Programming - Topic Areas

The Programming Committee has developed the topical areas below to help guide and shape your program submissions. All the categories below address a need or niche within our profession and we would love to offer programs in all these areas. Please consider your areas of expertise and submit a program proposal on one of these topics.

Administrative Operations/Administrative Best Practices/Technology
This category should include presentations about occupancy management, processes related to applications/contracts/renewals/room assignments and selection, marketing strategies, communications plans, billing and financial management, and how housing departments are enhancing processes and procedures through the use of technology. Programs highlighting specific and innovative uses of technology in the completion of our work as housing professionals are also appropriate for submission in this category.

Assessment/Benchmarking

This category should include presentations on methods, topics, and results of assessment and benchmarking initiatives and how housing departments utilize data to identify and address student needs, create best practices, and improve performance and service delivery. Additionally if you have research to share based on benchmarking and assessment projects that is appropriate as well.

Staff Supervision/Development- This category should include presentations on current practices, trends, and issues concerning staff supervision/development (i.e. accountability/performance reviews, motivation/recognition, assisting staff in attaining new knowledge/skills/abilities, gaining increasing levels of competence, and growing professionally), what your institution is doing to stay ahead of these concerns (examples may include such programs as orientation, in-service education, and continuing education), and provide participants a better understanding of how to adapt the presenter’s practices and methods to meet an institution’s specific needs.

Academic Initiatives/Campus Partnerships/Living Learning Communities- This category should include presentations on programmatic initiatives that include the integration of academic and/or other campus departments within the residence life operation (i.e. living learning communities, tutoring centers, FYE programs, co-curricular and service-learning opportunities), specific institutional efforts to cultivate these initiatives and partnerships, and provide participants with the steps and resources to implement similar programs at their institution.

Family Housing/Apartments/Theme Housing - This category should address the unique needs of Family/Apartments/Theme Housing. Programs can include all functional areas in this type of housing to include programming, facilities, staffing structure, childcare, faculty involvement, etc. Additionally, program submissions regarding new initiatives and new types of themed housing that may be of interest to your colleagues in the region are welcomed.

Programming & Leadership Development- This category should include presentations on programming and leadership development of our residents. What is your university doing to recruit and develop student leaders? What types of new programming initiatives and models are being implemented at your institution that would be of interest to your colleagues? Are there unique collaborations happening on your campus to provide programming or leadership development opportunities? Presentations on programming should explain to participants what you are doing at your institution and how they can implement these things at their own institution.

Personal Development- This category focuses on us as Student Affairs Professionals. Programs in this category are topical in nature and focus on things like work/family life balance, parenthood in student affairs, personal development readings,moving off campus for the first time, etc. This grouping of programs is intended to address some of the common personal issues thatHousing Professionals face and present a forum to discuss these topics.

Social Justice/Multicultural Issues- This category addresses the myriad of the social justice and multicultural issues we face on our campuses. Programs can be focused on a particular topic (i.e. addressing socioeconomic status in residential programming or can be about specific initiatives or programs taking place on your campus you think would benefit other campuses. Additionally research or readings in these areas can be presented as Programs. Programs in this area are intended to increase the knowledge of the participants surrounding social justice and multicultural issues and to provide ideas for working with these issues on our campuses.

Crisis Management/Risk Management/Legal Issues- This category should include presentations on best practices, trends, and preparation of plans in crisis management/risk management/legal issues (i.e. emergency plans, mental health preparation, legal precedents and decisions that affect the profession, and staff utilization areas) and fosters participant understanding of how to utilize information on their campus and have a better understanding of the steps to manage issues and emergencies at their institution.

Facilities/Construction/Renovation-This category should include presentations about maintenance and/or custodial operations or programs, construction and renovation projects of interest, and a focus on sustainability in design and LEED projects. (i.e. maintenance/custodial organizational structure, developing relationships with physical plant, new construction/renovation projects and LEED certification, selecting architects, mold remediation, bed bugs, and customer service are representative topics).

Sustainability-This category should include projects and educational programs related to sustainable lifestyles and planning. (i.e. recycling, move out donations and collections, recycle mania, energy use contests, resident education and awareness, involving hall government, and RHA, bike share and maintenance programs, and paperless application process programs apply here).