B – Behavior 1️⃣ Choose a Domain: Select a level Remember Understand Apply Analyze Evaluate Create 2️⃣ Select a Verb: Select a Bloom’s level first 3️⃣ Define the Behavior: Describe... Continue Reading →
Do you love video games? Me too, and I am willing to bet a lot of your residents do as well. Instead of fearing video games as something that takes residents away from meeting others or getting out of their rooms, you can use video games to your advantage - by involving them in programming!... Continue Reading →
As an RA or student staff member, you may be looking for ways to connect with your residents and create a positive, welcoming environment. One underused but incredibly powerful tool for connection is music. Music is something nearly everyone has an opinion on. It’s emotional. It’s nostalgic. It can energize, calm, uplift, or give voice... Continue Reading →
Everyone loves food. It brings people together in ways that feel natural and relaxed, which makes it a powerful (and often underused) tool for building community in the residence halls. Whether you're a seasoned RA or just getting started, using food in your programming doesn’t have to mean pizza and paper plates. With a little... Continue Reading →
We’ve all been there. You spend an hour crafting a beautiful flyer, taping it up around the hall, and then… crickets. No one shows up. No one even mentions it. It’s like it never existed. So what gives? The truth is, in a world where your residents are constantly bombarded with visuals (from TikToks to Snap stories... Continue Reading →
If you’re an RA or student staff member working in residence life, you already know that building a vibrant, inclusive community can start with a social program. But what happens when your budget is… let’s say, "lean"? Don’t worry. You’re not alone. You don’t have to settle for boring or uninspired events. With a little... Continue Reading →
Community building on a budget? You don't need to spend a lot of money to create meaningful memories and moments for your residents. Try these strategies: Reuse and Recycle Supplies Keep a stash of basic materials like markers, poster board, paints, scissors, and glue. Think about what can be reused across multiple programs. For example,... Continue Reading →
~ Blog Posts Written By RAs for RAs ~ I’m sure we all (student staff and professional staff alike) have our fair share of opinions and stories regarding a residential curriculum (or RC, sometimes called a residential learning or engagement model). Some love it, and some not so much. But why? The educational/programmatic model has... Continue Reading →
