For many Resident Assistants (RAs), reshaping floor communities after the winter break can be a difficult task. With many residents being away from school for the better part of a month, it can feel like a great deal of the previous semester’s communal progress has been lost. Here are a few tips to help steer a residence hall community in the right direction.
Host a Floor Meeting
The first step in getting a floor community back together is having a mandatory floor meeting. As a general rule, the night before classes begin is an ideal time to plan for such an event. Most students should be back in their rooms by then, and with no one being really excited to go back to class, a meeting can provide for the perfect pre-class social gathering. Using this time let students get reacquainted, as well as gather a few program ideas, is an excellent approach to setting the right tempo.
Using Surveys
One approach which has worked for many RAs in the past, is to send out a programming survey to all the floor residents. On this survey, the RA can present any ideas they might have, ask for feedback, or even collect new ideas from their residents. Posting these ideas in a public area will allow for students to add comments or suggestions, while simultaneously making the planning process a community program in itself.
Start a Weekly Tradition
Because the winter months can limit the amount of activities that can be done outdoors, they also allow for more creativity within the confines of the floor or building. Early spring semester is the perfect time to start creating some new floor traditions like weekly movie nights, TV show parties, and rotating video game tournaments. A successful tradition will last well into the semester, and by the time students are packing up for the summer, they will still make references to programs held on a consistent basis.
Using Your Bulletin Board
The last tip in starting the semester off right is to make sure residents have a central source for information. Whether it’s a floor website, or a communal bulletin board, keeping everyone informed about what’s going on is an absolute must. Branching out into new methods of advertising, like bathroom newspapers and door hangers, will guarantee a higher program turn out throughout the semester!
So as classes and deadlines once again become a reality, it is critical that RAs take a proactive approach to keeping their communities together. Through the use of floor meetings, program surveys, weekly traditions, and information boards, any RA can ensure a vibrant start to their residential community!
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