Living and Learning at IWU

The Residential First-Year Experience

Living and Learning at IWU

The Residential First-Year Experience

Presented by:

Matthew Damschroder

Presented by:

Matthew DamschroderMatthew DamschroderDirector of Residential Life

Matthew DamschroderDirector of Residential Life

The First-Year ExperienceThe First-Year Experience

� Introduction

�Philosophy/History

�Residence Halls

� Introduction

�Philosophy/History

�Residence Halls �Residence Halls

�Residential Life Staff

�Programming

�Partners in the Journey

�Questions and Answers

�Residence Halls

�Residential Life Staff

�Programming

�Partners in the Journey

�Questions and Answers

PhilosophyPhilosophy

“The first-year experience houses first-year students together and attempts to smooth the transition from high school to college through a semester long calendar of intentional, proactive programs led by the Residential Life professional

“The first-year experience houses first-year students together and attempts to smooth the transition from high school to college through a semester long calendar of intentional, proactive programs led by the Residential Life professional programs led by the Residential Life professional staff of Residence Directors and the student staff of First-Year Resident Advisors, along with IWU faculty and staff...The First-Year Experience will help build a strong community that will ultimately lead to a shared and positive identity and ultimately long-term class unity and spirit.”

programs led by the Residential Life professional staff of Residence Directors and the student staff of First-Year Resident Advisors, along with IWU faculty and staff...The First-Year Experience will help build a strong community that will ultimately lead to a shared and positive identity and ultimately long-term class unity and spirit.”

FYE History HighlightsFYE History Highlights

� Beginnings� Researched top 40 liberal arts colleges and universities

� Made site visit to Barnard College at Columbia University

� Assessment� Regularly yearly surveys used to focus change

� Program adjustments and enhancements

� Acclaim

� Beginnings� Researched top 40 liberal arts colleges and universities

� Made site visit to Barnard College at Columbia University

� Assessment� Regularly yearly surveys used to focus change

� Program adjustments and enhancements

� Acclaim� Acclaim� Attended Annual Conference on the First-Year

Experience three out of the last five years; presented 3 program sessions relating to our Orientation and FYE programs

� IWU’s FYE program featured in March/April 2000 edition of College Bound Magazine in article “Pioneering the New Orientation Movement”

� In 2003, IWU named ‘Best Freshman Housing’ by The Official Unbiased Insider’s Guide To The Best Colleges and Universities

� Acclaim� Attended Annual Conference on the First-Year

Experience three out of the last five years; presented 3 program sessions relating to our Orientation and FYE programs

� IWU’s FYE program featured in March/April 2000 edition of College Bound Magazine in article “Pioneering the New Orientation Movement”

� In 2003, IWU named ‘Best Freshman Housing’ by The Official Unbiased Insider’s Guide To The Best Colleges and Universities

First-Year HallsFirst-Year Halls� Four Halls

� Munsell, 204 students

� Ferguson, 149 students

� Dolan, 124 students

� Gulick, 149 students

� Bed size

� Four Halls� Munsell, 204 students

� Ferguson, 149 students

� Dolan, 124 students

� Gulick, 149 students

� Bed size� Bed size

� Telephones

� Network/Computers

� Amenities

� Parking

� Bed size

� Telephones

� Network/Computers

� Amenities

� Parking

Munsell and Ferguson Halls

First-Year Rooms

First-Year RoommatesFirst-Year Roommates� Assignments

� Computer sorts students by sex, hall preference, lifestyle choices

� Individuals are hand-matched from initial sort with a roommate

� Roommate pairs placed on floors with shared interests

� Assignments� Computer sorts students by sex, hall preference, lifestyle choices

� Individuals are hand-matched from initial sort with a roommate

� Roommate pairs placed on floors with shared interestswith shared interests

� Hall placements based on admission contract date

with shared interests

� Hall placements based on admission contract date

Gulick Hall (top)Dolan Hall (bottom)

� Notification� Students are notified of room and roommate assignments by email on or before July 10, 2009.

� Notification� Students are notified of room and roommate assignments by email on or before July 10, 2009.

Residential Life Staffin First-Year Halls

Residential Life Staffin First-Year Halls

Each building has:

4-6 First-Year Resident Advisors

Each building has:

4-6 First-Year Resident Advisors�4-6 First-Year Resident Advisors

�1 Residential Community Advisor

�1 Residence Director

�4-6 First-Year Resident Advisors

�1 Residential Community Advisor

�1 Residence Director

Residential Life Staff(continued)

Residential Life Staff(continued)

� First-Year Resident Advisors (FYRAs)� IWU students—Usually sophomores or juniors, sometimes seniors

� About half were RAs or FYRAs last year

� Staff members who most closely work with individual

� First-Year Resident Advisors (FYRAs)� IWU students—Usually sophomores or juniors, sometimes seniors

� About half were RAs or FYRAs last year

� Staff members who most closely work with individual � Staff members who most closely work with individual students

� Responsible for keeping RD aware of student needs, maintaining community standards, developing floor community

� Staff members who most closely work with individual students

� Responsible for keeping RD aware of student needs, maintaining community standards, developing floor community

Residential Life Staff(continued)

Residential Life Staff(continued)

� Residential Community Advisors (RCAs)

� Returning staff members (havepreviously been RAs or FYRAs)

� Residential Community Advisors (RCAs)

� Returning staff members (havepreviously been RAs or FYRAs)

� IWU students—often seniors, sometimes juniors

� Responsible for supervising the hall desk staff and functions, and building staff and hall community.

� IWU students—often seniors, sometimes juniors

� Responsible for supervising the hall desk staff and functions, and building staff and hall community.

Residential Life Staff(continued)

Residential Life Staff(continued)

� Residence Hall Directors (RDs)

� Post-Master’s professionals

� Recruited from institutions across the United States

� Responsible for fostering a safe environment; allowing

� Residence Hall Directors (RDs)

� Post-Master’s professionals

� Recruited from institutions across the United States

� Responsible for fostering a safe environment; allowing � Responsible for fostering a safe environment; allowing opportunities for growth; holding students accountable for community standards

� Live in an apartment in the hall in which they work

� Many have partners anddependant children

� Responsible for fostering a safe environment; allowing opportunities for growth; holding students accountable for community standards

� Live in an apartment in the hall in which they work

� Many have partners anddependant children

ProgrammingProgramming

“Programming in a college environment

serves primarily as a growth experience. Programming gives an opportunity to grow through pursuing outside interests, socializing,

“Programming in a college environment

serves primarily as a growth experience. Programming gives an opportunity to grow through pursuing outside interests, socializing, through pursuing outside interests, socializing, and the sharing of ideas. Programming brings people together through new friendships… From programming, a sense of community may be established, and from within this community, members may better reflect upon themselves.”

through pursuing outside interests, socializing, and the sharing of ideas. Programming brings people together through new friendships… From programming, a sense of community may be established, and from within this community, members may better reflect upon themselves.”

ProgrammingResidential Life

ProgrammingResidential Life

� Community Developers

� Educational Programs

� “Take-to” Campus Events

� Community Traditions

� Community Developers

� Educational Programs

� “Take-to” Campus Events

� Community Traditions� Community Traditions

� Passive Programming

� Tinkle Times

� Bulletin Boards

� Clock Watchers

� Emails

� Etc.

� Community Traditions

� Passive Programming

� Tinkle Times

� Bulletin Boards

� Clock Watchers

� Emails

� Etc.

ProgrammingNew Student Orientation

ProgrammingNew Student Orientation

� Floor meetings and community interaction

� Facilitated by FYRAs

� Create floor identity and pride

Immediate support/friend network

� Floor meetings and community interaction

� Facilitated by FYRAs

� Create floor identity and pride

Immediate support/friend network� Immediate support/friend network

� Orientation programs

� Conversations about diversity, environmentalism, sexual assault, transitions, and issues affecting students

� Fun! Fun! Fun!

� Immediate support/friend network

� Orientation programs

� Conversations about diversity, environmentalism, sexual assault, transitions, and issues affecting students

� Fun! Fun! Fun!

ProgrammingContinues through the year

ProgrammingContinues through the year

� You’ve Been Caught...� Residence halls are academic buildings

� Rewards students for studying in the halls as well as academic achievement

� Targeted/sequenced messagesPersonal safety — Sept

� You’ve Been Caught...� Residence halls are academic buildings

� Rewards students for studying in the halls as well as academic achievement

� Targeted/sequenced messagesPersonal safety — Sept� Personal safety — Sept

� Transitioning relationships — Sept/Oct

� Study skills/Choosing a major — Oct/Nov

� Body image/Eating disorders — Nov/Dec

� Personal safety — Sept

� Transitioning relationships — Sept/Oct

� Study skills/Choosing a major — Oct/Nov

� Body image/Eating disorders — Nov/Dec

Parents and ProfessionalsPartners in the Journey

Parents and ProfessionalsPartners in the Journey

� Ways to support your student� Community Expectations and Contracts

� Your experiences with communal living

� Provide strategies for resolving challenges

Additional points to consider

� Ways to support your student� Community Expectations and Contracts

� Your experiences with communal living

� Provide strategies for resolving challenges

Additional points to consider� Additional points to consider� Students will not make much use of it themselves, but they love real mail

� Communicate family situations that may be impacting your student (e.g., loss, illness, changes) to the Office of the Dean of Students

� Additional points to consider� Students will not make much use of it themselves, but they love real mail

� Communicate family situations that may be impacting your student (e.g., loss, illness, changes) to the Office of the Dean of Students

Questions and AnswersQuestions and Answers

Contact Information

� Office of Residential Life

Gulick Hall (NW Entrance)

Contact Information

� Office of Residential Life

Gulick Hall (NW Entrance)�Gulick Hall (NW Entrance)

� 309/556-3113

�ORL@iwu.edu

� http://www.iwu.edu/orl/

�Gulick Hall (NW Entrance)

� 309/556-3113

�ORL@iwu.edu

� http://www.iwu.edu/orl/