ResidentAssistant.com Newsletter: September 2006 Edition

Newsletter Content:

• A letter from the Author of New House 5
• New Resident Assistant Blog
• Site Resources
• Updates for September
• Student issues & concerns for September and October

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO THE OTHER MEMBERS OF YOUR STAFF!

During my three years as an RA at Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, I learned that a fast start is what makes or breaks community. It's essential for you, the RA, to establish yourself as a trustworthy resource right off-the-bat. This is particularly important when working in a first-year area but it also holds true in upperclassmen communities. You have to remember that most of your residents will be spending much of their time out of class in their dorm, whether it's studying, hanging out, eating, or sleeping. Establishing credibility early will allow you and your residents to make the most out of the time you have together...
read entire article

Good luck to all of you during the new school year. You are the people that give our campuses life.
Andy Butler

To order Andy's book click the link below:
www.newhouse5.com

Come check the residentasstant.com/blog page. Here are some of the items being discussed in September.

The New Facebook

Fire Safety in Student Housing

Resources

See Blog

o Bulletin boards – Find a great list of ideas and premade bulletin boards
/archive/programming/bulletinboard/ - Also see the pre-made bulletin board section.

o Door Decorations (Door Tags) – Here is a list of ideas collected off of the listserve and emailed to the site. Have fun seeing what other ideas people have come up with! /archive/programming/doortags/

o Use the message boards! – This is a great way for you to interact with other RAs and Professionals all over the world! Be sure to search before you ask a question to see if there is already a thread with that topic. /archive/cgi-bin/forums/ikonboard.cgi

o Social Programs – As you have certainly learned in training and noted above, the first 6 weeks of the first semester are the most critical time in building community in your areas. The first couple of weeks are especially crucial! Socials are an excellent way to get your residents to know one another. Check out ideas for social programs at /archive/programming/social/

o Flyers & other document templates

This month residentassistant.com has added new content to almost all of its' areas. Within the site you will find great programming ideas, bulletin boards, ice-breakers and teambuilders. New content is added on an almost daily basis. So keep checking back if you don't see exactly what you're looking for today because it very well may be there tomorrow.

These are some issues students may face during this time of year. As you will note, these are general guidelines and will vary from student to student. This information can be useful to not only be aware of what students may be going through but also to plan relevant programs.

Each of the following issues should spark programming ideas for you. For more detailed ideas, also be sure to check out the September Programming Planner. To share your own ideas, visit the blog and the discussion boards!

These are some issues students may face during this time of year. This information can be useful to not only be aware of what students may be going through, but also to plan relevant programs.

September and October planning pages

See calendar section for other months and for planning pages

If you have suggestions for this newsletter, or would be interested in providing content, please email me at [email removed]