national residence hall honorary of missouri state university · for example: say you want to write...

National Residence Hall Honorary

Missouri State University

Boomer Chapter

OTM Guide 2012-2013

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Executive Summary

Missouri State Recognizers,

This guide is specifically prepared to help you through the process of

writing OTMs !

The guide has three sections:

Introduction to OTMs

OTM Category Selection & Criteria

2012-2013 OTM Competition It is my goal that our Missouri State University Campus be a friendlier community through recognizing each other. I like to think that OTMs are a great way to spread positivity and lift up morale when we recognize others for their accomplishments, or just being the people they are. If you ever have any questions, or need help with the OTM writing process, please contact me at [email protected] . I look forward to a great year of recognition!

Sincerely,

Spencer J. T. Orr National Residence Hall Honorary- Recognition Chairman Residence Life, Housing & Dining Services Missouri State University

sjto

mailto:[email protected]

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Table of Contents

What is an OTM?………………………………………………………...4 Setting Up Your OTM Account………………………………………….4 Finding the Right Category……………………………………………….5 OTM Category Criteria…………………………………………………...5

Advisor……………………………………………………...............6 Custodial/Maintenance...…………………………………………...7 Desk Attendant.………………………………………………….....7 Executive Board Member….………………...……………………...8 First Year Student………………………………………………......9 Graduate Assistant…………………………………….…………..10 Institution Faculty/Staff...……………………………………........11 Neighbor…………………………………….…...……………......12 Organization………………………………………………….........12 Passive Program……………………………………………….......13 Programs...…………………………………..………………….....14 Residence Life Faculty/Staff…………………..…………………..16 Resident Assistant…………..……………………………………..17 Residential Community………………………………………........18 Roommate…………………………………….…………………..19 Spotlight…………………………………………………………..19 Student…………………………………………………………....20

OTM Competition...….…………………………………..………….......22

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What is an OTM? Of The Months (OTMs for short) are ways for National Residence Hall

Honorary (NRHH) to recognize outstanding contributions to Missouri State

University and other campuses of Colleges and Universities across the United States.

OTM’s are the primary source of recognition throughout NRHH. Winning OTM’s

written at Missouri State University are then graded on the regional and national

levels. OTM’s are separated into seventeen different categories that are graded on the

various campus, regional and national levels. It is important to submit an OTM by

11:59pm of the 4th day in each month.

The OTM categories are:

Advisor

**Custodial/Maintenance

Desk Attendant

Executive Board Member

First Year Student

**Graduate Assistant

Institution Faculty/Staff

**Neighbor

Organization

Passive Program

Programs

Residence Life Faculty/Staff

Resident Assistant

Residential Community

**Roommate

Spotlight

Student

Setting up Your OTM Account Visit the NRHH website at http://otms.nrhh.org to set up an account and submit

OTMs. On the middle left side of the web page click “Create Account.” This will

direct you to a page to select your university. Select “Missouri State University.” After

selecting your university, fill out the account information and “Submit.” You have

successfully created you NRHH OTM account! This account does not deactivate. If

you have trouble remembering your password or need to reset your password, contact

your chapter’s current Recognition Chairperson, Spencer Orr, at

[email protected].

**These are recent additions to OTM categories, and are not graded beyond the

campus level yet. When that changes, this document will be amended and you will be

notified.

http://otms.nrhh.org/


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Finding the Right Category When writing an OTM, you want to choose a category that fits your purpose for recognizing a particular person. Sometimes the OTM categories can overlap when you apply them to specific people on our campus, and especially within the Department of Residence Life, Housing & Dining Services. For example: Say you want to write an OTM for your Assistant Hall Director because they have been a phenomenal advisor for their hall council. Technically, an Assistant Hall Director overlaps in 2 OTM categories! (Graduate Assistant, & Advisor) Here though, we are recognizing their outstanding contributions in Advising a Hall Council, so we will pick the Advisor Category for this OTM. In the end, it is all about finding what an OTM writer is trying to recognize a person for, and using your best judgment to pick a fitting category. Once again, if you ever have any questions, even about which category to pick for recognizing a person, don’t hesitate to contact your recognition chairman, Spencer at [email protected]

OTM Category Criteria The regional OTM website provides criteria for each category of OTM’s. These

criteria are looked at when OTM’s are judged. When writing an OTM, it’s important

to remember that our campus may not be the only people reading it. Your OTM

might make it to a regional or national level where your readers are unfamiliar with

something like an LLC program. Please explain acronyms when first mentioned, and

give brief descriptions of positional duties or functions.


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Advisor of the Month Advisors need to create a supportive environment for the student leaders they advise.

The focus of the Advisor OTM should be based on the impact they make in the lives

of students. Personal examples are often the best way to express the intangible

contributions of an advisor. The nomination should display how the advisor was

instrumental in helping the leaders they work with grow, learn and develop.

Criteria/Questions:

Is the nomination month specific?

Did the individual recognize the students they worked with within the month

of nomination?

How has the individual contributed to their profession?

What outstanding accomplishments merit recognition of this individual this

month?

How has the individual gone “above and beyond” their duties as an advisor?

(give specific examples)

This OTM category has a maximum word count of 600 words.

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Custodial/Maintenance of the Month This category is intended to recognize the custodians and maintenance people on

campus. It is not graded on a regional or national level yet.

Criteria/Questions:


Did the individual support the students they worked with within the month of

nomination?

How has the individual contributed to their profession?


month?

How has the individual gone “above and beyond” their duties as an employee?



Desk Attendant of the Month A desk attendant should be an undergraduate who represents and works for a hall or

office promoting the halls by going “above and beyond” their duties. Include the job

requirements and show how the nominee has exceeded those requirements. Be sure

that the nomination is month specific and discusses how the individual has exceeded

the expectations of their job. If the OTM discusses any additional work done by the

person’s job outside their desk attendant position, it will belong in another category.

Criteria/Questions:

How well does this nominee work with residents and what impact have they

had during the month of nomination?

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How has the nominee fulfilled and gone above their job responsibility during

the month of nomination?

Are there any specific projects in support of hall government or committees in

which they participate?

What outstanding contributions has the individual made for the hall they work

in during the month of nomination?


Executive Board Member of the Month Any executive board member of any on-campus student’s organization in housing can

be nominated for this category. A nominee can be on the executive board of the

RHA, SLAC or NRHH, or can be a hall council executive board member. It is

extremely important in this category to nominate a person for their duties in an

executive board position. Many times, the OTM reads as a Student OTM. Special

efforts, not just fulfilling the job requirements of the position, help make this OTM

category special. Make sure you include some of the responsibilities of the position so

the reader will know how they truly went “above and beyond”. Be sure to briefly

include other activities the student is involved in. This shows that they are a well-

rounded leader and able to perform well in their position and still participate in other

activities. An executive board member is someone that is deemed such a position by

your individual RHA.

Criteria/Questions:


How has the individual exceeded their job responsibilities this month?

How has the individual grown as a result of their work this month?

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Is the nominee an executive officer of a campus-wide residence hall governing

body? Examples include hall council, RHA, NRHH or SLAC executives.

Did the nominee make outstanding contributions to the organization during


What contributions did the nominee make to other campus groups?

What has been the nominee's use of NACURH and campus resources?

What contributions has the nominee made to your region during the month of

nomination?

What outstanding contributions were made by the individual during the

month?


First Year Student of the Month This category is intended for an upcoming student leader (a first year student or

transfer) who puts forth special effort during the month of nomination. Possible

things to include in the nomination could be leadership development, contribution to

the people in their community, and their activities. Please note that campus-wide

executive board members, advisors, and resident assistants are not eligible for this

award.

Criteria/Questions:

What outstanding contributions did the individual make during the month of

nomination?

How has this person impacted the residence halls and campus?

What interaction did the nominee have with their residence hall government or

individual hall during the month of nomination?

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What organizations and activities was the individual involved in during the

month of nomination?

How does that student recognize and motivate others?

How has the student grown throughout their experiences during the month of

nomination?


Graduate Assistant of the Month This category is intended to recognize the graduate assistants on campus. It is not

graded on a regional or national level yet.

Criteria/Questions:

How well does this nominee work with residents and what impact have they




Are there any specific projects in support of hall government or committees in

which they participate?




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Institution Faculty/Staff of the Month This category is intended for staff or faculty members that contribute their time and

assistance and go the extra mile for the benefit of the people around them. These are

individuals who aid students in their academics, which includes professors,

instructors, teaching assistants, counselors, and other academic affairs staff. This

category is intended to recognize institutional faculty who have made a contribution

to the residence life community both in and out of the classroom. Be sure to specify

the duties of the faculty or staff and how they have exceeded these duties for the

specified month. You may discuss additional boards or committees the faculty

member sits on that are not necessarily in their job description.

Criteria/Questions:


nomination?




How does the faculty/staff member recognize and motivate others?


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Neighbor of the Month This category is intended to recognize hallmates and suitemates within the residence

halls. It is not graded on a regional or national level yet.

Criteria/Questions:


Did the individual support the students they lived with within the month of

nomination?

How has the individual contributed to their community?


month?

How has the individual gone “above and beyond” their duties as a resident?



Organization of the Month This category is to recognize an outstanding residence life organization (such as an

RHA, NRHH Chapter, RA Staff or hall council), not an outstanding member. When

writing the OTM it is important to review the purpose of the organization and the

reasons for nominating the organization. Nominations should be organization

specific and not concentrate on the efforts of a few individuals. Also, write about

specific goals during that month that made this organization stand out for that month.

Criteria/Questions:


What accomplishments did the organization make this month?

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How did the organization’s actions benefit the community/building/campus?

What is the focus of the organization? (i.e. programming, advocacy,

recognition, etc.)

How did the organization contribute to the residential community and the

general community of the institution?

How did the organization interact with the region and with NACURH?

What set this month apart from other months?


Passive Program of the Month Passive programs are those that do not require active interaction but allow students to

participate on their own time. When writing an OTM for a passive program, be sure

to include the duration of the program. Focus on the creativity, visual aspects,

functionality, etc. One must include the origin of the program. Has it been done

before or was this a new idea? When the program was created, what were the

intentions? When determining the target population, do not select a number of

people you wanted to attend. Depending upon where the passive program is placed,

will determine the target population and attendance. If it was on a floor then the

target population and attendance will be determined by the people on the floor. If the

passive program was presented to an entire building the target population is the entire

building.

Criteria/Questions:


What makes the program unique from what is done at other schools and what

has been done in the past?

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Is the program creative? If it is not a new program, what new twists were added

to make the program different from previous years?

What lasting effect did the program have on residents?

What were the goals of the program and how were they met?

What was the overall quality of the program (evaluation)?

How was the community affected by the program?

What did the students learn from the program?

Where was the passive program displayed?

How long was the duration of the passive program?

This OTM category has a maximum of 1400 words. The OTM is divided into six

sections: five 200 word sections and one 400 word section.

Program of the Month (Community Service, Diversity, Educational, and Social)

Community Service Program

A service or philanthropic program that benefits a group, charity or other

organization. This could include drives, fundraising, charity runs and/or book fairs or

other specific events. The program should focus on the importance of the residents

giving back to the broader communities in which they live.

Diversity Program

A program that promotes and educates about diversity and understanding. This

program illustrates the importance of promoting diversity in the residence halls as well

as embracing diversity in the everyday lives of the residents.

Educational Program

A program meant to educate residents about a topic, issue or idea. Programs

nominated in this category can range from academic success programming, learning a

new skill or promoting global citizenship, etc.

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Social Program

Any social program that focuses on resident interaction and their ability to meet new

people and socialize. Programs in this category can range from being a floor social

program to a campus wide program.

When determining the target population, do not select a number of people you

wanted to attend. If you advertise for a program for a whole building or campus

population, the total population is the number to be used. If the program is for a

floor, the number of residents that live on a floor is the population, not the number

of people you hope show up. It is very important that the dates of the program are

correct. The grading committees check this information. When writing a program

OTM, focus on the creativity, originality and functionality of the program. New and

unique programs are always popular. If it’s an annual program, what twists were added

to make it better? Mention how the program was approached by the presenters as

well. Expanding on the goals of the program and the evaluation of the goals and

program as a whole is beneficial. Include resources used, attendance, etc. to round out

the OTM. These nominations are not only giving recognition to a group of leaders

that have done an excellent job on programming, but it becomes a resource and a

guide for leaders on other campuses. Write the OTM so someone from another

campus can read the OTM and recreate the program from that information.

Criteria/Questions: (some are specific to categories)


What makes the program unique from what is done at other schools and what

has been done in the past?

Is the program creative? If it is not a new program, what new twists were added

to make the program different from previous years?

What percent of your target group showed up?

Is the cost per person feasible in terms of adaptability to other schools?

What lasting effect did the program have on residents?

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What were the goals of the program and how were they met?

What was the overall quality of the program (evaluation)?

How was the community affected by the program?

Was the diversity program a program that focuses on a particular aspect of

diversity?

What did the students learn from the program?

Did the social program encourage interaction between students?

These OTM categories have a maximum of 1400 words. The OTM is divided into six

sections: five 200 word sections and one 400 word section.

Residence Life Faculty/Staff of the Month This category is intended to recognize the Residence Life Faculty/Staff who are not

eligible for the Resident Assistant category and who have made contributions to the

residence life community. These staff or faculty members contribute their time and

assistance, and go the extra mile for the benefit of the people around them. This

award is relevant to a single person of an entire staff. Be sure to specify the duties of

the faculty or staff and how they have exceeded these duties for the specified month.

You may discuss additional boards or committees the faculty member sits on that are

not necessarily in their job description.

Criteria/Questions:


nomination?




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How does the faculty/staff member(s) recognize and motivate others?


Resident Assistant of the Month New and creative approaches to the position show a true dedication to helping out

the students. If possible, include any difficult confrontations in which the RA

intervened or crisis situations where they managed to make a difference. Those

situations should be brief, but give a glimpse into their job. Also, include how the RA

interacts with their residents. What does the nominee do on their floor with their

residents? What types of creative programming ideas has the nominee done? Besides

programming, also include any bulletin board the nominee created and how the

nominee promoted an advocacy month or week in a passive situation. In addition, do

not forget to mention how the nominee has helped and supported their fellow staff

members. It is also beneficial to include personal testimonies from residents and

fellow staff in the OTM. Be sure to include some of the RA’s duties and how they

have gone “above and beyond” them because the duties of an RA vary from campus

to campus. Other things that might be beneficial to include are committee

involvement, involvement in other organizations, maintaining an exceptional GPA or

having organized a particularly close community.

Criteria/Questions:


How well does the nominee work with residents and what impact have they




Are there any specific projects in support of hall government or committees

that they have participated in?

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What other activities does the nominee participate in?

What difficult situations has the nominee dealt with during the month?


Residential Community of the Month This category is another award that recognizes the intangible. A community is a group

of individuals that share a sense of belonging with other members of the group and

share experiences that bind them together and make them a mutually identifiable

group. An outstanding community is one that makes a positive impact on not only

the other members of the group, but also the people and students around them. Make

sure to include how the community exists, whether it is a wing or floor of a residence

hall, the executive board or committee of an organization, or another on campus

group of students. Items to include in the Community OTM are activities the

community does together and what accomplishments they have made during the

month. Specific examples of cohesiveness are encouraged. A community can be as

small as a few people (an executive board) or as large as a whole building, apartment

complex, or campus.

Criteria/Questions:


What brings the group of people together? Examples include, but are not

limited to, hall, floor, wing, suite, and committees.

What positive contributions did this community make to enhance the lives of

the group members or those around them?

How does the community interact with other communities?

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What makes the community different from other communities? Examples

include participation and enthusiasm as a group, fewer discipline problems, etc.

What accomplishments has the community made this month?


Roommate of the Month This category is intended to recognize roommates within the residence halls. It is not

graded on a regional or national level yet.

Criteria/Questions:


Did the individual support the students they lived with within the month of

nomination?

How has the individual contributed to their community?


month?

How has the individual gone “above and beyond” their duties as a roommate?



Spotlight of the Month This award is intended to recognize outstanding OTM’s that don't fit into any set

category, such as Residential Programming Assistants (RPAs), Dining Services

Personnel, full-time desk receptionists, etc. The nominee cannot be an advisor,

executive board member, resident assistant, desk attendant, faculty/staff member, first

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year student, or student. Include how this person has helped out an individual or

contributed to the well-being of a building or living community. RHA’s are not a

spotlight. A spotlight cannot be a favorite professor. There is a faculty/staff category

where professors may be submitted for the outstanding service. This category is the

catch-all of OTM’s. If you are unable to find a category appropriate for the OTM, it

will go in Spotlight. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask the Recognition

Chairperson.

Criteria/Questions:


Does the nominee fit only into this category?

How does the individual or group interact with on campus students?

How did the nominee impact the students they worked with during the month

of nomination?

What interaction did the nominee have with an on campus government or

individual organization during the month of nomination?

What other outstanding accomplishments merit recognition of this individual

this month?.


Student of the Month Student of the month awards can be written for any individual enrolled as a student at

the institution who has made outstanding contributions to the residence halls during

the month of nomination. Things to consider may be students who have made a

contribution to their floor, hall, residence life organization, etc. through leadership,

motivation, programming, volunteering and/or being a role model for other residents

during the month of nomination. This OTM may address several areas of student life,

such as academics, leadership, involvement and more. Also of importance is how the

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nominee has balanced their roles as a leader and a student, and the display of good

academic choices. Advisors, executive board members, first year students and anyone

that can be classified as being in the resident assistant category are not eligible for an

award in this category.

Criteria/Questions:


What organizations and activities has the nominee been involved with during


What interaction did the nominee have with their on-campus government or

organization during the month of nomination?

Does the student work well with and motivate others?

What contributions has the nominee made to your region during the month of

nomination?

What other outstanding contributions were made by the individual during the


How has the individual been important to on-campus living this month?


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OTM Competition Fall 2012

To encourage more OTM awards, NRHH has prepared a challenge for the residence halls this semester. Each OTM will earn points based on how many words there are. One point will be given for every 100 words written. This still encourages everyone to write awards, but benefits those who write longer, high quality OTMs. The groups with the most points will be announced at the end-of-semester banquets, and receive a prize at the end of the semester. There is also an overarching year-long aspect. At the end of the spring semester, the group with the most points for the year will get another prize.

To make sure it is not just the same person writing OTMs, the student leaders who earn the most points for their OTMs will receive a personalized prize recognizing their tremendous efforts. Please, remember quality over quantity. If the OTMs we receive are short and sloppy, they will not receive points. A simple goal which usually helps staffs and hall councils is to have each person be responsible for writing at least one OTM a month.

There are two distinctions in the competition to keep things more fair. It’s the RAs, RPAs and RHA executive board with their respective supervisors in one group, and the hall councils and their advisors in another. Specifically:

Blair Shannon RAs and HD Freudenberger RAs and HD Hammons RAs and HD Hutchens RAs and HD Kentwood RAs and HD Scholars RAs and HD Sunvilla RAs and HD Wells RAs and HD Woods RAs and HD RPA Staff and Coordinator RHA Exec and CLD & ACLDP

Blair Shannon HC and AHD Freudenberger HC and AHD Hammons HC and AHD Hutchens HC and AHD Kentwood HC and AHD Scholars HC and AHD Sunvilla HC and AHD Wells HC and AHD Woods HC and AHD

Good luck with the competition, and we can’t wait to read your OTMs!

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