NLC Senior Resident Assistant
Resident Assistants plan programs around busy schedules to get to know students living on campus, and also to give students an opportunity to meet new people while learning in a fun way.
“The RAs have a lot to work around while planning required programs,” area coordinator Kayla Smith said. “Most students are involved in many different organizations on campus, including the RAs themselves, so programs can sometimes prove to be a challenge to schedule.”
The RAs are required to plan nine programs a year.
“There are certain rules that have to be followed planning programs,” Smith said.
Each RA has to have programs that either provides educational opportunities or just fun times that incorporate getting to know people.
An example of an educational program from earlier this semester was when the resident assistants of the New Living Center had students make root beer floats and put on a showing of the movie “The Hangover.”
Junior Chelsea Pennock said the educational programs are meant to be interesting and fun.
The program mixed fun and education about drinking alcohol together in one night. The programs generally mix fun with an educational topic.
“I enjoy putting on programs because it allows the RAs to get to know their residents,” senior Mariah Barnett said. “It’s always really fun no matter, the number of people that show up.”
Attendance to the programs varies on the day and time of the program.
RAs are encouraged to work to find a time that will work with their residents and not just with themselves.
Smith said some of the RAs are also athletes, which provides a challenge to find a time that will work with other students involved in the many organizations on campus.
RAs are allowed to have a program any time of day during the week.
Barnett said the end of the fall semester is especially hard to find a time where the majority of residents can attend because of the winding down of the semester and finals around the corner.
The RAs are advised to start doing more relaxed programs starting around Thanksgiving break because the programs can serve as a stress relief for students who attend.
“This mostly means things like movie nights or relaxing activities similar to that,” Smith said.
The programs are meant to mesh with other opportunities offered to students on campus.
Pennock said programs can be beneficial to even the busiest students if they use the opportunity.
