Lessons Learned: How to Avoid the Biggest Mistakes Made by College Resident Assistants

ISBN-13: 9780415813143 / Angielski / Twarda / 2013 / 218 str.

John D. Foubert

Opis

The college years can be some of the most vibrant and transformative in an individual's life, but they are also fraught with uncertainty. The resident advisor or assistant (RA) not only confronts these decisions for him or herself but must also help his or her residents navigate the world of important decisions which the undergraduate experience presents. Lessons Learned is the definitive volume for training RAs to become comfortable with their roles as student leaders. Over four dozen common RA mistakes are discussed, chapter-by-chapter, in the form of individual letters written by experienced RAs to new staff members. Each chapter includes thought-provoking discussion questions, a list of internet and media resources, and additional tips related to each situation. Now in its second edition, this updated volume provides a new overview of student developmental theory and covers a host of new topics, including evolving thought on 21st century predicaments such as social media, texting and the Internet. This is an important text for beginning and experienced RAs, as well as for the university staff who train these crucial pillars of the university community.

Spis treści

About the Author  Preface  Acknowledgements  1. Applying Student Development Theory to the RA Role  Part I: Building Community: The Basics  2. Being Away too Much During the First Week of School  3. Waiting Until the Second Month of the Year to Do Programming  4. Not Staying on Top of Facilities Issues  5. Doing the Work for Your Hall Council  6. Seeing Conflict as Harmful to Community  7. Jumping Into Service Without Learning  8. Cults on Campus  Part II: Building an Inclusive Community  9. Assuming "They" Don’t Want to Be Included  10. Trying to Help, Making Things Worse  11. Ignoring Racist Comments  12. A Case of Religious Discrimination  13. The Facebook Nightmare  Part III: Resident Support  14. Ignoring Homesick Helen  15. Forgetting to Support a Superstar  16. Serving Until it Hurts  17. Not Reaching Out to a Lonely Resident  18 Telling a Parent He Can Call You  19. Texting Residents When You Should Talk Face to Face  20. Keeping Your Relationships With Residents in Balance  21. The Role of an Alternate RA  Part IV: Policy Enforcement  22. "If I Can’t See It, It Isn’t There"   23. Enjoying Policy Enforcement too Much  24. Enforcing Policy Selectively  25. Being Passive About Noise That Interferes With Others  26. Ignoring Escalating Domestic Violence  27. Ignoring a Serious Drinking Problem  28. Mistaking Intoxication for Alcohol and Instead of Drugs  Part V: Helping Students With Psychological Difficulties  29. Misinterpreting a Student With Asperger Syndrome  30. Sharing Prescription Drugs  31. Keeping Promises  32. Assuming a Resident Is "Just A Little Thin"  33. Ignoring a Suicidal Comment  34. Confusing Cutting Behavior  35. Surviving a Panic Attack  Part VI: Things That Can Seriously Compromise Your Role  36. Stifling Freedom of Speech in Your Community  37. A Conflict Between Co-RAs  38. Being Careless About Spending University Money  39. Deciding What To Do Based on What Everyone Else Does  40. Dating a Resident  41. Dating Another RA  42. Drinking Alcohol With Underage Residents  43. Dealing With a Slacking Staff Member  44. Dealing With Parents  Part VII: Safety and Security  45. Not Getting Everyone out During a Fire Alarm  46. Trying to Help a Rape Survivor but Making Her Feel Worse  47. Dealing With Someone Who Is Not a Student  48. Excusing Violent Behavior as "Just Blowing Off Steam"  Conclusion: Reflecting on the Importance of the Work We Do  What Is Your Story?  Bibliography  Index

O autorze

John D. Foubert, PhD, began his career in residence life as an RA at the University of Richmond, where he was assigned to the most difficult floor in the wildest hall on campus. He has worked for over two decades as an administrator and professor at several colleges and is the president of One in Four, a nonprofit organization dedicated to rape-prevention programming.