Student Handbook

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The Residence Life Experience

The Office of Residence Life's mission is grounded on the philosophy that living on campus is an important and valuable part of each student's intellectual and academic college experience. Residence life staff live in the residence halls and work with residents to develop a welcoming and inclusive community with opportunities for personal growth, learning and engagement. Simmons College believes that the residence halls are active living/learning centers that complement the academic programs of the College. Students are given opportunities to become involved in their own learning and development by engaging in hall programs and activities. Residential students come to understand what it means to be a member of a community. On the Residence Campus and within each individual hall there exist basic guidelines that encourage individual responsibility and citizenship, to promote the well being of the collective community. Residence hall policies and regulations provide parameters regarding acceptable and unacceptable behavior in the residence community.

The Office of Residence Life strives to enhance and enrich the students' residential experience by providing services, programming, and support through the extensive network of student and professional staff resources at the College. The Residence Life staff is comprised of peer resident advisors, residence directors, and the Director of Residence Life, two Assistant Directors, and Assignment Coordinator. Together, this residential team serves as liaisons, advocates, and mentors in nearly all aspects of a residential student's life. The residential staff administers staff selection, training, and development; student hall government advising; the student room selection and assignment process; Residence Campus policies and procedures; and the Residence Campus Judicial Board. Students with any questions, concerns, ideas, or recommendations are strongly encouraged to stop by or call the Office of Residence Life located in the Health Center on the second floor. The office is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Services Provided by Res Life Staff include:

Facilitating the processing of requests for repairs and maintenance needs
Staff coverage during non-business hours
Lock-outs (after 4:30pm during the week and all day during weekend)
Planning and implementing programming events
Dissemination of information through hall newsletters and flyers
Mediation/conflict resolution
Responding when there are violations of the norms of community living
Informal, non-clinical counseling
Crisis intervention
Referrals to on- and off-campus resources

Residence Directors (RDs)

RDs are professional staff that lives in the residence halls providing an adult presence and an important link between the Office of Residence Life and the residential community. Each RD is responsible for the support and supervision of resident advisors who are residential student staff members. RDs serve as advisers to hall council and are responsible for the overall functioning of the residence hall. The RDs are typically graduate students who are working toward advanced degrees in counseling, college student personnel, social work, counseling/psychology, or a related field. An RD is on duty whenever the main office is closed.

Resident Advisors (RAs)

The resident advisor (RA) is a matriculated student who lives within the residence hall community. The RA is on the staff of the Office of Residence Life to provide support, resource information, and advice to students on academic, social, and personal matters. They receive extensive training in areas such as program and community development, crisis intervention, and interpersonal skills. RAs are also responsible for promoting a sense of community by organizing activities and programs to help residents become acquainted, feel "at home," and learn more about themselves and others.

Hall Councils

Each residence hall is governed by a council of elected and/or appointed members. The hall council is a recognized student organization that fosters the support, development, and involvement of residents within their respective communities. Each hall council is advised by the Residence Director of the hall. The hall council is the social hub of the residence hall. In addition to the president, the council is made up of a vice president, secretary, treasurer, social chair(s), and a Residence Campus Judicial Board representative. Serving on the hall council is not only a great leadership experience, but also a very fun experience. Opportunities to be involved in hall council planning and activities are available to all residents beginning with their first hall meeting, and participation is both welcomed and encouraged.

Hall Presidents

Hall presidents are elected each year to provide leadership to the hall government and members of hall council, to represent their residence hall campus wide, and to serve as a liaison with the Office of Residence Life. The hall president and other hall council members strive to organize social, recreational, and educational activities and programs and to enhance and promote community involvement and participation among the residents of their hall.

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