University of Northern Iowa
Department of Residence Practicum
Contact Information:
Lyn Redington
Director of Residence Life
lyn.redington@uni.edu
319-273-2333
Redeker Center (0252)
Department of Residence Description:
The Department of Residence contributes to the success of students and the university by providing
exceptional hospitality and creating dynamic communities.
The UNI Department of Residence is part of the Student Affairs Division and houses approximately 4,400
students each year. Many professionals collaborate to meet the needs of these students in the areas of
residence life, dining, and facilities. Residence Life Coordinators (RLCs) are live-in professionals that
work to help the 300-600 students in their facility succeed at UNI.
Specific information about the Department of Residence can be found at: www.uni.edu/dor
Department of Resident Practicum Objective:
Graduate students participating in a practicum within the Department of Residence will obtain
knowledge and experience in the total on-campus living experience, such as developing paraprofessional staff, policies and conduct procedures, student leadership advising and development,
residence education and academic support for students, facilities concerns, dining collaboration, and the
role of housing within the context of the institution.
Expectations:
Practicum students are expected to complete the following:
 Meet with practicum supervisor weekly.
 Attend L-team meetings weekly (usually 9-11:30a Tuesdays).
 Select areas of interest listed below to complete practicum areas.
 Be prepared to complete practicum work during AND outside of regular work hours as many
Residence Life activities occur in the evening and on weekends.
 Take initiative to complete tasks and activities as discussed with practicum supervisor, including
scheduling necessary meetings with other Department of Residence Staff/Divisional Staff.
 Create and complete professional growth and development goals pertaining to this specific
practicum experience.
 Complete practicum log/journal as required for practicum completion.
 Maintain high standards of professionalism, ethics, and confidentiality.
Activities and Resources:
Residence Life Professionals are generalists and need to be prepared to have knowledge about many
areas relevant to students’ lives. In order to gain a working knowledge of Residence Life operations,
practicum students should be prepared to participate in many functional areas. Below are various
responsibilities of Residence Life Staff. Practicum students should select areas they would like to focus
on and work with the practicum supervisor to complete responsibilities in the specific areas of interest.
Not all areas need to be covered for practicum completion.
Area 1: Student Leadership Development and Advising (20 hours)
 Hall Senate
o Attend Hall Senate and Senate Exec Meetings
o Meet with Senate President/Execs to plan meetings and events
o Guide Senate sub-committees in programming and hall events
o Be present during Hall Senate events
o Provide leadership development activities for Senate Exec and/or Senate
 Residence Hall Association (RHA)
o Attend RHA Meetings (5-6pm Thursday)
o Meet with RHA Execs/Members to plan meetings and events
o Provide leadership development activities for Execs and Members
o Be present during RHA events
o Co-advise RHA Subcommittee
 National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH)
o Attend NRHH Meetings
o Provide leadership development activities for NRHH members and Execs
 Additional opportunities regarding advising and leadership development as suggested by the
practicum student or supervisor
Area 2: Conduct Administration (15 hours)
 Conduct Adjudication
o Observe conduct hearings
o Review incident reports and hearing notes, discuss appropriate sanctioning options with
hearing officer
o Learn about the administrative process including written documentation,
communication with student, conduct tracking and data
 Assessment and Best Practices
o Use StarRez and other resources to evaluate recidivism, effective sanctions, trends and
patterns
o Use current research to help determine best practices and suggest future changes to
conduct administration
 Additional opportunities regarding conduct administration as suggested by the practicum
student or supervisor
Area 3: Residence Education, Academic Support, Academic Advising (10 hours)
 Residence Education
o Meet with Lyn Redington to discuss Residence Education Philosophy and plan
o Work with RLC on implementing Residence Education pieces with the RA staff
o Research other Residence Education Philosophies at various institutions
o Work with supervisor to plan/create Residence Education material and resources
 Peer Academic Advisor in Residence, PAIR
o Work with RLC, Academic Advisors, and PAIR to understand PAIR role
o Meet with PAIR to create, plan, and facilitate academic programs and initiatives in
conjunction with the RAs
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Academic Environments
o Evaluate responses to House Feedback Surveys, EBI, MAP-Works, and other student
feedback tools in order to create and facilitate living environments conducive to
academic focus with the help of hall staff and leaders.
o Create and facilitate opportunities to connect residents with faculty and academic
resources.
o Provide support to living learning communities through faculty outreach, programs and
support for staff and students.
Additional opportunities regarding academic living environments as suggested by the practicum
student or supervisor
Area 4: Summer Conferences Preparation (Spring Only) (10 hours)
 Work with Summer Conference Coordinator to aid in the facilitation of the following:
o Communication with past conference guests.
o Publicity regarding conference opportunities to past and potential future guests.
o Participate in the hiring of Summer Conference Assistants.
o Communication with facilities, custodial, and colleagues.
Area 5: Para-Professional Staff Development (35 hours)
 Resident Assistant Development (10 hours)
o Attend/lead hall staff meetings. It is recommended that you attend a staff meeting in at
least two different halls in order to observe various methods of leading student staff.
o Provide leadership and team development activities for RA staff(s).
o Work with RLC to counsel, train, guide, and, facilitate growth with RA staff.
o Attend, perhaps facilitate, Spring Workshop for newly hired RAs. (spring only)
o Participate in Departmental Spring Workshop Department in planning Spring Workshop.
(spring only)
 RA Recruitment and Selection (25 hours)
o Participate in Departmental RA Recruitment and Selection Committee in order to help
meet departmental recruitment goals. (Recruitment – Fall Only, Selection – Spring Only)
o Participate in RA interviews including roundtable interviews, socialviews, application
review, etc. Discuss recommendations for hire with practicum supervisor.
o Observe RA Selection Day.
 Additional opportunities regarding Para-Professional Staff Development as suggested by the
practicum student or supervisor
Area 6: Communication and Public Relations (5 hours)
 Collaborate with the Assistant Director of Residence/Marketing on one or more of the following:
o Housing Recontracting Publicity and Communication
o RA Alumni Newsletter
o Parent Newsletter
Area 7: Assessment and Evaluation (15 hours)
 Use MAP-Works data to evaluate individual and aggregate student needs and trends in themed
houses, specific buildings, etc. Then facilitate programs, communication, and meetings with
students in order to help meet the needs presented by MAP-Works data.
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Examine Educational Benchmark Indicator (EBI) data from current and past years. Evaluate
trends, areas of focus, and room for growth. Propose methods to hold high scores and improve
scores that can be raised. Evaluate the need for EBI communication to students and
stakeholders and propose beneficial communication.
Host focus groups for residents in particular situations (Springboard Houses, Substance Free
Houses, Upperclassmen Houses, Towers Houses, involved students, “apathetic” students, repeat
policy violators, etc.) and evaluate responses in order to propose methods to create inclusive,
dynamic communities.
Research current evaluation tools (including peer-to-peer, peer-to-supervisor, resident-to-RA,
etc.) Recommend and/or create evaluation tools for future use.
Note: The practicum student is welcome and encouraged to complete the project for
“Assessment in Student Affairs” course in this practicum experience with the approval of the
Director of Residence Life.
Area 8: Partners in Housing(5 hours)
 Meet with Director of Residence Life, to discuss: department and campus collaboration,
strategic plan, professional development.
 Meet with Director of Residence Facilities to discuss: facilities planning, maintenance, custodial
needs, long-term planning, federal and state regulations impact, working with Live-in staff.
 Meet with Assistant Director of Residence/Marketing to discuss: public relations,
communication with parents, communication with on-campus and off-campus stakeholders,
housing and dining promotion.
 Meet with Director of Dining to discuss: meeting the needs of students, planning, budgeting,
sustainability, collaboration with housing.
 Meet with one or more Hall Secretaries to discuss: communication, collaboration, meeting
student needs.
Area 9: Residence Life in the Bigger Picture (5 hours)
 Meet with the Vice President of Student Affairs to discuss the role of Residence Life in the
mission of the division and institution, the value-added to students’ experience when living on
campus, potential future trends in Residence Life.
 Meet with the Assistant Vice President and Executive Director of Residence Life to discuss
strategic planning, occupancy, budgeting, long-range goals, department mission and values,
communication, and the impact of on-campus living for students. (not applicable 2012-2013)
 Research and examine organizational charts for Residence Life Departments at various
institutions.
 Research current and future trends of Residence Life issues, staffing, student needs, community
living experiences.
Area 10: Professional Development (5 hours)
 Evaluate opportunities to be involved and network regionally and nationally.
 Explore ways current Residence Life Coordinators seek professional development.
 Utilize CAS-Standards and NHTI Standards (Technical, Administrative, Interpersonal, Leadership,
Conceptual/Creative) to evaluate areas of experience and growth.
 Complete a reading recommended by Director of Residence Life and the practicum supervisor as
it pertains to community development/housing.
Required Practicum Projects:
 Develop Philosophy of Residence Life.
 Create and reach professional goals for practicum experience.
 Facilitate a minimum of 1 program (evaluating student needs, planning, publicizing, etc.) for a
community of on-campus students.
 Complete a specific project which will be identified according to interest.
Evaluation:
Ongoing verbal feedback and evaluation between the practicum supervisor and student will occur
throughout the semester. The student is encouraged to ask for feedback regarding specific tasks and
projects as the semester progresses. A formal written evaluation will be completed at the end of the
practicum experience by the practicum supervisor.