I have to do what?!?!
RAs only meet with their supervisors bi-weekly... and a lot of stuff can happen in two weeks. The weekly report is an online document that allows RAs to give the pro staff an idea of what is going on.
Pro tip: we like detail.
How long has Lindy worked at Goucher?
(and who is she?)
6 years!
(director of residential life)
(She is also a wife and the mother of 7 animals and loves to make things with her hands... she might have a secret woodworking studio on campus.)
The RA position is a job. We get that it has unconventional hours and that is an adjustment, but your reports, rounds, staff meetings, 1:1s, programs, etc. are vital to your role as an RA and should be treated as such.
The ORL is about learning and navigating spaces in a way that is very unfamiliar to students (it's hard to share a room!). If we just offered room changes at any opportunity, what would students learn?
Yes, this might mean that your perfectly clear afternoon is now being spent with a student... or that you might not be getting much sleep one night. We will talk in more detail at training, but sometimes this role means changing your plans and changing them quickly. Be prepared for that as you think about time management.
April is a critical part of the office, often putting out fires before they even get past her desk. She is also a great resource for students, RAs and OAs.
RAs should anticipate staying during one of the breaks (Thanksgiving or Spring Break) and will need to stay on campus each night of their break. We will select breaks in August. There are positions for J-Term and summer RAs.
You will learn a lot while in this role... more than you realize. RAs are a vital part of our office and when you leave the role, you will have skills in so many areas that will be helpful in the future. Some examples include crisis response, conflict management and time management.
Often times we cannot offer you a lot of information, but we need you to talk with a resident and report back. We will train you on how to do this, but we do expect that you ask pointed questions and are able to tell us more than "they are fine, I saw them".
The newest member of the res life team is...
Kevin Turner!
(and he is our assistant director)
This is a tricky question and one that ALL RAs should keep in mind. Sure, if you are 21 you are legally allowed to drink... however, you should not be drinking with residents and you should not be drinking with those under 21. Even if you are 21, being caught drinking could compromise your position depending on the circumstances. RAs who are under 21 and caught drinking, will be up for immediate removal from the position.
2. Hire, train & supervise RAs
3. Manage conflicts & emergencies in the halls
We do a lot in the office, more than many folks realize and often times these things are all happening at the same time. Our primary pillars are education and safety and they can often be seen through these functions.
2. It is a safety measure to know quickly how many students are in a room and their names.
Often times people think the door decs are simply for aesthetics, but they serve also as a means to get information quickly in the event of an emergency. This is why it is important to know your students preferred names (yes, sometimes you might have to re-make a door dec) and share the importance of them staying on their doors.
Tyson
Winslow lawn is named after the Margaret Winslow family (she is a trustee), however, the residence hall was named after Clinton Winslow... a Professor of Political Science.
We want the office and the people who work in it to be approachable and accessible. Every position in the office has a strong, natural, connection to students except for the director. So, the solution? Waffles of course!
This might seem silly or obvious, but there are times during the year where we need you to check in with a resident... if you have gotten to know the residents on your floor, this task is simple. If you have not... this can be really challenging and obvious. We are changing our programming model to be more conversation based next year, more to come in August!
Who is Rachel Wimberly?
An RLC (a residential life coordinator)
Fun fact: she likes to foster kittens!
William Hersey Hopkins
John Franklin Goucher was the second president and namesake when the campus moved.
Showing up and being actively engaged are two separate things. When RAs show up to staff meetings, 1:1s, programs, office shifts, etc. we expect they are present and participating. This means they are not working on homework, texting with friends or sitting at the back of the room as a means to not be present.
What professional staff live on-campus?
Lindy
Kevin
Rachel
It is very common for RLCs to live on-campus... almost the entire office? Not as much. This model makes Goucher unique and is one of the best ways to show the res life philosophy... we are living life right alongside you.