Level Up RA Training Fall 2016

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MODEL

Overview:

• Community Development Methods

– Meant as a quick snapshot

– Details will be covered in training

• Programming Model & Examples

• Door Decorations & Examples

• Bulletin Boards & Examples

• Welcome Letter & Example

• Things we DON’T want to see…

• More details will be in your RA Manual!

7. Roommate Agreements8. Building/Floor Meetings9. Bulletin Boards10. RA Hours11. Health & Safety Inspections12. Norman Dollars

Take a quick look and familiarize you with some of the methods. We’ll discuss more details in training.

1. Programming Model

2. Area-Wide Programs

3. Personal Interactions

4. Welcome Letters

5. Door Decorations

Community Development Methods

• 6 programs per semester

– 1 per semester must be collaborative with an outside office/person

– 2 per semester must be assessed

– 1 per semester must be a supportive program, must include a reflective/debrief component

• Program Theme Ideas

• Self-awareness/interpersonal

– Welcome, Transition, Meeting New People, Communication and Active Listening, Interpersonal Relationships, Sleep and Stress (Part 1), Changing Relationships, Personal Wellness, Promoting Resilience

Programming Model• Professional and Personal Readiness

• Academic Integrity, Campus Exploration, Personal Goal Setting, Planning, Prioritizing, Time Management, and Procrastination, Library Literacy, Professionalism, Self-Advocacy, Test Strategies, Test Anxiety, and Stress Reduction, Exploring Research Opportunities, Majors Exploration and Motivation, Preparing for Mid-terms, Academic Advising and the Registrar’s Office, Career and Co-Curricular Planning

• Professional and Personal Readiness

• Leadership Styles and Campus Involvement, Alcohol and Other Drugs, MLK Celebration, Extracurricular Involvement on Campus, Global Education

Program Categories:• 2 Community Building• 1 Health Relationships• 1 Post College Readiness• 1 Civic and Social Responsibility• 1Program of your choice from the following topics: Healthy

Relationships, Post College Readiness, and Civic and Social Responsibility

Month January February March April May

Number of

ProgramsTBD TBD TBD TBD TBD

Programming Model

Month August/September October November/December

Number of Programs

2 2 2

Question Jenga

Supplies – 2-3 Jenga games and markers

What – Write a “get to know you” kind of question on every Jenga piece.

Set the game(s) up in a lounge and let the residents play. Each resident

answers the questions on the pieces they move.

Learning Outcomes – Residents will get to know other members of the

community

Puzzle Piece

Supplies – puzzle, art and craft supplies, magazines, etc.

What – Pick any puzzle and hand a piece out to everyone on the floor.

Tell them to decorate the blank side in a way that represents them as an

individual. Bring everyone together to put the puzzle together and talk

about individual identities. Frame the puzzle after and put it in the hall.

Learning Outcomes – Residents will get to know other members of the

community and be more aware, understanding and appreciative of

difference and how they come together.

Programming Model: Examples

College Eating

Supplies – Recipes, examples of the

food talked about, microwave/oven

What – Give everyone a mini recipe

book of easy and healthy recipes to

make in a residence hall. For

example, there are a lot of single

serve dishes that can be made easily

in a coffee cup in a microwave.

Serve sample portions of some

recipes in their booklets

Learning Outcomes – Residents

will learn easy and healthy recipes

they can make themselves in the

residence hall. Also have a better

understanding of the responsibility of

cooking on their own.

Programming Model: Examples

My Stash

Supplies – Jars, painters marker, stencils, oven

What – Give everyone a jar and let them pick a stash

stencil. Draw on the jars and cook in an oven.

Supplemental to discussing about budgeting tips for

college, healthy spending habits, credit cards, etc.

Learning Outcomes – Residents will learn helpful

financial information while also having an additional

way to save a little along the way.

Cultural Sensitivity

Supplies – Examples of insensitive costumes; We’re a culture, not a costume campaign information;

other researched information.

What – Around Halloween, discuss cultural sensitivity and appropriateness surrounding costumes in

regards to traditions, stereotypes, etc. Ask for assistance from Multicultural Affairs. Utilize resources

from campaigns like We’re a Culture, Not a Costume.

Learning Outcomes – Residents will gain more understanding of different cultures, traditions,

stereotypes, and perspectives. Have a greater sense of respect and knowledge when choosing their

costume for the holiday.

Programming Model: Examples

Jared Boxes

Supplies – Shoebox sized plastic storage boxes and resources from Jared Box

website (labels, cards, etc.)

What – Ask residents to participate in filling a box to be given to a chronically

ill child in the hospital. They can do them solo or work in groups. Fill the box

with age appropriate toys and items like crayons, matchbox cars, coloring

books, silly putty, etc. Donate the completed boxes to a local children’s

hospital (Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland participates in the

program).

Learning Outcomes – Residents will learn how easy and fulfilling it can be to

take part in helping others in the community.

Area Wide and All Campus Programs

Area Wide Programs:

• Each RA team must complete two area wide programs during each semester for their respective areas. These programs are at the discretion of the RA team and supervising AC. Area wide programs should be designed to build overall community in the area. Each RA team must complete one campus wide event per year.

• 2 Area Wide

• 1 Campus Wide

Campus Wide programming• 3 programs in the Fall & 3 in Spring• Each RA participates in the Creation

of 1 program during the academic year

• RAs will work in self chosen teams that are signed off on by the ACs

• Attendance at peers’ events will count as part of Professional development

RA Room Hours• RA availability is one of the most important factors in creating a cohesive and caring community. While RAs are

expected to be both available and visible in their buildings and on their halls, identifying specific days and times where residents can find them in their rooms/suites is important. RAs will identify 5 hours per week where they will be in their rooms/suites for the sole purpose of assisting their residents and completing position related tasks. A minimum of 2 hours must be held in the evening after 5pm. RA Hours cannot be all on one day, must be spread over at least three days, and may not contain more than one weekend day. These hours are posted on the RAs door and made available to all of their residents. These hours will allow the RA to always have time set aside for residents to know when to find the RA. If an RA cannot hold their scheduled RA room hours they need to make up that time later in that week. RAs should inform their AC and residents ahead of time if these hours change for any reason at all (temporarily or permanently) and these changes will be updated on their doors in a timely manner.

• An RA’s first priority during scheduled room hours is to be available for residents to stop by. However, RAs can also utilize these hours by doing a round of their floor to check in with residents (indicate on their room’s dry erase board if they are doing a round of the floor), completing weekly Personal Interactions, completing programming prep work, working on bulletin boards/door decorations, completing administrative tasks, etc.

Door Decorations

• Welcome residents to the community

• Personalize them!

– Hand-made, creative, well-designed, eye-catching

– Incorporate themes related to the floor/hall

– Challenge yourself!

• Make extras!

– Replace ones that get torn down or go missing

– Have them ready when new students move onto your floor

• Door decorations will be done once per semester with the understanding that if a student loses a door decoration or students enter a space (room changes) it will be replaced by the RA within a timely manner.

• Door decorations must be approved by your AC.

Door Decoration: Examples

Door Decoration: Examples

Bulletin Boards

• Communicate relevant information to residents

– University information

– Dates & deadlines

– Upcoming programs & events

• Interact with community

– Resident of the Month, Resident Birthdays, recognition

– Floor/hall issues and concerns

• Plan ahead!

– Think about upcoming months

– Talk with your staff about themes and ideas to use

• Bulletin boards are to be done by the 1st of the month with the understanding that if it is damaged or torn down, it is to be replaced by the RA within a timely manner.

Bulletin Boards: Examples

• Best Practices:

– Hand-made

– Relevant to residents’ needs

– Use many colors

– Enough content to fill board

– May extend beyond frame of bulletin board

Bulletin Board: Examples

Bulletin Board Examples

• Best Practices:

– Catch attention with humor

– Limit text on each paper to be readable at a glance (unlike this one )

– Get creative!

• Don’t consider yourself the “creative type?” Talk to your staff members and AC to brainstorm ideas

Intentional Interactions

• Personal interactions are RA-to-resident conversations/discussions/observing behaviors that take place in an informal setting. These interactions can take place walking to class, in the building, or in any community space. RAs should log all interactions in a Google Form. RAs are required to do the following:

1st Year Area Interactions

Minimum of 1 interaction per resident must be completed by September 29th

Minimum of 2 total interactions per resident by November 10th

Minimum of 3 total interactions per resident by December 8th

Upper Class Interactions

Must have a total of 100 interactions total by the end of the semester

Minimum of 1 interaction per resident must be completed by September 29th

Minimum of 2 total interactions per resident by December 8th

Welcome Letter

• Welcome residents to the residential community!

– Introduce yourself to your residents

– Familiarize residents with the building

– Inform them of upcoming events and administrative tasks

• Floor meeting

• Room Condition Report

• Roommate Agreements

• Work ahead!

– Start your draft now, & you can finish it during RA Training

Welcome Letter: SampleHello Everyone!

My name is Abbey, and I am your Resident Advisor here in Dunlap-King Hall! I am a music major and am currently in my third year here at UNE. As an RA, I am here as a resource to help integrate you into the DK community and the larger campus community as well as to ensure you have a safe, healthy, and fun experience at UNE!

For those of you who are looking to get involved here on campus, there are so many opportunities to find your passion! We have over 80 student organizations on campus ranging from Intramural Sports to the Gamers Guild, from Orientation Leaders to Knit Wits! We also have opportunities for you to get involved in UNE’s Residential Student Life Association (RSLA) to represent and advocate for our hall and our larger residential community on campus. Doing this not only gives you leadership experience but also helps the entire hall get things we need. If you are interested, come and see me!

If you notice anything that is out of place, missing, or damaged in your room while you are moving in or within the first week, please document it on your Room Condition Report (RCR) and let me know. It is important for us to keep track of damages on your RCR so that you are not charged when you move out for things you did not damage. It is also important to report any damages that occur during the year so that we can get them fixed and keep the building in tip-top shape! Within the first week, I will also be coming around to help you with Roommate Agreement, which is meant to start you and your roommate talking about personal preferences within your room. This Agreement will set the community standards for your room that you and your roommate follow and can refer to during conflicts.

Specifically for DK, you will need your UNE ID to swipe into the building and your room key to access not only your room but also the door to your hallway. Never leave your room without both your ID and your room key! If I am not around and you need to contact me, send me an email at abbey.hirt@une.edu or leave me a message on my dry-erase board. We also will have signs posted around the hall with contact information for the RA on duty, and you can call or stop by with any questions.

I look forward to meeting you all, and let’s make this an amazing year!~Abbey

Community Development: Things we DON’T want to see…

• Bulletin Boards:

– All content is printed pictures and text

– Minimal content, board not filled

– Too much content, overloaded with paragraphs of text

– All pictures & fun, does not address a relevant need or issue of residents

Community Development: Things we DON’T want to see…

• Door Decorations:

– Printed and pixilated pictures

– No effort put into it

– Plain, bland, non-creative

– Exclusive & non-welcoming

– Sloppy handwriting/finishing

Community Development: Things we DON’T want to see…

• Programming:

– Last-minute planning

• Asking another AC to sign your cash advance the day of your program

• Putting in your program proposal the day before your program

– Poor implementation

– Plain & non-creative programs

– Repetitive and/or duplicate programs in the same staff

– Paragraph(s) of text on advertisements

Community Development: Bottom Line?

• Plan Ahead

• Challenge Yourself

• Use your strengths, and

• Don’t be afraid to lean on each other!

Questions?

Bring them to RA Training!

(Or ask Tony!)