Preparing for future pandemics: How history and universal design can aid residential programs’ preparedness

• • Audience: General Audience

  • Presenter(s): Blaise Nunzio Guerriero (Northeastern University)

  • Room: King Edward (3rd floor)

  • Description: While the world still faces many obstacles to overcome the problems that arose from the COVID-19 pandemic, institutions should implement the lessons that we have learned throughout this pandemic within their residential life programs. Some of the lessons were the benefits of accessible technology, hybrid models of engagement, and collaboration across all areas of campus, as well as having emergency plans in place, should another pandemic occur. This workshop is focused on mid- to senior-level professionals and how they can use pandemic preparedness practices to increase the accessibility of all aspects of housing and residence life through universal design.

Pump the Brakes! Rewriting the Roadmap for Student Staff Recruitment & Retention 

• • Audience: Entry level/General Audience

  • Presenter(s): Ashley Hoffer (Plymouth State University)

  • Room: King George (3rd floor)

  • Description: RA/ CA recruitment can feel like a never-ending road trip when you hit roadblock after roadblock. Learn how our institution was able to go from being consistently understaffed to see a 40% higher retention rate & triple the number of new applicants for the RA/CA role. Come on a recruitment road trip and learn about all the fun marketing “roadside attractions” and programming “pit stops” we added to our recruitment and retention journey to make the process more engaging and provide a sense of belonging for both new and returning RA/CAs. And- drivers (our professional staff members), we didn’t forget about you on this journey- learn how we made the recruitment process more intentional and fun for the ones making the roadmap as well! 

Movers and Shakers:  How to articulate your skills to others

• • Audience: Mid-level/General Audience

  • Presenter(s): Cate Morrison (eRezLife Software) & George Hulbert (FOLIOT)

  • Room: Longford (3rd floor)

  • Description: When you're looking for a new job, the hardest part can be getting your foot in the door. How do you create a resume that stands out, speaks to your skills, while accurately representing your experience?  The hardest parts can be articulating your transferrable skills using universal language and determining what's important to the hiring committee.  Join Cate and George as they walk you through best practices and key terminology to create a resume and application that will get you that interview.

What's Love Got to Do With it? How to support 2SLGBTQIA+ students affected by domestic and intimate partner violence on campus

• • Audience: Senior Housing Officers Track

  • Presenter(s): Raymond Lewis-Samuel (Syracuse University) & Tray Jones (Syracuse University)

  • Room: Charles (2nd floor)

  • Description: Domestic and intimate partner violence (DV/IPV) are situations our students experience, that intersect with the work of residential life staff. Students often endure readmittance after assaults without safety measures and education as well as lack of trauma -informed care; Residence Life professionals can provide needed support to these individuals. This session will address how systems in our society and campuses assist in the spread of DV/IPV culture. Through our discussion, we will consider the intersectionality of oppressed and privileged identities of students, and professional staff.  Participants will leave with strategies and techniques to support survivors and individuals who experience abuse, from a restorative justice lens. 

Lounge Renovations on a Budget

• • Audience: General Audience Roundtable

  • Presenter(s): Rose Waples (SUNY Geneseo)

  • Room: Highland (2nd floor)

  • Description: Deferred maintenance getting you down? Looking to spruce up your halls but working with little funding? Come share ideas, photos, and brainstorm traditional and specialized spaces to draw in student engagement and enjoyment. Furniture trends and longevity of purchases will be discussed as well.

Change Management 

• • Audience: General Audience

  • Presenter(s): Cate Morrison (eRezLife Software) & John Hernandez (Regis College)

  • Room: King Edward (3rd floor)

  • Description: Mid-level professionals are most often the staff in housing and residence life who are responsible for adapting to change that they have no control over and then selling that change to other employees. They are expected to buy in, take on the responsibility of rethinking processes and procedures, and then creating the avenues for buy-in with their teams. This presentation is intended to introduce the concepts of change management so staff feel more comfortable and equipped to both process their personal emotions related to change while learning and using strategies to create the least amount of resistance to change.

Beyond Training: Weaving DEI into our day-to-day work

• • Audience: Entry level/General Audience

  • Presenter(s): Alexis Monteiro (University of Connecticut)

  • Room: King George (3rd floor)

  • Description: This presentation will engage participants in a conversation about how we can center DEI beyond student staff training through our different touch points (developing a one-on-one curriculum, affinity groups, reflection activities, etc.) with peers, student staff and residents as housing professionals. Moreover, This conversation hopes to provide resources and tools to continue this to weave diversity, equity and inclusion and professional development through our work while taking into account our sphere of change.

Mid-Level and Beyond:Charting Your Pathway to Becoming A Better Supervisor 

• • Audience: Mid-level/General Audience

  • Presenter(s): Shelly Keniston (Bridgewater State University) & Antonio Willis Berry (University of Connecticut)

  • Room: Longford (3rd floor)

  • Description: Looking to improve your supervision or at least explore different supervision styles? Come to this session where the presenters combined have over 40 years of supervising everyone from student staff to professional staff to union and non-union employees and everyone in between! Reexamine with us Sanford's Challenge and Support theory and how to use it in your own daily supervision and create and action plan you can use with your staff. 

The Power of Leadership

• • Audience: Senior Housing Officers Track

  • Presenter(s): Wesley Cabral (Bryant University)

  • Room: Charles (2nd floor)

  • Description: There are many factors that decide the success of a team, but one of the most important factors to any team's success is Leadership. This presentation will focus on explaining how leadership plays a role in the residential life team, and how to best take advantage of its power. We will explore the impact of leadership from a Senior level position all the way down to the residents and how it all connects to each other. This presentation will focus on what it means to be a leader and how to best use this role to impact your community. 

Women in Housing

• • Audience: General Audience Roundtable

  • Presenter(s): Rose Waples (SUNY Geneseo)

  • Room: Highland (2nd floor)

  • Description: Housing Operations is a functional area that is still faced with a number of gendered stereotypes whether you work with billing, assignments, or facilities. This panel will discuss a variety of topics related to operations work and also the challenge of being a woman in these spaces. Participants will also be invited to share or expand on topics covered as a roundtable.

I Don't Fit In: Fat Inclusion in Residence Life

• • Audience: General Audience

  • Presenter(s): Garland Mann-Lamb (Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences)

  • Room: King Edward (3rd floor)

  • Description: Fitting in isn’t just about feeling like you belong–for some of us, fitting in is both a literal and emotional experience. Join us to learn more about the inclusion of fat folks on our campuses. We will share background and research, stories of the lived experiences of fat folks, recommendations, and resources. 

It’s Everyone’s Job! Engaging Students in Topics of Hunger, Homelessness, and Economic Insecurity

• • Audience: Entry level/General Audience

  • Presenter(s): Kim Kleszczynski (University of Connecticut)

  • Room: King George (3rd floor)

  • Description: Join us for a train-the-trainer workshop where professionals can gain knowledge on how to engage Resident Assistants (Or other student groups) on the pressing issues of college hunger and homelessness. This comprehensive session delves into topics such as Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, the demographics of affected students, government resources, and university support mechanisms. You will learn effective presentation activities to immerse students in these challenging topics. By the end of this workshop, you'll be well-prepared to lead a thoughtful presentation/discussion, contributing to a more inclusive and empathetic environment for students and their experiences with hunger, homelessness, and economic insecurity. Each attendee will receive a copy of the presentation after the session.  

BEEP BEEP!  Stuck in Traffic? Navigating Career Change During Institutional and Professional Shifts

• • Audience: Mid-level/General Audience

  • Presenter(s): Chuck Lamb (Rochester Institute of Technology), Jon Conlogue (Southern Maine Community College) & David Grimes (Isaacson Miller Search)

  • Room: Longford (3rd floor)

  • Description: These are some interesting times in higher ed and Residence Life!  With declining enrollments at many institutions. and changing patterns of promotion/advancement, res life professionals may seem like a car in rush hour traffic.  Should you change lanes?  Is that detour ahead for real?  Will entering the roundabout provide an alternative route to get to your professional destination? Two veteran res life professionals/former SHO's will engage with session participants to identify specific issues impacting the professional and potentially developing strategies to successfully steer the higher ed traffic speed bumps. Participants will also have the opportunity to hit the cruise control as they explore necessary competencies to successfully navigate the route to a fulfilling career. Set your GPS, buckle up and prepare for a ride to explore some options on your res life drive!

Padawan Learners to Jedi Masters: Adapting & Thriving in the changing universe of Residential Life

• • Audience: Senior Housing Officers Track

  • Presenter(s): Casey Wall (Binghamton University), Lauren Murphy (Syracuse University) & Rich Bova (NEACUHO Past President)

  • Room: Charles (2nd floor)

  • Description: In a galaxy not so far away, Residential Life is at a pivotal time of change and Change. Whether you are a padawan learner (new professional), Jedi Knight (mid-level) or a Jedi Master (seasoned professional) the current environment can be intimidating and exhausting. In this session we will break down strategies to adapt and thrive no matter your role and experience level. We will provide strategies and examples for identifying your sypher of influence, your role in leading innovation and breaking down internal and external silos. Come find your kyber crystal and build your lightsaber for success in organization change/ Change management. 

We're not in Kansas anymore: Housing for Graduate and Professional Students

• • Audience: General Audience Roundtable

  • Presenter(s): Daniel Matishek (New York University School of Law)

  • Room: Highland (2nd floor)

  • Description: Residential education experiences commonly deploy curriculum, programming, and support services constructed with an undergraduate student population in mind. With graduate and professional students, a new series of challenges and benefits require staff to change their approach to fit the needs of a different kind of student. This roundtable session will discuss how graduate and professional student housing programs differ from traditional undergraduate programs. Attendees will share and discuss best practices and ideas for working with students and learn from other campuses in the region.

Heads on Beds Keep Budgets NOT Red; the Relationship Between Occupancy and Money Management

• • Audience: General Audience

  • Presenter(s): Chuck Lamb (Rochester Institute of Technology)

  • Room: King Edward (3rd floor)

  • Description: These are interesting times in the student housing world!  Many colleges/universities have full beds on campus while others are desperate to find students to fill the halls.  What is causing the disparity?  Is this a temporary pendulum swing or will occupancy management continue to be challenging in the future? Every student housed on campus has a direct influence on the department and institutional fiscal health.  Come find out the basics of both as we explore how occupancy impacts finances and the potential future of institutional success!   

The Power of Performance Management

• • Audience: Entry level/General Audience

  • Presenter(s): Sonya Alexander (Fairfield University)

  • Room: King George (3rd floor)

  • Description: Performance Management is defined as the process of maintaining or improving job performance through assessment, coaching, mentoring, and timely feedback.  Done correctly, performance management increases employee satisfaction, retention, productivity, and autonomy.  This session will provide the participant with an overview of performance management and ways to help coach our staff members up to be successful in their current roles and beyond.

Thinking in Possibility:  Why Do Our Students Stay?

• • Audience: Mid-level/General Audience

  • Presenter(s): Dave Zamansky (Colby-Sawyer College and Fun Enterprises/SPEAK Educators)

  • Room: Longford (3rd floor)

  • Description: Thinking in possibility means a shift in the way we think.  Many of our institutions want to know why our students leave and what we should be thinking about is why our students stay.  We will discuss what we have learned over the past few years, new opportunities out there to create a sense of belonging, and how to keep our students motivated, involved, and connected.

Building Workforce Sustainability That Sustains Excellence: Let’s Talk About Time

• • Audience: Senior Housing Officers Track

  • Presenter(s): Lauren Murphy (Syracuse University)

  • Room: Charles (2nd floor)

  • Description: In today's fast-paced and demanding work environments, it is crucial to prioritize the care and sustainability of our staff.  Issues of burnout, decreased productivity, and compromised well-being are often tied back to time - and the pressures and limits of it.  Time is one of the greatest commodities in our departments and campuses, and therefore needs to be critically considered.  This program will discuss the challenges faced by organizations in maintaining balance for their teams, with a particular focus on thinking about the management of time.  Participants will have the opportunity to share their own insights, while gaining practical strategies to promote workforce sustainability, enhance employee well-being, and foster a more productive and resilient organization.

Am I Smarter Than a 5th Grader? A Roundtable Discussion on the Balancing Act of Working Full-Time while Going Back to School

• • Audience: General Audience Roundtable

  • Presenter(s): Michelle Moyna (New York University)

  • Room: Highland (2nd floor)

  • Description: Thinking about going back to school while working full-time? Currently going back to school while working full-time? Just finished going back to school? Join this roundtable hosted by facilitators who have worked full-time while completing a certificate and master program to discuss how to navigate the demands and benefits of further education. We will discuss reasons to consider going back to school, the variety of programs to consider, balancing working and studying, and reflecting on experiences gained. We would like to have an honest, transparent discussion exploring the positives and challenges of balancing work and school from all attendees.

Holding staff, students, & yourself accountable

• • Audience: General Audience

  • Presenter(s): Shelly Keniston (Bridgewater State University)

  • Room: King Edward (3rd floor)

  • Description: One of the least favorable parts of the work we do can be holding people accountable. It is uncomfortable and we aren't really trained in doing this. A lot of this is learned on the job and can be taxing for some and create problems when it isn't done well or at all. Let's talk about how to hold ourselves, our students and staff accountable. I will give you some tips and tools to aid in this part of the work we do. 

Cultivating Through Compassion: The Power of Accountability in Student Leadership  

• • Audience: Entry level/General Audience

  • Presenter(s): Sydney Holley (Mercy University)

  • Room: King George (3rd floor)

  • Description: The role of student leaders is essential for fostering an inclusive campus culture, stimulating community engagement, and advocating for positive change on campus. The process of holding student leaders accountable for their actions and decisions, however, is a delicate one that requires thoughtfulness and compassion. Using a task-centric approach, this explores the importance of adopting a compassionate lens when addressing student leader accountability. Among other topics covered will be trust building, empathetic interactions, constructive feedback, restorative justice, and reconciliation. 

Sense of Belonging in the Time of COVID-19: Examining the Role of Friendships

• • Audience: Mid-level/General Audience

  • Presenter(s): Paola Mignone (Binghamton University)

  • Room: Longford (3rd floor)

  • Description: Sense of belonging is an important factor associated with student persistence, academic outcomes, satisfaction, and well-being. Dr. Mignone will present her study on the impact of the pandemic on the belongingness of students living in the residence halls. Students were interviewed in Fall 2020 as first-year students and again in Fall 2022 during their senior year. Study findings point to concerns over the virus, the impact of restrictions, changes to interactions with peers, and changes to social support as having lasting impacts on students’ sense of belonging. 

Out with the Old, In with the New... Student Staffing Model

• • Audience: Senior Housing Officers Track

  • Presenter(s): Meryl Stromberg (Binghamton University), Jaclyn Jew (Binghamton University) & Angella Kim (Binghamton University)

  • Room: Charles (2nd floor)

  • Description: Binghamton University is restructuring the decades-old residential student staff model to provide a more focused approach to address growing and changing student needs. This staffing model shift simultaneously aligned the student staff positions with the students' strengths, passions, and career aspirations, and with our department’s operations. This presentation will provide an overview of how Binghamton University made the decision to deconstruct the Resident Assistant role and came to this exciting new student staffing model, the challenges that were navigated and the adventure we have journeyed since we began. 

Hands-On Training or Hands-On Hazing?: Pros and cons of Behind Closed Doors (BCDs)

• • Audience: General Audience Roundtable

  • Presenter(s): Jade Laplante (Rochester Institute of Technology) & Shaun Woods (Rochester Institute of Technology)

  • Room: Highland (2nd floor)

  • Description: Does your department use Behind Closed Doors (BCDs) or similar training to prepare RAs to respond to incidents? Is your current training model helping them, or is it toeing the line of hazing? At this session, we will discuss this thin line that exists between hazing and training  when doing BCDs or similar types of training. We invite all practitioners, regardless of experience level, to engage in a conversation about their lived experiences around BCDs to learn best practices some best practices to utilize and pitfalls to avoid.

Is it Time to Go Yet? Navigating Stress & Burnout in Student Affairs

• • Audience: General Audience

  • Presenter(s): Nick Tucker (Pace University - Pleasantville)

  • Room: King Edward (3rd floor)

  • Description: This presentation will address what many individuals within student affairs deal with but are too scared to share with others or come to terms with about themselves. In this presentation, participants will identify what areas of their job where they feel the most inclined to experience feelings of burnout and stress. Next, participants will learn some effective coping strategies and techniques to advocate for their needs with others, identify when to take a break, and much more. Moreover, participants will gain better language for expressing their needs while rekindling a passion or spark for the student affairs field.

Distress Tolerance: Effective Strategies for College Students with Anxiety

• • Audience: Entry level/General Audience

  • Presenter(s): Nicole Pacenka (Landmark College)

  • Room: King George (3rd floor)

  • Description: In this presentation, we will talk about a brain-based approach that we are using at Landmark College to help our students become more resilient in their responses to anxiety and to learn how to rewire their brains to reduce amygdala activation. We will be providing practical and effective strategies for responding to anxiety, and supporting increased anxiety and distress tolerance.

Lead Like A Champion

• • Audience: Mid-level/General Audience

  • Presenter(s): Matthew Landau (SUNY Purchase)

  • Room: Longford (3rd floor)

  • Description: As someone who was in Residential Life for seven years and then took a six year break to be a High School teacher and instructional coach, I am now using what I gained in 7-12 education to be a better Residential Life Professional. As a teacher, there were four main pillars that we followed from Doug Lemov’s Teach Like A Champion. 1: Checking for Understanding (Collecting Data, Assessment), 2: Academic Ethos (Setting High Expectations and Planning for Success), 3: Ratio (Through Questioning, Writing, and Discussion), 4: Creating a Classroom Culture (Systems and Routines, Building Character and Trust). Come and learn how you can utilize techniques from a classroom setting into Residential Life.

Latine Students and their Experiences in Higher Education

• • Audience: Senior Housing Officers Track

  • Presenter(s): Nikko Garmendiz (SUNY Purchase) & Summer Cruz (Rochester Institute of Technology)

  • Room: Charles (2nd floor)

  • Description: This session looks to explore Latiné student experiences in higher education, specifically from a retention standpoint. Based on testimonios from students' lived experiences and scholarship, this session hopes to use story-telling and scholarly sources to explore Latiné student experiences in higher ed. After examining the study and its findings, the presentation would shift to a more housing/residence life perspective and focus on what we as HRL staff can do to support Latiné students and their success. Participants will be asked to engage in a dialogue about best practices they have seen to better support Latiné students.

Managing Up as an Entry Level Professional

• • Audience: General Audience Roundtable

  • Presenter(s): Noah McMulllin (Rochester Institute of Technology) & Devan Carter (Rochester Institute of Technology)

  • Room: Highland (2nd floor)

  • Description: This is an opportunity for entry-level professionals to have a roundtable discussion about the concept of "managing up," or working effectively and efficiently with supervisors (mid level to SHO/senior level professional). Discussion will include how to communicate your needs as well as collaborate with your supervisor(s) based on their working styles and preferences.