The fifth day in housing and residence life
Jessie is the final RAC I met in housing and residence life. She is responsible for Bearcat village. I have been looking forward to go there for a long time. Because it's a little far away from campus. I can go there by shuttle. Beatcat village has 13 buildings, every building has 8 apartments. Through these days, I find every area RAC manage has one meeting room and RAC's office. The night patrol will vary depending on the region. RA does not pay the dormitory fee ,salary can take. They common have a single bedroom. I think RA is a good job for students. So lots of RAs have been working for a long time, maybe three years. RAs have lots of welfare, so they have lots of responsibilities,too. RA must similar with every students in his building. He must learn the students, call their names, what they like. RA must have a good communication skill.They help the students to solve all kinds of problems. They will participate in some training to improve the ability. They need to have strong time management skills, they should balance the relationship between work and study. I think this is a way to improve student's abilities. As to me, I like RA system.This week give me lots of views about lander university, I have lots of feelings. I will bring them back to my university.
The fourth day in housing and residence life
I go with Zach to see his area. He is responsible for Chipley Hall and Centennial Hall. Chipley Hall is the oldest dormitory in lander university. It opened about 1925. Although it is the oldest dormitory, It doesn't seem very old, it's beautiful, I like it especially it's hall. There is a staff on desk duty. This building is for all freshman of girls. Centennial hall is the newest building in lander. There are 300 occupied beds. Four students have own bedroom and share one living room ,bathroom. This is a good condition. In this building ,there is a study room, students can study there.
I pay attention to internation student's dormitory. So I continue to following with Jalysa to inspect the dormitory. We found one dormitory covering the fire alarm. Oh, I think it's very funny. All the people know what time inspection will be on.
I have time to read the playbook. The expectations of the RA position are such that each paraprofessional staff member must adhere to the following departmental decisions: (1) A RA must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.25.(all the student worker must maintain) (2) The RA position must take priority after academics. (3) A RA is expected to abide by all Univeristy and housing policies.(4)A RA is an emplyee of the housing and residence life, they have a number of responsibilities.
I pay attention to internation student's dormitory. So I continue to following with Jalysa to inspect the dormitory. We found one dormitory covering the fire alarm. Oh, I think it's very funny. All the people know what time inspection will be on.
I have time to read the playbook. The expectations of the RA position are such that each paraprofessional staff member must adhere to the following departmental decisions: (1) A RA must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.25.(all the student worker must maintain) (2) The RA position must take priority after academics. (3) A RA is expected to abide by all Univeristy and housing policies.(4)A RA is an emplyee of the housing and residence life, they have a number of responsibilities.
The third day in housing and residence life
I read the book about RA, I know lots of things about RA, Opening the first ten days,all RAs will move in the dormitory room. They will have a RA training. Through RA training schedule, I can see lots of training RAs needs to be taught.Including team building,duties and responsibilities, etc. Today I follow with Jalysa, this week is health and safety inspections. At first, I don't know what's the meaning. I wonder it maybe inspect student health. I asked Chandler.And she told me they sent email to all the students. They inspect fire safety, room health status,etc. I inspect American students‘s room by myself. The situation is the same as our university, guy's room is more dirty than girl's, sometimes not good smell. I took part in RA interest session times. Demario let all the students introduce themselves. Then he introduced what RA is and how you can do. I know after two weeks, the students will interview. So they need to learn lots of things about RA. In the evening, I also take part in RA's meeting. They talked about schedule and arrangement. Then they inspect the room people moved out. Fortunately, at 10:00 pm, I walked around the Brookside/Thomaso area with two RAs. Round's purpose is to check exterior doors closed and locked, laundry rooms, brookside lobbies,hallways,interior/exterior stairwells,sidewalks,dumpster area. It took us about 20 minutes. Every night, RA will do three times. I think this is the test of responsibility.Through personal experience, I work for RA and know specific what they do, but also feel the USA University dormitory management has a very good way, it's very worthy of my university learning.
The second day in housing and residence life
Morning is busy today. I met Cindy, She is a director. She is very nice,too. She told me and drew the organization of the housing and resident life. She framework map makes me a very clear understanding of the organization of the department, Now I knew Chandler are responsible for the residence life. She manages four residence life coordinators (Zach, Jessie, Jalysa and Demario) . Demario is responsible for 12 RAs, 430 occupied beds. Jalyssa is responsible for 10 RAs, 376 occupied beds,Jessie is responsible for 12 RAs, 368 occupied beds, and she also manager all the RAs, Zach is responsible for 12 RAs, 400 occupied beds. There are two Admin.operations Assistant-- Tammy and Catherine. Tammy is responsible for first year student room assignments, administrative student worker supervisor, office supply invertory and other duties. Catherine is responsible for returning/upper class room assignments, data processing computer programming reports and other duties.Every end of semester, students have to move out their dormitory room because of repairing ,painting etc. But I wonder if students don't move out, especially the graduated students, how can they do? Cindy solve the wonder for me. She said in lander university, students know when they will move out the dormitory room through the web at the first day of semester. If they don't move out, police will block in lock. The students can't come into the room. They have a rule. Have to say, American students still follow the rules. In lander,Cindy told me it never happened that student didn't move on the specified date. She introduced the Banner system in detail. I think that is a wonderful software which could help teacher and staff to trace all the students' information.
In the afternoon, Demario who has been graduated from lander university about 10 months. When he was a student, he was RA,too. And he told me Jalysa is the same as him. He is funny boy. He brought me to visit some of his area of dormitory and his office in dormitory. And I found 2 RAs walk round at night three times. The last round is 11:45. They must confirm each dormitory doors are shut, and if it is safe status. If they find something,they will call Demario. On the weekend, they will still walk round. Each of 4 residence life coordinators is responsible for a weekend, they can leave the school, but in case the situation, they had to get back schools to deal with.
I feel I learn a lot today.
In the afternoon, Demario who has been graduated from lander university about 10 months. When he was a student, he was RA,too. And he told me Jalysa is the same as him. He is funny boy. He brought me to visit some of his area of dormitory and his office in dormitory. And I found 2 RAs walk round at night three times. The last round is 11:45. They must confirm each dormitory doors are shut, and if it is safe status. If they find something,they will call Demario. On the weekend, they will still walk round. Each of 4 residence life coordinators is responsible for a weekend, they can leave the school, but in case the situation, they had to get back schools to deal with.
I feel I learn a lot today.
The first day in housing and residence life
Chandler is a warm-heart lady. She is an associated Director.In the morning, we talked happily. In lander university,housing and resident life have a student organization. It named RA. RA is resident Assistants. I'm interested in it. View from the recruitment conditions,(1) student learning must achieve an average of more than,about 2.25 GPA. (2)no disciplinary illegal;(3)The candidates have three people to write letters of recommendation, one professor, if the student is freshman, he can request high school teacher to write,of course, you can request manager you worked there to write; At last,these students qualified to speak through an interview to determine whether they were admitted. The student can earn money about 2400 dollars one semester. RA I think is an assistant helping the staff of housing and residence life.
There are four staffs supervise member of RA. These four staffs have to live in the dormitory apartment. This is their job. I'm interested in this topic. Chandler told me if they are married, they have to live in the dormitory apartment with husband or wife. In the morning ,they don't have to come to office on time. They can sleep late. This is good system. In Lander, Student can change the dormitory without any reason, but if there is no empty bed,it's difficult for them to change. Lots of students are lack of communication, They only want to change the dormitory to deal with the problems. In Fact, this is like our university student.
There are four staffs supervise member of RA. These four staffs have to live in the dormitory apartment. This is their job. I'm interested in this topic. Chandler told me if they are married, they have to live in the dormitory apartment with husband or wife. In the morning ,they don't have to come to office on time. They can sleep late. This is good system. In Lander, Student can change the dormitory without any reason, but if there is no empty bed,it's difficult for them to change. Lots of students are lack of communication, They only want to change the dormitory to deal with the problems. In Fact, this is like our university student.