Residence Life

Residence Life System

The residential life staff is composed of two professional staff members. These persons are the Director of Residence Life and the Assistant Director of Residence Life/New Student Orientation Coordinator. These persons have a minimum of a bachelor's degree. The student staff is comprised of Resident Advisors (RAs), Assistant Resident Coordinators (ARCs), and one Resident Coordinator (RC). All residence life staff work with the entire university community to provide a positive learning/living environment conducive to academic achievement and personal development.

The RC and ARCs are upperclassmen who possess leadership experience. They reside in residence halls and they supervise the RAs within their individual hall. The RC and ARCs participate in an on-call rotation every day that the university is in regular session from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m.

The RC, ARCs and RAs are chosen based on their academic record, leadership qualities and related experience. There is an RA on duty for each residence hall every day of the week while school is in session. The RCs, ARCs and RAs have many responsibilities. They are available to:

• Listen to and assist students.
• Act as a resource for university services.
• Refer students to appropriate individuals or service agencies.
• Plan educational, social and community service programming.
• Assist with room check-in and check-out procedures.
• Maintain university policies.
• Report maintenance concerns through proper channels.
• Assist in crisis situations.

No one on the student residential life staff is allowed to give access to any room to any student for any reason.

Principles for Residental Life

1. Students at a residential college are part of a community of learners. Residential life supports and complements the academic programs and educational mission of the university.
2. Cultural and social activities support and complement the educational mission of the university.
3. Residential life encourages understanding, mutual respect and lasting friendships.
4. Residential life gives students substantial control over their own lives. In their residences, students should create structures for self-government through Hall Councils.
5. Residential life encourages first-year students to become active and contributing members of the university.
6. The same rules apply to all students and residences.
7. Residential life facilitates student participation in the larger community beyond the university.

Community Living

Community living is developed to assist in the creating of a strong sense of community among the on-campus residents on both the individual floors and throughout the entire residence hall. Self-responsibility is encouraged for all residents and is practiced as is responsibility for and towards others.

Community living is fourfold. One, it provides residents with a voice in the development of their floor. Two, it creates an opportunity for the floor members to develop teamwork and a cooperative living environment, as well as providing students with decision making powers. Three, it creates open discussion about desirable behaviors and relationships between floor mates. Four, it removes the RA, ARC and RC from rule enforcer to that of facilitator and resource person.