The Department of Residential Life have split into two this semester: the Office of Residential and Dining Services (RDS) and the Office of Residential Education (Res Ed). The two departments have different roles but still share some responsibilities, such as enforcing room policies regarding refrigerator sizes, extensions cords, and the ban on drugs and alcohol for underage students. Previously, the Office of Residence Life oversaw everything that related to Stevens housing, from the actual conditions and policies of the buildings to residential programming, a job that was too overwhelming for a relatively small department. Both departments are overseen by Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Sara Klein. Dr. Klein believes that “The change simply allows for everyone to focus on their particular role even more than in the past, and for the teams in both departments to fine tune and enhance their processes.”
RDS, led by Trina Ballantyne, oversees the residential facilities for both on-campus and leased properties. The department ensures that buildings and its interiors, including furniture and equipment, are properly maintained. RDS partners with the Physical Plant department to ensure that residence halls are clean, safe, and comfortable. Furthermore, RDS facilitates room selection and secures leased housing. Additionally, RDS manages the contract with Compass One (Dining Services).
To lead the Office of Residential Education, Stevens added a new member to its staff, Stacy Flowers. Flowers is the newly hired Director of Residential Education. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in Theater and Music from Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania, a Master’s degree in Higher and Postsecondary Education from Arizona State University, and she is currently in the last year of study for her Doctorate of Education from Drexel University. Prior to coming to Stevens in July 2018, Flowers worked as the Assistant Director of Residence Life at Montclair State University. Coming from a larger state school, Flowers foresees her greatest challenge to be deciphering the mechanisms of a smaller private school and its corresponding regulations.
Residential Education’s purpose is to focus on the student residential experience and on what happens inside of dormitory halls. Res Ed aims to create a developmental program for residents as well as offer more support to its staff, including Resident Assistants, Area Directors, and Resident Directors. One major initiative that Res Ed will take on is establishing a Residence Hall Association (RHA) at Stevens. The RHA is like a “mini student government for the residence halls,” explained Flowers. “It’s goal is to offer large-scale programming for residential communities and advocate for some of the needs specifically within the halls.” This process will begin by forming hall councils composed of floor representatives from each on-campus residence hall as well as student representatives from the Stevens Leased Housing communities. The hall councils will host meetings where residents of each hall can voice their concerns. RHA is a completely volunteer-fueled organization, which Flowers sees as a “stepping stone leadership opportunity,” which will supplement Resident Assistant roles and programming.
Within the next few years, Flowers also plans to develop a residential curriculum to create lesson plans to guide programming and allow structured creativity for Res Ed staff. Flowers hopes to have a curriculum ready for next fall. Additionally, Flowers is looking into developing more learning communities, similar to Lore-El and the CARE House. Some of her ideas include incorporating different majors and interests to categorize the learning communities.
Due to the split of the Office of Residence Life, students will now address concerns regarding the physical state of the building to the Office of Residential and Dining Services, located on the seventh floor of the Howe Center, but concerns regarding residential programming and roommate issues should be directed to the Office of Residential Education in Humphreys 120.
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