PRE-CONFERENCE EDITION FALL 2018
GLACUHO Communications & Marketing Committee Megan Corder Eastern Illinois University
Jessica Kilgore Miami University
Kyleen Ammerman Miami University
Stu Macki Butler University
Josh Lemieux Purdue University Northwest
Tim Reardanz University of Michigan
Stephanie Beld Indiana State University
Derek Savick Indiana University- Purdue University Indianapolis
Cassie Govert Butler University Andrew Haugen Western Illinois University Rebecca Borowiak Northern Illinois University
Rita Wiley Indiana State University Hayley Hanger Eastern Illinois University
GLACUHO Board of Directors President Tiffany Gonzales University of Illinois at Chicago Past President Michelle Sujka University of Cincinnati President-Elect Eric Musselman DePaul University Secretary MaryAnne Wilk Eastern Michigan University Treasurer Justin Schuch Western Illinois University Illinois Delegate Mollie Rockafellow University of St. Francis Indiana Delegate Jacob Knight Franklin College Michigan Delegate Ashley Knapp Kalamazoo College Ohio Delegate Kristin Brewer Baldwin Wallace University 2018 Conference Host Jocelyn Maul Indiana University Bloomington 2019 Conference Co-Hosts Matea Čaluk and Nick Varner Michigan State University
Technology Coordinator Jeremy Alexander Eastern Illinois University Exhibitor Liaison Zac Birch Purdue University Campus Safety & Crisis Management Chair Ray Tennison Layola University Chicago Communications & Marketing Chair Megan Corder Eastern Illinois University Contemporary Issues Chair Krystal Kitten Indiana Wesleyan University Facilities & Operations Chair Ashley Jackson-Williams Layola University Chicago Health & Wellness Chair Yesenia Garcia University of Illinois at Chicago Inclusion & Equity Chair Michael Rivera Purdue University Northwest Professional Foundations Chair Abby Kruszynski Case Western Reserve University Programming & Development Chair Chris Beyer Augstana College Programming & Development Assistant Chair Eddie Koelzer Ohio State University Student Learning Chair Michelle Mason Augustana College
ABOUT TRENDS is published quarterly by the Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers (GLACUHO) for members of the association. GLACUHO is a non-profit organization that strives to: • Better prepare housing officers to meet the diverse and changing needs of those we serve with primary concern for students. • Contribute to the improvement of dining services, residential life, residential services and residential facilities provided by housing officers. • Advance and communicate professional knowledge and standards in the field of housing. • Provide opportunities for the education and professional development of housing officers. • Sponsor activities and services which assist housing officers in the exchange and distribution of information and ideas. • Support the goals and purposes of the Association of College and University Housing Officers International (ACUHO-I). EDITORIAL GUIDELINES All members of GLACUHO institutions are encouraged to submit articles for publication. Be sure to indicate the names of author(s), institution(s), email address(es) and GLACUHO committee or Board affiliation, if applicable. Articles not received on time or not published will be considered for the next issue. Submitted content may also be published at any time based on editorial needs and focus of the edition. Necessary editorial revisions will be made to ensure publication quality and to meet space requirements. Authors must work with GLACUHO to make necessary edits for publication to TRENDS and to maintain consistency across the publication. Submitted content may or may not be published at the discretion of GLACUHO. Material that has been submitted to other publications is discouraged. Authors bear full responsibility for the accuracy of references, quotations, tables, and figures submitted for publication. Authors further hold GLACUHO harmless from any liability resulting from publication of articles. Any editorial mention of commercial interests is intended entirely as an information service and should not be construed as an endorsement, actual or implied, by GLACUHO. Submission should be made at www.glacuho.org/?Trends_Submissions. Comments, and questions for TRENDS can be sent to trends@glacuho.org. Printed materials can be sent to: Megan Corder GLACUHO Communications & Marketing Chair Eastern Illinois University 600 Lincoln Avenue Charleston, Illinois 69120 ADVERTISEMENTS For information, please contact the GLACUHO Communications and Marketing Chair. GLACUHO reserves the right to reject any advertisement not in consonance with the GLACUHO Diversity Statement (revised 2018). Advertising of a product or service in this publication should not be construed as an endorsement.
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From the President Tiffany Gonzales
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ByLaw Updates
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Conference Initiatives
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A Latte Love for Brewtiful Bloomington Valerie Heruska
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Reflecting on MLI 2018 Tamara Dunn, Lloyd Grahm, Shavonn Nowlin
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Managing Up Lauren Teso-Warrer
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Contemporary Issues Expert: Dr. Shruti Desai
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Supervision Trifecta- Three Supervisors’ Guides for Grad Supervision Keenan Hamilton, Mike Mifflin, Kellie Steffen
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Jargon Junction: Learning the Lingo Amy Bielicki and Kayla Hagerty
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Introducing the PDI Faculty Professional Foundations Committee
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Mindfulness Made Easy Sean Brown and Dottie Brown
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¿Quién Soy y Quién Seré?: Navigating My Identity at an HSI Alejandro Rios
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BW Saves with Bigbelly Solar Company Robin Gagnow
From the President Greetings GLACUHO, Happy Fall! I hope this new academic year brings a sense of accomplishment and relief that training and opening are over (for most of us!), football season (or if you’re me, hockey season) is underway, and students are finding their routine as they transition to their new home on campus. As I reflect on this past year, I want to thank the GLACUHO Board Of Directors, Committee Members, as well as GLACUHO Membership for the many accomplishments, opportunities, and engagement you’ve had this past year. Committing to your professional development takes work, and I appreciate the time and energy many of you have given to make GLACUHO a place to learn, lead, and serve. When I stepped into this role in November 2017, I was nervous, but more importantly, I was determined. Looking at the strategic plan, I had a long to-do list, but I also had my own expectations of what would be accomplished, and the pressure to succeed. Reflecting back on this year, I am proud of the work many of you have put in, and am grateful to have been part of the team. I would like to highlight a few of my many accomplishments of GLACUHO over this past year: - Hosted over 10 webinars presented, including proposed by-law change town halls, Working with Greek Students in Housing, and Creating Learning Outcomes for Residential Students. - Opened our GLACUHO online store, offering branded merchandise to members, in conjunction with our 50 for 50 Campaign. (Feel free to shop now!) - Opened our first Request for Proposal (RFP) process for our 2020 Annual Conference, and received interest from over 30 cities within the region. - Proposed four by-law changes to the membership, in which all four have passed. Learn more about those here. As I wrap up my year as GLACUHO President, I want to thank you all for allowing me to serve in this role. This past year was full of learning, sharing, and most importantly growing, and I hope I was able to live up to the expectations you had of me as your President. I am excited for Eric Musselman, as he transitions into this role at our Annual Conference, and want to thank Michelle Sujka for her service to GLACUHO over the past three years. If you haven’t done so, I would encourage you to register for our Annual Conference, as we Break Away to Bloomington October 28-30, 2018! I hope to see many of you there!
Best,
Tiffany Gonzales GLACUHO President
GLACUHO ByLaw Updates This past year, GLACUHO membership had the opportunity to vote on four proposed by-law changes. The GLACUHO Leadership Team is excited to implement the following By-law changes as we continue to provide the best opportunities for housing officers to learn, lead and serve. To view our ByLaws in full, please visit our website, https://www.glacuho.org/page/AboutUs. Exhibitor Liaison and Technology Coordinator Appointment Timeline: Exhibitor Liaison and Technology Coordinators positions have been updated to reflect the practice of appointing positions on odd years, observing the position beginning at the end of an odd year conference, and beginning appointment at the end of an even year conference. (Article IX) Minimum Requirements for GLACUHO Leadership: Implementation of minimum requirements for board positions Elected Officers should demonstrate strong skills in professionalism, organizational leadership, strategic execution, collaboration, effective written and oral communication, and administrative effectiveness. (Article VI) The President-Elect must have a minimum of five years of full-time experience in housing and residence life prior to the start of their term. The President-Elect must have served as a Board Member, Committee Chair, or Task Force Chair in the GLACUHO Region. The Treasurer must have a minimum of five years of full-time experience in housing and residence life prior to the start of their term. The Treasurer must have served as a Board Member, Committee Chair, or Task Force Chair in the GLACUHO Region. The treasurer must have knowledge of basic principles for financial budgeting, accounting, and reporting. The Secretary must have a minimum of two years of full-time experience in housing and residence life prior to the start of their term. The State Delegates must have a minimum of two years of full-time experience in housing and residence life prior to the start of their term. State Delegates must be employed at a member institution in the state they represent for the duration of their term. Online Elections: This by-law change will shift the Association’s election process from an in-person election at the Annual Conference to an online election which will occur in May. (Article VI, VII) GLACUHO Leadership: This by-law change will split the leadership of the association into two governing bodies, the Board of Directors and the Ex-Officio Members & Committee Chairs. The Board of Directors will be composed of the elected leaders of the association (Tri-Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Committee Chair Liaison, and State Delegates). The Ex-Officio Members & Committee Chairs will be the non-elected leaders appointed by the President, with consultation and approval from the Board of Directors, with a focus on the operational side of the association. This group will have specialized duties for the association. A newly Elected Board Member, the Committee Chair Liaison, will be created to oversee the Committee Chairs and Assistant Committee Chairs, and represent the voices of Committee Chairs, Assistant Committee Chairs, and committee members on the Board of Directors. Ex-Officio members will meet as a group and individually with the Committee Chair Liaison regularly. Collectively, the full group of elected and appointed leaders will be referred to as the GLACUHO Leadership. (Articles VI, VII, VII, IX, X, and XII)
A Latte Love for Brewtiful Bloomington VALERIE HERUSKA | INDIANA UNIVERSITY BLOOMINGTON 2018 CONFERENCE HOST COMMITTEE
Hello GLACUHO! We are excited to welcome you to Brewtiful Bloomington, IN for the GLACUHO 2018 Annual Conference. One of my favorite things about living in Bloomington is that it is home to some outstanding local coffee shops, many of which are located near the convention and hotel sites. I have a latte love for the local coffee scene, and so I am excited to share some of my favorite spots with you all.
HOPSCOTCH COFFEE
(235 W Dodds St #102, Bloomington, IN 47403) Located 0.6 miles south of the convention center on the B-Line trail, Hopscotch Coffee offers a wide variety of small batch roasted coffee, as well as specialty espresso-based drinks. They also offer pastries from Rainbow Bakery, a local vegan bakery. Hopscotch Coffee will also be the coffee served at the convention center during the conference, so you all are in for a delightful treat.
H COFFEE HOPSCOTC
What to try: Nitro Cold Brew, Cobra Verde (iced green-coffee drink - organic citrus and ginger juices, a little cane sugar-simple syrup and green coffee extract), Thai Iced Coffee, and my personal favorite, the Iced Little Wizard (almond milk, espresso, honey, cayenne, and cinnamon). You cannot go wrong with any of the hot coffees that are “on tap”, especially if they have the “Weekender” blend.
CRUMBLE COFFEE & BAKERY (532 N College Ave, Bloomington, IN 47404) Located 0.5 miles north of the convention center, Crumble Coffee and Bakery serves up locally brewed and roasted Quarrymen Coffee. They offer different blends daily and also boast a variety of espresso drinks (their latte is one of the best in town). What makes Crumble stand out from the other coffee shops in town are their amazing, fresh baked pastries and breakfast items. Try a Nutella chip cookie (Gluten Free) or the Almond Joy Cookie.Their homemade scones and dessert bars are also outstanding.
OTHER LOCAL PLACES: THE INKWELL -Also serves up Hopscotch coffee. -Try the artisanal pop tarts (so good!) - 105 N College Ave, Bloomington, IN 47404 -0.2 miles away from the convention center THE POWERHOUSE CAFE -A variety of coffees, tea, and tasty pastries. -314 E Kirkwood Ave, Bloomington, IN 47408 -0.4 miles away from the convention center CUP AND KETTLE TEA CO. - So many good tea options - 208 N Walnut St #100, Bloomington, IN 47404 - 0.3 miles from the convention center STARBUCKS …... the decor is nice. - 110 S Indiana Ave, Bloomington, IN 47408 - 0.6 miles from the convention center
CRUMBLE CO FFEE & BAKERY
SOMA COFFEE HOUSE & JUICE BAR Located: (322 E Kirkwood Ave, Bloomington, IN 47408) Located 0.4 miles northeast of the convention center. Soma Coffee House and Juice Bar offers a wide selection of coffee, teas, smoothies, and juices. Their specialty drinks are made with espresso, chocolate (or flavored syrups) steamed milk (they have non-dairy options too!) and whipped cream (optional). What to try: The Lewinsky (caramel, coconut, and vanilla), The Peppermint Patty (dark chocolate and mint), and the Zombie (steamed milk, white or dark chocolate, and cafe bianco).
Tamara Dunn Assistant Director for Residential Education Purdue University Fort Wayne Lloyd Graham Assistant Director for Residential Life
 Indiana University-Bloomington Shavonn Nowlin Assistant Director of Residence Life and Conferences Illinois Institute of Technology
From being able to view the majestic landscape that is Indiana University, to socializing amongst Bloomington townies and GLACUHO members; there was an opportunity to mix and mingle at every turn. The cohort of 12, came from a wide array of places with every state in the GLACUHO region being
represented. We were able to connect informally during sessions, as well as, in the evening when socializing, and with our roommates. More formally, we had the opportunity to connect with a smaller cohort of three participants, which was led by a faculty member. Additionally, faculty offered one on one time with each of their small cohort members to better understand who they were and how they could offer support. This component of the experience often manifested further networking opportunities, like connecting participants to resources at other institutions. For example, one participant was connected to a potential mentor in the realm of Multicultural Affairs, due to a meaningful conversation with faculty member Gagnow about their professional goals and career trajectory. Even outside of the MLI experience, there were several opportunities for informal networking due to the GLACUHO executive board summer meeting taking place at the same time and in the same space. GLACUHO exec board members were residing,
meeting, and dining in the same spaces as MLI participants so there was plenty of opportunity to further network and connect as colleagues.
Throughout the two day institute, MLI participants were engaged in four varying presentations developed by each of the faculty members. Each faculty member facilitated a topic they frequently experience and have worked to gain expertise in during their career either by choice or through unique opportunities in their own professional journey. The presenters were engaged, invested, and took the time to create content with takeaways that indicated the priorities they felt would best benefit a mid-level housing professional.
Steve Herndon proposed early and often that the nuggets of wisdom we share regarding supervision had to come from somewhere, and he focused in on positive approaches to finding the intersection between our leadership style and our supervision style. The value of a well-worded question to gauge understanding, competence, and comfort while also sharing personal experiences resonated with each of us in a variety of ways.
Robin Gagnow created a truly unique experience for participants by adapting his session to fit a variety of learning styles, while also incorporating a primary takeaway lesson: Don’t hesitate to approach a vendor and ask questions regardless of your level of purchasing power now. Someday, somewhere – even if it is for your own home or apartment – you will be the purchaser, and knowing what questions to ask to match the values you seek in facilities is vital.
Pete Trentacoste reminded participants that we all know someone who just “isn’t good with money” – but we’re definitely in the job for more than the ‘free rent’, as many mid-level professionals may not live on campus as part of their role. With the perception out there that Housing professionals spend a large amount of money on pizza but little to no money elsewhere, Pete talked us through how we can create a stronger understanding across our campuses that we are aware of the connections between student affairs, financial affairs and financial stewardship. He also impressed upon participants the increased need for accountability.
Patty Griffin offered that no matter how large or small our campus is or how long you may have been in a role, organizational politics will never take a day off. Knowing your purpose within your role, department, and division is
important while also being aware that each person has a different agenda and varying levels of success in implementing their agenda. While we may not agree with varying outcomes, we do need to be mindful as mid-level professionals that we should be able to explain why a decision was made and not rely on positional power of ourselves or others to get something done; vision without a sound strategy is an illusion. The MLI experience was like none other. It really allowed participants to get a better feel for what lies beyond the minutia of everyday execution of tasks and to think more “big picture� about the future. It allowed space for dialogue, processing, confusion, validation, fun, humor, empathy, connection, and growth. One may think that the combination of the content and time allotted for MLI was a recipe for an overwhelming experience. On the contrary, the facilitation, arrangement, and organization of MLI allowed for just the right amount of time and content to make a meaningful endeavor for this year’s participants and anyone interested for the future.
Managing Up
By: Lauren Teso-Warner, Northern Illinois University & Marci Walton, Xavier University
In Gallup, Inc.’s 2013 “State of the American Workplace,” only 30% of the U.S. workforce feels engaged in their work, and the majority of U.S. workers (70%) do not reach their full potential. The study singles out the most significant factor for engagement in the workplace: a positive relationship with a supervisor. The concept of managing up is not new, but often misused and equated with a staff member who “kisses up” to their supervisor. More accurately, “managing up” means proactively seeking to understand the vision and goals of one’s supervisor, know the supervisor’s thought process, establish trust, and ultimately anticipate the supervisor’s needs. In turn, the supervisor-supervisee relationship develops, employee satisfaction and engagement increase, expectations become clearer, and outcomes and productivity rise. How, practically, does a supervisee manage up? With any relationship, communication is key but the large variety of individual communication styles complicates what seems simple. Moreover, the more you move up within your institution, the more likely you are to have less personal facetime with your supervisor. You need to understand your own and your supervisor’s personal communication styles, and how they can work best together. It is important to outline a clear communication plan and standards. For example, if an issue or task is time sensitive, a phone call or face to face communication works best. On the other hand, if time is not a factor for an item/issue, sending an email with an appropriate, non-urgent tone and corresponding timeline or even making a note to yourself to address the item at a meeting is sufficient. Knowing what items fall under what category requires the supervisee to practice exercising individual discretion, but you cannot develop judgment by remaining passive. Ultimately, this interpersonal dimension of the managing-up process requires the supervisee to exercise individual judgment and to take an active, rather than passive, stance towards their supervisor. Next, it is important to understand how to keep excessive guesswork out of managing up. Regardless of experience, clear reference points exist by which a
supervisee can manage up successfully without an abundance of experience. Know the vision and goals of your department, and find out how you fit into that plan. Do not leave room for assumptions, and make sure your work aligns with the direction your supervisor has set. Remember that you are part of the greater whole and have talents to contribute even if you only see directly self-generated results in your own work with students. Next, do not be afraid to ask what you can improve on, and use specific situations rather than asking a blanket statement. While a good review process can generate this feedback, timely and situation-specific guideposts to improvement can help supervisees manage up by correcting communication and performance issues in real time. If a crisis happened on your campus the night before, recall the steps you took to resolve the situation, and ask your supervisor how they would have handled the situation. This will help you understand your supervisor’s thought process, the questions they ask themselves, and how you can incorporate this into your future work to improve. On the flipside, do not be afraid to share feedback you have with your supervisor. This will only improve and create more transparency in your relationship. If something is not working for you, your supervisor will never know unless you are open and honest and providing feedback in a constructive manner. In sum, a supervisee’s reflecting and comparing their own thinking with their supervisor’s is a crucial step in managing up. You are improving your ability to exercise independent judgment and also gaining interpersonal intelligence by seeing through a supervisor’s eyes. Ultimately, learning how to anticipate the needs of your supervisor is at the heart of managing up. If you recognize your supervisor tends to send several emails soliciting a response once the traditional workday has ended, make responding to those your first priority the next business day. To do this without overtaxing yourself during the day, leave sufficient time for yourself early in the morning, and be proactive to successfully manage expectations from your supervisor. Taking on this style promotes success not just for your department, but you as an individual and your ability to progress within the field.
THE GREAT LAKES NEED GREAT APPAREL
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Sean Brown | Residence Life Coordinator Michigan Technological University If you’re like me, summer is the finish line to the marathon that is the school year. By the time I reach summer I tend to feel both accomplished and tired. I use summer as a time to work on special projects, enjoy vacations, and mentally prepare for the upcoming year. Unfortunately, life doesn’t always take our wishes into account. Instead of the expected abundance of uninterrupted work time, summer can have its own share of challenges that make the mental prepping for the new year much more difficult. My university was thrown a curve ball this summer in the form of serious flash floods. Although the campus was spared the worst of the damage, the lives of many members of our university and local community were turned upside down. Fortunately, our department had the capacity to provide housing for the disaster relief volunteers who came from all over the country to help rebuild our community. This influx of volunteers altered our priorities and forced us to put certain planned projects and tasks on the back burners. This also put a pause on the process of mentally preparing for the new semester. Instead of having the opportunity to plan and set goals for the upcoming year, we spent our time helping to relocate and house individuals who had lost their homes. Many of our staff had also scheduled vacation time, so we lacked staff members to help with the process. For our department, it could have been very easy to look at these relief efforts as an inconvenience and get irritated because it took away from what should have been a time of rest. This is a mindset that is fundamentally at odds with our values though, and in a lot of ways defeats the purpose of mental prepping Many student affairs professionals do what they do because they want to help and support students. Sometimes this is inconvenient and often comes at 4:55PM on a Friday afternoon just as we’re getting ready to leave the office. We don’t help people because it’s convenient, we help because it’s what we’re called to do. After taking time to reflect, I realize that it can be easy to lose sight of this, but that it was possible for me to take a step back and appreciate what this disaster has reminded me of.
Much of what I face is temporary and can be left at the end of the day. However, for the students we help, this is their life and the challenges they face can feel overwhelming. This is where we can step in to provide assistance. Of course it is important to take time for yourself and to get the rest that will help you successfully support students. It’s no secret that the year will get busy and that self-care is imperative for longevity. Mental prepping is the process of working proactively to think about your “why.” Why do you sit up with students who are heartbroken about being away from home? Why do you help students who suffer from issues that bring you heartache? Why do you sacrifice weekends and evenings to work with student leaders? I imagine it’s because you are passionate about student success and growth. By fixing this “why” in your mind, you will be able to set the stage to begin mentally preparing for the year ahead of you no matter what it may bring. As the flood waters abate and other crises become more manageable, take time to pick up the pieces and begin to build again. Hopefully, you will not have to face major flooding or other disaster to reflect on what you’re doing. When small things do pop up and take away from your “down time” during summer, it can be incredibly important to pull together as a team and reassess your values and motivations. This, more than anything, can help to set the stage for a great semester. I would like to leave you to reflect on the Finnish word, “Sisu.” Sisu does not have a perfect counterpart in the English language, but at its heart it means extraordinary endurance in the face of adversity. This is the work we do every year as housing professionals, and it’s important not only to take pride in this ability, but also to ask ourselves why we show Sisu in our work with students. Thank you, Sean Brown
Sisu
Take the next step toward your professional future.  Sign up for the 2019 Professional Development Institute. Join other new professionals from across GLACUHO as you learn from a team of five seasoned housing professionals. Learn more at http://www.glacuho.org/pdi
Dr. Shruti Desai serves as Assistant Vice President at McKendree University in Lebanon, IL. Shruti’s research examines resilience in women of color in Senior Student Affairs Officer roles. Prior to joining McKendree, Shruti held professional roles in Residence Life at Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Kansas, and Texas Tech University. Shruti has worked to lead systemic change for LGBT and individuals of color for students and professional staff. Shruti presents regionally and nationally on identity conscious supervision, creating supportive cultures for marginalized identities, building a culture of assessment, and resilience. Shruti is an alumnus of the Social Justice Training Institute (SJTI) as well as a past faculty and intern with SJTI. Her passion lies around getting beyond the false binary of race in America, examining identity as intersections of power and privilege and data as storytelling. Shruti has received numerous awards including NASPA’s Asian Pacific Islander Knowledge Community mid-level professional of the year as well as the James R. Holobaugh award for outstanding service to the LGBT community and Advisor of the Year. Shruti is a member of the NASPA Supporting, Expanding, and Recruiting Volunteer Excellence (SERVE) academy and the ACPA External Advisory Board. Shruti holds a B.A. in Psychology from Mercer University, a M.Ed. in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia and an Ed.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Maryville University. Shruti lives in St. Louis with her incredible wife and their zoo of two dogs and a cat.
Supervison TrifectaThree Supervisors' Guides for Grad Supervision Keenan Hamilton, Miami University Mike Mifflin, Eastern Illinois University Kelle Steffen, Ohio University
Graduate student supervision can be challenging, rewarding, and is often a very different beast to tackle than supervising student staff. New professionals come into this opportunity excited about being a mentor and support resource to their grad, but not sure of what the experience fully entails. The guide below shares personal anecdotes, insights, and advice about grad supervision from three residence life professionals. You will hear from Kellee Steffen who is a Resident Director at Ohio University and supervises one Graduate Resident Director; Mike Mifflin, a Complex Director at Eastern Illinois University who supervises three Associate Resident Directors; and Keenan Hamilton, a Resident Director at Miami University who supervises a Graduate Assistant and works with his grad to co-supervise a team of RAs.
I have supervised my grad over the last 2 years. Having an impact on their development as a student affairs professional and watching them grow in their confidence and abilities in their position has by far been the most rewarding aspect about this experience. I have loved just being a part of their start in the field and helping them find passion areas and creating their own network in residence life. The relationship I’ve developed with my grad and knowing I’ll always have this connection has added another level of appreciation to my work. Supervising grads is always a fun challenge and rewarding because you get to see their growth and development with their own staffs. They grow more confident, start to shape their supervision style into their own, and find passion areas within student affairs but also in their own lives. Supervising a graduate student also helps you grow as a supervisor and keeps you on your toes! I love all the learning that takes place in grad supervision. I like to start each 1:1 with my grad sharing what it is they are learning in class. This really helps inform my practice and I always find myself learning new concepts or theories. I also just really enjoy getting to know my grad as a person and seeing them develop throughout the year.
2.
Kellee
What is rewarding about supervising a graduate student?
KEEAN MIKE
KEEAN MIKE
Kellee
1.
What challenges are there in graduate student supervision?
I think I’ve struggled most with making sure I give enough time to my graduate student. My grad is a very competent individual who has shown a lot of success in their position so I find myself sometimes not checking in as much as I should as their supervisor because I know they are able to do well with or without me. I think I also want them to make and learn from their own experience and not one that I create for them, but I’m learning that is not always best and the casual check in whether they need it or not shows support is there. Some challenges can include being able to be the supervisor that they need, not necessarily the one that you want to be. For example, it is challenging if the graduate student you work with does not wish to have any sort of relationship, friendship or professional, that you are interested in having. In supervising multiple grads, it’s also challenging to make sure that your time is being split between them as needed any given day or week. Since I co-supervise with my grad, communication can sometimes be a challenge. Making sure that we are in constant communication and sharing important information is key so we are able to make informed decisions. Co-supervising with a grad has taught me a lot about how to be adaptable in my communication style and the importance of making sure we are working as a cohesive team.
Know that you have to be flexible in being a supervisor for what your grad student needs, and make sure to treat them like adults and not student staff, especially in the tough moments. They are always going to remember their first supervisor or at least their supervisors they had in graduate school. You hope that they will at least appreciate the experience they got and hope they learned something from you! Also, don't be afraid to step in and offer your help to them, and remember that they are also students balancing a heavy workload, academics, and their own lives. Know that it takes time and you will make mistakes. Take the time to get to know your grad personally and what they want out of the position. This can be helpful in making sure you get your grad connected with experiences they are seeking. You will also makes mistakes when supervising a grad. Learn from those mistakes to help cultivate a positive learning environment for your grad. Also, if you need help with supervision of a grad, talk to your supervisor because they already have the experience of supervising professional staff.
4.
KEEAN MIKE Kellee
Kellee
It’s definitely not like supervising student staff, that’s for sure! Really emphasize self-care with grads. I think some of them can be in the “I want to do it all!” mindset and work to get every experience and say yes to every opportunity so they can stand out during the job search. Grads don’t need to do everything though, so help them find a few passion areas and figure out what balance means to them and how to be most successful in that balance.
MIKE
What advice would you give regarding grad supervision?
KEEAN
3.
5.
What advice would you have for grads regarding being supervised?
Ask questions and give feedback to your supervisor. Learn as much as you can from their successes and their challenges. Let your supervisor know what you need when you need it, not a week, month or year later.
Make sure to give your supervisor great feedback, as they are always growing and want the feedback to be a better supervisor to you. Ask questions, but also remember that you’re a pro staff member that can make decisions as well. Let your supervisor know what you need and be open with communication!
Let your supervisor know what you want to get out of the experience. You may not know what this is when you start (and that’s okay), but once you have an idea of what you would like to be doing let your supervisor know. Also, be sure to share your perspectives. You were hired into this role for a reason and your fresh perspective is valuable to the work you’re doing in your community and department. Sum up grad supervision in three words
Growth, Care, Guidance
Kellee Guidance, Growth, Flexibility
MIKE Development, Teamwork, Support
KEEAN
GLACUHO Facilities and Operations Terminology Feature: Fall Edition
JARGON JUNCTION
LEARNING THE LINGO
Amy Bielicki | Western Illinois University: Assistant Complex Director Kayla Hagerty | Sigma Tau Gamma Fraternity: Director of WPN Housing Operations New school year, new start, new Facilities and Operations terms to learn! Welcome back to Jargon Junction: Learning the Lingo. Now that our Residence Halls are open, understanding facilities and operations terms can be key to keeping our halls running successfully. For those who are new to the Housing profession, welcome! For those who have been in Housing for a while, welcome back! These terms can help you to navigate the world of Facilities and Operations while working in the Housing profession. Below are the five key Facilities and Operations terms identified for this article. We wish you the best of luck this school year!
FLOOR PLAN Drawing that is a view looking straight down after a horizontal plane is cut into the building above the floor. Floor plans help map out a buildings structure, where rooms are, and the best routes for evacuation in case of an emergency. Further floor plans can help identify building occupancy, how many rooms exist on a floor, and what “style” (i.e. traditional, suite, apartment, etc.) housing exists within the building.
HVAC (HEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR-CONDITIONING The system that is responsible for the building’s climate control. HVAC systems vary on every campus and sometimes even by building. Two pipe systems existing in buildings allow for the flow of either hot air or cold air. Two pipe systems typically need to be “switched” during the school year, once in the fall when it becomes cold and again during the hotter weather in the spring. A four pipe system allows for tenants of the building to access hot air and cool air throughout the year - meaning that the characteristic “switch” of two pipe systems is not necessary.
ROUGH-IN Term refers to contractors working to get an area of project ready for permanent completion of another contractor’s work. For example, an electrician who has “roughed-in” an electrical conduit must do so before the wall has been completed. A carpenter, in return, must “rough-in” a wall before the electrician can finish adding outlet covers and light switches..
CAULKING Waterproof material used to seal the exterior of a building. Caulk is helpful in reducing the chance that outside weather will permeate the interior of a building. Caulk is typically used to seal windows and doors, though it may also be seen around piping, baseboards, around bathtubs or in bathrooms, and occasionally may be used to prevent insects from entering a space.
VENDORS Outside business used by university to obtain supplies and services. Vendors can supply everything from furniture to food. Maintenance, cleaning materials, technology, equipment, all of these and more can be contracted to vendors. Universities have a plethora of responsibilities; vendors can help universities meet their needs in an efficient manner. Vendor or Exhibitor Fairs, typically found at conference, are great ways for Universities to interact with outside companies, build connections, and learn what goods and services exist.
What's next for Facilities & Operations:
Stay tuned for the next installment of Jargon Junction: Learning the Lingo to learn Facilities and Operations terms, what they mean, and how they apply to you! Don’t forget to check out the Facilities and Operations Pre-Conference! Grad students and New Professionals - this one is for you!
INTRODUCING THE PDI FACULTY Professional Foundations Committee
GLACUHO’s 2019 Professional Development Institute promises to be a fun, rigorous, and meaningful learning experience for all of this year’s participants. The 2019 faculty have been selected and the region is excited to share their line up with you. Each faculty member brings a unique perspective to our profession and they will mentor a group of new professionals who wish to pursue housing as a long-term career. This year’s faculty members include:
Kelly Thacker Associate Director of Housing Operations Wayne State University
Dr. Kelly Thacker started her housing career as an RA her sophomore year at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Thacker then attended Kansas State University for her Master’s degree and worked in apartment housing. After completing her Master’s, Kelly moved to Indiana University in July 2006 in the role of Assistant Residence Manager. After 12 years and 5 positions at IU, Thacker has served as the Associate Director for Finance & Data Management, Assistant Director of Housing Assignments, Associate Director for Residential Life, Residence Manager, and Assistant Residence Manager. Currently, Thacker serves as the Associate Director of Housing Operations at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI overseeing housing assignments, billing, meal plans, and process development. Through all of her positions Thacker has worked hard to build effective and efficient processes and procedures that are also student-centered. Thacker has served on the Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers (GLACUHO) board, Bloomington Professional Council (Indiana University), and is the current chair for the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I) Professional Standards committee. As a participant in the first GLACUHO PDI, Thacker was honored to be selected as a faculty member for PDI 2018 and is excited to return for PDI 2019 and share her passion for creating sustainable business practices and procedures. A native Wisconsinite, Thacker enjoys spending time with her family, friends, her dogs Pennie & Lilly, as well as cheering on her beloved Green Bay Packers. Thacker enjoys attending various art and music events. She has been involved in her church, sings in a choir, is an avid runner, and enjoys traveling and exploring new places around the world.
Sarah Meaney Director of Housing and Residence Life Elmhurst College
Sarah Meaney serves as the Director of Housing and Residence Life at Elmhurst College. She began her housing career as a resident assistant at North Central College in Naperville, IL and then continued on as a professional resident assistant at a boarding high school in Galena, Alaska. She earned her Masters of Education in Adult and Higher Education from Northern Illinois University. Sarah spent the past seven years working at Miami University as a First Year Adviser/Resident Director, the Program Coordinator for Academic Initiatives, and an Assistant Director. Her past professional projects include co-instructing multiple study abroad courses to Costa Rica and Fiji, creating new and revitalizing current living learning communities, and investing heavily into strategic academic partnerships. Sarah has been an active member of GLACUHO since graduate school and has previously served on the board as the Professional Foundations Committee Chair. She has also chaired the past four Mid-Level Institutes, been a member of the Financial Stability Task Force, and served as a mentor in GLACUHO’s Professional Network. Professional development is a passion area for Sarah and she includes this in all areas of her work. Whether you are a first-time RA or seasoned professional, there is always room to learn and grow. Outside of work, Sarah loves to travel, camp, sing, play volleyball, and spend time with her family.
Dan Pedersen Director of Housing and Residential Services Northern Illinois University
Dan has 25 years of student affairs work in diverse and complex campus environments with increasing responsibilities including developing programs and services that support underrepresented populations and foster social justice education, extensive experience working with public/private housing facilities, and experience with major facility projects including renovation of existing facilities. Currently, Dan has oversight for a budget totaling over $30 million with a full and part time staff of over 200. As part of the oversight and resource management of housing, he is responsible for over 3500 student residents in four residence hall complexes, and an apartment complex, which includes a public/private partnership. Dan also has experience developing and promoting Living/Learning Communities and Special Interest Communities. Pedersen holds two degrees from Eastern Illinois University – a BA in Speech Communication and a MBA. In addition to his wealth of professional experience, Dan has provided leadership to state, regional, and international professional associations and organizations including serving as GLACUHO President, ACUHO-I Local Arrangements Chairperson for the Annual Conference and Exhibition, and UMR-ACUHO Committee Chairperson. He also served as faculty for ACUHO-I CHO Institute and NHTI. He was recently recognized with the Jack Collins Distinguished Service Award by GLACUHO.
Dr. Qiana Perrean Smith
Associate Director The Ohio State University
Dr. Qiana Perrean Smith works at The Ohio State University in Residence Life, Student Life as an Associate Director of Residence Life. Ohio State houses over 14,000 students on the Columbus, Wooster/ATI, Mansfield, and Newark campuses. Dr. Smith is responsible for co-managing the day to day operations for the students and staff that live on the campuses. Prior to joining Ohio State in 2016, Dr. Smith worked at The University of Michigan-Flint for seven years where she was instrumental in developing the Office of Housing and Residential Life and opening their first residence hall. Early in Dr. Smith’s career, she worked at Michigan State University in the Department of Residence Life for several years. A native of Flint, Michigan, Dr. Smith earned a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Human Development from Central Michigan University. She also attended Michigan State University where she earned a Master’s Degree in Students Affairs Administration with a concentration in Multicultural Education and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education.
Sara Dickey Associate Director of Residence Life for Selection, Training and Conduct Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis
Sara Dickey is the Associate Director of Residence Life for Selection, Training and Conduct at Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). She has worked at IUPUI since 2013, when she began as an Assistant Director. In her current role, Sara oversees professional and staff selection and training, and manages conduct cases that occur in housing. A large part of her role includes ensuring staff are trained to properly respond to policy violations and student concerns with the ability to both support students and appropriately comply with federal and state regulations. Sara has worked in housing and residence life for 16 years, and has previously worked at Manchester University, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, Hope College, and North Park University Chicago. She has been involved with GLACUHO as a presenter, committee member, committee chair, and conference host. She received her M.A. in Counseling in Higher Education and B.S. in Psychology from Western Michigan University.
Each of our five faculty members will mentor a cluster of three to four new professionals eager to learn more about the housing profession. New professionals who are interested in participating in this year’s PDI experience, should apply on the GLACUHO website beginning on November 2nd. Applications for PDI will be collected until Monday, December 3, 2018.
What is a professional resource (conference, book, website, etc.) you would recommend to new and entry level professionals about facilities & operations? “I find that after your first year, you would be able to best apply what you learned from a conference that you attend. So, maybe wait a year before going? Think about drive-in conferences, or local and regional conferences to attend. ACUHO-I/APPA Housing and Facilities Conference is a good one.”
Taylore’s reflections have highlighted the variety of departmental structures seen across institutions (bifurcated vs combined) and the importance of experience. So what does this mean for us as graduate assistants and professional staff? The answer is simple- look for opportunities to “get your feet wet” and build relationships. Here are some key takeaways for all staff levels begin deepening your level of understanding of facilities and operations:
FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS PRECONFERENCE
What tip(s) do you have for others to “get their feet wet” and learn more about facilities and operations? “Grads that are interested in moving forward in the pipeline should collaborate w/ other departments and areas that connect to what you do or will do. Understand that there is not just one person that makes the magic of facility and operations work!” What is something ‘you wish you knew’ about the facilities and operations field as an up and coming professional? “You won’t really know the process, until you’ve experienced the process. Preparation and anticipation is good, but be okay with sitting with the learning time period.”
There is no one pathway to facilities and operations. F&O professionals have a variety of backgrounds and experiences that help them in their role so look for opportunities to gain “hands on” like experiences and skills such as collateral assignments or dual role positions.
Summer conferences not your “thing?” That’s okay- there are many other areas with F&O to explore. Get to know the F&O team in and outside of your department to explore these other areas such as assignments or working with custodial and maintenance teams.
Reflect upon how you can support partners in other areas of housing umbrella as work that one area does effects another. Ask them how your job (positive or negative) effects them and what they might need altered to make their lives easier and vice versa.
Invest time. One of the best ways to help a department is to understand how it works right now before you try to implement change. Take time to fully experience an operation full circle and get to know the process at all levels by speaking with those who play a part in it.
Explore professional development opportunities through ACUHO-I’s Facilities Management core competency description or their online eLearning courses potentially before exploring larger commitments.
Thank you for reading this month’s Trends Article for Facilities and Operations! The series will continue with the next topic from the perspective of Mid- Level professional. Stay tuned!
We came, we achieved, we’re doing it again! The Facilities & Operations (F&O) committee is continuing the Facilities and Operations Pre-Conference for 2018! The Pre-Conference will take place on Sunday, October 28, 2018 at Indiana University- Bloomginton, the first day of the annual conference, from 9 am - 2 pm. The cost will be $20 per person and you can register during your Annual This year, we are honing in on what graduate students and entry level professionals need (and want!) to know about the world of facilities and operations. Housing professionals nowadays are required to have a wider understanding of the world of F&O which often must be learned on the job, though it does not have to be this way anymore. Come learn with us! During the Pre-Conference there are opportunities to: expand your knowledge of F&O terminology, understand building systems, explore ways to bridge the gap between housing and F&O, and partake in a panel discussion with mid and senior level housing officers to understand how facilities and operations functions in their role. More information regarding registration for the PreConference will be available in the upcoming months. Grad students and new professionals, this Pre-Conference is for you!
Mindfulness Made Easy by Sean Brown, Residence Life Coordinator, Michigan Tech University & Dottie Brown, Graduate Resident Director, Ohio University
The beginning of the year can be hectic and busy. Focusing on and incorporating daily mindfulness practices can ensure longevity and positive physical, mental, and emotional impacts throughout your whole year! Remember, it doesn’t take much to begin developing healthy practices. The Spiritual and Mental Wellness subcommittee has created a number of minor practices you can implement in as few as 15 minutes every day. Try utilizing one practice per week and see if you notice a change. This Trends period focuses specifically on quick mindfulness that you can complete in 15 minutes or less. The goal is to give you something with which to start every morning. We have included 14 different ways to practice mindfulness, enough to get you through until the next Trends issue! Please keep an eye out for our next set of practices.
Morning Excitements Taking a few minutes in the morning to consider what you’re excited for during the day can help you start with a positive outlook. Try and think, what are 4 or 5 things you are excited about for the day? Long days can be easier if you shift your thinking to focus on the positive over the negative. Even if your excitement is as simple as your favorite meal being served in the dining hall, any positive proactive thinking can change your outlook on the day. Moment of Music Create a playlist on Spotify or Pandora that is set for music that relaxes you and helps you think. Use this playlist only for the first 15 minutes of the day. Take time to listen to the lyrics, rhythm, and breath. This can help develop a routine to start the day relaxed. Practice Silence Take a few minutes at the beginning of your day to do something in silence. This activity involves both trying to avoid speaking and listening to music or the news. This can be anything from crafting to eating breakfast to sitting at your desk. Taking a moment to practice the art of silence can help you focus more intentionally throughout the day. Daily Goals Starting the day out with a list of personal goals can be a great way to work mindfully toward a task. Remember to set SMART goals that are specific, measurable, actionoriented, realistic, and timely. Maybe one of your goals can be completing a mindful practice you previously enjoyed.
Thankfulness List Take 5 minutes to list out all the things for which you’re thankful. Starting off the day thinking about what you’re thankful for instead of worried about can shift your mindset to a more positive outlook on the day. Reading Take some time to read something you’re interested in each morning. This can be a favorite book, the newspaper, or a higher education journal. Wake up your brain and get it engaged. Mindful Breathing Practicing mindful breathing can help center yourself at the beginning of each day. Turn on some relaxing music and take a few minutes to focus on each breath. Start shallow, then allow your breath to flow in past your throat, past your lungs, and down into your stomach. Let your muscles relax as well.
Morning Walk Take a moment to walk around campus without distraction of a phone or any other device. Observe the beauty of the campus and focus on the different aspects of nature around you. Focus on your breathing during your walk. Page Full of Thoughts Take 5 minutes to write down your stream of consciousness. List worries, excitements, thoughts, and whatever else pops into your head. This can help you organize your thoughts and start the day feeling more centered. You can then come back to this sheet at the end of the day and see what came of your thoughts.
How Will You Change the World Whether you affect hundreds of people or one person a day, the work you do helps to shape the lives of others. Take a minute each morning to write down the way you want to change the world for the better.
Create a Coffee or Tea Ritual Whether you’re a coffee or a tea drinker, enjoying a warm drink can be incredibly relaxing. Create a routine as you get into the office where you prep your drink and then spend some time enjoying it. Watch the steam roll off the top and focus on the flavor.
Clearing Clutter Starting the day off with a clean space can help clear your mind. Try to schedule 15 minutes to clean your office or your email every morning and focus on relaxing your mind. If you need to clean the clutter in your brain, you can always write down notes as you clean.
Pomodoro Technique Planning The Pomodoro Technique helps you focus and tackle tasks more effectively. Simply write out the tasks you have for the day and break the schedule up into 25 minute chunks. Set your timer for 25 minutes and take a short 5 minute break after you complete your work. When you complete 4 of these Pomodoro tasks, then you can take a longer break. Appreciation Write 3 appreciation notes. These can be specific or general. Try to make an effort to give each one away during the day. This will help you recognize the good things others do around you and show them that you appreciate what they do.
BW Saves with Solar Compactor
By Robin Gagnow Facilities and Operation Committee
In summer 2014, Baldwin Wallace University (BW) installed its first BigBelly solar compactor near an academic building on campus. Since then, BW has added additional BigBelly recepticles in high-traffic areas like the Strosacker Student Union. Installing these solar compactors has allowed BW to create a cleaner campus, reduce labor and fuel costs, and demonstrate a commitment to sustainability. The BigBelly Solar compactors are double units that include both bottle/can and recycling/trash containers. Thanks to the solar-powered compacting abilities of the cans, each bin can hold up to five times more waste than regular outdoor units. Arkansas State University (2015) found that “on the average, each unit only has to be emptied every 8 days because of the built in self-compactor. This saves about $16.00 of labor each day per every two units.” BW is anticipating a similar outcome. The intent is to have the units pay for themselves in a few years through the reduction of costs for labor, fuel, and plastic bags. This will justify the high initial cost of the unit.
Recycling operation upgrades to solar-powered bigbelly units (2015, March 19), Arkansas State University. Retrieved from https://www.astate.edu/news/recyclingoperation-upgrades-to-solar-powered-bigbelly-units.
BigBelly compactors are connected by their own solar-powered wireless network. This allows BW’s Building and Grounds team to see when the compactors need to be emptied. In an article published by BigBelly Solar (2011), Iowa State University’s Director of Sustainability, Merry Rankin said, “Compared to the trash can we had before, we’ve cut our collection costs by 90 percent.” Additionally, each unit is fully enclosed to prevent animals and bad weather to scatter trash over the campus.
BigBelly Solar Eliminating the Waste in Waste collection. Iowa State University, Retrieved from https://www.livegreen.iastate.edu/sites/default/files/docume nt/Big%20Belly%20Case-Study-ISU-May2011.pdf
The BigBelly compactors have been a great investment at BW! BW is proud to set the example for our students by taking steps to reduce our carbon footprint.
References
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