Community Development Model

RA Training, Fall 2013

Overview:

Community Development Methods Meant as a quick snapshot Details will be covered in training

Programming Model & Examples

Door Decorations & Examples

Bulletin Boards & Examples

Welcome Letter & Example

Things we DON’T want to see…

More details will be in your RA Manual!

Community Development Methods

1. Programming Model

2. Area-Wide Programs

3. Res. Hall Identification

4. Personal Interactions

5. Welcome Letters

6. Door Decorations

7. Roommate Agreements

8. Building/Floor Meetings

9. Bulletin Boards

10. RA Hours

11. Health & Safety Inspections

12. Norman Dollars Take a quick look and familiarize you with some of the methods. We’ll discuss more details in training.

Programming Model

Program Requirements: 6 programs per semester 4 educational & 2 social * 2 programs per block for each semester

Educational Programming Options: UNE Model Unique: focus on social awareness Nurture: enhance life and academic skills▪ Academic and Personal components within Nurture category

Environment/Community: positively contribute to University and local communities

* You can always do more of these programs, but they may not count toward your programming model

total

Programming Model

Collaborative Programs: 2 max per semester*

Collaborative: working with another RA

Supportive Programs: 2 max per semester*

Supportive: attending a campus-sponsored event or program

Outside Presenters: 2 weeks notice for a program

* You can always do more of these programs, but they may not count toward your programming

model total

Programming Model

Programming Model Recap: U, N-Academic, N-Personal, E, 2 socials per block

▪ Each block will also include an Area-Wide program Area-wide Program Requirement: 3 per

semester Decided by RA Team & supervising AC

Fall Semester Requirements:

August/September

October November/December

2 programs 2 programs 2 programsSpring Semester Requirements:

January/February March April/May

2 programs 2 programs 2 programs

Programming Model: Examples

Question Jenga

Supplies – 2-3 Jenga games and markers

What – Write a “get to know you” kind of question on every Jenga piece. Set the game(s) up in a lounge and let the residents play. Each resident answers the questions on the pieces they move.

Learning Outcomes – Residents will get to know other members of the community

Puzzle Piece

Supplies – puzzle, art and craft supplies, magazines, etc.

What – Pick any puzzle and hand a piece out to everyone on the floor. Tell them to decorate the blank side in a way that represents them as an individual. Bring everyone together to put the puzzle together and talk about individual identities. Frame the puzzle after and put it in the hall.

Learning Outcomes – Residents will get to know other members of the community and be more aware, understanding and appreciative of difference and how they come together.

Programming Model: Examples

My Stash

Supplies – Jars, painters marker, stencils, oven

What – Give everyone a jar and let them pick a stash stencil. Draw on the jars and cook in an oven. Supplemental to discussing about budgeting tips for college, healthy spending habits, credit cards, etc.

Learning Outcomes – Residents will learn helpful financial information while also having an additional way to save a little along the way.

College Eating

Supplies – Recipes, examples of the food talked about, microwave/oven

What – Give everyone a mini recipe book of easy and healthy recipes to make in a residence hall. For example, there are a lot of single serve dishes that can be made easily in a coffee cup in a microwave. Serve sample portions of some recipes in their booklets

Learning Outcomes – Residents will learn easy and healthy recipes they can make themselves in the residence hall. Also have a better understanding of the responsibility of cooking on their own.

Programming Model: Examples

Cultural Sensitivity

Supplies – Examples of insensitive costumes; We’re a culture, not a costume campaign information; other researched information.

What – Around Halloween, discuss cultural sensitivity and appropriateness surrounding costumes in regards to traditions, stereotypes, etc. Ask for assistance from Multicultural Affairs. Utilize resources from campaigns like We’re a Culture, Not a Costume.

Learning Outcomes – Residents will gain more understanding of different cultures, traditions, stereotypes, and perspectives. Have a greater sense of respect and knowledge when choosing their costume for the holiday.

Jared Boxes

Supplies – Shoebox sized plastic storage boxes and resources from Jared Box website (labels, cards, etc.)

What – Ask residents to participate in filling a box to be given to a chronically ill child in the hospital. They can do them solo or work in groups. Fill the box with age appropriate toys and items like crayons, matchbox cars, coloring books, silly putty, etc. Donate the completed boxes to a local children’s hospital (Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland participates in the program).

Learning Outcomes – Residents will learn how easy and fulfilling it can be to take part in helping others in the community.

Door Decorations

Welcome residents to the community Personalize them!

Hand-made, creative, well-designed, eye-catching Incorporate themes related to the floor/hall Challenge yourself!

Complete 2 sets per semester (week 1 & week 8)

Make extras! Replace ones that get torn down or go missing Have them ready when new students move onto

your floor

Door Decorations: Examples

Door Decorations: Examples

Bulletin Boards

Communicate relevant information to residents University information Dates & deadlines Upcoming programs & events

Interact with community Resident of the Month, Resident Birthdays,

recognition Floor/hall issues and concerns

Plan ahead! Think about upcoming months Talk with your staff about themes and ideas to use

Bulletin Boards: Examples

Best Practices: Hand-made Relevant to

residents’ needs

Use many colors

Enough content to fill board

May extend beyond frame of bulletin board

Bulletin Boards: Examples

Bulletin Boards: Examples

Best Practices: Use perspective &

3D element to draw attention

Use popular game and/or reference as a theme

Neat handwriting & drawing, clean lines and text

Bulletin Boards: Examples Best Practices:

Catch attention with humor

Limit text on each paper to be readable at a glance (unlike this one )

Get creative!

Don’t consider yourself the “creative type?” Talk to your staff members and AC to brainstorm ideas

Think Outside

the

Box!

Welcome Letter

Welcome residents to the residential community! Introduce yourself to your residents Familiarize residents with the building Inform them of upcoming events and administrative

tasks▪ Floor meeting▪ Room Condition Report▪ Roommate Agreements

Work ahead! Start your draft now, & you can finish it during RA

Training

Welcome Letter: Sample

Hello Everyone!My name is Abbey, and I am your Resident Advisor here in Dunlap-King Hall! I am a

music major and am currently in my third year here at UNE. As an RA, I am here as a resource to help integrate you into the DK community and the larger campus community as well as to ensure you have a safe, healthy, and fun experience at UNE!

For those of you who are looking to get involved here on campus, there are so many opportunities to find your passion! We have over 80 student organizations on campus ranging from Intramural Sports to the Gamers Guild, from Orientation Leaders to Knit Wits! We also have opportunities for you to get involved in UNE’s Residential Student Life Association (RSLA) to represent and advocate for our hall and our larger residential community on campus. Doing this not only gives you leadership experience but also helps the entire hall get things we need. If you are interested, come and see me!

If you notice anything that is out of place, missing, or damaged in your room while you are moving in or within the first week, please document it on your Room Condition Report (RCR) and let me know. It is important for us to keep track of damages on your RCR so that you are not charged when you move out for things you did not damage. It is also important to report any damages that occur during the year so that we can get them fixed and keep the building in tip-top shape! Within the first week, I will also be coming around to help you with Roommate Agreement, which is meant to start you and your roommate talking about personal preferences within your room. This Agreement will set the community standards for your room that you and your roommate follow and can refer to during conflicts.

Specifically for DK, you will need your UNE ID to swipe into the building and your room key to access not only your room but also the door to your hallway. Never leave your room without both your ID and your room key! If I am not around and you need to contact me, send me an email at abbey.hirt@une.edu or leave me a message on my dry-erase board. We also will have signs posted around the hall with contact information for the RA on duty, and you can call or stop by with any questions.

I look forward to meeting you all, and let’s make this an amazing year!~Abbey

Community Development Methods

Programming Model

Area-Wide Programs

3. Res. Hall Identification

4. Personal Interactions

Welcome Letters

Door Decorations

7. Roommate Agreements

8. Building/Floor Meetings

Bulletin Boards

10. RA Hours

11. Health & Safety Inspections

12. Norman Dollars Again, we’ll discuss more details in RA Training.

Community Development:Things we DON’T want to see…

Bulletin Boards: All content is printed

pictures and text Minimal content,

board not filled Too much content,

overloaded with paragraphs of text

All pictures & fun, does not address a relevant need or issue of residents

Community Development:Things we DON’T want to see…

Door Decorations: Printed and pixilated pictures No effort put into it Plain, bland, non-creative Exclusive & non-welcoming Sloppy handwriting/finishing

Community Development:Things we DON’T want to see…

Programming: Last-minute planning▪ Asking another AC to sign your cash advance the day

of your program▪ Putting in your program proposal the day before your

program Poor implementation Plain & non-creative programs Repetitive and/or duplicate programs in the

same staff Paragraph(s) of text on advertisements

Community Development:Bottom Line?

Plan Ahead

Challenge Yourself

Use your strengths, and

Don’t be afraid to lean on each other!

Questions?

Bring them to RA Training!