Most of the students picking up a copy of this guide at Orientation will soon be grappling with a new challenge: furnishing their dorm room.
After that endeavor ends, they may find themselves with many other uncertainties about living on campus. For what may be the first time, freshmen and transfer students will have to experience roommates, finding on-campus activities, and doing their own laundry. While most resident advisers will probably draw the line at helping with a load of underwear, the department of Residence Life does train them to
provide assistance to on-campus residents seeking to make the most out of the residence halls.
“Our primary responsibility is to provide a positive living experience for our students living on campus,” said Leon McClinton, director of Residence Life. “We provide events and programs for our students helping them learn about people with various backgrounds. We also try to make sure we are aware of resources that can help them with their academic obligations.”
With more than 9,100 students living on campus and 29 on-campus residence halls, Residence Life has a large community of students for which to provide services and activities.
In all residence halls, students will get to know their resident advisers, fellow students who will help them move in to their rooms, enforce policies and procedures throughout the year, and continually hold programs and activities to build the residence hall and on-campus community. RAs are trained to help students acclimate to a new community and resolve various conflicts residents may have. They are also responsible for documenting any policy violations and referring involved students to Judicial Affairs and Residence Life.
McClinton emphasizes the community role the RAs serve.
“We feel like we hire excellent students for these positions, because it’s such an important position on campus,” he said. “The topic areas that the RAs will do programs on run from safety and security, to diversity, to academic success, professional and career development, sustainability and community outreach and service.”
Students signed up for special themed housing will have the opportunity to get involved in programs and activities specific to their interests. Tech has 13 themed communities including the Galileo and Hypatia engineering communities, the Corps of Cadets, the Oak Lane fraternity and sorority housing community, and MOSAIC, the Multicultural Opportunity Social Awareness Interest Community.
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