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NEACUHO Navigator - Nov 2012
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NOVEMBER 2012
These last couple of weeks have challenged our strength, our energy, and of course, our disaster preparedness plans. My immense praise goes out to all of our colleagues at the institutions who worked to support their student body, through power outages, facilities concerns, and difficult family news. We hope your recovery efforts are going well, and you are at full strength soon. Learn more about how the hurricane affected our region, and how a
resourceful NEACUHO member stepped up to help on page 14!
This month’s issue of the navigator is focused on our Chief Housing Officers (CHO)! We cover everything from what folks love about their CHO, to advice on becoming a CHO, to Residential Operations successes. We hope that you find this issue to be helpful, whether
you are a CHO yourself, or hope to be one in the future.
Articles for The Navigator, a New Professionals focused issue are due Dec 15, 2012. We hope you will consider contributing with an article, a story, or recognition of your staff!
Jess FaulkMedia & Publications ChairSimmons College, Boston MA
Hope stays afloat during Hurricane Sandy
THE DEVASTATION FROM HURRICANE SANDY IMPACTED MANY STUDENTS & THEIR FAMILIES. RES STAFF WORKED TIRELESSLY TO SUPPORT THEIR CAMPUS COMMUNITIES
CHO FOCUSED ARTICLES, PGS. 6-7, 8, 9, 10-11, 16, 18-19, 24, 26 RESLIFE IN THE CLOUD, PG. 6 DISTRICT UPDATES. PGS. 12-13
Print out
RD2B tips
for your RAs1
Pg. 21
Photo: Getty Images
Flickr photo: That Hartford Guy
N AV I G AT O RTHE
Greetings NEACUHO! I hope that you have each taken a few minutes to celebrate the beauty of fall in the northeast! The fall semester is at a mid point and in the freshmen seminar course I teach, I offer one session called “the pause”. In this class, students set aside their course reader and reflect on what the first half of the semester has been like, review and revise their academic and personal goals then picture the next half of semester.
I would like to use this issue’s page to pause and reflect on my three goals for the year: moving forward NEACUHO’s strategic planning initiatives, enhancing our commination, and inclusivity. I am pleased to share that the finance task force has begun their work with leadership from Dr. Jon Conlogue. The structure and governance task force is also about to get underway with guidance from Gary Bice. If anyone is still interested in working on this task force shoot me an email at [email protected]. We have taken significant steps in enhancing our communication through The Navigator and our web design. Thanks to Jess Faulk, the publications committee, Mike Hamilton and the technology committee as they continue their progress. The board and I continue to seek involvement from all members in contributing to the newsletter, serving on
committees or presenting at our upcoming conferences. I have a passion for working with new professionals so for those of you still wondering how to get involved please email or call me directly so we can discuss how!
As you read through this issue you will see the multitude of upcoming events including district events, webinars sponsored by risk management, the first of two RD2B conferences at Old Westbury on November 17; the Operations drive in conference December 7 at Ithaca College and the social issues retreat at the University of Rhode Island January 10-11, 2013, which, in response to member feedback, is being revamped be more inclusive.
As I pause to reflect on our progress as an organization I am proud of the enormous commitment and dedication of your entire executive board, committee members, host institutions and volunteers who are constantly working behind the scenes. Because of the combined efforts of our members, NEACUHO remains the choice for professional development in the northeast!
Until our next issue,
Take care,
Cindy Long PorterNEACUHO President
From the President’s Desk
Cindy
RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP
OVERVIEW OF MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
✓ Discounted rates for attendance at all of our professional development events throughout the year
✓ Discounted rate for our Annual Conference
✓ Access to communications such as the NEACUHO Navigator (bimonthly newsletter), and the Listserv
✓ Opportunities to participate in webinars on hot topics (Professional development minus the travel!)
✓ Networking at District socials and roundtable events
✓ Opportunities to be involved on committees or run for elected and appointed positions
✓ Opportunities to present at a regional conference
Join a Committee!
Network with
members at over
100 member institutions
Your regional source for professional development for over 55 years!
Membership CostsSmall <1000 $60Medium 1001-2000 $80Large 2001-4000 $130X-Large >4001 $300
Renew at neacuho.org
• Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Alfred State College (SUNY College of Tech at Alfred)
• Allison Baptiste• American International
College• Bard College• Bard College at Simon's Rock• Bay State College• Becker College• Binghamton University• Boston College• Boston University• Brandeis University• Bridgewater State University• Bryant University• Cathy Raynis-Meeker• Central Connecticut State
University• Clark University• Colby College• Colby-Sawyer College• Colgate University• College of Mount Saint
Vincent• College of Our Lady of the
Elms• College of Saint Rose• College of the Holy Cross• Curry College• Daniel Webster College• Dean College• Dominican College• Eastern Connecticut State
University• Elms College• Emmanuel College• Endicott College
• Fairfield University
• Fitchburg State University
• Framingham State College
• Fulton-Montgomery Community College
• Hofstra University• Ithaca College• Johnson and Wales University• Johnson State College• Keene State College• Lasell College• Le Moyne College• Lincoln Culinary Institute
(Lincoln Educational Services)• Long Island University• Marist College• Marymount Manhattan
College• Massachusetts College of
Liberal Arts (MCLA)• Merrimack College• Monroe Community College• Mount Ida College• New England Institute of Art• New Hampshire Technical
Institute• New York University• Northeastern University• Nyack College• Onondaga Community
College• Pace University - PLV/BRC• Post University• Providence College• Quinnipiac University
•Rhode Island College
• Rhode Island School of Design• Rivier University• Rochester Institute of
Technology• Roger Williams University• Sacred Heart University• Saint Anselm College• Simmons College• Skidmore College• Southern Connecticut State
University• Southern New Hampshire
University• Southern Vermont College• Springfield College• St. John Fisher College• Sterling College• Stony Brook University• Suffolk University• SUNY College at Cortland• SUNY College at Fredonia• SUNY College at Geneseo• SUNY College at Oneonta• SUNY College at Oswego• SUNY College at Plattsburgh• SUNY College at Purchase
MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Thank you to all of the institutions who have renewed their membership with us so far this year!
-Jen Golojuch, Membership Chair
NEACUHO offers this list as a service to members. This listserv is intended for discussion and exchange of information for members only NEACUHO only. Other than job announcements, please do not post information for non-member institutions within the NEACUHO region.
• Use reply only when you truly wish to speak to everyone on the listserv. If your message is meant for only one person, send it directly to the intended recipient. If you accidentally reply to all, no need to apologize.
• Do not send other content to this list. Examples of other content could be warnings of viruses, chain letters, myths, hoaxes, urban legends, or statements on political issues not related to the profession.
• This listserv is for educational purposes only; it should not be used for circumstances related to monetary personal gain or commercial advertisements.
• Please be advised that anyone engaging in obnoxious or offensive listserv communication will have privileges suspended.
• Messages posted to this list are not reviewed in advance.
• The administrators will warn participants who violate these guidelines and, if the warning is ignored, will remove violators from the list.
If you have further questions, please contact the Membership Coordinator.
LISTPROCETIQUETTE
• SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
• SUNY Sullivan County Community College
• The Culinary Institute of America
• The Juilliard School• The New England School of
English• Tompkins Cortland
Community College• Trinity College
• Union College• Unity College• University of Bridgeport• University of Connecticut• University of Hartford• University of Massachusetts-
Amherst• University of Massachusetts-
Dartmouth• University of New Hampshire• University of New Haven• University of Rhode Island
• Utica College• Vassar College• Vickki Massey (Fordham
University)• Wentworth Institute of
Technology• Wesleyan University• Western New England
University• Westfield State University• Worcester Polytechnic
Institute
MEMBERSHIP CONTINUED
Posting To the Google Group
To post to the Google group, e-mail
[email protected] REMOVALWhile we hate to see our colleagues go, we understand that we send a lot of emails! If you are interested in removing yourself from the NEACUHO Google Group, simply send an email to [email protected] with "Remove" in the subject line.
Remember that share-drive in your office that everyone has trouble logging into? The one that seems to be on the brink of storage overload? The one that you wish you could scrap and start over with? Has cloud storage changed your life yet?
Dropbox (www.dropbox.com) is making how "we" collaborate and share so much easier. Dropbox is a cloud storage file synchronization system that allows users to create folders, sync them to their computer, and access them wherever they go, whether it is on a mobile device or a personal computer. So what does this mean for ResLife? Ever hear the phrase, "the sky is the limit?" Using Dropbox for file sharing and collaboration in your office allows you to reach for that limit! I've brainstorm a few ways that I find Dropbox to be making my life in ResLife easier.
The office DropboxThe majority of our offices have more that one computer, with so much crucial information being exchanged daily, sometimes the source of that information can get lost. How many times has the wait-list been on the other computer? By having a Dropbox folder on each of your computers you can store that crucial information for everyone to access at any time. Now everyone can answer questions about the
wait-list because the spreadsheet can be accessed on all of the computers! So maybe the wait-list example didn't sell you, what about your key log or work order list? For a lot of our important documents, they can only be one place at a time. With Dropbox that changes; update a file on one computer and save it, then go open it on another. Easy as pie (3.145).
The Duty BagAre you still picking up that duty bag from central office every Monday for the week? The one with the banned student list, building rosters, and a yellow pages of who's who to contact? If your office is running off of a smart phone, creating a Dropbox folder for your duty phone is as easy as, add, save as, and access. Just download the Dropbox mobile app and start storing your “much needed” documents quickly and easily. Now next time campus police calls about a student, you can pull up the Dropbox app, open that roster
and find that students information quickly and easily!
The RA Programming Folder Remember when it was a huge deal to change your programing proposals to a digital file so your staff could email it to you? I do, and ever since then I have been trying to figure out the best way for my staff to share and archive all the great things they've done. Now by creating a Dropbox folder for programing proposals, staff can easily submit, update, and access their programs. Quickly
and easily, start a new way to archive your hall
programs. Empower all of your colleagues to do programing storage like this and in no time you
will create a resource guide for
future staff members!
For everyone's eyesIf you have files that you want to send out to your residents but
you don't want to eat up all that memory in your
outbox, you can upload files to a public folder which will assign the file a URL. Easily link students to your closing newsletter or student handbook!
But why stop there?! Those are only a few ideas and practices when it comes to using cloud synchronized storage. The great thing about Dropbox is that it's free, so why not try it! Now I know that you may have some concerns, so why not talk about them?
by Thomas KelleyResident Hall Director Rhode Island College
IS YOUR RESLIFE OFFICE IN THE
CLOUDS?
Safety/SecurityDropbox states that it uses the same technology as banks. With a statement like that, don't you want your files as safe as money in a bank vault? For advanced users, Dropbox states:Dropbox uses modern encryption methods to both transfer and store your data.
• Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and AES-256 bit encryption
• Dropbox website and client software have been hardened against attacks from hackers
• Public files are only viewable by people who have a link to the file(s). Public folders are not browsable or searchable(https://www.dropbox.com/help/27/en)
I don't know really know what that means, but it makes sense to me! (Sarcasm)
Maximum Storage/PriceDropbox offers you 2GB to start, and of you refer everyone you know, you can max out at 18GB of free storage. Dropbox also offers paid upgrades for pro accounts starting at $9.99 a month and offer special pricing for Team accounts that can store up to a terabyte of memory. But let's be honest, that 18GB you can max out at would be plenty!
Is Dropbox right for me? (Closing Thoughts)I've asked myself that question
before and until I truly understood how often I could use it I didn't really have the best answer to that question. Now that I use Dropbox on every device/computer I own, I truly understand how useful of a tool it is. I would now go to the extent to say it is not longer a tool, but a necessity! Dropbox is not the only free cloud-based file synchronization storage system out there. Sugarsync, Box,
Zumbodrive, and TeamDrive are some other free services to name a few. I have not tried them all out yet, so I cannot speak too much about them, but I can tell you how accessible, reliable, and useful Dropbox has been! Simply sign up with an email account, download the application to your computer or mobile device, and let the cloud storage begin! Next time someone tells you to "get your head out of the clouds", let them know you can't, because it's where your files are!
You want to talk more about technology in ResLife or share your experience with me about Dropbox? Shoot me a line or a tweet! ([email protected] or @ThomasAKelley on twitter!)Thomas Kelley is a Resident Hall Director at Rhode Island College and can be reach via email at [email protected]
Oh! Where to start?! He is very understanding, willing to let us learn,
willing to let us make mistakes. He is a great role model and shares his
experiences. He takes risks and is willing to try new ideas. But if I had to write one capstone
sentence it would sound like this: He cares. He cares about us developing
as a professional and as a person. - Eric Hotchkiss,
SUNY Fredonia
Tarome will always play it straight. If I want to know where I stand or how I am
doing, he will honestly tell me without fluffing the answer. He also is very
supportive of many of our campus initiatives, coming to events, donating to
fundraisers, or wearing event t-shirts.
- Sarah Santiago,
Springfield College
She puts family first. We
have an internal "no questions asked" stance when someone needs to tend to personal and/or
family issues. If you need to leave a bit early to get the kids from school or
come in a few minutes late because of a doctors appointment that is not a
problem.
- Scott Schuhert,Binghamton University
He goes beyond just the policies and our roles to
continue teaching us life skills, using analogies of experiences he's had
throughout his life, and encouraging us to take precautions with our cars,
homes (when we live off), and family.
- Joe Murphy, Skidmore
I love that she is open to new ideas and initiatives.
- Michael Conte, Emmanuel
The best of my position hasn't changed since I was a RHD. I enjoy interacting
with my student staff, the residents, and serving as a mentor to professional
staff. I will drop just about anything I am doing in order to spend time talking
to them, assisting them, and just learning more about them as individuals. I believe that a lot of my
success in this field is due to this passion for getting to know staff as people and
connecting with them whenever possible.
- James Manley,
Culinary Institute of America
He works hard every day so that others will be inspired to work hard
- Dan Taylor,Univ. of Rhode Island
He is pretty inspiring and
likes to bring new people into the field he loves.- RIT staff member
She is willing to give others the freedom and opportunity to work on
different initiatives and projects.
- Casey Wall,
Binghamton University
CHIEF HOUSING OFFICER?
WHAT DO YOU LOVE
ABOUT YOUR
Gary Bice, SUNY Fredonia
Jon Conlogue, Westfield State
Susa
n Be
nzie
, Em
man
uel
Suza
nne
How
ell,
Bing
ham
ton
Uni
vers
ity
Tarome Alford, Springfield College
My CHO allows a lot of autonomy for staff in their
functional areas.-Westfeild State staff member
You are kidding, right? Love it all! This position is incredibly
challenging at times as we deal with the 3P's on a daily basis-PEOPLE, PERSONALITIES AND POLITICS. Happens on every campus but the opportunity to work with
staff and students and their personal and collective evolutions is unparalleled! In reflection for many of us, the best times of our lives were the four years (give or take a few!) when we were undergrads. And we're still on campus! We never left!
To paraphrase Ben & Jerry-if it's not fun, why do it?
- Chuck Lamb, RIT
Thank you to all of the
NEACUHO CHOs for
all of the work you do!
Greetings NEACUHO! As the Executive Board CHO Liaison, it is my pleasure to share with you a few insights about my experience as a new director of residential life. I can still vividly remember the beginning of that journey in my career, when I moved into a director’s position the week before the NEACUHO Annual Conference. I was excited about the new opportunity and I could not wait for the adventure to begin. I will never forget arriving at the
conference and being greeted by my colleagues who all congratulated me on making it to this new level. They also all shared with me that while I had “joined the club,” I would also be facing many new challenges. Little did I know that a few weeks later I would be bombarded with many different situations that would test my mettle as a chief housing officer. Within the first months, I learned many different things that paved the way for my success today. Here, I will attempt to share a couple of points to aspiring CHOs.
First, I learned very quickly the importance of numbers. Having been in charge of housing operations in previous positions, I knew that it was essential to understand the capacity versus occupancy rate, how to calculate retention expectations, and where one might “fit” a few more students in need of housing, but I quickly learned how important these different items are to upper administrators, for example a college president or vice president of finance. Although we love to highlight different programs that make a developmental change in our students, as one advances they need to have an understanding of the “numbers” that make an institution operate. These important facts and figures need to become second nature and continually prepared to be available on short notice. There is an expectation that when one is asked for the overall housing capacity, the occupancy for individual buildings on the campus, or the number of withdrawals from semester to semester or year over year, the answer will be readily available. This lesson was very clear in my first experience as a CHO.
Second, while it was clear that quantitative measures where sought for direction on matters, it was also really important to be prepared with a story. What I mean is that people like to hear specifically about how a program or event has impacted different students’ experiences. It is powerful when a senior administrator can talk about a student; know their name, hometown, their campus address, and something about them in explaining a situation. This ability buys credibility and a sense that one knows what they are doing. Think about the recently run presidential campaign and how each candidate personalized their speeches by specifically discussing someone that they had met along the way. They are quick to help us identify the impact that their policies may have on a specific person. This is an important lesson for student affairs professionals too as we share the value of our work. It is critical that we share stories that highlight the caring effort that we put into developing relationships with our students that make a difference.
In reflecting on my experience as a new CHO these were the two lessons that immediately came to mind. Although I could certainly give a list pages long of things that I learned in my first year as a new director, it is the importance of numbers and being able to relate the experiences of individual students to upper administrators that proved most valuable to me. We are fortunate to have many wonderful CHOs in the Northeast, members of this organization who make a difference on a daily basis. They are also readily available to give back to the next generation of professionals that will be moving up over the coming years. For current CHOs, please continue to mentor young professionals with ways that they can grow and for aspiring leaders, please listen carefully to things that will make you a successful administrator.
WELCOME TO THE
CLUB
LE
SS
ON
SL
EA
RN
ED
by Derek Zuckerman Associate Dean for
Student Life, College of the Holy Cross
The Chief Housing Officer (CHO) is a challenging profession. When I think of a CHO I think of a tightrope walker. These individuals are always balancing and dealing with a competing array of concerns. A wrong move could mean the end of the beginning. The CHO must know how to deal with the external and internal influences that affect her or his success just as the tightrope walker must manage the environmental concerns of wind and internal feelings of anxiety, fear, excitement and messages from the outside crowd. This person balances the needs and wants of a number of constituents (i.e. parents, students, board
of directors, staff). A tightrope walker may hold onto a balancing tool to keep from falling. Balance requires an action and awareness of self and others. This balancing tool may include family support, mentors, training, education, collegiate relationships, and collaborative campus partnerships. CHOs must be self-aware and know when to add and/or subtract in order to fulfill the task of getting from point A to point B. As an artist in the sense of a tightrope walker the CHO must figure out how to avoid falling off of the narrow rope or wire. This person makes strategic decisions that affect students, RAs, professional staff, support staff, facilities and in some cases dining services. External and internal influences can be demanding and require the perceptive attention of the CHO. As such, the CHO must always plan and create steps to stay balanced. I have had the distinct pleasure of working with and getting to know a number of CHOs. In this article I will share their perspectives relating to their journeys as well as tips for the new and aspiring CHO. The CHOs, Beth Moriarty and Robert Jose, that were interviewed for this article had a traditional path; they took advantage of various positions within Residential Life from RA to the CHO role. “I progressed through my professional positions in a very linear way. Each position progressively [had] more responsibilities”. Moriarty As you would imagine, the path for a tightrope walker changes and is dependent on the external environment. Typically, there is some preparatory work that must be done ahead of taking on the feat of walking on a thin rope high above the ground, or Niagara Falls in some cases. Being able to lead and have the ability to affect change is of utmost importance in the role of a CHO. You must be willing to move and adjust your style to meet the needs of staff and other constituents. Some CHOs have stated that inclusivity in leading is an important skill set to garner- “buy-in and support for decisions by engaging staff members”. Albeit as a CHO there will be times “you must make decisions without staff input and it comes with the territory”. Moriarty
The Chief Housing Officer: Tightrope
Walker
Patricia A. Birch, MSWAssistant Director, Office of Residential Life
Boston College
As a tightrope walker you must be able to adjust to the challenges that you face from the external environment. It is not always easy, but the tightrope walker stays above the ground by using a supportive tool for balancing. CHO’s use support tools such as mentors and partners to help with decision-making regarding career trajectory. A support is “experienced, people of character, available to me, positive, caring, focused, open and honest and most importantly, believed in me. Jose The CHO must make decisions to move faster or slower in their career toward success based on time, place and situational influences. These influences can be family, opportunity for education and/or economic job availability. Preparation is essential for CHOs. Some interesting input is reflected here: “I think that my decision at the mid-level to focus on operations made me a much better candidate for a CHO job.” Moriarty “The totality of my experience, each step building upon the last step has provided me with skills, experience and the necessary knowledge to be successful. Jose
Other aspects of the CHO job that bring joy is the creativity and ability to innovate as well as mentor young professionals. “What brings me the greatest joy is developing and preparing young professionals for positions of greater responsibility.” Jose "So be sure when you step, step with care and great tact. And, remember that life's A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and ¾ percent guaranteed) Kid, you'll move mountains." Dr. Seuss I want to give a special thank you to Bob Jose and Beth Moriarty, two outstanding professionals that have provided me nudges to move forward in my own journey in Student Affairs.
I would be remiss not to mention the support and guidance that I continue to receive from my direct supervisor Catherine-Mary Rivera, Associate Director of Residential Life and George Arey, Director of Residential Life at Boston College. Without their support I would not be allowed to serve on the NEACUHO Professional Development committee and contribute to November’s The Navigator. Finally, I am grateful to my colleague KD for all of her editing support.
Tips from Bob Jose: Take risksBe an individual of
character and integrityHave strong
mentorsBe clear and
honest as to why you want the position
Tips from Beth Moriarty:Obtain broad based experienceVolunteer for the less “popular” committeesLearn a lot
Ask a lot of questionsUnderstand the big pictureNETWORK! Be a lifelong learner
Robert O. Jose is Associate Dean for Cultural, Residential and Spiritual Life at Northeastern University, Boston, MA and Past NEACUHO President 1997-1998
Beth Moriarty is Director of Residence Life and Housing at Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA and Past NEACUHO President 2001-2002
DISTRICT: CONNECTICUT & RHOAD ISLAND
Thanks to all members who joined us in Providence for the social. We talked about great ideas for the future of the district and had a chance to relax and meet new friends!
Our last district event was November 14th at the University of Connecticut: "Considering a Walk Down the Job Search Path? Hear From Others Who Have Been In Your Shoes." This roundtable featured a panel of Residence Life Professionals, who have recently completed a successful job search. New RHDs to new Chief Housing Officers shared their experiences on a panel covering a range of issues. In addition, groups were created to share thoughts with other colleagues in the region. Thanks to everyone for coming!
DISTRICT: MASSACHUSETTSHappy Autumn Massachusetts! This is by far my favorite time of year to live in New England. Thank you to all of you who came out to the Fall Drive in at Western New England University. It was great to see many of you at the social and at the conference itself. I am working on a roundtable to be hosted at Emmanuel College, so look for more information on that soon. In the meantime, please fill out the short google survey I sent out via email (if you haven’t already).
Attention all Student Affairs Graduate Students! The Greater Boston Student Affairs Graduate Collaboration is a group for any students enrolled in a graduate program for higher education in the greater Boston area. Our mission is to foster connection and collaboration between student affairs graduate programs in Boston and the surrounding communities. We hope that students will be able to share and use resources, collaborate on conference presentations, network in a social setting, and create and share professional development opportunities. We can be found on Facebook and are hosting an event at 6B Lounge downtown on December 10th at 7:30 PM - student affairs trivia mixer! Have a relaxing Thanksgiving holiday!
DISTRICT: MAINE & NEW HAMPSHIREHello Maine and New Hampshire! I hope the first semester has been a smooth ride for everyone. Our thoughts continue to go out to the institutions and people hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy within our region but also in our neighboring MACUHO.
The Residence Life Association of the Granite State had another successful annual conference hosted by Keene State College on November 3, 2012. Approximately 230 RAs from across the state to discuss ideas, learn how to improve their skills, and gain tools from others. The 2013 RLAGS Professionals’ Conference will be on February 1st at Daniel Webster College.
If you have yet to renew your membership, be sure to do so soon. Most of the conferences are in close proximity to our district this year and with a membership, you get a discounted rate to attend. Although it has been a busy start of the year, my goals moving forward are to provide more opportunities for the entire district to share ideas and network. Please let me know if you would be interested in either hosting or assist in planning a district event. I am hoping to pull something together as an end of the semester celebration.
A reminder that this year’s annual conference is at the University of New Hampshire from June 21-24, 2013 so mark your calendars now!
Zach IrishDaniel Webster [email protected]
Julie HershkowitzNortheastern [email protected]
Jennifer CraneQuinnipiac University
[email protected]@JennCraneCTRI
DISTRICT: EASTERN
NY/VTMy thoughts go out to all those in the ENY/VT District and beyond that were affected by Sandy. Between the storm and the time of year, it is a reminder to be thankful for all we have, including family, loved ones, and our wonderful NEACUHO friends! I'll be emailing shortly, finalizing the details for a roundtable in early December. I can't wait to see everyone again!
Cristina LoweryRensselaer Polytechnic
DISTRICT: METRO NYHello Metro- NY!
I hope you are all having a Happy November and ready for a well-deserved holiday!
NEACUHO’s Fall Drive In had a wonderful turn out and our district was well represented. I am excited that the New Professional’s Committee’s RD2B Conference will be at SUNY Old Westbury later this week. Hopefully, Metro-NY will be well represented out on Long Island! Don’t forget that we also have the ResOps Conference coming up December 7th at Ithaca College. This is sure to be a great conference!
Here in the district, I am looking to increase the number of social and roundtable events and attendance at those events. This will be able to help us network more and make connection closer to home if we aren’t able to travel to the various NEACUHO events. I am in need of host institutions and would love to have these events in different areas of the district. So, if you are interested in hosting a social or roundtable event, please feel free to contact me! Especially if you are able to host during the Spring semester!
Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have! Have a great rest of the semester and hope to see you at a NEACUHO event soon!
DISTRICT: WESTERN NY
Ryan YoungPace University
Kristen EldridgeTompkins Cortland Community [email protected]
Happy November Western New York!
We have quite a bit happening this time of year (as always!) And I wanted to get some information out to you!
★ We had our October Eboard meeting at Western New England University in Springfield MA! We had some great discussions about budgeting , the annual conference and some upcoming cool changes regarding the Navigator and the NEACUHO website! All of which I will email about when changes happen! Unfortunately I could not stay for the Fall Drive –in the next day, but I heard it was rockin! Over 150 participates registered, 4 program sessions, roundtables and Ted Talks! Some things to look forward to for the spring New Professionals conference!
★ GOT IDEAS? Super-psyched about how your opening went? Let us know what you did to make it great. Working on getting a new policy passed at your institution? Tell us about the steps. Jazzed about a new piece of software? Give us the link and write about it. Read a great article? Share it with us. Lovin' your CHO? Tell us what makes them rock! Want to give props to a co-worker? Do it! We love to hear from you all about what is happening at your institution. We would love it you wanted to share for the Navigator!
★ Annual Trade Show is coming up, and it’s in our neck of the woods! On December 7th, Ithaca College will be hosting our Housing/Operations conference, so pass along to these folks who might be interested! More information on this in the November email!
Preparing for the worst, hoping for the best I suppose and we got the best. Physically, we faired very well compared to many other areas of New York State. We had some down branches and lots of rain but it would have been much worse. Classes and all activities after 5:00PM were cancelled Monday night but everything resumed the next day. Although with that being said we have a number of students that have been affected by hurricane Sandy in other ways. On Friday I personally met with a student from Bay Port, NY long island who's town had been devastated. Her house had a tree fall on it and her town was three feet deep in water. Lucky, her family was not harmed but the emotional damage and stress had taken its toll especially since she is so far away from home. There are many cases like this on and off campus.
How was your campus affected by Hurricane Sandy?
Eric HotchkissSUNY Fredonia, NY
RIT was fortunate not to experience the impact of the storm as other colleagues did. There was much anxiety from our students whose families were directly impacted by Sandy and we supported/assisted those students as much as possible. This was, however, an excellent opportunity to test our emergency preparedness system as a department and as an institution. We were and continue to be ready!
Chuck LambRochester Institute of Technology, NY
Our campus was not hit very hard by Sandy. We spent quite a bit of time prepping for flooding, winds, and power outages, but we did not have any damage or outages due to the storm.
Sarah SantiagoSpringfield College, MA
Fortunately, our campus was not physically affected by the hurricane, one or two power outages for about an hour, but that's it. Unfortunately, a good majority of our students are from the Connecticut, NYC, New Jersey area and had families affected at varying levels. Since the event we've been discussing with students about how their families are doing, how they themselves are doing, and what the future at home is looking like. Some students made an attempt to travel south to assist, others kept focus on their studies to not lose themselves, and others had family in locations that just barely missed the brunt [of the storm] and were not as affected as others. Joseph Murphy
Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
Emily BalcolmWorcester Polytechnic Institute, MA
We spent a lot of time planning and preparing for the hurricane, using a lot of the lessons learned from Irene and the October snowstorm last year. We were well-prepared, but only saw rain and wind. Our campus did not lose power during the storm, and only saw a few slate tiles blow off a roof.
Part of our campus lost power for a few days but the residence halls were not affected. Unfortunately, even though we are in Rhode Island, we have a lot of students from New Jersey and New York whos families had damage to their home. We also have a lot of students who live near/on the beaches in southern Rhode Island. Many of them lost power for up to 5 days and had damages done to their beach houses.
Jen O’NeillUniversity of Rhode Island,
Kingston RI
Pictures from http://interoccupy.net/
Hurricane Sandy Community Relief Efforts
American Red Crosshttp://www.redcross.org/
Occupy Sandyhttp://interoccupy.net/occupysandy/
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ttyl
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http://newyork.cbslocal.com/guide/where-to-donate-or-volunteer-to-sandy-relief-effort/
Where to donate or
volunteer to the Sandy
Relief Effort
SA Twitter #Community
Wimer Alberto (@WimerAlberto), RD at Binghamton University, and
member of the NEACUHO Technology and ResOps Committees used the #SAChat hastag on twitter to raise money and spread the word
about supporting relief efforts for Hurricane Sandy. Alberto was inspired
by former MACUHO present Shigeo Iwamiya’s tweet earlier in the day. These tweets inspired higher ed
consultant Eric Stoller to retweet and match Alberto’s donation. This in turn
motivated others to match the donations and spread the word! Read
the whole story of how this SA Twitter community came together
around a cause through Stoller’s Inside Higher Ed article (linked below)
http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/student-affairs-and-technology/sachat-gives-back-one-retweet-time
Two of the many options for giving support to the relief effort:
CHOs & the Annual: Increasing the Value NEAUCHO Annual Conference: University of New Hampshire June 21-24, 2013. “Back To Where It All Began.”
One goal of mine this year is to work with Chief Housing Officers to meet their needs at the Annual Conference. I am interested in knowing how NEACUHO, through the Program Committee, can increase the value of the Annual for you. As I am not a CHO myself, I don’t know the best way to meet your needs and to drive home value for your participation at the Annual unless you tell me. Please feel free to communicate with me on what you would like to see at the Annual Conference.
• What would increase the value of this professional development opportunity for you?
• Do you want the opportunity to have a virtual or actual bulletin board for CHOs to post hot topics/burning questions in which other CHOs could reply or use as the topics at a round table discussion?
• Do you want a time to gather with other CHOs (informally or formally)?
• Do you want networking opportunities with the Dean and Vice President level?
• Do you want to give back to the organization through educating those following you in the ranks by presenting to mid-level professionals?
• Do you want to offer short-term mentoring guidance to a few professionals during small one-on-one or group settings?
My ears are open and I am ready to listen to you. Drop me a line with your thoughts today. [email protected] or 508-999-8979.
Dave StenderProgram Chair 2012-2013
Nex
t U
p:Fall Drive In
150in attendance+
Winners of Best of the Fall Drive-In:
Josh Hettrick & Jen Gould from Westfield State University for "Managing Up: Engaging your supervisor in productive ways"
Over20presentationsCongratulations
Western New England University
Thanks to all that attended! Casey Wall, Professional Development Committee Chair
This year NEACUHO takes ResOps out to Western New York. The Residen=al Opera=ons Conference and Trade Show will be in Ithaca, New York, at Ithaca College on Friday, December 7. We are very excited to take ResOps on the road and showcase the talented exhibitors and corporate affiliates that many of us work with all year long. More than that, ResOps offers an amazing chance for current professionals, resident directors, area directors, community directors, assistant directors, associate directors, directors, CHOs… really anyone under the umbrella of Housing and Residen=al Life to meet and connect in a unique format. The day’s events, while centered on opera=ons, will allow colleagues to share experiences and best prac=ces, while giving ResLife professionals the chance to take a glimpse into the world of opera=ons. What beQer way to learn about opera=ons than to be fully immersed in the area? The ResOps CommiQee is fast at work to make this conference a huge success. More info like keynote speaker, schedule of informa=on, and the details about the district social the night before will be available soon. Stay tuned to www.neacuho.org for updates, and we will see you at Ithaca College in December!
Tim Touche9eNEACUHO ResOps Chair
• Tim Touche9e – ResOps Chair – Northeastern University• Ryan Young – Exhibit Hall/Trade Show – Pace University• Meghan Rydzik – RegistraBon – University of New Haven• Kyle Black – RegistraBon – Rhode Island College• Mike Guthrie – Keynote Liaison – Quinnipiac University• Allison BapEste – Budget/Finance – LIM College• Ma9 Foster – Hospitality & Dining – Worcester Polytechnic InsBtute• Wimer Alberto – Programming – SUNY Binghamton• Jason Fishner – PR & Graphic Design – SUNY Delhi• Katherine Burrow – Support Team -‐ SUNY Oswego• Stephanie Weishaupt – Support Team – UBca College• Amanda Copes – Support Team – SUNY Osweg
ResOps Committee Members:
I have only been working professionally for two and a half years but from where I sit right now, do not be afraid to integrate technology into your department. I'm sure some where it has already been done with great success.
To be an competent CHO you must be immersed in some
fashion with these essential components of our profession. You
don't have to be an expert unless you choose to do so but
familiarity is essential if you are to be an effective and
knowledgeable CHO. Think Maslow here-great things happen
for students in the self actualized stage but there are four other
essential stages that need to be met prior to that occurring.
Res Ops is where that happens.
Conference Services: When you are looking
for conference services professionals, don't
settle for someone who wants to work with
housing and ends up in conference services.
There are many of us out there that LOVE
conference services. Your professional will
be that much more successful if they are
passionate about what they do, and that
piece of wisdom applies to any profession or
department.
My advice is to maintain your
focus on the people that your
processes impact - it is easy to
focus on efficiencies and "heads in
beds" in an operations role, rather
than being mindful of the students
and colleagues our work impacts.
Keeping accurate records is
essential!
I am a better CHO because of my experience with residential operations. It prepared me for the bigger picture and gave me some necessary skill and ability that I would not have learned if I had only worked on the residential life side.
Conferencing takes a different
set of skills to execute
effectively. Customer Service is
not the same as Student
Development
Never dismiss the importance of
assessment. But also remember that
assessment for the sake of assessment is a
waste of time. One must be committed to
utilizing any information gained from
assessment to continually develop and
improve how we do what we do.
Lead with a programatic goal rather than the way you want to specifically do a thing. Housing Operations often has considerations that are different than Res Life, but finding a common goal you can usually do better than trying to ask for something you want. Put your self in their frame of work.
Conference Services is the "other"
side of Residential life and housing - a
side that not a lot of people have
experience in, but one that really
helps prepare you for the future.
Even if its not in your job
description, take EVERY
opportunity to get experience
and knowledge in this area. You
will be surprised at how well it
will serve you in any future
position!
These are the invisible services (in
the eyes of the students) that
support the function of a residential
life department. They are often
unacknowledged yet the logistical
silos that allow for the traditional
educational aspects of residential life
and housing to take place.
Share your
Wisdom
Announcing: The Past President Professional Development Award Winner
The recipient of the Past President Professional Development Award is able to attend three one-day events sponsored by NEACUHO. The funding for this award comes from the Past President’s fund established in 2004 as a way for past presidents to give back to the organization. This award reimbursement opportunity is made in honor of all our past presidents in hopes that professionals at northeast colleges and universities may benefit by the offerings of the NEACUHO organization.
Congratulations, Jessica Looney! Winner of the Past President Professional Development Award
Jessica Looney is the Area Coordinator for O’Brien Hall and the apartments at Merrimack College in North Andover, MA. Originally from South Carolina, Jessica holds a Master’s degree in Student Personnel Administration from Canisius College where she worked as a Hall Director; her undergraduate degree is in Art History from Converse College. In her spare time, Jessica loves to travel, spend time with family and friends, play tennis, and view art exhibits. Jessica’s involvement in NEACUHO includes membership on the New Professional Development Committee, participation in past Case Study Competitions, and presenting for drive-in conferences. As the chair of the professional development committee on her home campus, Jessica uses NEACUHO events, programs, and information sharing to enhance her professional development and the professional development of others at Merrimack College. On behalf of the Past Presidents of NEACUHO, congratulations, Jessica! We look forward to your continued involvement in Northeast ACUHO.
About Jessica
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RD2BADVICE FOR THE
You'll never be able to help/save/fix/comfort/advise/support/(insert your noun here) everyone but, try to everyday because
"one can make a difference".
If you are looking for an RD position in grad school: find one that will pay for you to go to
grad school; ask the questions during an
interview that really matter to you; talk to someone currently in the position you want
AND someone who is no longer in the position you want; work hard, but remember
that you cannot do everything.
Network as much as possible. The person you connect with might know 5-10 people in other colleges/universities and those people will have their own
network. Once you start networking, the possibilities are endless. You can easily find a mentor.
Be open to a new institution, it's ideas and traditions. Avoid saying "at X University, we would..."
Enjoy every moment in every position you have, get the most out of all opportunities you can; because once you take that next step, you can't go
back to being an RD.
Expect the unexpected!
We asked colleagues from around the region to give
their advice to the next generation of Student Affairs
professionals. Here is what they had to say!
Make an effort to find balance in your work and life. An interest off campus can be so rewarding
in keeping things in perspective. It will also
make you develop language to talk about your work with people who are not insiders.
Do your research. Gain necessary experience now because the field is
competitive. Utilize you contacts
on campus to help you prepare.
A career in residence life/student affairs is just that a "career". Don't consider the RD job
because it comes with "free" housing and you don't know what else to do. Be an RD because you care about students and you want
to make a difference in their lives.
2
Eric HotchkissSUNY Fredonia, NY
Sarah SantiagoSpringfield College, MA
Jen O’Neill, University of Rhode Island,
Will GallowayMerrimack College, North Andover, MA
Casey WallBinghamton University, NY
Set meetings with your central office leadership staff, i.e. CHO, Associates, etc, and shadow them. Take the opportunity to
work with them, even on a small project. They will appreciate the help and you will get to see behind the curtain.
Scott SchuhertBinghamton University, NY
Beth MoriartyBridgewater State University, MA
Tatiana Cole, University of Hartford, CT
Rochester Institute of Technology, NY
Hello there NEACUHO and I hope the term has begun on a positive note for you. You’re truly @inding out now if you selected the right staff last spring and trained them appropriately as the students get through mid terms! Lordy, is it me or does it just seem to get faster? Who says Res Life/ Student Housing isn’t the same as a roller coaster ride? And the ride still has 3 major loops to go for this year!
This is my last article for the NAVIGATOR promoting the ACUHO-‐I Foundation as my 2 year term is concluding. It has been great to represent NEACUHO at the International level and to have the opportunity to promote one of the gems of the association that bene@its so many in our profession. I’ve been trying to determine what to include in this piece but I keep getting interrupted by seasonal in@luences which means raking leaves, dropping temps, decorating pumpkins, roommate con@licts, apple cider and baseball! HUH? Stay with me, I’ll explain!
I was always a baseball and football guy until this lacrosse thing entered my life. I played little league, junior high and high school ball and was always one of those fringe players but I loved the need to acquire speci@ic skills to be successful and the strategy involved to win games. As a kid it wasn’t so much strategy as playing and my brother, Tom, and I lost many a wif@le ball in the backyard as we tried to emulate our favorite players. Mr. Decker was the junior high football and baseball coach who initially nurtured my love and interest in both sports. He also taught English and this radical guy brought in a black and white TV with rabbit ears in October to let us watch the World Series in class because the games were played during the day! (HOLY COW! As Phil Rizzuto used to say!) If a Mr. Decker type tried that today, parents and Board of Ed members would be on him like mustard on a Ball Park Frank!
So 28 National and American league teams play ball during a season that’s way too long in an attempt to get to the World Series for chance to be crowned the best.
Lots can happen over the 6 month season and who knew the BoSox were going to be as “challenged” as they were on the O’s & A’s would keep wining without spending money?! (Sounds like a very successful Res Life program!) Only the best get to the playoffs based on individual and team performances as well as motivation and managerial actions and instincts! Lordy, doesn’t that read like Residence Life?
Are these playoff games seen as disappointments to some? Well, hell, yeah? What can be expected when the best play the best? Just like in Res Life-‐ it’s always time and place and production! (Res Life equivalent: “it really isn’t my weed, RA or Public Safety! It really belongs to a friend and I’m just watching it!”) You just have to be there to take advantage of the moment – to reinforce the voice of you in your position coupled with the training you received enabled you to contribute to the group product just as the baseball playoffs are doing now and will continue to do.
A couple of the baseball/res life sentiments:• Why don’t we have homer hankies/team towels to wave at our staff meetings when we discuss our successes?
• We all have uniforms in Res Life in the form of classy polo’s. How about adding some team/staff pants as well?
• In baseball you’re a huge success if your batting average is .300 or more. That’s about 1 hit for every 3 at bats. What happens in Res Life if we’re only successful in one of every 3 problems/issues we’re asked to confront?
• Part of a team members’ success is based on the commitment and hard work of coaches, managers and mentors! Wait a minute! Are we talking baseball or Residence Life?
• They’re always the need for specialists and utility players in both Res Life and baseball! Need’em both!
• There is an ever-‐increasing dependence and need to rely on statistics and collection of date to make management personnel and proper changes. Wait a minute! Are we talking Res Life or baseball?
• Baseball has most of its activity occurring at night. Heck, we’ve been doing that in Res Life for years?
ACUHO-I Foundation& Baseball
Chuck LambDirector of Residence Life Rochester Institute of Technology, NY
• Use of inappropriate drugs/alcohol by players and Res Life staff? Bye bye to both!
• Filling the beds/seats is a key for success for Res Life and a baseball team. Occupancy drives everything!
• Players change teams every year and management is responsible for reestablishing a model for collaborator and success! Baseball and Res Life!
The recent Clint Eastwood @ilm “Trouble with the Curve” should be on your “gotta see” list. Great story of a maturing scout who demonstrates the old ways of assessing talent may be better than the crunching of data. Hey CHO’s-‐ You wanna tell the entry level staff the best way to select next year’s RA Staff? R-‐I-‐G-‐H-‐T! Justin Timberlake is also pretty good in the @ilm!
So what does all of this have to do with the ACUHO-‐I Foundation?• Baseball and Student Housing have been around for a long time. Both are committed and dependent on the development of players to achieve team/organizational results. Younger players must be identiSied, mentored and their skills reSined.
• Baseball has the luxury of its minor league systems to bring along its novitiates in a structured manner with a phalanx of coaches, managers, others to groom those younger players along the way. Res Life has a form a minor league with its traditional graduate assistant position and supporting programs but certainly not to the elaborative depth as baseball. ACUHO-‐I’s major concern and possibly the reason for its existence has been “player development”-‐providing opportunities to acquire the tools to propel Res Life players to the next level of competencies. The ACUHO-‐I Foundation Siscally supports STARS-‐the annual gathering of undergrad students at the ACUHO-‐I Conference. Sounds like baseball’s Futures Game.
ACUHO-‐I’s Foundation provides reimbursement for regional conference program winners to attend the ACUHO-‐I annual conference as one of its ALL Stars-‐just like the major leagues! Same would be said for the Foundation support of NHTI where our profession’s icons and leaders are tapped to share their knowledge and experiences with yet another set of all stars who will be groomed/mentored to hopefully become the next generation of leaders and role models.
As mentioned previously baseball relies more and more on the number crunching and research to improve its operations or to assist in the identi@ication
of the next Stephen Strasburgh or Bryce Harper. The ACUHO-‐I Foundations commissions and @iscally supports research to provide members with essential data for decision-‐making and program improvement.
Baseball has its Hall of Fame in Cooperstown NY. ACUHO-‐I has their Hall of Fame in the form of the Parthenon Society, where colleagues nominate and fund raise for inclusion into this exclusive group. You’ve probably gone on line/webpage to read about the background and achievements of baseball Hall of Famers but have you ever checked out the list and backgrounds of ACUHO-‐I’s Parthenon recipients? You really should.
If given the chance to go to a ball game and enjoy many of the items I have mentioned there is little hesitancy to reach for the wallet/purse and give it up to be part of the experience. It’s always good times and great memories.
When it comes time to @iscally support the ACUHO-‐I Foundation quite often local @ire departments are contacted to borrow their Jaws of Life equipment to pry a few bucks out of people. That has to change if our profession is going to continue to step up to the plate and hit it out of the PARK as is expected. We need to create an atmosphere for paying back/paying ahead and giving as ACUHO-‐I honors its members and prepares staff for future challenges.
There’s a scene towards the end of my favorite @ilms “League of Their Own”, which happens to be a baseball @ilm. Tom Hanks and Gina Davis are in the scene as they debate the bene@its of being a member of the team. Hanks mentions not everyone can be a member of the team while Davis states “it’s hard!” Hanks responds-‐“it’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.“
I’ve applied that scene and those lines to many situations in my profession. Not everyone is selected to be an RA, an RD or a CHO. And our work, sometimes, is @lat out hard! But honestly, isn’t it great?
So next time you’re at the ball park and have a yearning for another over priced beer, say No thanks. Rather than spending that exorbitant amount on “Dippin Dots” ice cream in that bowl shaped like a batting helmet (You know you take that hat/bowl home, then what happens to it? Cereal or snack Bowl?), just say no and make a contribution to your Foundation. You’ll feel better and still be part of the game!
Best wishes for the remainder of a successful year and see you on the @ield!
As the CHO there are certain truths you just need to accept – you will be woken up in the middle of the night, you’ll need to be the “heavy” sometimes with student conduct matters in the halls, and you’ll need to reexamine, if not create, policies within the department. It’s inevitable – and sometimes can be tricky.
Policies need to be updated and changed or, in some cases, an entirely new policy should to be created to meet an unanticipated need to respond to how students (or the institution) have changed since the policy was originally created. Drafting a new policy is not as simple as just writing it down and telling the staff or students what it consists of and hoping they will abide by and follow it. Creating a new policy takes time, patience, insight, honest thinking, feedback, and an understanding of how it relates to the bigger picture (both within the department and the institution). When creating a new policy, take into consideration the following concepts:
Policies, regardless of what they are addressing, should still fit into the culture of your department and institution. If you research what other institutions do, be mindful
of whether or not it fits with your own campus culture – not every
campus is the same after all! What is the need of the policy? Is it really needed or is it being written to say it exists? What is the goal and intent of the policy? Is it rooted in the goals of the institution or department? Does it align itself with other policies or does it appear as an outlier? Will others understand it? Will they give buy-in? The more the importance, relevancy, and foundation of the policy are understood by others, the easier it will be to “sell” and implement properly – this is especially true if the policy is controversial in any way or is a large
shift from what previously existed. After all, you don’t want to be the only one out there defending it when someone contests.
How is it going to impact the students and staff? How will it impact the daily operations of the residence halls or the main office – or for that matter other
offices on campus? Inevitably someone will not be happy with the
policy – and that is OK (after all, the policy is not about making people happy, but about meeting a perceived need), but you still need to take into consideration all of this as you design the policy. A policy can sound wonderful on paper, but if it is too cumbersome to actually implement effectively then, in the end, it is useless. Talk with the staff, listen to students, try to foresee the ramifications on them and the practices already in place – try to foresee as many outcomes as possible if it actually takes effect. Anticipate the questions you may get as much as possible and be prepared to justify your proposal. People sometimes inherently dislike change and the more information you can provide about the rationale of the policy, the more it can help calm the situation.
Be extremely mindful of the language used in the policy. Avoid ambiguity, choose your words carefully, be clear in the use of “and” and “or”, use active voice
language, use the present tense, and speak in the third person. Avoid
extra words or phrases which complicate the policy. Avoid gender based language as much as possible. Most importantly, keep it clear and concise. Have
Foundation
&
Relevancy
1)
Impact
Language
TWISTS & TURNSStaying Ahead of the Curve with Policy Design & Implementation
Tips from the Risk Management and Legal Issues Committee
your Legal Department review it – most policies could have unforeseen legal ramifications down the road – and make sure they are OK with all of them.
Sometimes a policy can be necessary to have in place, but almost impossible to properly
implement. Sometimes the policy itself can be incredibly simple, but
the steps needed to make it work can be time consuming and burdensome to staff. As you create the policy, think of the paperwork and workflow needed to put it into effect. Will new materials need to be made? Can you repurpose old forms? Do all new tasks need to be accomplished or can it be worked into the current system? Is the policy too problematic to implement as written? Should it be “tweaked” to meet the goal more effectively?
Now that you have your rough draft completed start the buy-in process. Speak with the Legal Department, the VP, students, staff, and other offices – everyone that the policy impacts. Keep an open mind, listen to (don’t just hear) their thoughts and work through the issues raised, but keep the focus on the goal the policy is meant to address. Don’t take it personal when questions are raised –they may help you see the issue from a different perspective all together. Be prepared to back up your perspective – have data and research ready to reference. Don’t be surprised if other policies start being looked at – or created – to supplement parts of this one as well!
Now that the policy is drafted, you have the buy-in, the new forms are created, and you’ve sold it to students, in theory, the fun begins – implementing it! Have patience, expect problems to arise, issues to unfold, and people to get upset. Just take a breather, pay attention to what is happening, and be prepared to revisit the policy down the road – around the next corner.
1)Im
plementation
Robert VassDirector of Residential Life and Student Conduct
University of Bridgeport, CT
In October 2011, SUNY Delhi began to reevaluate space due to a large scale construcBon project in one of our residence halls. The project would provide the opportunity to assess storage and recreaBon space in the building and provided an opportunity to develop summer storage for our residenBal students’ belongings. Summer storage was an item frequently requested in our Quality of Life Assessment of residenBal students. A\er consolidaBng storage spaces in all the residence halls and other areas on campus that were assigned for furniture and supplies, we were able to idenBfy a storage room that would: 1) Not be affected by the impending construcBon project and 2) Be centrally located on campus.
With this, the student summer storage project had begun.
SUNY Delhi is located in rural New York, twenty minutes south of Oneonta. Over 40% of our students come from the metropolitan New York area and Long Island (a three hour commute), and a significant number of internaBonal students enrolled in our Hospitality programs. Considering these demographics, an on campus storage opBon was a logical service to implement for our students. The Office of Residence Life at the beginning and end of the academic year previously worked with a local storage facility where employees came to campus to provide a value added service to our residenBal students.
The intenBon of the on-‐campus summer storage project was to provide a low-‐cost, self-‐service storage opBon for individuals who are conBnuing as residenBal students during the following academic year. A\er finding a suitable storage area in a centrally located area for residence hall
students, we purchased shelving units that maximized space for medium size U-‐Haul boxes, which the department purchased and made available for student purchase at ligle profit. Storage shelves were divided into ‘storage unit spaces’ on which students could store anything in a labeled and sealed box (except for refrigerators or other large items). Students had the opportunity to store their refrigerators, microwaves, bicycles, rugs, or other atypically shaped items in ‘floor spaces,’ which were areas on wooden pallets on the storage room floor. This
allocaBon of useable space yielded a
total of 112 spaces available for student purchase; prices were fixed to the storage space size and ranged from $10 for a microwave to $35.00 for a combinaBon of mulBple spaces.
We offered an early reservaBon period to internaBonal students; other residenBal students were allowed to reserve space a\er early reservaBon concluded but before the storage room opened. Students were responsible for boxing their belongings and bringing their items to the storage room within specified evening storage room hours. The storage room was managed by student staff members who were responsible for collecBng payment (cash, check, or money order), compleBng storage agreements with the students, and labeling and sealing the boxes. The storage agreements
were signed by the student purchasing storage space and the student staff member, and the agreement included an itemized receipt, a descripBon of the items stored, and a liability clause. A copy of the agreement was immediately given to each customer.
Student interest was strong, with the 112 spaces being sold out quickly to 50 students. Students were responsible for picking up their belongings during designated hours within the first six days following the opening of the halls the following fall. There were no complaints from students regarding the state or condiBon of their items
and there was only one individual (who did not return the following semester) who did not retrieve their belongings.
Future plans to improve the summer storage program include purchasing addiBonal storage units to maximize the room’s space, establishing a pricing structure that beger reflects equally sized space,
developing a protocol for items not retrieved by the designated deadline in the fall.
The Office of Residence Life was pleased at the posiBve response to this new service offering. We sold out storage spaces and made a slight profit a\er the purchase of shelving and supplies for the room. Revenue that is generated from the storage room will go back to provide value added services for students and assist in funding professional development acBviBes. We anBcipate that we will need to turn away some students again this upcoming spring, and are evaluaBng addiBonal spaces for possible expansion to meet the need. Our outside vendor that came in to service students in the past ended up with only four students uBlizing their services this past summer, and will most likely not return in the future.
Storing SuccessSUNY Delhi’s New Program Addresses Student Need
from
Brittany Bookman,
Resident Director
Jason Fishner, Assistant Director of
Residence Life SUNY Delhi, NY
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Alway remember you are braver
than you believe, stronger than you seem and smarter
than you think.
"Never rush into anything in life.
Think about what will make you a
better person and make you happier.
Anything that you feel you need to do
now or you will never have a chance
isn't worth it. If it is worth it, it will be
there when you are ready.”
-Dillon Mock
Work smarter, not
harder.
"Calm in quietude is not
real calm. When you can be calm in the midst of
activity, this is the true state of
nature.” Huanchu Daoren
Incremental improvement is
better than postponed perfection.
"Know what you
are doing. Love
what you are
doing. Believe in
what you are
doing."
"Tomorrow is a new day."
"The leader's role is much like a symphony
conductor's, ensuring that all of the
autonomous sections blend together
harmoniously toward a single goal"
Not everyone can do
Res Life, I am here
for a reason.
"We choose to go to
the moon in this
decade and do the
other things, not
because they are
easy, but because they
are hard..." -JFK
Choose a job you
love, and you will
never have to
work a day in
your life.
The vast majority of things that
have been accomplished in the
world were a result of one
person believing that they could
make it happen. Don't allow
naysayers to stop you from
making a difference...if you
believe you can do it, then go
out and do it!
People are not
your problem;
they are your
purpose
- Unknown
"The sun, with all
those planets
revolving around it
and dependent on it,
can still ripen a
bunch of grapes as if
it had nothing else
in the universe to
do.” Galileo Galilei
"It's not enough to be
busy, so are ants. The
question is, what are
you busy about?"
Henry David Thoreau
Showing up is 50%
of everything."
"Just keep
Swimming”
Share a quote that gives you inspiration when your job is challenging
Thank you to everyone who shared contributions this month!
http://truetolifetraining.com/
Do you have something to share with NEACUHO? All entries for The Navigator come from members just like you. Please feel free to submit articles concerning student affairs and residential life issues, departmental staff updates, recognition of members, committee updates, district updates, and much more. Email all submissions to [email protected]
Stay tuned for our next issue of The Navigator To download past issues of The Navigator, visit us at www.neacuho.org. Feel free to email Jess Faulk at [email protected] with any questions you may have about submissions for The Navigator.
Feedback & Suggestions? We’d love to hear from you. Share your comments, feedback, suggestions, questions, etc. with us so we can better serve you! Email your feedback to [email protected]
Thank you to all who submitted articles to the November issue of The Navigator!
NEACUHO is an organization of housing, residential life, and student services professionals and paraprofessionals within the Northeast region dedicated to providing opportunities for colleague support, professional development, sharing of information, collaboration, communication, research, and recognition of outstanding contributions to the field. The association serves member institutions within Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
NEACUHO Mission Statement
Thank you to our NEACUHO Corporate Partners:Adirondack Solutions http://www.adirondacksolutions.com/A niche software company providing innovative solutions primarily for the college student life market.
Butler Woodcrafters http://butlerwoodcrafters.com/Creating furniture for community-based programs, supportive housing organizations, healthcare and education environments.
Foliot Furniture http://www.foliot.com/Creating warm and comfortable environment without sacrificing the strength and durability of the furniture needed to endure the test of time.
L.A.M Enterprises http://www.lam-solutions.com/Providing a wide variety of stock and custom printed products to the Hospitality Industry.
Proforma Shrader and Shrader http://www.proforma.com/shraderPrinting,Promotional products, ,E-Commerce, Multimedia, advertising specialties and business gifts.
True to Life Training http://truetolifetraining.com/Interactive, experiential, realistic training through real-life experiences.
Corporate Associates:CHH Engraving, Inc. http://www.chhengraving.comPopular items available to you to help promote your organization or product, identify your staff or group, or recognize clients and supporters.
Dynamic Influence http://www.dynamicinfluence.com/Providing companies as well as Schools, organizations and people within the community with the most knowledgeable and uniquely skilled professional speakers, trainers, consultants and entertainers.
Educational Consultant: Dr. Mary Cullen
Stay connected with NEACUHO & informed about what is happening in the region!
Facebook Group: “NEACUHO and friends” https://www.facebook.com/groups/50752561139/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/NEACUHO Twitter
@NEACUHO
2012-2013 Executive BoardPresident Cindy Long Porter Quinnipiac University [email protected]
President-Elect Kim Schmidl-Gagne Keene State College [email protected]
Past President Paula Randazza Rivier University [email protected]
Treasurer Joe Murphy Skidmore College [email protected]
Secretary Nate Gordon Keene State College [email protected]
District Coordinators: Connecticut & Rhode Island Jen Crane Quinnipiac University [email protected]
Eastern New York & Vermont Kristine LoweryRensselaer Polytechnic [email protected]
Maine & New Hampshire Zach IrishDaniel Webster [email protected]
Massachusetts Julie Hershkowitz Northeastern University [email protected]
Metro New York Ryan YoungPace [email protected]
Western New York/DC Kristen Eldridge Tompkins Cortland Community College [email protected]
Annual Conference Stephen LuberUniversity of New Hampshire [email protected]
Corporate Relations Kathi Bradford Westfield State University [email protected]
Media and Publications Jessica Faulk Simmons College [email protected]
New Professionals Development Matt Talbot Endicott [email protected]
Professional Development Casey Wall Binghamton University [email protected]
Program David Stender University of Massachusetts Dartmouth [email protected]
Residential Operations Tim Touchette Northeastern University [email protected]
Risk Management and Legal Issues Marissa DerDerianWorchester Polytechnic [email protected]
Social Issues ChairBrenda Ice Colgate University [email protected]
Membership Coordinator Jen Golojuch Mount Ida College [email protected]
Technology Coordinator Mike Hamilton Worchester Polytechnic Institute [email protected]
Historian/Chair Structure & Governance InitiativeGary Bice Jr. SUNY Fredonia [email protected]
CHO OutreachDerek ZuckermanCollege of the Holy [email protected]
Chair Finance Initiative Jon ConlogueWestfield State University jconlogue@wes,ield.ma.edu
Contact us for questions, or to get involved!
A special thank you to the Media and Publications Committee for your time and hard work!
Owen Conklin, SUNY Delhi
Danielle Remigio, Bay State College
Sarah Unruh, SUNY Cortland
Adam Waitt,University of Buffalo
Tatiana Rugel, PACE
James Frier, Northeastern
University
Chris Mosier, Marymount Manhattan
College
We are always looking for more committee members, please email [email protected] if you are interested!
The Navigator designed by Jess Faulk (@jessfaulk)
