Overhauling a
Programming Model
Julie Guindon
University of Calgary
Residence Life Coordinator
Our Residence System
University of Calgary (Calgary, Alberta)
City = 1 million +
Campus = 29 000+ students
Residence = 1700 students
Professional Staff = 5 Residence Life Coordinators
Student Staff = 39 Community Advisors
The process
The timeline
The research
The development
The model
The training
The transformation/changes
The discussion
The Process: Why
bother?
Summer project
Purposeful
Long over due
The Timeline
Nov 2008
Jan 2009
May 2009
June-July 2009
August 2009
Sept-Dec 2009
2010 looking forward
Where to begin?
Research – May 2009
Connections
Phone calls
Emails
Old files
Helpful (or not) archives
Previous institutions
Online
What we found out…
Programming models, despite the difference
in layout, all have the same underlying
principles.
Models ranged from complete freedom to
very specific, time sensitive, and dictated
programs.
The first six weeks have a large impact.
Programming supports students…
(but we already knew that)
How can we make it work for our staff?
The Development: Student
Staff
RLC Brainstorming
Student Staff Input
What was important to them?
Structure but flexibility
Requirements and consequences
Room for creativity…or not
Guidance and examples
Training and support
The Development: RLCs
What was important to us?
User friendly for student staff and RLCs
Not changing everything
Familiar for returning staff
Accountability
Structure and themed areas
Objective, defined tracking
Taking it back to the student staff for
finalization
The Model: Out With the Old
Leadership & Citizenship
Academics
Personal Wellness
Transition & Discovery
Diversity
Requirements tallied per term
Combination of Active (6) and Passive (4) Programs
Includes at least one Residence Committee Program
The Model: In With the New
Simplicity yet detail
Examples
Clarity
One stop shopping: Manual
The model & requirements
The how-to planning guide
Tips & tricks
Important dates
Campus and community resources
Programming Calendar
Community Building
Socially engaging opportunities
Builds relationships
Integral to the development of a community
Key Concepts
Hanging out and having fun
Working together
Feels like “home”
Embracing each individual in the community
Getting to know your neighbour
Awareness & Discovery
Expands students‟ perspectives
Personal discovery
Key Concepts
Expanding Horizons
Discovering “new things”
Citizenship Programs
Awareness Campaigns
Tours of Calgary
The Arts
Environmental Issues
“Making the world a better place”
Committees
Support fellow student leaders in residence
Connect students to other communities
Available opportunities
Key Concepts
Athletics in Residence – AIR
Community Impact - CI
Diversity In Action – DNA
Save Energy – NRG
Residence Academic Mentorship Program - RAMP
Diversity
Celebrate diversity
Increase awareness and acceptance in community
Challenge stereotypes and un-inclusive behaviour
Key Concepts
Education on “isms”
Sexuality
Religion
Culture
Inclusive Language
Challenging Boundaries
Ability (physical and mental)
Personal Wellness
Mental/ emotional/ physical health
Importance of a healthy lifestyle
Key Concepts
Having an Active Lifestyle
Disorder Awareness
Physical Wellness
Mental Wellness
Emotional Wellness
Eating Healthy
Student Success
Focus on overall success of students in
residence
Life skills to academic skills
Key Concepts
Resume workshop
Time management
Academics
Study buddies
Campus involvement/ knowledge
Goal setting
Student transition
“Making it on your own”
Requirements
Minimum of 16 points per semester
Active Programming: 6 points minimum
Passive Programming: 5 points minimum
Your Choice: 5 points minimum
Minimum points per mountain area
Community Building: 6 points
Awareness and Discovery: 2 points
Committees: 2 points
Diversity: 2 points
Personal Wellness: 2 points
Student Success: 2 points
The Points Scale
Time + Effort + Quality = Points
1-2 Points
• Community development
• Minimal planning/advertising/participation
• Spontaneous
• On campus
3-4 Points
• Developmental component/expose students to new ideas and experiences
• Time to prepare
• On or off campus
5-6 Points
• Team effort
• A lot of advance planning
• Entire building or residence community
Deadlines & Accountability
Wednesday Sept 30th, 2009
Saturday Oct 31st, 2009
Monday Nov 30th, 2009
Friday Dec 18th, 2009
Sunday Jan 31st, 2010
Sunday Feb 28th, 2010
Wednesday Mar 31st, 2010
Friday Apr 23rd, 2010
All programming worksheets must be submitted
by the above dates to be counted
The Training
Breaking up into 4 sessions
Introduction to Programming
The new model
Passive Programming
Quality passives
Active Programming
Using the student life cycle as a guide
New staff: How do I program? The process.
Returning staff: Program challenge. Step it up!
Programming with Purpose
Creating a strong community, developing student leader
relationships, building pride in your residence hall,
leaving a legacy
The Transformation
Fall Term
Erica Wiebe Community Personal Awareness & Diversity (2) Student Committee
MGK Main Building (6) Wellness (2) Discovery (2) Success (2) Programs (2)
Program Date A P A P A P A P A P A P
RSA Value Village Trip 05-Sep 1
Singles Week Passive 20-Sep 1
Rez Rodeo 06-Sep 2
Kickoff 12-Sep 2 1
Ice Cream Cone Birthday Sep 22 1
Hooking Up on Campus 30-Aug 1
Everything About Kan Board 30-Aug 1
Speed Dating Event 27-Sep 3 1
Tent City 07-Oct 2
Games Night 25-Oct 1
Sober October Passive 01-Oct 1
How To Passive Oct 0.5
Alcohol Awareness Week Nov 17-19 2
AIR Grey Cup Event 29-Nov 1
Welcome to Jerkville Nov 1
RSA Gala 28-Nov 1
Alma Dinner 08-Dec 1
8 Steps to the worst body 14-Dec 1
Holiday Passive 02-Dec 1
Mountain Summary 12 1 2 3 3 0.5 0 1 1 2 1 0
TALLY: Active Passive Total
19 7.5 26.5
In Comparison…
Fall Term
Erica Wiebe Leadership & Academic Personal Transition & Diversity
Kan 2 Citizenship Wellness Discovery
Program Date A P A P A P A P A P
Value Village Trip 09-Sep 1
Mystery Mayhem Night (Rock) 19-Oct 1
Sex? Jokes? Candy? 19-Oct 1
How to be a successful geek 09-Sep 1
Let's Vote Board 19-Oct 1
Disabilities Awareness Board 19-Oct 1
Holiday Dinner Boston Pizza Dec 1
Holiday Gift Exchange Dec 1
Eid Mabarak Board Dec 1
Mountain Summary 0 1 0 1 1 0 3 0 1 2
TALLY: SLP Active Passive Total
no 5 4 9
The Transformation
What we‟ve noticed:
Staff challenging themselves
Staff enjoyment
Staff understand programming more
Staff have a greater interest
Quality programs
Stronger communities
What the staff think…
Love the challenge of a 2 point passive
Strive for quality over quantity
Working together on events
Sharing, recycling, „borrowing with pride‟
Easy to follow but gives freedom
RLCs can provide more direction
Manual used a lot
Programming calendar helpful for ideas
Passive Example: Canadian
Language
1 point passive
Awareness & Discovery, Community
Building, and Student Success
Mountains
Thank you: Vladamir Pavlov
Active Example: Mullets for
Haiti
3 great hair cuts
$4000+
A very involved residence
5 points, Awareness & Discovery and
Community Building Mountains
Thank you: Pete MacLeod, James
Saucier, & Tim Van Kleeck
The Future
Programming Database
Currently in the works
Compiled by using programming worksheets
Searchable by mountain or point level
Photos
Making it purposeful and useful
The Discussion: Your Turn
How does your programming model work?
Is your model purposeful for your staff?
What issues have you identified in your
programming model?
What have you done to improve?
What resources do you have to use?
What knowledge can you share?
Is it time to change?
What will work for you and your staff?
Thank You!
Julie Guindon
Residence Life Coordinator
University of Calgary
julie.guindon@ucalgary.ca
403-220-2270