Philosophy of Housing and Residential Education

Much of a student's educational experience takes place outside the boundaries of formal classroom instruction. The residential education program is an integral part of the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth's overall goal to build a foundation for civic responsibility, individual skills and professional success.

Housing and Residential Education is committed to encouraging the personal growth of each residential student by providing an atmosphere which is safe, well maintained, and promotes opportunities for individual growth. Residential programming offers social, recreational, educational, and community service activities as critical elements of a "living and learning" environment.

By encouraging community awareness and respect for others, the residential education staff hope to gain the cooperation of all so students are free to enjoy those personal growth experiences. However, when an individual acts in a manner which violates the rights of another or of the university community, that behavior will be challenged. Residential education staff and all community members must take an active and educational role by confronting the disrespectful behavior.

Our residential environment further serves as a catalyst for student development by fostering a supportive learning environment. By promoting an appreciation of difference, mutual respect, and an awareness of the resources and opportunities available to UMD students, the residential education program complements and enriches the total educational experience and encourages students to develop their full potential.

Housing & Residential Education Mission Statement

The mission of the Residential Education program is to promote the wellness and development of each community member through purposeful educational opportunities. The program encourages all members to share in the responsibility of maintaining a safe and secure living environment. Appropriate skills are role modeled by staff members, which fosters an environment where diversity is celebrated and upheld by all staff members.

 Community Development: Our Philosophy

Community Development helps to foster a sense of community among the residents and gives residents a chance to interact with both the RA staff and each other on an informal basis, but it also does so much more. It promotes learning outside the classroom by creating a living/learning environment for the residents, provides opportunities for not just socialization but also for emotional well-being, physical outlets, spiritual meanings, occupational clarification, intellectual stimulation, cultural learning and expression. It provides the opportunity for residents to learn from each other.  It can also provide opportunities for faculty and staff to interact with the residents and expose them to an important facet of life in the residence halls.

Creating a community amongst your residents/rooms/apartments and in your building/area helps in decreasing vandalism, decreasing bad behavior, decreasing disruption within the community, and an increase in attendance at future events. By encouraging your residents to get to know each other it helps them in developing their social groups and making friends. This is of the utmost importance as it helps in creating a better and stronger community in which the residents feel comfortable. It also helps to provide a safe space for the residents to meet each other and promote a safer community overall. And by encouraging the residents to be more active in their community it helps in relation to enforcing policies and respecting others, which makes the RA and RD job easier.

Believe it or not, most students have the expectation of their college or university to help them and teach them what they need to know to be successful in life, both in and out of their career. The classroom can teach them what they need for their career, but we can help teach them what they will need for their lives. We are dedicated to developing a programming model that helps to develop our residents holistically, in all areas of their lives.

One benefit of being an RA is learning skills you will use after college. Part of that skill set is program planning and implementation. You will learn what goes into planning programs, proper marketing/advertising techniques, budgeting skills, as well as all the information you prepare for your programs themselves. These are important skills that employers are looking for and will help you as you prepare for those next steps after college. These skills will be developed in coordination with your direct supervisor and the other RAs on your building/area team.