How many different "residence life models" have you seen in your career? Probably a lot. It's time to break the cycle. In this webinar we'll go over the 3C Framework for Residence Life Practice. It takes from all of the models to help you distill down what's important for your residents and what's on campus. As a framework, it's flexible and draws from best practices across the field.
ResEdChat Ep 131: New Book on the Three C’s Framework for ResLife Practice
We're pleased to bring you this bonus episode of ResEdChat where Paul shares more details about a brand new resource from Roompact to help residence education leaders create a framework for their practice. Focused on the "Three C's" of Community Development, Competencies, and Care, Paul explains how this eBook came to be and how he hopes professionals across the country will use it to elevate their work.
“We Don’t Do Residential Curriculum Anymore” (What?!) Towards A Holistic Residence Life Educational Model
Or "Weโre moving away from curriculum." Every now and then I hear this phrase from a school and I find it strange. What does that even mean? WHAT DOES IT MEAN?! It's almost like I don't even understand it. As I pondered this question, I've come think it's because I have a different understanding of... Continue Reading →
What ResLife Professionals Can Learn From The Manga/Anime “Naruto”
My favorite show of all time is Naruto. If any fans out there want to get into the specifics, I'm especially a fan of Naruto: Shippuden. If you're unfamiliar, Naruto is a Japanese manga series written by Masashi Kishimoto. Its anime companion aired in 2002 and was completed in 2007. Subsequently, Shippuden began in 2007... Continue Reading →
Cruisin’ Through College: What Residence Halls Can Learn from Cruise Ships
My undergraduate friends and I decided it was time for a reunion this winter break. Since graduating in 2021 and 2022, our crew had been experiencing the inevitable scatter that comes with leaving college life behind. No more meet-ups at dining halls. No more easy, late-night walks. Pre-funded and pre-organised events obviously became obsolete as... Continue Reading →
ResEdChat Ep 58: Justin Mason on Using a Strengths Based Approach in Residence Life
In this final episode of the year, Dustin chats with Justin about his background leveraging the CliftonStrengths assessment to empower student and staff to do their best work. He shares how he discovered this tool and advice for others looking to utilize it.
Navigating the Homecoming: Challenges College Students May Face Returning Home (Part 2)
The transition from the bustling independence of college life and a new place to lay oneโs head in the residence halls to the familiar comfort of "home-home" can be a bittersweet experience for college students. While the prospect of reuniting with loved ones and reconnecting with childhood roots holds immense appeal and nostalgia for some,... Continue Reading →
The Many Ways of Defining โHomeโ in College and University Residence Life (Part 1)
As we enter fall and winter break season and many of our students may soon depart their residence halls and apartments to travel back to spend time with beloved family, friends, and pets, I wanted to dig a little deeper into the concept of โhomeโ and what that means, both from a physical and philosophical... Continue Reading →
3 ResLife Pro Quick Tips for Incorporating Universal Design Principles into Your Daily Work
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. Universal Design is an approach that aims to create inclusive and accessible environments... Continue Reading →
Retreating in Residence Life: A Tradition Worth Keeping?
When you hear the word retreat, what comes to mind? For me, itโs statements like, โLets start with an icebreaker,โ โEveryone say your name, title, and what you do,โ and โWhat is a fun or little known fact about you?โ Itโs traveling to a near or far location and blocking off your calendar. Itโs sharing... Continue Reading →
ResEdChat Ep 36: Kendra Sherman on Bringing Residence Life Abroad
This week, Dustin chats with Kendra about how institutions can think about integrating a supportive residence life experience to study abroad programs and why it is important for student success. Kendra also shares anecdotes from her story that help inform her perspective as well as changing dynamics in the international education space.
6 Quotes from Ted Lasso That Speak To Residence Life Pros
As we say goodbye to Ted Lasso, we thought it only appropriate we revisit some quotes from the show. There's a reason why this show is so popular, particularly among student affairs and residence life folk, it speaks to our authentic hopes and wishes for our students and the values we try to uphold in... Continue Reading →
The Complicated Relationship Between Residence Life and Bulletin Boards
Bulletin boards have been a fixture of most residence life departments for decades. Creating fun, engaging, and educational bulletin boards is a common requirement for resident assistants and student staff. But since the advent of the internet, smart phones, and all of the other ways we can now engage residents, do bulletin boards still have... Continue Reading →
Arts-Based Practices in Res Life: Introduction and Strategies
This is part of a multi-part series on utilizing principles and techniques from arts-based research practices and applying them to the residents life setting. Explore more parts in the series:Introduction and Strategies | Community Building | Residential Curriculum The history of residential life on college campuses spans far back into the 1600's. One of the... Continue Reading →
A Love Letter to College Student Housing
As I sat down to author my final blog submission for this yearlong reflection through writing, my relationship with the profession kept coming up. If you add up my first experience of on-campus housing as a first-generation freshman, elected as hall president in my mostly male residence hall, I am wrapping up my 21st year... Continue Reading →
Four Ways to Incorporate Restorative Practices into your ResLife Work
This post is one in a series about integrating Restorative Practices into a model for residential learning.ย Start with the introduction as a primer and explore posts on other strategies you can utilize with a restorative lens.| Introduction | Roommate Agreements | Floor Meetings & Circles | Curriculum Development | Residential Curriculum | Intentional Conversations... Continue Reading →
Stuff We Say in College Student Housing
In our field, there are a lot of buzz words that we use. While some are helpful, some dictate how we move about in the work. I want to explore some of those sayings and how they land for me. As you read through, think of a time when you have used or heard these... Continue Reading →
Surviving or Thriving in Housing? Maybe Both!
I remember the first time I heard the saying: surviving or thriving. I was an Assistant Director at a school in Northern California and we would talk about the importance of our students thriving and not just surviving. There was an urgency and a passion and I totally bought into it! In my opinion, surviving... Continue Reading →



