RA Training!

Handbook Overview

By Will Carlson and Keri Clinton, RLCs!

Job Description

• “A Residence Advisor is a resident student employed by the institute as part of a residence life team responsible for the welfare of all students living in residence. RA’s provide personal assistance to residents, supply information, explain and enforce policies and regulations and act as a liaison between the residents and the NECI administration. Their goal is to promote a well-rounded atmosphere in residence, which is friendly, fun and fulfilling, while maintaining a degree of order, discipline and, security. RA’s strive to create a comfortable living and learning environment that is conducive to study and sleep.”- RA Handbook, p. 3.

Some of the important topics we will be covering:

• Chain of Command• “On-Duty” responsibilities• Master Key usage• Weekly staff meetings• Policy violations

• RA ethics• Confidentiality and the

RA contract• Confrontation• Mediation/diversity• Student Handbook• Important Documents

Chain of Command

• “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.”

• Be mindful of the chain of command- certain situations you will be a go-to person, while others you can immediately inform the next person on the chain.

RAs

RLCs

Mel/Jen

NECI Administration

Examples of the Chain of Command

Lockouts?

RAs (both Glover and Bishop)

RLCs802-989-3754 (Will) or 802-552-3475 (Keri)

Admissions (M-F, 9:00am-4:00pm)802-225-3336

NECI Facilities (M-F, 9:00am-4:30pm)802-225-3239

VCFA Safety (only during VCFA residency)802-828-8888

Personal Issues (stress, roommate concerns)

RAs

RLCs

Melanie Boggs/Jennifer Livingston802-225-3346 or 802-225-3316

Emergencies! (pp.12-16)

Fire

AmbulancePolice

Who are you going to call? (Hint: not Ghostbusters)

Emergencies Cont’d

• Follow up with the RLC on duty– DON’T assume another RA has already contacted

them– Other types of incidents that do not necessarily

require 9/11 but you do need to contact the RLC for: violence, self-harm, disorderly behavior due to being under the influence of alcohol.

– Other incidents that are constituted as emergencies in the Student Handbook: loss of heat, flooding, power outages, etc.

Being “On-Duty” (p. 9; 17-19)• Clocking in and clocking out• Rounds

– Patrolling the buildings, being available to assist the RLCs, enforcing campus policy

– Visibility: being present in the office, addressing student needs and prioritizing your duties.

– Being thorough!!!– Interacting with students to build community.

Good RA! Bad RA!

Rules of the Office

• DO:– Come down to the office for

any concerns or issues with students that you feel need to be discussed in private

– Unlock the office to let students check equipment out

– Use the office for projects related to Residence Life (bulletin boards, name tags, activities)

• DO NOT:– Use the office as a social

space– Retreat to the office if there

is a lot of activity on your floor

– Distract the RLCs from their work unless it is for reasons related to your duties

*We need a quiet space to get work done, too!

Master Key (p. 9)

• Primary uses: – Lockouts

• They typically will not happen during your shifts, so prepare to have your door knocked on!

• Documentation!

– Emergencies• Fire alarms

*Please use your Master Key

responsibly!!!– Replacement cost: $500!

Weekly Staff Meetings (p. 10)

• When: TBD• Where: RLC Office• It is imperative that you attend

these meetings!– A typical meeting includes:

scheduling shifts, addressing student issues, programming events and more!

– If you cannot make the meeting, you need to give us plenty of advance notice (one week) and it has to be a valid excuse.

KeriWillYou!

How To Be An Active RA

• Being Around (In room and office)– Having your door open

• Hallway Appearance – Door Tags

– Your Door– Bulletin Boards– Cleanliness / Flyers Up to date

• Activities and Events – Participate– Create Your Own

Appearance

Is Your Hallway Welcoming?

Name Tags

• Must have on the door at all times– Safety Reasons

– Maintenance Reasons

• First and Last Name

• Looks Nice

• Appropriate

No-So Good Examples

Good Examples

Your Door

• You door should let students know you are a RA.

– If you have a roommate, their name should be visible as well so they know not just an RA lives there

• Should let students know when you are there and available

• Doors should be open if there

Bulletin Boards

• Are the responsibility of the RA(s) on the floor and the RLCs.

• They provide information

• They can brighten up the hallway

• Parents/guests see it and read it

Ew!!!

Eh!

Yah

Cleanliness

• Trash in the hallways

• Flyers and door tags up to date and neat

• Damages

• Practical Jokes

• Hazards

Things to watch out for

Participate in Events

• The best way to increase participation is to participate yourself – Events, Trips, Open Gym, etc.

Create your own event

Past Events by RAs- Ski Trips- Camp Fires- Day Trips- Game Nights- Dodgeball- Winter Activities

In The End

• Effort goes a long way

• Set the example

• Think about what you would like.

• Being here is half the battle

Helping Skills: How to be a resource for your peers (pp. 22-35)• Being there for other students• Remember: with certain issues, students will

approach you as confidants before they come to the RLCs. Know when it is appropriate for you to assist them and when they need to speak to the RLCs

• Open vs. Closed questions (p. 27):– Getting an open-ended response vs. a yes/no

answer– Key elements: eye contact, attentive body

language vocal qualities, and verbal tracking.

Confidentiality (p. 41)

• Confidentiality entails:– Keeping information

between you and those who depend on, or have confidence, in you

– Sometimes you will be required to keep information from other staff members

– Never give out information to anyone who is a non-RA

• Make sure your residents know up front– If a resident is giving

you information that you are obligated to pass along to the RLC, let them know right away.

Confrontation! (pp. 41-48)• Most frequent types of

confrontation/policy violation: noise, alcohol and drugs

• When confronting a situation, make sure…– You fully understand the policy

• A good strategy is to rehearse what you are going to say in your head before you knock on a door

– You remain calm• If you aren’t, people will know

– You call for back up if backup is needed

– You follow up with proper documentation

• i.e., Incident Report Form.*DO NOT engage in confrontation

with a student that you believe might be under the influence of alcohol or drugs! This may escalate the situation!

Confrontation pt. 2• Some important things to remember:

– We are not SWAT! Don’t go looking for trouble. We are here to look after the safety and well-being of the residents!

– Make sure to identify yourself when knocking on doors.– Verbal Judo! (p. 49)

• If you can control yourself, you can control the situation• If you act in a professional manner, residents will be more

receptive to your requests• Remember- de-escalate!

This, but verbally!

NEVER THIS!!!

Quiet Hours and Common Sense

• Quiet hours are in effect 9:00pm-9:00am, Sunday-Thursday and 11:00pm-9:00am Friday-Saturday.

• While noise violations are the most common, they are also tend to be the most subjective, THEREFORE…

Use your best judgment– There are several different

techniques used to determine how loud a room is. We recommend the standing in front of the neighboring door. If you were their neighbor and trying to sleep, would you ask them to turn it down

Be confident!– If someone questions your

judgment, be confident and respectful. In this case, being wrong is better than second guessing yourself!

Common Sense cont’d…

• Student Services is there to offer support, guidance and resources– However, they, like everybody else, also have

down time.• Know what situations merit contacting the RLCs• Examples of ones that DO NOT: litter found

outside, small amount of trash in the hallway, 1st noise offense, dirty toilets…

• Be mindful of office hours!

Mediation (pp. 60-63)

• People will come to you to mediate conflict, so remember:– Choose a neutral setting (the RLC office, for

example)– Listen to both sides without siding with either

person– Work toward a common solution

• Make a contract of the terms if you feel it is necessary!

Diversity (pp. 64-67)

• As an RA, you will encounter a very diverse student body. You will encounter students from different SES’s, races, sexual orientations, religions and more!

• Be mindful of your language! Some words and actions will set people off.– Remember, you are

always on!

NECI Student Handbook• All of the policies we enforce are available for reference in the NECI Student Handbook. Please look this over before you begin as an RA. There is

lots of valuable information!

• If you are ever unsure of anything outlined in the handbook, don’t hesitate to ask the RLCs, Mel or

Jen to clarify.

Important Forms!

• RA Terms of Agreement• NECI Student Handbook and RA Handbook• Quick Reference Telephone Directory for

Montpelier• Incident Report Form• Timesheets• Rounds Report Form• Overnight Guest Sign-In• Sheet for lockouts, noise violations and smoking

violations.

Congratulations!

• You have made it through the lecture part of training!

• Questions/Comments/Concerns?