Education and training for student affairs professionals does not end with a master's degree. Although graduate preparation programs establish the foundation and knowledge base upon which to build, ongoing professional development is required in order to be effective in addressing the needs of today's college and university students. With a…

This study investigated the five-factor structure of the Resident Assistant Cultural Diversity (RACD) instrument, which assesses resident assistant (RA) confidence in addressing issues of cultural diversity in college and university residence halls. The instrument has five components that explore RA confidence: (1) belief in the need for cultural…

Using data from both qualitative interviews and quantitative questionnaires from 32 undergraduate resident assistants (RAs) at a private, residential university, this study explored RAs' role conflict derived from their simultaneous positions as rule enforcers and friends, vis-a-vis their residents. Most RAs reported that they were friends with…

This study sought to explore and understand the perceptions that faculty members have of community development in living-learning communities at a large, private research institution in the Northeast. Boyer's (1990) tenets of community development provided a theoretical lens for the study. The article concludes with implications for practice and…

In its recent history, American higher education has segmented the student experience, especially as research universities have grown in size and complexity. To increase the integration of undergraduate learning experiences, many efforts have combined the curricular and cocurricular worlds of students. In one practice, housing and residence life…

This qualitative study employed a constructivist, case study approach to explore how faculty made meaning of their experiences in a newly developed residential college at a large, land-grant research university in the Midwest. Findings revealed that faculty focused on determining how to prioritize the numerous opportunities for involvement while…

The author reviews a number of research studies in the area of housing and suggests that the assessment of the impact of environmental factors on student academic performance is difficult to ascertain. (Author/HLM)

Investigated whether personality traits were significantly correlated with residence hall counselor effectiveness, as rated by students. Subjects were employed counselors and students in residence at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Students identify counselors who are sociable, warm, and friendly, but have difficulty separating helping…

Describes a cooperative program designed to bring together faculty members and housing professionals who want to work with each other. Programs should include advantages for both staff and faculty members as well as students. The interdepartmental relationship is more important than programs resulting from the relationships. (Author/BEF)

Residence hall systems with professional training programs for student personnel must see that student staff members are prepared for their new obligations, as handicapped students will be making greater but legitimate demands on staff in the future. Although implementation of the Rehabilitation Act continues, full impact is yet to come. (Author)

This resource system consists of eight information and referral centers each housing a resource instrument (binders and flip chart), an operator, outreach staff, one mobile instrument, a systematic updating system and an evaluation system. (Author/DOW)

Presents various ways in which a residence hall environment may be specifically engineered to encourage individual participation in the process of education. Invitational engineering is defined as one way to transpose psychological principles to residence halls so they contribute to the developmental life of students. (RC)

Examines performance appraisals for residence hall professionals by considering their purposes, developmental strategies, benefits, and obstacles, as well as a case example. (ABB)

Identifies seven areas of internal pressures and five areas of external pressures which may be experienced by university housing directors. Lists and discusses 11 steps housing directors can use to deal with the pressures of their jobs. (NB)

Describes the use of one model to guide the long-range planning process of the Department of Residential Life, within the Division of Student Affairs and Services, at the University of Connecticut. Suggestions derived from the use of the model over a three-year planning cycle are presented for other housing officers to consider. (NB)