Residence life and education, residential curriculum and curricular approaches, student housing, and technology.
I am a major fan of both Hamilton: The Musical and utilizing a curricular approach, and recently presented these topics at the Western Association of College and University Housing Officers (WACUHO) annual conference. My fabulous colleague and I had the opportunity to share a few of the ways utilizing elements of a curriculum can help... Continue Reading →
Let’s set the scene: Your supervisor asks when you’re next planning to take a vacation. Maybe they’re even encouraging you to do so. Your (at least internal) response: “Yeah, sure, in the summer.” If you’re like me, that may come from the stress of planning leave at any. other. time. There’s always something - a... Continue Reading →
Residence life is one of the most change-saturated environments on a college campus. Students arrive during moments of transition, staff juggle evolving expectations, and institutions regularly introduce new priorities, policies, and pressures. In this context, change can either feel intentional and supportive or confusing and destabilizing, often simultaneously. Change models provide residence life professionals with... Continue Reading →
On this episode with Lauren Mountain, Director of Housing & Residence Life at Bridgewater State University, we will dive into the impact of creating a positive and successful team culture! In housing and residence life, workplace culture shapes not only how staff experience their roles but also how students are supported. A thriving workplace culture... Continue Reading →
One of my most beloved autumnal traditions is re-reading the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark book series. For those who aren’t aware, this is a children’s book series containing urban legends, folklore, songs, and ghost stories. The trilogy of books are perhaps best known for the macabre hand drawn illustrations that accompany the... Continue Reading →
In residence life, building community is foundational. Yet, achieving it necessitates cultivating an environment where students and staff feel psychologically safe. Psychological safety, a concept rooted in organizational behavior and leadership theory, refers to an environment of rewarded vulnerability. It is a culture where individuals feel safe to speak up, take risks, and be themselves... Continue Reading →
In their influential work Reframing Organizations, Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal describe four frames through which organizations can be understood. In previous articles we’ve explored the three of these frames. In this final post, we will be discussing the Symbolic Frame. Through the Symbolic Frame, we see how college housing is less about logistics and... Continue Reading →
In their influential work Reframing Organizations, Lee Bolman and Terrence Deal describe four frames through which organizations can be understood. In previous articles we’ve explored the structural and human resource frames. In this, we will be discussing the Political Frame, which offers a particularly relevant lens for examining university housing, a dynamic environment where competing... Continue Reading →
Ever feel like you're faking it in housing? In this episode of ResEdChat, Crystal chats with Dr. A.J. Lauer, from Thriving Ibis Leadership Solutions, about imposter syndrome, identity, and the pressures of being the “expert” in res life. Tune in for real talk, empowering tips, and a reminder that yes, you belong here. If you have a topic idea or want to engage in the community discussion, use the hashtag #ResEdChat.
This meeting could have been an email. How many times have you said this? How many times have you heard this? Within higher education, we’re notorious for having standing meetings that are often longer than they need to be, knowing that the information could have been communicated via email. Amidst the chaos that was my... Continue Reading →
University housing plays a critical role in shaping students’ college experiences. A well-organized residential system fosters academic success, social development, and personal growth. However, managing university housing requires careful planning, coordination, and adherence to established policies. One way to understand the complexities of this system is through Bolman and Deal’s Four-Frame Model. In this article,... Continue Reading →
University housing plays a critical role in shaping students’ college experiences. A well-organized residential system fosters academic success, social development, and personal growth. However, managing university housing requires careful planning, coordination, and adherence to established policies. One way to understand the complexities of this system is through Bolman and Deal’s Four-Frame Model, particularly the Structural... Continue Reading →
When you hear the word silo, what comes to mind? For me, I immediately think of the Midwest and a tall structure housing grain or feed or something that is very unfamiliar to this Floridian turned North Carolinian. However, there may be no need to travel to the Midwest, there could be silos right there... Continue Reading →
In this episode of Roompact’s ResEdChat, Crystal is joined by Dr. Erica Alcantara Aros, Leadership & Workplace Culture Consultant with Mentor Culture Consulting. Erica defines workplace culture and explains how to assess it during a job interview. Erica and Crystal also discuss navigating boundaries for staff in live-in roles, being open to feedback, and thoughts... Continue Reading →
In residence life, we’re constantly hiring! Every year, we launch the recruitment and selection process for student staff, exploding the outlook calendars of everyone. From marketing, to reviewing applications, facilitating interviews, and spending out offer letters–it doesn’t stop! Professional staff vacancies can pop up at any time, keeping the hiring cycle humming. Hiring new student... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
This post is one in a series about integrating Restorative Practices into a model for residential learning. 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 →
