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Alumni Corner - 16
The Residence Life Conference Issue
President’s Corner I can’t remember what classes I took in the winter of 2001, but I certainly remember heading to McMaster University as a delegate to my first Residence Life Conference. I was in my first year as a Residence Assistant at the University of Guelph and I took the risk of applying to attend and present at the Residence Life Conference. Much to my surprise my presentation was accepted and I was invited to join a group of student leaders representing Guelph at the conference. The adventures that ensued over that conference weekend still remain some of my best memories from University. Road tripping with leaders from across campus, seeing another campus, getting to know my Residence Manager, and presenting a session for the first time influenced me to continue to choose to be a student leader throughout my undergraduate experience. In fact, it was my experiences at 2 more Residence Life Conferences that drove me to pursue a career in Residence Life and Student Affairs. I found my calling in inspiring keynote addresses, conversations with professionals in the field who were committed to student success (including my own!) and other student leaders who also felt drawn to continuing to serve as a professional in the field.
In planning for our face to face meetings this year, the Board decided it would be advantageous for us to attend and contribute to this year’s Residence Life Conference. We considered the deep opportunities to connect with each other, our colleagues, and student leaders from across the province and Canada. It was experiencing a Residence Life Conference as a student that first gave me the confidence to pursue Student Affairs as a career. This weekend I was able to see that journey come full circle as I interacted with hard-working new professionals and extremely talented student leaders. I left Guelph deeply confident that the future of our field and profession is in very capable hands. As President, I would like to acknowledge the dedicated service of our members from the University of Guelph who spent months planning the Residence Life Conference. Your time, dedication, and detail oriented commitment produced an experience that was simply spectacular. Thank you on behalf of the students and professional staff that benefited from your service. Sincerely, Jen Gonzales 2012-2013 OACUHO President J8gonzal@ryerson.ca @jengonzales8
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It started with a Spark... by the time we hit Fall 2012, the annual Residence Life Conference still didn't have a place to call home for the quickly approaching January 2013. Who better to save the weekend than Guelph, where it all began back in 1981?
Over the last several months, an incredible host committee worked together to create a memorable Residence Life Conference that left 332 delegates feeling the Spark! and spreading new ideas and enthusiasm to institutions across Ontario and beyond. The OACUHO Board sends a huge "OAKUDOS" to the entire host committee for your hard work and an amazing Residence Life Conference weekend. Special mention to co-chairs Jason Verhoeve and Jessica Brain for bringing it all together.
Thank you, University of Guelph team, for your ongoing commitment to a tradition that has had a huge impact on Residence Life Staff across Canada!
From right, Julianne Pettigrew presents the annual Julianne Pettigrew award for recognition of the most outstanding conference presentation to 2013 winners Tom Crowhurst and Leisa Wierenga from Nipissing University. Sterling Webb-Crowe is proud of this amazing team!
Current and past University of Guelph Housing staff come together for a reunion pic at the 2013 Residence Life Conference.
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This year Nipissing University brought 10 student delegates to the Residence Life Conference with positions ranging from Residents’ Council President to Residence Don to Community Advisor. All of these student leaders brought different experiences, different development goals, and different perspectives but all left with a renewed vigor and passion for residence life. Sara Karn, Residents’ Council President for Chancellors House Residence shared, "RLC not only provided us with the opportunity to gain insight into the residence life experience at other institutions across Canada, but allowed us to learn from other members of our own delegation and grow as a team." Grow they did! With the top two presentations at the conference and a keen spirit that was both encouraging and inspiring, the NU delegation shared their spark and were sparked by their peers. Special shout outs to Algonquin College, who were our spirit partners and the ultimate Spirit Award recipients for helping make the conference the fun learning environment that it can be! The NU delegation would like to thank the other institutions for sharing their passion, resources, and ideas with us and allowing us the opportunity to learn from our shared successes. Special thanks to the University of Guelph for the warm welcome and fantastic experience! C'mon y'all let's hear it, we've got RLC spirit! Sterling Webb-Crowe
King’s RAs (The Power Rangers) Wow! That was great! We had such an amazing time together as a team. Meeting so many other RAs was really great – the morph suits really helped on Friday night J We really appreciate the opportunity to attend the conference - it was a first for all of us. The RAs who presented did such a good job. We left with many new ideas, and many new friendships. Thanks!!
It was another amazing RLC – lots of energy, lots of ideas, lots of great people and great moments! I have attended many Res Life Conference weekends and I would have to say the positive energy and enthusiasm of this year’s student staff contingent was the best I have experienced. The sessions were top-notch and my staff left with many ideas to share with the rest of the team. It is a pleasure to see so many capable student leaders in one place – and to know they have chosen res life as the place to share their talents. Thanks to Guelph for a great experience. Thanks to everyone who attended for making it a great time for all. Doreen Vautour Residence Manager & Coordinator of Conferences and Student Activities King's University College at the University of Western Ontario
This year's Residence Life Conference marked my fifth month as a part of the uOttawa ResLife team. As a first year Community Advisor, I've been taking every opportunity to grow and learn, and attending the RLC2013 in Guelph this year was really the next step in my learning experience. Being able to share my ideas as a presenter was a fantastic experience, but I can't even begin to describe how much I gained from the experiences and knowledge that other ResLifers shared with me. We've got something special in ResLife, and though we all do it differently, we all do it with passion and we all bring our own spark. -
Cayley Pimentel, Community Advisor at the University of Ottawa
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"The University of Guelph has plenty of experience in hosting the Residence Life Conference and this fact showed as they organized a truly spectacular event. The 2013 version of the conference provided the ideal setting for the mixing and mingling of residence life staff from all over Ontario (and even from other parts of Canada) and the exchange and sharing of ideas about programming and residence life that surely will help enrich the residence experience of all those in attendance.
From the opening ceremony to the closing keynote, the conference provided a focus on interactions. The 'Trivia and Tunes' event of Friday night had us interacting with delegates from other schools and talking to them about the different presentations the next day. On Saturday, the presentations provided a forum for interaction between the presenters and their audiences, allowing the exchange of ideas between schools. The presentations also provided quality insight on the differences and similarities between the residence experiences in the various schools present. The banquet on Saturday night allowed for interactions of a different type: one gets to know a lot about another person when they're breaking it down on the dance floor. On Saturday, the round-table discussions were a type of interaction which opened my eyes to the multitude of ways in which residences can be organized and run and gave me so many ideas about how one can provide a safe and inclusive atmosphere on residence. All in all, these different types of interactions helped us, as students and delegates, to get to know other students and delegates from different schools on many different levels and allowed a constant and healthy flow of ideas and thoughts between delegates. In the end, isn't that the whole reason for a residence life conference?
To sum up, it was an experience that was both fun and educational and I would do it all again in a heartbeat." Arjan Banerjee - UTM
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York University Reflections on the Residence Life Conference Student Staff Reflections What is Reslife? What keeps our spark going as Student Leaders? The answer is the people. Our residents, our RA’s, Co-Dons, Dons, RLA’s, RLC’s, I could go on. This weekend, we got to engage and learn from each other through interactive workshops, passive display boards, and most of all school spirit! I have already taken so much away from this experience as a 1st year don at Glendon College- York U. I know that this experience will also help me to continue to grow in years to come. My sparkling moment was helping to start the dance party at the banquet. That atmosphere, the people, those dance moves, infectious. That magical moment when everything and everyone comes together to create something out of simplicity, igniting the spark and spreading the flame! #RLC2013 -Chantal Huard- Glendon College, York University- Wood Residence The Residence Life Conference at Guelph University this past weekend was a great experience for me as a Don. The experience has shown me that there are shared experiences we have as residence Dons/RAs at various institutions. The time at the conference allowed me to reflect on my experience as a Don, and as a student leader on campus. It has given me new ideas to initiate in residence, ideas that will better the community. The conference reminded me that I am a "spark", and that my goal is to continue to nurture the "sparks" around me; all of my residents and my Don team. -Ann Le- York University- Vanier Residence Going to RLC 2013 was one of the best experiences I have ever had. Not only has the information helped me professionally, but I have gained information that I can use in my personal life. I networked and have received some amazing programming ideas that will definitely benefit me in my remanding time of being a Don. The presentations that were shown were so enlightening, and made me feel as if regardless of what school we go to, we are all one big community of student leaders trying to make residence the best place a student can live. This conference opened my eyes up to new ideas, gave me a new way of addressing some commonly faced problems in Donship, and reignited that spark that I had in the beginning of training. -Alexandra Shaw- York University- Vanier Residence The opportunity to attend the Residence Life Conference this past weekend definitely ignited a “spark” in me! The messages from the speakers were insightful and inspiring! Their passion and infectious energy set a positive tone for the whole conference. The weekend retreat also allowed for interactions with many other Dons coming from different residence experiences which gave a great opportunity to learn and give feedback to help others. From networking I found new programming ideas and heard many fantastic stories, it’s interesting to hear about the differences and similarities we all share! I believe the best thing about such an event is that by learning from others in similar positions, and then each one of us takes back new knowledge and a fresh perspective that can be passed to our fellow Dons back at our home intuitions. The student run programs allowed me to have a new insight on things such as: how to better integrate social media, healthy living initiatives, sustainability, and much more. Personally, I have already started planning with my team to implement many of the wonderful ideas I acquired during the conference. I know that for the rest of this semester, and in my future year as a Don, I will take what I have learned from the conference and apply it for myself and share the ideas within my team. It is with that I can safely say being a part of the conference is one of the best learning experiences I have had this year! -Kim Cuozzo- York University- Pond Road Suites
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As a first year Don at York University much like with Donship, when I applied to be a part of the Residence Life Conference, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I thought the Residence Life Conference was just an opportunity to meet Residence Life Staff from across the country while also having the opportunity to learn from one another. Yet once I arrived to Guelph on Friday January 25, 2013 I quickly realized that the weekend was going to be much bigger than just a giant social. As soon as the York delegates entered the Delta Hotel, we were greeted with such enthusiasm and cheer that I had felt as though I had been a celebrity accepting a prestigious award. After opening ceremonies, I remember going to bed that night thinking that things could not get more exciting. Boy was I wrong! The next day after an early breakfast, I was excited to start learning from other Residence Life Staff and take away new knowledge from various presentations. Who would have thought that I would go from joining a district and competing in the Hunger Games, to learning how to become the next Steve Jobs by learning how to create an app for my community. I entered the day with the mentality that I would gain new knowledge, which I did. But I had left the day knowing that I had not only gained new knowledge, and new ideas about Residence Life, but I had also left inspired and motivated to pass on what I had learned to other members of the York Residence Community. Attending the Residence Life Conference was an opportunity that I will never forget. I entered the conference an unsure, excited Residence Life Staff member for York University. Yet after spending 3 days with over 300 delegates from across the country I can confidently say that I left the conference as a confident, motivated and overall inspired member of a Residence Life Community much greater than my home institution. The people I met have sparked ideas within me that couldn’t have been possible had I not attended RLC 2013. For that I am truly thankful to all that were there. They have all truly been my spark. -Michael Korovin- York University- Tatham Hall Residence “It only takes a Spark” – This could not be truer. As I reflect on my weekend at the Residence Life Conference, I am filled with happiness, memories, and new ideas that I hope will help me share that spark with my residents. Throughout the weekend, I was given the opportunity to connect with Dons/RAs and RLC’s from other schools to share programming, ideas, presentations, and talk about the place that changed many of our lives. But what really impacted me about the weekend, and ignited that ‘spark’ were the presentations I attended. They not only helped me to reflect on my role as a Don, but to reflect on why I had become a Don in the first place. As an overachiever, when I first became a Don I wanted to be the best – I wanted to run the most programs, have the highest attendance rate, and be able to connect with all 250 people in my building. I had no idea how I would do this but I thought this was the key to making an impact on a student’s life. During the closing keynote, something was said that stuck with me – “Stop trying to make overachievement the essence of your goals.” That phrase, in conjunction with Alysha Fergusons “Do What You Love, Love What You Do” presentation (and all the other presentations for that matter) have made me realize that being an amazing Don isn’t about doing everything. It only takes one small thing to create that spark, have an impact on someone’s life, and influence the next generation of staff to become great leaders. -Patrice Vandenbos- York University- Tatham Hall Residence
As a second year Academic Programmer and Promoter at UTSC, going to the Residence Life Conference completely changed my perspective on my job—it turned it into a lifestyle. For those two days, where we came from or who we were didn’t matter; all that mattered was that we shared this unique experience of being part of Residence life and affecting students’ lives in different parts of the country and that was enough to intrigue conversations for the entire weekend. The commonality of the Residence experience opened so many doors as I became a sponge and tried my best to absorb everything—the ideas, the presentations, and most of all, the experiences from students who were going through the same circumstances as me. Although the conference was short and we started our days early, I remember taking a step back from it all and just observing the potential around me. I was so amazed—and honored—to be amongst such dynamic personalities that truly left me feeling more alive and inspired than ever. —Shiromani Nega UTSC Residence Academic Programmer and Promoter
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Professional Staff Reflection A First Time for Everything I must open with yet another OAKUDOS to the team at the University of Guelph for all of their hard work in creating an aweinspiring learning experience. RLC 2013 has sparked a community to grow and re-invigorate ourselves to create the best possible learning experiences for our those with whom we work with and for. RLC 2013 was a conference of firsts for me. It was the first RLC that I had ever attended and was promised to me by my colleagues to be an experience that I would not forget, one that would have a great impact on me. They all spoke as to how the respective RLCs that they have attended had lasting memories for them. I was not surprised by the amount of pride and cheer that went into every session; rather I was surprised with how quickly the shared sense of togetherness was formed. It seemed almost instantaneous that relationships were created. Watching student staff network and hearing of how inspired they were by the conversations was truly enlightening. The conference was also the first time that I had ever presented before colleagues from other institutions. It was admittedly an intimidating task to take on, simply because I wanted to ensure that those in attendance gained an experience that would assist them in developing ideas that could impact their institutions, student staff and students. I am thankful to have had the support of Jessica Brain, of the University of Guelph, in moderating the panel discussion on Faculty in Residence. I also must recognize the panel and their work in bringing together varied experiences that can be utilized by the membership. I also gained a wonderful working experience with Sara Wills, of Lakehead University, in creating the presentation on Assessment. We both recognized the support that we received from Dale Mullings, University of Toronto- Mississauga and Ian Crookshank, Ryerson University. It was my experience in working with these members of the OACUHO membership that brought immense learning for me. This experience could not have happened without the support of the, then Professional Development Director, Sterling Webb-Crowe of Nipissing University. The one thing that was not a first was the reminder of how amazing of an association OACUHO is. Attending events through OACUHO is akin to that of a family reunion. It can take a little to reignite those conversations with family members, but once you do, you remember how much of a shared experience you have and how inspiring a group of professionals we have collected together. To be able to speak with those in attendance and be inspired by the work that they are putting into action at their institution re-ignited a spark in me. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to have been able to attend RLC 2013, thank you! Matthew Harris Coordinator, Residence Life- YORK UNIVERSITY
The Little Engine That Could: Lakehead University Orillia at SPARK By Samantha McLean, Residence Life Coordinator Optimism, confidence and hard work were 3 characteristics displayed at the OACUHO SPARK Conference at Guelph University. All student and staff delegates operated like welloiled machines to show their spirit in order to positively represent their own institutions at the 2013 Residence Life Conference. If I had to choose a machine that best represents all of our Residence Life Teams I would say that the steam engine best embodies us. If we think of our staff as the coal, we can put them into the firebox (the SPARK conference) and all of the mixing and mingling will allow the water to boil which will create steam余 inspiring spirit and enthusiasm. The steam will then power the pistons to get the wheels turning ultimately motivating the delegates to take away new and renewed ideas that they can share at their home institutions. If our small group from Lakehead Orillia (3 student staff and 2 professional staff) was a steam engine, we would be The Little Engine that Could. Our team was excited to have the opportunity to participate in our very first Residence Life Conference but we were nervous and overwhelmed by what to expect. Upon arrival to Guelph we felt welcomed and our healthy anxieties helped push us out of our comfort zones. We wanted to see what we were capable of and so we shared, danced and cheered with others in order to help us gain an increased sense of self. We are excited about the track that we are on and where it might take us next. We think we can, we think we can, we think we can. Thanks to all that made our SPARK weekend one to remember. - PAGE 7 -
First off I would like to thank Guelph to putting on another amazing conference. Although this was not my first conference, they all very rewarding and I always take more than one thing away from my time there. From the moment we started with the opening keynote, the speaker helped me realize that my daily high stresses are nothing compared to where they could be. Even a few short days after the conference, I have brought this back into my life. This conference is full of moments that are bringing you back to realize what's important and to help refresh your ideas. This is why I enjoyed and cherish the conversations that I had with first year staff. Being in residence life for many years, for me, these are the staff members that drive me to do a better job for my staff. My favourite session that I attended on Saturday was Nipissing's 'a person's a person no matter how small'. The amount of effort that they have put into build community in September is still evident into January which can be difficult to do. They allowed this to happen by sticking to the Dr. Seuss theme than many people identify. At large, Dr. Seuss taught us to bring people together in a positive way and embracing their uniqueness: this is some of the key values of a community. To end the conference, we had a great concluding keynote speech by Jen, Adam and Jerome where they spoke to the importance of really thinking through our goals. This including digging into how we are going to accomplish and what it will make us feel. This was a great activity because it forced us to think beyond just the creation of goals. Its human nature to change your mind and grow. With this in mind, a goal that we made as short as one year ago may not be attained but modified. This doesn't mean that what you wanted from that goal will change you may still want to help others through the process but the end goal may differ from a teacher to a residence life coordinator. Jen, Adam and Jerome's personal stories added an extra something to the room because it shows that its okay to go down the path less travelled if you think that there is something missing from the one you are on. This new path could still be the right one if you end up in somewhere you are proud of, even if it is not where you thought you were going to end up when you started. To end they stated, 'stay calm, you've got this'. This complemented the opening keynote and these are lines and thought processes that I am going to take with me into the future. Thank you to all of the people who helped shape my experience at this conference, I appreciate every single conversation that I had. You continue to expand my knowledge in the world of residence life and for that I am grateful. I hope you all get the opportunity to go again next year at the University of Toronto Mississauga and learn more from other new and innovative ideas like I did from each of you. -Ashley Westra, Community Advisor, Niagara College-NOTL
As I walked into the banquet hall I knew this was going to be my last Rez Life Conference. No more cheers, no more face paint, no more spirit. To be honest the thought broke my heart. No more Sheridan, no more Mohawk and worst of all there was soon to be no more Niagara. I’ve been coming to the Residence Life Conference for 3 years now. Every year I’ve taken back some new programing ideas to Niagara, but what good would this programing information do it the real world come May? This year I did something different. I focused on me. I took a class on self-authorship and I learned a lot of about myself and how I made it to where I am today. Residence Life has become more to me then just some paper and cheers. It has become a defining factor in my life. I love every single student that has moved in, every single board I have made and every program I have run. Res Life has made me who I am. As the speeches end I am left with these words of wisdom, ‘You are the average of the five people who you spend the most time with’. Well if that’s the case I may never leave. -MaKenzee Wilson, Niagara College—NOTL To me Conference was incredible. The opportunity to work with and learn from simply the best was amazing. It really only does take a spark to light the spirt in so many people. As Res life staff we don’t work a job, Its a lifestyle and his conference highlighted that. When a collection of Res life individuals come together with the same drive and passion the results are astronomical. Just walking down a hall there were nothing but smiles, waves and cheers from people around me. An event like this truly inspires you to do more and to bring more to your students. The ideas and opportunities provided by people will allow me to step up and bring more to my building. I have been inspired to enjoy what I do more but also even seek out a career in the profession that I now know I will love. I Thank my property for sending me to this conference and cant wait to apply my knowledge in the near future. Stephen Arkell Residence Advisor Niagara College Welland Campus - PAGE 8 -
The Residence Life Conference is a special experience for anyone in attendance as it is one of the ultimate ways to make connections with other people, grow as a leader, or see others have an “aha moment”. This past weekend was my 3rd Residence Life Conference, but this time as a professional versus a student leader. Prior to my current role, working at Seneca College – King Campus as an RLC, I was the President of the Residence Council (WIRC) at the University of Windsor. I had been to residence student leadership conferences before my first Residence Life Conference, hosted by Queens University & St. Lawrence College, and I had some nerves being one of the few non-RA attendees. Reflecting on this past weekend, I feel if I have come full circle with my Residence Life Conference experiences...not because of the conference itself, but where I started; as a passenger (co-pilot) in the conference van, dancing, singing, laughing, grabbing snacks, looking up directions, etc. This year I got to drive the conference van (so exciting), and I can honestly say I felt privileged to see the faces of Seneca Residence student leaders in my review mirror. I could see their excitement on their way to the University of Guelph, and their sense of accomplishment on the trip back to campus on Sunday. I knew that this past weekend made a difference to them, and that was 100% gratifying to me. I believe in the Residence Life Conference and the connections it allows residence student staff to make with each other. Looking forward to many more great conference experiences! Jillienne Simone Residence Life Coordinator Seneca College – King Campus
Residence Life Conference 2013 – Creating Sparks that will last a lifetime. The University of Guelph host committee would like to thank you for your commitment to the 33rd annual Residence Life Conference. We are so privileged to have had the opportunity to welcome a phenomenal 334 delegates to our campus from January 25th – 27th. The energy, spirit, and dedication that we experienced from your delegations was overwhelming, empowering, and reminded us of why the Residence Life Conference has thrived for the past 33 years. There is no doubt that you helped create many positive sparks that will last a lifetime while also enhancing the residence life programs at all of our institutions. Thank you to all of those who contributed to the presentation programme this year. The feedback we received speaks to the fact that the presentations this year were truly exceptional. We would like to congratulate Nipissing University for their fantastic presentations that finished 1 & 2 and to Tom Crowhurst & Kristy Sproule for claiming the Julianne Pettigrew award. Big shouts out also go to Western University, McMaster University, and Carleton University for finishing in the top 5. Furthermore, we’d like to thank Algonquin College for helping us wake up every morning with their amazing spirit and congratulate them on taking home the Spirit Award for the 2nd time in 3 years. Looking forward to the future, we are thrilled that UTM has taken on the role of planning the 2014 conference and we are excited to share some “best of” moments with them in Mississauga next year! Thank you to all of the delegations for making this conference one to remember, and we look forward to keeping those sparks going next year! Sincerely, Jason, Jess, and Drew
It was an honour and a privilege to attend the 2013 Residence Life Conference. I gained knowledge and insights into new ways of connecting with my students as well as programming events that address students’ needs. It was an amazing yet humbling experience for me as it not only inspired me but also challenged me to continue to grow in my role as an Academic Programmer and Promoter. In addition, this conference provided a forum to network with other students and to gain exposure to new ideas and new ways of doing! I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to attend and I promise that my spark will never be extinguished and I will continue to challenge myself to ignite a spark in others! JesusMiracle Chiadika
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CLC At RLC After 8 years within student affairs this was my first Residence Life Conference with OACUHO and needless to say I was a blank slate and ready to take it all in. First off the biggest thank you to the Residence Life team at the University of Guelph and OACUHO for a fantastic conference. The sessions were filled with insightful programs, and students asked great questions. The spirit of course was contagious and it warmed my heart to see the bonds of friendship being created amongst different institutions. Granted I may have a bias but my biggest spark of the weekend was being there with the CLC family. This weekend was all about educating others about CLC and also growing as a family amongst our different institutions. I cannot be prouder of the 39 delegates (and of course Niijii) we brought from 10 institutions. So a big thank you goes to all of them for fantastic conversations, great new ideas, the passion to be better and for making my job a pure delight. I am beyond excited to see what the future holds for CLC! -Stephanie Muehlethaler, Campus Living Centres - PAGE 10 -
It would be hard for me to say that I did not have an amazing time at conference. As a young student thinking about what I would like to do once I graduate, it was great to have the opportunity to network and get to know other students around my age that have similar personalities as myself. The sessions that I attended on the Saturday were very well done and I was not surprised that three of them were picked as the top five out of the sessions of the conference. The sessions taught me some very useful lessons on what I do on a personal level day-to-day and how I can incorporate that into better assisting my students through their residence experience. After the sessions and guest speakers each day, I got the chance to further interact with fellow residence life staff from other locations. It helped me to realize how each location I interacted with seemed to have very different students and very different operation standards. But at the same time they dealt with almost identical situations and obstacles as I have as a Residence Advisor. I believe that my experience at the conference will help substantially as I move forward through this semester and in future life paths not only within Residence life but in everything I do By: Jeff Scherer- Resident Advisor Conestoga College
My favourite part of this conference was that I was able to meet new people from various colleges and universities. I gained some valuable knowledge and ideas regarding programming. Three things I learned from this conference was that it is important to ensure that all of the programs that are ran are accessible to all students, that there are a wide variety of events that can be run to engage students, and that the way universities run programming and events are different from the way of colleges. In learning about different programs that can be run in residence, I hope to improve the overall attendance of events at our residence. I hope to do this by incorporating some of the techniques learned at conference. I also want to help my fellow staff members in dealing with conflicts within the residence as learned in the Advanced Emergency Response Seminar. In order to share what I have learned with fellow staff, I plan to share the information at our weekly staff meetings and use new programming ideas with my programming group. One spark I will create upon returning to my residence is to help encourage and train the new staff members and be a positive influence to both current and future staff. By: Alexa Deleplanque- Resident Advisor Conestoga College
The RLC conference was a great success and I had a really good time. The reason I had a great time was because of the people who were around me. I was able to meet and network with new people and visit with people that I had already met and worked with. The Saturday was a very busy day, but it was full of beneficial information and sessions. Although some of the sessions were not as entertaining as others they were all still informative and I learned a lot about residence communities and programming from several different institutions. I look forward to hearing about what my team took away from the conference and seeing how they will apply what they learned to our residence. It was great to see how Colleges and Universities differed in their Residence Life programs, and to have the opportunity to take some initiatives from other schools back to Conestoga. Guelph University and the host committee were very welcoming and did a great job with the whole conference. Thank you CLC for the opportunity to go to this amazing conference. From Dylan Cronmiller-Conestoga College Community Advisor
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Back to the Future: RLC 2012 When interviewing to become a College Residence Life Coordinator at Trent University in June 2011, one unique question came up in the interview process: “How would you feel if Trent University was to host the 2012 Residence Life Conference.” I was thrilled at the prospect of being a major part of the team that brings together Residence Life programs from around the country. Now that it has been exactly a year following the 2012 Residence Life Conference, I have been able to look back and reflect on that period of time. For one, I now realize how busy the housing department is WITHOUT organizing a 300+ delegate conference during the month of January. I’m surprised we all walked away alive following January/February. The more important thing I realized is how a small group of people (8 full-time and 2 part-time staff) can come together and create something from scratch. It taught us that putting trust in one another and having clear and constant communication will turn an idea into reality. It taught us that finding downtime was more important than finding details to stress over. It taught us that taking the time to savour the experience is more important than finding busy work for volunteers. Sure, there were things that could have gone smoother, but what would we learn if not for mistakes? Learning from the experience gave our team a wealth of knowledge and allowed us to contribute to a great tradition. Though there were ups and downs, the experience was a worthwhile one and something I would enjoy being part of again. Of course next time I would ensure that every snack break was well stocked with Beaver Tails. Vladimir Smiljanic College Residence Life Coordinator, Lady Eaton College Housing Services, Trent University
The major realization I had at the 2013 Res Life Conference was just how valuable the para-professional position recently created at Humber College is for gaining experience for moving into the professional field of student affairs. The RCA position allows for experience and development in areas like large-scale programming, residence councils, managing conduct, and assisting RLCs with administrative duties and departmental shifts. I had not really realized the vast experience of this position was providing me, but after chatting with professionals from various institutions and attending some seminars hosted by them, it became apparent that this type of experience is invaluable when attempting to shift into a professional position. - Sandy McCaldon – RCA, Humber College When our team showed up to registration, the spirit from the other schools was so intense that I immediately felt welcomed and excited about the next couple of days. Throughout this weekend, I got to meet some interesting new people, learn a lot about how other schools function (the similarities and differences), and I gained lots of new programming ideas. Also, it was amazing how quickly everyone came together to support one another through chants and cheers. I am so happy to have experienced this and would gladly encourage new residence life staff to participate in it next year! - Erin Krushelniski, Humber College Resident Assistant I always find conferences re-energize me, but none so much as the Residence Life Conference. It's incredible to watch the ways in which our staff can learn and grow in just one weekend. Seeing their school spirit, their love of residence life, and their dedication to making post-secondary institutions welcoming places for students reminds me of all the reasons I became an RA, and why I decided to continue working in this field after graduation. I am so fortunate to be working with such caring and inspiring people - at both the student-staff and professional levels. Being able to come together and share best practices on things like Living-Learning Communities, tips and tricks for keeping work fun, or even questions that we have as our students' needs change (thank you to McGill for hosting an incredible professional round-table discussion) is always an opportunity that I value. Thank you to everyone who taught and inspired me this past weekend, and thank you to Guelph for hosting an incredible conference! - Brianna Sadler, Humber College Residence Life Coordinator
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“Connect!” – Have you ever participated in this icebreaker? Individuals state a fact about themselves and anyone who shares this fact in common yells “connect”. The object of the activity is to expand your network, learn from others, and break out of your comfort zone. “Connect” sums up my entire experience as a student delegate at the Residence Life Conference. As a first year Resident Assistant, the enthusiasm and spirit teams bring to the RLC motivated me to put even more effort into my own work. The presentations shared by other delegates opened by eyes to some fantastic ideas I could bring back and share with my team, and the keynote speakers literally changed my outlook on life.
The next year, when given the opportunity to attend again, I was excited, but wasn’t sure I would get as much out of the conference. Of course, I was wrong! Every conference is different, so I was once again impressed by what I learned in breakout sessions and delegate presentations. Not only this, but as a returning staff member with career path constantly on my mind, the conference benefited me greatly by expanding my knowledge of careers in student housing and affairs.
That’s the beauty of the RLC, it doesn’t matter if you’re in your first year of the job, a seasoned veteran, or a professional, it’s a learning opportunity for everyone.
I still keep in touch with some of the delegates I met from other schools as well as one of the keynote speakers whose words really struck a chord with me. The conference may only last for one weekend, but as cheesy as it sounds, the connections and ideas it inspires really are infinite and it’s important that all attendees take advantage of the opportunity. Beth McClelland - Humber College
"My RLC, Sheena, came to me and told me that she is going to take me to a conference. I was kinda surprised and nervous. Cause this was going to be my first conference. The Friday of conference weekend I was in a bad mood. I was really nervous and stressed cause I had no idea what to expect. (And I'm pretty sure no one can tell that this was what they were expected ) Everything that I thought about it was wrong. I thought sessions will be really boring , I thought I won't be able to fit in, I thought everything is going to be childish. But I was WRONG. I had the best time of my life. I felt like I'm a part of something. I felt that I finally found what I was looking for . The Conference helped me to have 3 new awesome friends ,showed me that i have an awesome boss and awesome team. Take everything else aside, The Conference, gave me these bonds that they will last forever. The banquet was the best part! At the banquet I saw that everyone in the Residence Life Conference shares the same spirit. Everyone in conference danced for 4-5 hours without drinking any alcohol. It was the weirdest but also the best thing I have ever seen in my life. Oh and I can't forget the flash mob at the closing key note. That was the highlight if the conference. The best dance ever . I really wanna live the Conference weekend again and again. I know I can't but I least I have my memories , new friends, knowledge, knowing that somewhere in another college or university people have same spirit like we do. And I know there is always next year! Thank you Sheena, Kevin and CLC for making me the part of this awesome group of people." - Berksun K., Resident Advisor, Niagara College-NOTL Campus
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The Trent University delegation had a great time at this year's Residence Life Conference! Here's some of our sparks: Favourite moments: "celebration" dance, the atmosphere & energy, amazing concurrent sessions with good takeaways and shared experiences, leading a discussion during "Tuesday Talks", and the banquet (especially the dance off) Three things learned: - How different Residence Life can be at various institutions and the benefits that come from sharing and collaborating with them - The importance of role modelling for new dons, and how best to do that - How to lead an effective discussion, and applying that to our community
How can I use what I learned: - Planning events with students can generate more interest, which will help increase participation - Put time aside for interacting with students to anticipate issues that may arise - Leading weekly discussions with residents can help to build and promote community - Creating bucket lists with your community and encouraging them to help each other cross things off their lists One spark I will create: - Speaking to students with enthusiasm, positivity, and high energy! - Sharing our experiences with other Dons on the Trent team Thanks Guelph for an amazing weekend! Spark bright like a diamond!
My name is Brett Hussey and I'm in my second year of being an RA at Durham/UOIT and I think it's safe to say I've definitely been SPARKED after that crazy weekend! The spirit, presentations, programming and people were all super inspiring and I'm so happy I had the opportunity to attend the OACUHO conference for the first time! I got some new tips and tricks that I've already brought back to my team, and I've learned myself some new ways to adapt my programming, as well as new ways of approaching different situations, as used by other schools. I would like to send a huge shout out to all the presenters I had the privilege of getting to see and meet, a shout out to all the schools and their amazing spirit, a shout out to Relay for Life for getting involved, and finally, a big shout out to CLC! Thanks Guelph for a great, unforgettable experience! Super super that's whatchu are!
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ENOP Network tweet-chat #3 recap On Tues. Jan 15th, the third tweet-chat was hosted for the ENOP (Engaging New OACUHO Professionals) Network. The topic was “Challenge, Support, Learning: New professional experiences in Housing” with the goals of sharing coming challenges and learning, and reflecting on how more experienced colleagues support new professionals’ transition. (View report) For this edition of the tweet-chat, we had 7 contributors, who discussed challenges of learning new residence systems, relocating to new cities/states/provinces, and the value of relying on their colleagues and returning student staff for support. Contributors noted the helpfulness of managers and colleagues in answering questions, providing feedback and encouragement, as they gained confidence in their roles. They also advised others interested in entering the profession to be themselves and seek professional development opportunities. In preparation for their presentation at the Residence Life Conference at the University of Guelph, Sarah Memme and others have compiled a document of advice for those interested in entering the Housing profession. The next ENOP tweet-chat will be Tues. Feb 12 at 12pm EST, on the topic of student leadership conferences (objectives, themes, and best practices). The questions and preparation document will be emailed out to the membership this coming week. The hope is to have a tweet-chat about monthly leading up to the OACUHO Spring Conference in May at Queen’s University. In the meantime, folks are welcome to add their information to the ENOP members’ document and join the Facebook group. Your feedback is always welcome. Looking forward to more discussions in the near future! Dan Cantiller
Promo Video
The University of Toronto Mississauga is very excited to host RLC 2014. The theme of next year's conference will be "The Best of". Please help us collect information from past RLC's by tweeting your favourite memories using the hashtag #thebestofRLC
See you January 2014!
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Alumni Corner with
Claire Hooker, Writing Specialist and Peer/
I started working in Res Life later in life than most people usually do. I’d already worked (for several financially precarious years) as a supply teacher, college instructor and writer/editor before joining the Queen’s Res Life team in 2006 – but I still had lots I could learn! Now that I work at the Queen’s Writing Centre as a Peer / Outreach Coordinator and Writing Specialist, I continue to apply some of the things I learned in Res Life that I think translate well to other work settings:
Teamwork is tremendously important – so, by extension, it’s important to do your best to not only be a good team player, but also to choose a team that will be a good fit for you (one you can learn from, trust, and enjoy). I learned a great deal from my team of fellow Res Life Coordinators. Knowing we could lean on each other made a big difference during a time of personal and professional upheaval, and laughing with my team relieved stress and fatigue after training week or an emergency situation. Every workplace, especially in times of change, experiences stress, but knowing how to work well with others can make all the difference. Taking time to reflect is helpful as an everyday practice, but particularly in Res Life, where the pace is often hectic but full of learning experiences. From one or two Res Life colleagues in particular, I learned to take time to reflect at the end of the day, asking myself things like, What’s going well? Not so well? What role are you playing in a given situation? What alternative viewpoint might you take that could offer you some insight? What are you, or others, trying to achieve? What barriers or resources exist? What do you have control over, and not? These are also good questions to ask during professional transitions and in the context of other jobs; getting into the habit while working in Res Life will serve you well in the future. Anyone who has worked in Res Life knows it’s one long round of interruptions, with routine paperwork taking a back seat to crisis… and this can add up to a frighteningly tall pile of paperwork. Until I learned to stay on top of my paperwork, every day – and it wasn’t easy! – I found myself going into the office early and staying late near the end of the term, stressing over neglected emails and incident reports. Don’t let others (except your manager) set your priorities for you. Keep these priorities in mind as you go through your workday - put them on a post-it note on your desk if you need a reminder. And don’t let things pile up; you have to take care of them sometime so it might as well be now – it will help you reduce your stress but also gain a reputation for efficiency and a strong work ethic. If you move on to other career options after working in Res Life roles, be aware that you’ve developed some pretty amazing skills within those hallowed cinder-block walls. A few years ago I ran into a woman who’d supervised me when I was a student leader in my undergraduate days. She asked me what I’d been doing, and I told her I’d been a Res Life professional for the last couple of years. She exclaimed, “Whew! Well, if you can do that, you can do anything!” I looked back on my experiences and realized she was probably right. Res Lifers handle all kinds of crisis and conflict, organize large and complicated events, draw on deep personal compassion and creativity, and believe in their ability to make a difference. There’s a lot you can do that with that combination of skills and attitude!
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