AIMHO Angle, November 2014

AIMHOangle Nov 2014

ASSOCIATION OF INTERMOUNTAIN HOUSING OFFICERS

AIMHO 2014

PRE-CONFERENCE

ISSUE

Old Main, Utah State University ARIZONA - COLORADO - IDAHO - MONTANA - NEVADA - NEW MEXICO - SASKATCHEWAN - UTAH -WYOMING

TITLE HERE

The AIMHO Angle is the official publication of the Association of Intermountain Housing Officers (AIMHO). The Angle is published six times per year and is comprised of submissions and articles by staff and students of the region. The Angle is compiled and distributed by the AIMHO Marketing Committee.

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IN THIS ISSUE

About AIMHO A Note from the President Updates: SPRs & Executives Executive Committee Candidates Avoiding Social Justice Burn Out Post Opening Staff (Re)Connecting The One, The Only...The AIMHO Sage AIMHO 365 Webinars Transitions in AIMHO AIMHO College Cohort Leaders & Faculty AIMHO 101: The “Be” List Top Ten Things To Do at AIMHO 2014 AIMHO 2014 Keynote & Featured Speakers Spotlight: Executive Committee Member More Than A Party Planner: Legitimizing the Advisor Role AIMHO Conference Tips and Tricks AIMHO Committee Application Information Thank Yous from the SHO Institute Social Media at Conferences Looking Back at RAppin’ 2014 In the Media

November 2014 | 3

ASSOCIATION OF INTERMOUNTAIN HOUSING OFFICERS The Association of Intermountain Housing Officers (AIMHO) held their first annual conference in 1956 at the University of Wyoming (Laramie). The Association’s purpose is to work for continual improvement and coordination of housing and food service operations for students and staff members in institutions of higher learning. Membership within the Association is open to all housing officers of institutions of higher education. An annual conference is held at which time Association members meet to exchange and distribute professional information and ideas relating to the administration of physical, financial, social, and educational phases of housing and food service programs in colleges and universities.

AIMHO is comprised of member institutions from Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Saskatchewan, Utah, and Wyoming. AIMHO is a regional affiliate of the Association of College and University Housing Officers - International (ACUHO-I).

The mission statement of AIMHO reads:

“We provide members opportunities to learn and collaborate in a supportive network for the advancement of best practices in the stewardship of college and university residential communities.”

Core Values

Student Centered

Inclusivity & Involvement Commitment to Social Justice & Responsible Citizenship Data Informed Leadership

Executive Committee The current Executive Committee members of AIMHO are: Shirl Portillos President Colorado State University

Barb Remsburg President-elect University of Utah

Core Goals

• On-going promotion of the mission and values of the Association • Institutional and individual member outreach, recruitment, and engagement • Provide year-round learning opportunities for all individual members within the region • Create a culture of investment

Marketing Committee

The current Marketing Committee members are: Richard Clark Jeremy Homolka Treasurer Ashley Baggott University of Nevada, Las Vegas Committee Chair University of Utah Northern Arizona University Jeff Rosenberry Brent Klingemann Justin Lukasewicz Scott Mathie Member-at-Large, Senior Level Treasurer-elect Montana State University, Billings University of Colorado, Boulder The University of Arizona Snow College Maggie Roque Secretary University of Utah

Nicole Stella Member-at-Large, Entry Level University of Colorado, Boulder 4 | AIMHO Angle

Julie Franklin Immediate Past President Brigham Young University

Jen O’Brien Arizona State University

Abby Porter Brigham Young University

A Note from the President Happy Fall AIMHO! As we start to change from one season to the next here in Colorado, we are finding that are students are also changing as the test their boundaries, challenge our policies and discover who they want to become.

While the students continue to keep us busy, so does our work with AIMHO as we prepare for our annual conference in Logan, Utah at Utah State University. Whit and her staff are diligently working with our corporate partners, local vendors, local establishments and you all so we can “Meet the Challenge” at this year’s conference”. The AIMHO College and SHO committees have created schedules that are sure to generate dialogue and keep the conversations going throughout the conference. You will not be disappointed by the program sessions that the program committee has lined up for you! If you have not yet submitted a hot topic idea Shirl Portillos is the Assistant Director for please do so soon! We are excited to see the hard work you all have been doing on your Involvement, Diversity and Education at Colorado State University campuses so please consider signing up for the poster session.

We have also been keeping busy with the strategic plan as we implement your suggestions, ideas and comments from this year’s member survey. After this year’s conference we will be rolling out a new look to our website and we are reviewing different website software packages in hopes of creating better connections and communication throughout the Association. We have moved the committee selection process on-line in an effort to involve our members who may not be able to join us in November. We have also continued to update the Leader’s Manual as well as the RAppin manual. The marketing committee is also jazzed to share our new AIMHO logo with you!

As I reflect on all the tasks and projects we have taken on this year, I know that our accomplishments are due to all of the hard work, dedication and commitment of individuals who believe in AIMHO. It has been an honor to work with such incredibly passionate people.

I have learned, laughed and grown because of each one of you and I want to thank you for making me not only a better student affairs professional but also a better person.

See you all soon in Utah,

SHIRL PORTILLOS AIMHO President, 2013-2014

November 2014 | 5

UPDATES: STATE & PROVINCIAL REPS

MT

6 | AIMHO Angle

Representative: Korrin Engel Montana State University - Bozeman Greetings from Big Sky Country!

Here in Montana, we are enjoying some beautiful fall weather and finally settling down after a busy first 6 weeks. Professional and student staff members are busy collaborating with departments across campus to promote academic resources to students who may be struggling. Professional staff members have already begun to start evaluating midyear and spring hiring processes and are excited about new groups of students interested in fostering tight-knit and successful communities on campus.

Here at Montana State University-Bozeman, we broke ground on our new residence hall, and are finalizing details about layout, design and function. The remodel of our largest dining hall is also in full swing, and looking better by the day. Students and staff are both excited about this time of new growth and positive changes.

We are anticipating a large delegation to attend AIMHO this year and I am very excited to have everyone together again to exchange ideas, collaborate and make this next year the best year yet! Don’t forget to attend the MT State meeting at AIMHO! :) As always, if you have any questions or have an inspiring or exciting story to share about what is going at your school in Montana, please contact me!

Montana Loves AIMHO :)

CO

Representatives: Katie Schmalzel, Colorado School of Mines

Jenna Wilkinson, Colorado Christian University Colorado School of Mines opened a 200 bed residence hall in September. The project has been under construction since summer of 2013 and was originally scheduled to open for fall of 2014. The project was late (500 year flood and colder than average winter), so students were housed in temporary living spaces across campus until mid-September. Mines hired a moving company and utilized student move-in volunteers to ensure an efficient and successful move for students.

Additionally, Mines has worked to make apartment life more robust, including hiring a livein Residence Life Coordinator and student staff (Community Director and 5 Community Assistants) for our 500 bed apartment facilities. They will cater to the needs of upperclass students, graduate students, and students with families.

Colorado State University just opened up a new residence hall, Laurel Village, which houses their Computer Science community. The community has a fire pit, which provides staff with the ability to show movies outside with a state-of-the-art screen.

Fort Lewis College is in the second phase of a three part renovation project. A lot of time and energy has been put into this project.

Colorado Christian University is building a new 300 bed residential building!

University of Northern Colorado has opened their Pet Friendly Community. Currently we have welcomed two floors of students and their pets to enjoy community living! The students are very excited and engaged in the community and are invested in the sustainability of this community.

Time definitely flies when you are having fun! I have been working on a couple of things that I would like to share with you.

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Membership and Listserv Are there individuals at your school who are not on the AIMHO listserv? Think outside of your Residence Life area- are there others who are part of your team who are missing out on the information shared on the listserv? We know they are out there. I have been working to try and bridge the gap. I reached out to individuals who registered for the annual conference but indicated they were not on the listerv and invited them to join. The Website committee and Executive Board members also engaged in a demo for a potential website that would include the ability to build a membership database, manage registrations and invoicing, and potentially serve as our website. Of course there is a cost to this and we are working through the budget to see if this pathway may be feasible.

Committee Involvement I hope you have seen my email communications about the opportunity to serve the region as a Chair or Co-Chair. We are currently in the selection process. Notification will be made at the annual conference and shared on the listerv.

The Call for Committee Volunteers is open and it will not close until November 21. The application to serve on a committee is online, http://www.aimho.org/committees/join . The process has changed quite a bit in order to open up the opportunities outside of the annual conference. Here are some of the considerations we made in changing the process: • Allows for a broader base of volunteers, • Allows for those individuals who are able to attend the conference and see some of the work done by committees to return to their campus and have a conversation with their supervisor about being involved instead of having the urgency to sign up at the conference, • Allows for all of the applications to be submitted electronically, • Allows for the committee selection to be done away from the time limitations within the conference schedule, • Allows for those unable to attend the annual conference an opportunity to be involved.

• Allows for the dates of service to follow the calendar which provides time to transition after the annual conference. Dates of service are form January 1 to December 31.

UPDATES: EXECUTIVES

President-elect: Barb Remsburg University of Utah

Here is something to ponder: To the wrongs that need resistance, To the right that needs assistance, To the future in the distance, Give yourselves. -- Carrie Chapman Catt

Treasurer-elect: Brent Klingemann University of Colorado, Boulder Since my last opportunity to update, I have primarily focused on managing finances related to the RAppin Conference. The UNM staff were fantastic in communicating their financial needs and ensuring that they stayed under budget. I have also been processing a number of Corporate Partner sponsorships for the annual conference and preparing to reconcile accounts for the month of October.

The amount of transactions through the AIMHO accounts reach their peak this month and next – so I look forward to being very busy with Treasurer responsibilities. I have also spent a good amount of time researching possibilities of a change to an AIMHO membership management database. If you have any experience with “Your Membership” software or other membership databases, I would be interested in speaking with you during the annual conference to hear your thoughts. That’s all for now and I look forward to seeing everyone in Logan!

Te

November 2014 | 7

Sr

Member-at-Large, Senior Level: Jeff Rosenberry Montana State University Billings Hello AIMHO! I hope this finds you well as we near the annual conference in beautiful Utah. I am looking forward to seeing there!

Thank you to everyone who submitted an AIMHO Scholarship application this year. We had 21 submissions from across the region and the scholarship selection committee has completed the task of selecting scholarship recipients. The scholarship winners will be emailed about their receipt of specific scholarships and winners will be announced and presented with scholarship checks at the AIMHO Annual Conference.

It takes a great person to step up and apply for a scholarship and I am thrilled that we had so many committed individuals who completed the task this year.

I would like to send a special thank you to our State/Provincial Representatives for their great work in staying in contact with member schools. The SPR role is very important to the communication and success of the AIMHO region. This year we have 4 SPRs who will be ending their term, which means there are opportunities for you to learn more about serving in this role. A big thanks to the following outgoing SPRs:

UPDATES: EXECUTIVES

• • • •

8 | AIMHO Angle

Sue Belatti, Arizona Katie Schmaizel, Colorado Korrin Engel, Montana Mike Simpson, Idaho

The AIMHO Region is seeking your support in applying for these open SPR positions to serve a two year term. For more information about the SPR role you can click HERE. If you are ready to take the step to this great leadership position you can apply HERE. Please feel free to contact me if you have additional questions or wish to learn more about serving.

THE RACE FOR THE

REGION AIMHO 2014 ELECTIONS

Candidate Statements Each year, AIMHO elects new members to serve on the Executive Committee. The elections take place at the business meeting during the Annual Conference. This year, two positions are up for election - President-elect and Member-at-Large, Senior Level.

The next few pages contain statements from each of the candidates who have expressed interest in the positions. Each candidate will tell you a little bit about themselves, their experiences, and what they would hope to bring to the position.

We hope to see you at the business meeting - remember, you vote for YOUR leadership!

November 2014 | 9

PRESIDENT-ELECT

JEFF ROSENBERRY, MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY BILLINGS AIMHO Colleagues & Friends: With great pride to use this opportunity to declare my interest as a candidate for the AIMHO President-Elect position.

There are three types of individuals in the world: 1. Those who make things happen 2. Those who watch things happen, and 3. Those who wonder what happened My experiences within the AIMHO region proves I am the type of person who makes things happen and that I have become immersed in the organization; providing support in a variety of areas including: • Awards & Recognition Chair (2009. 2010) • Annual Conference Program Presenter (2009, 2010, • Montana SPR (2011, 2012) 2011, 2013) • Executive Board Member-at-Large, Senior Level (2013, 2014) • AIMHO College Attendee (2009) • AIMHO Annual Conference Chair (2012) • Senior Housing Officer Institute (2010) AIMHO has had many great successes and developments over the past few years under the leadership of strong individuals, but I am firm believer you don’t have to be sick to get better. The strides we have made regarding strategic planning and technology, to name a couple, have been the tip of the iceberg for our overall development, but we are a group who naturally make things happen.

Utilizing four simple principles I will dutifully serve the AIMHO organization and provide continued opportunities for growth in the future: Values, Identify, Purpose, and Product!

Our organization is made up of strong professionals with values that help shape our overall success, and in my role, I will seek to better understand those values and how we can use those values to take our development to the next level.

Capitalizing on the success of our strategic planning, I will work to ensure that each members understands the identity of the AIMHO region, thus providing even greater insight to our future opportunities.

When purpose is established amongst the membership we become empowered by our success and work to improve in areas we have failed. I will seek to ensure each member understands their individual purpose, as well as the overall purpose of our great association.

Ultimately, the AIMHO has a product for potential and current members. Like any good product, development must occur in order to ensure the highest quality for those impacted by the region and I will seek to use the strength of our membership to serve as a catalyst for future developments within the organization.

While there is a significant amount of management in this role, an even more important aspect is the ability to develop talent and ensure a clear identity for the region. Talent and opportunities are what brought me here today. Someone discovered talent and passion within me and in my time in AIMHO it’s become a reality. It is time now to lead and use my passion for growth and development.

I’m ready to take on this exciting step and use my skills to develop gifted and talented individuals, institutions and states.

Join me as we step up, work hard, and make a difference together.

Jeff W. Rosenberry, Montana State University Billings Member-at-Large, Senior Level 10 | AIMHO Angle

MEMBER-AT-LARGE, SENIOR LEVEL MIKE BILLAR, NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERSITY

It was Mahatma Gandhi who said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” For most of my adult life I have lived through serving others and it has shaped who I’ve become as a professional. It would be a supreme honor and privilege to continue my service as your Member At Large Senior Level.

I began my journey into the world of AIMHO during the 2003 conference. I began long lasting friendships with the people I met and have enjoyed the similarities we shared.

Since that initial introduction to the region, I’ve incorporated numerous AIMHO lessons into my service at the institutional level. I’ve worked in Student Housing for a smaller college (Fort Lewis College) and a larger university (Northern Arizona University). I knew it was important to stay connected to the region and the people who make it special. The past three years I have served on the Program Committee for AIMHO with my most recent contributions as co-chair and currently chair. Through this service I have learned much about our region including the process by which it works. I’ve succeeded in bringing members of our region together through promoting the region and preparing the “behind the scenes” work for our annual conference. In this role I’ve worked to extend our region’s goals through the advancement of the Strategic Plan. In addition, I collaborated on efforts to evolve our outreach and yearlong professional development opportunities through proposing the implementation of the AIMHO 365 Committee. As Member At Large Senior Level I would continue to focus on the needs of our region while working diligently to serve our states/provinces as the liaison between our Executive Board and the SPRs. AIMHO has been a major part of my professional life and I’d like to continue to serve it the best way I can…by giving back. I can assure you my commitment is strong and my work ethic is high. I will not let you down.

THE RACE FOR THE

REGION

November 2014 | 11

AIMHO 2014 ELECTIONS

MEMBER-AT-LARGE, SENIOR LEVEL

DUSTIN CONOVER, WESTERN WYOMING COMMUNITY COLLEGE I, Dustin Conover, Director of Residence Halls & Student Life at Western Wyoming Community College do submit my nomination for the position of Member at Large Senior Level for AIMHO. I love AIMHO and the networks, associations & friendships I have made with other members, institutions & corporate partners since my first conference in 2004 in Bozeman, Montana. I truly feel that I am a better Senior Housing Officer because of what AIMHO has taught me and the guidance that those who serve this great association have given me. It is because of these reasons that I would like to give back to the association and dedicate my time as an Executive Officer over the next two years.

If elected, I will devote myself to successfully assisting with membership recruiting throughout the region. I especially have a passion for small schools being part of AIMHO and I believe that there are many that we don’t see at the conference each year, or that are active members, which would bring additional diversity and strength to the association. I will reach out to those that are not current members and help them understand what AIMHO can do for them, and what they can do for AIMHO. I will also take the responsibility of serving as a liaison between the members and the executive committee seriously and make sure that the opinions and desires of all constituents are represented well.

I also understand the demand that is placed on each of the State and Provincial Representatives and will help support those as they serve in those positions. I will work closely with our President-Elect in soliciting nominations for those positions to make sure all areas of the region are represented well.

I have a passion for Residence Life and love that it has become my career. I can’t think of any other profession that is as exciting, stressful, and rewarding all in the same breath. I remember when I was first hired as a Resident Assistant so many years ago at the same institution I now work at, I had no idea that I would fall in love with the job so much and it would cause me to want to continue with it down the road. I was first introduced to the AIMHO region as I attended RAppin’ at Adam State College in Alamosa, Colorado that year, and so a passion was born.

The desire I have to be successful in the position I have at Western Wyoming Community College is the same desire I have to better AIMHO by serving as Member at Large Senior Level. I can’t think of a better way to give back to something that has given so much to me. Thank you AIMHO. Dustin Conover

12 | AIMHO Angle

MEMBER-AT-LARGE, SENIOR LEVEL BARB MERYHEW, CASPER COLLEGE

It is with great pleasure that I accept the nomination to throw my hat into the mix and run for the position of Member-at-Large (senior level) for the Association of Intermountain Housing Officers (AIMHO). Currently I am the Director of Student Life at Casper College, overseeing student activities, intramural sports and campus housing. I began my professional career at Casper College in student activities and at the conclusion of my 13th year was asked to move into my current position, adding housing to my daily responsibilities.

The reason I have laid out the details of my professional life for the past 23 years, is to demonstrate how AIMHO saved me and developed me into the housing professional I am today. Without the help and guidance from AIMHO I do not believe I would be accepting this nomination or even be associated with campus housing. You see, I am a person who is willing to accept challenges without really thinking about what all is involved. Ten years ago when I said, yes I would love to be the Director of Student Life, I did not stop to ask myself, how are you going to run and oversee a department “Housing” without having any “real’ first-hand knowledge or experience? Once all the excitement of be promoted to a new position faded away I found myself a little afraid and wondering what did I just get myself into.

Luckily I had built solid relationships with Lyle Cox, Ginny Racette, Jon Schrade, and Dee Havig, colleagues from 4 of the community colleges here in WY, who I knew from student activities, but also served as the housing directors at their institutions.

So, one by one I contacted them for advice and they all replied “AIMHO” and I replied, “Aim who?” They all said no “AIMHO” and then they took the time to explain the association to me. Furthermore, they informed me about the upcoming conference in Jackson Hole and told me to get registered, not only for the conference, but also something called AIMHO College.

Like any newbie, I did what I was told and off to Jackson I went. This was the turning point in my professional life, the foundation was laid and over the next 10 years I was able to transform from having a career to developing a passion. The expertise I experienced from the faculty during AIMHO College to the compassion I witnessed from the members, helped ignite a fire in me to become a mentor to my own residents. AIMHO guided me to see campus housing as much more than a place for housing students, but rather a venue for applying a holistic approach to student success.

For the past 10 years I have been like a sponge and now it is time for me to give back to an organization that has given me so much. I want to be the one connecting schools and professionals to AIMHO and its mission. My biggest asset is the gift of gab and my stories of how AIMHO can assist professionals in developing top notch housing programs. If I am elected I will dedicate myself to recruiting new schools, as well as previously affiliated institutions in becoming members of AIMHO. In addition, I will work with the State and Provincial Representatives in order to build stronger relationships within the individual states, as well as on a regional basis.

THE RACE FOR THE

REGION

November 2014 | 13

AIMHO 2014 ELECTIONS

MEMBER-AT-LARGE, SENIOR LEVEL KATIE SCHMALZEL, COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES Dear AIMHO Community, With great pleasure and excitement, I submit my statement of interest for the Senior Member-at-Large position.

I currently serve as the Assistant Director of Housing Operations at Colorado School of Mines and have filled the role of Colorado SPR for the past two years. After reviewing the responsibilities of the Senior Member-at-Large, I believe I am adequately prepared to step into the role and contribute to the growth of AIMHO. One of the main responsibilities of the Senior Member-at-Large is to work with the SPR team and to facilitate membership recruitment and retention. My experience as an SPR has provided me a good background on effective ways to approach member institutions, and build relationships with their liaisons. I have also worked to encourage greater participation from my institutions and even built connections with a few non-member institutions. I have enjoyed the connections I’ve built and it would be great to continue this work through the new and returning set of SPRs. When I first started the SPR role, I remember the feeling of not quite knowing where or how to fulfill the expectations of the position. I plan to approach working with the SPR team in this fashion. I would like to provide them with the tools they need to be successful in their roles, which includes having 1:1 conversations, facilitating group conference calls/Google Hangouts to discuss best/effective practices, and continuing support throughout my term. Another responsibility is assisting with advertising and selecting recipients for various AIMHO and ACUHO-I conference scholarships. I am confident in my ability to get these scholarship opportunities through a variety of mediums, including email, social media, and word of mouth. I will use my relationship building skills and my current connections to ensure these scholarships are well-utilized and go to deserving folks.

Participating on the AIMHO Executive Board will be a wonderful growing experience for me. I enjoy learning how organizations function and want to learn more about the inter-workings of our region. AIMHO has given me a lot, including personal and professional connections, professional development, and a region to call home. I would like to use this opportunity to give back to our region. I will continue to be engaged with the AIMHO community and serve as a liaison for the members to the Board.

Additionally, I currently serve as a member of the Golden (Colorado) Chamber of Commerce Board and the Chair of the Golden Young Professionals Executive Board. My experience on these Boards has provided me with knowledge on effective ways to motivate groups with members from a variety of backgrounds and encourage involvement in one’s community. I plan to use this knowledge if I have the opportunity to serve on the AIMHO Board as the Senior Member-at-Large.

It’s been wonderful coming back to the AIMHO region. I look forward to connecting with you!

Thank you for your consideration, Katie Schmalzel

14 | AIMHO Angle

MEMBER-AT-LARGE, SENIOR LEVEL JESSICA SIEGFRIED, SNOW COLLEGE

Greetings AIMHO! I am overwhelmingly honored and delighted to be nominated to run for the next Senior Member at Large. Currently I am serving as the Director of Residence Life at Snow College in Ephraim, UT and have been an active member of AIMHO since 2009. I started my journey in Residence Life at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT before moving to West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon, WV and realizing my passion for Residence Life. I was excited to be able to come back to the region in 2011 with my current position at Snow College.

Both in the AIMHO Region and MACUHO Region I have had the opportunity to work with the Programming Committee for multiple conferences. I have served both in supporting those presenting as a liaison and as a case study presenter. Through executing presentations and collaborating with other institutions, I hope to continue promoting the AIMHO region and those within it by becoming the next Senior Member at Large.

Because I have benefited from AIMHO’s members and resources, I would like to give back to our organization by volunteering more time to helping those new to our field and also to local institutions in order to obtain more active members. I have experienced that being a part of AIMHO means being part of something larger than your own institution and having a network of support. AIMHO is an organization that focuses on relationships and promoting the education of our colleagues. As such, I believe we must make the extra effort to involve more attendees and promote communication within our region. I would like to lead the charge in this campaign.

By selecting me as your next Senior Member at Large, I can guarantee recognition of institutional achievements, increased communication throughout our region and of course the occasional email with funny jokes and good laughs. I pride myself on building community and developing friendships and I would like to increase our recruiting efforts by extending my hand to those wanting to become involved in AIMHO! Thank you for your consideration and enjoy the conference!

Goals as your Member at Large-Senior Level • Help to increase memberships at smaller institutions. I think it is important to encourage all campus sizes to invest in the AIMHO experience.

• Develop contact with all senior-level staff within the region and create collaborative connections and references so that each institution can utilize their colleagues in a more effective and efficient way.

• Promote the AIMHO region and research opportunities for cost effective ways for more institutions to bring their members to conferences and webinars.

• Select recipients for scholarships and make institutions more aware of scholarship opportunities within the AIMHO conference.

THE RACE FOR THE

REGION

November 2014 | 15

AIMHO 2014 ELECTIONS

Avoiding Social Justice“Burn Out”and Compassion Fatigue

By ALEXANDRA DUBOIS, The University of Arizona, Diversity & Social Justice Committee In 2011, the New York Times documented a phenomenon called “compassion fatigue,” which was said to affect particularly individuals in “helping professions” – health professionals and trauma responders, social workers, and activists. Compassion, it seems, is a “limited resource,” and individuals who in particular bear witness to trauma on behalf of others, but have few means of helping them, tend to experience high levels of compassion fatigue, instead feeling drained and often helpless to confront instances of trauma, strife, or injustice. And when faced with repeated instances of injustice, trauma, or strife, it makes sense that activists and those in helping professions experience symptoms of burning out.

That’s not to say that everyone committed to alleviating trauma and uprooting injustice feel compassion fatigue. Many activists and social justice educators report feeling energized by their work; successes in their arenas help rejuvenate feelings of strength and a desire to work further towards goals. Rather, it seems that striking a balance in one’s social activism and crisis response is crucial to maintaining a sense of wellbeing.

“

Distance is sometimes okay - and necessary. No one can operate at 100% forever, at least, not before the gears begin to grind.

”

Of course, housing professionals, though not traditionally considered by those outside the field to be in any of the aforementioned groups, are highly susceptible to compassion fatigue. We are expected to wear many hats; those hats include being an educator, a mediator, an emergency responder and crisis manager, a supervisor, a leader. On top of those roles, we are professionals deeply committed to social justice; the work we do within that realm both supplements our day-to-day roles, yes, but also is something we take with us when we go home for the day.

Particularly as we reach the middle of our fall semester, it may be easy to feel overwhelmed by all our responsibilities, and we may lose sight of our social justice aims – departmentally or personally. A social justice training or webinar we were excited for in August may be pushed aside in favor of different administrative tasks, or we may feel we lack the resources (and compassion) to think about social justice initiatives or projects to take on.

What can we do, then, to sustain ourselves professionally as social justice educators and avoid burn out or compassion 16 | AIMHO Angle

fatigue? First, take time for ourselves. It’s okay to recognize when we have depleted our resources. It may be especially hard for committed educators and activists to feel as though they can “step away” – with so much injustice in the world, people who champion for social justice may feel guilty or uneasy letting themselves recharge. Distance is sometimes okay – and necessary. No one can operate at 100% forever, at least, not before the gears begin to grind.

Connecting with colleagues is also a great way to recharge one’s batteries – with the upcoming AIMHO conference, networking with new professionals and visiting old friends can provide professionals with opportunities to share their experiences, reflect on their successes, and relax. Reaching out to peers is also an excellent way of rejuvenating; too often, we get stuck thinking we are in it alone. Sometimes, finding like-minded peers and allies can help provide a support network. The AIMHO Diversity and Social Justice Committee is always seeking members and can be a great way to engage in social justice educating and training in a very supportive environment.

The important thing is to recognize when we may be feeling overwhelmed, and what we can do as professionals to make sure we are healthy, sharp, and ready for the next challenge as a social justice educator.

How to Avoid Social Justice Burn Out and Compassion Fatigue

1 Take time for yourself. with colleagues to share 2 Connect experiences and ideas.

3 Reach out to peers for support.

Post-Opening Staff (Re)Connecting

}

By TODD JUSTESEN, University of Utah, AIMHO Utah State Representative It is always this time of year that I begin to feel like most of my projects are on track and I am getting into a new pace. My to-do list is firmly intact and deadlines are looming, but I feel that the train is at least going the right direction and still on its tracks. The one item I always try to put at the top of my list for October/November is staff check-in and reconnecting. The sprint of opening is behind us and so is all of that time that we interacted daily during training and preparation. I try to never lose touch with each individual, although I find after openings we all begin to focus on our own tasks and drift apart.

1 2 3

Knowing that the post-openings drift happens I try to follow three steps:

Ask questions each day of as many people as possible. Try to not fall into the same pattern of asking how someone is doing and accepting, “I’m well.” If someone states they are “doing well,” ask the follow-up question of, “and why/how are you doing well?” To engage someone beyond the basic is a great method of keeping the personal bond.

Take the time to listen to each person when you interact. When a colleague tells you that they are “feeling swamped with work,” don’t reply, “I hear ya, so am I!” It is easy to want to sympathize with their feelings but try instead to hear why they are feeling swamped. Their deadline or dilemma may be one that you can assist with or maybe you taking the time to listen will allow them to externalize the thought and realize it is a doable task.

Take the time to recognize at least one colleague per week with a thank you note, a quick text, a phone call with no agenda, or whatever method you wish. No matter what you choose to do to lift someone’s day the main item to remember is to DO IT! I cannot count how many times I think how grateful I am to have someone in my life and fail to tell them. There are projects being completed and students being served daily by our brilliant colleagues, we need to tell them thank you.

There is not a thought above that is unique or ground breaking. I am sure many of you have heard these concepts many times but a quick reminder is what I need...so, I am just reminding you. Take the time right now to call one colleague and say thank you, right now, don’t procrastinate until tomorrow!

November 2014 | 17

TheOne,TheOnly...Th (for2013-2014)

DR.

CINDY ANDERSON

“Oh Lord, another term” was the largest poster on my RA’s door when I moved into my hall as a fresh-faced and excited freshman.

Its’ bold orange letters on black background were hard to miss and immediately (but briefly) had an impact. Why was my RA (a graduate student – God Bless her, with 100 freshmen women on her floor) so weary of school? She was kind, approachable and very understanding (especially when an intoxicated friend threw up all over our water fountain), but something about that poster was off-putting to me. My primary community became my sorority and I guess this is my confessional way of saying that your Sage was never a RA...

When Shirl Portillos called me last summer and asked that I serve as Sage, I was humbled beyond belief. I didn’t feel (and still don’t) that I deserved such an incredible honor and even at the announcement in Vegas, I was still overcome with emotion by this once in a lifetime award. I think so very highly of everyone I’ve come to know through AIMHO, and feel compelled to somehow return this great “gift,” but am at a loss to know how to do so. Your examples, your professionalism, your energy, your experience – all are precious assets to me, to our Association and to our students and staff.

Because I don’t share in that foundational, para-professional role that is the basis upon which so many of our efforts rely, I’m often projecting what might be an RA’s reaction to any decision I might make. I can’t assume that I would know, so I keep it as a “mental mirror” through which I view my work. I am as humbled by the daily efforts of our talented, caring and student-centered RA staff as I am by this award. And, when I’m not overwhelmed by e-mail, calls, or regular drop-in visits by staff to update me or ask for advice – I remember to be grateful, very grateful for a career I could have never imagined as that fresh-faced freshman.

By definition, a “Sage” is a “profoundly wise person” imbued with intelligence, mental clarity and who is judicious and capable of offering valuable advice. I don’t know that I fill that definition, but I have sought to serve AIMHO with the very best of my skills and abilities. My keynote will focus on what I’ve learned from my walk through this life and career . . . stay tuned: I probably learned it from you!

Cindy Anderson, Director of Residence Life Northern Arizona University AIMHO Sage 2013-14 18 | AIMHO Angle

heAIMHOSage.

Current Institution & Position

• Director of Residence Life - Housing and Residence Life, Northern Arizona University • Adjunct Faculty - Masters’ in College Student Affairs (Counseling and Educational Psycholog), Northern Arizona University

Alma Maters and Degrees

• Doctor of Education – Educational Leadership (Northern Arizona University) • Master of Education – College Student Personnel Administration (Colorado State University) • Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (Oregon State University)

14

Years of Service to AIMHO:

Number of AIMHO Annual Conferences

Logan, UT will be Cindy’s 16th AIMHO Conferences. In the past, she attended: • 2012-2013: Las Vegas, NV • 2007-2008: Greely, CO • 2011-2012: Billings, MT • 2006-2007: Flagstaff, AZ • 2010-2011: Albuqurque, NM • 2005-2006: Boise, ID • 2009-2010: Coeur D’Alene, ID • 2004-2005: Jackson Hole, WY • 2008-2009: Fort Collins, CO • 2003-2004: Bozeman, MT

• • • • •

2002-2003: Salt Lake City, UT 2001-2002: Las Cruces, NM 2000-2001: Durango, CO 1999-2000: Tucson, AZ 1983-1984: Las Cruces, NM

Positions Held in AIMHO • • • • • •

President 2011-2012 (Past President 2012-2013, President-Elect 2010-11) Treasurer 2006-2010 Host Committee and Corporate Partners Co-Chair, 2007 Award Committee Chair 2006 AIMHO College Chair 2005 (served on committee 2003-2005) Program Committee Chair 2003 (served on committee 2001-2003)

Why are you involved with AIMHO and why is it important to you?

As a housing and residence life professional, AIMHO is my “home.” Here are people deeply committed to the same goal as me: Creating, sustaining and advancing on-campus experiences and facilities for our students that purposefully add value to attending a residential college or university. Here are colleagues whom I enjoy for who they are professionally and personally and who I can consult when in desperate need of advice or support. Being involved with AIMHO started out for me as a professional responsibility to serve, but I quickly learned that I can never give more to AIMHO than I have received. My involvement with AIMHO really is a labor of love, and one of the dearest interests of my career and life.

November 2014 | 19

webinars FALL 2014

Mark your calendars!

You won’t want to miss these webinars!

November 5

Orientation to the Region and the Conference AIMHO Program Committee

November / December

Facilities Brad Shade, University of Northern Colorado

December

Taking the Next Step in Your Career TBA * Dates are tentative and may change.

Watch for more webinars from AIMHO 365 in Spring 2015!

Interested in attending?

Information on how to reserve your spot will be made available in emails from the AIMHO 365 Committee via the AIMHO listserv.

About AIMHO 365

The AIMHO 365 committee was created with the charge to be responsible for supporting AIMHO’s core association goal to “provide year-round learning opportunities for all individual members within the region.”

Committee members develop and engage the webinar series, facilitate the SHO Forum at the annual conference, provide appropriate information through the AIMHO Angle and social media, gather information on state drive-ins/ workshops, and promote professional development opportunities on the AIMHO website.

You can join in the conversation on Twitter by following the committee @AIMHO365 and letting us know what development opportunities you’d like to see.

TRANSITIONS in AIMHO

Adams State University

Mark Puttman, Assistant Director of Housing

University of Northern Colorado

Matt Edwards, RLC for Mathias Hall and NE Houses Krystal Schiffelbein, RLC for Slocum Hall and SE Houses Emily Green, RLC for Old Town and Language Houses

Emilie Nemchak, Hall Director for Presidents Row Jamie Huddleston, Graduate Assistant for Diversity Mentors Aaron Miller, University Apartments Manager Camille Evans, Hall Director for Wilson Hall and Wiebking Halls Shaadi Shoubaki, Central Coalition Hall Director Tim Ocskacy, South Hall Director Morgan Bradford, Turner Hall Director Ashlynn Cameron, Arlington Park and University Apartments

Hall Director

Colorado Northwestern Community College

University of Utah

Colorado Christian University Josh Wood, RD for Freshmen Housing

Colorado College

Lyndsie Conklin, Residence Life Coordinator

Jeremy Bates, Information Technology Manager

Northeastern Junior College

Courtney Wilkins, Director of Residence Life and Student Activities

Speaking of transitions...

did you vote for the new AIMHO logo?

Find out which one won at AIMHO 2014!

November 2014 | 21

AIMHO College cohortleaders

By MEGHAN WALSH, Fort Lewis College, AIMHO College Committee

AIMHO College is a pre-conference that provides an opportunity for new professionals to improve skills and foster connections with other participants. Part of the reason AIMHO College is so successful at fostering connections between participants and faculty members has been because of the cohort model. Participants are broken up into small groups and led by an AIMHO College Committee member that will act as the cohort leader during AIMHO College. Throughout AIMHO College the cohorts will have time to work together as a team as well as time to mingle with different members of other cohorts. The cohort leaders for this year have been selected and they are eager to share the AIMHO College experience with the 2014 participants!

Erik Buol

Residence Life Coordinator at the Colorado School of Mines “I wanted to be a cohort leader to share my experience with AIMHO with other new professionals. As someone brand new to the region last year, AIMHO College was invaluable to learning the ins-and-outs of the region, helping me to grow as a professional, as well as providing me with some amazing networking opportunities with other colleagues, which quickly progressed into friendships. I wanted to be a cohort leader to help to facilitate these connections and share my passion for the region with other new folk!”

Jacob Matthews

Residence Director at Fort Lewis College “I believe the cohort model was a big reason why I enjoyed AIMHO College last year. It allowed me to become acquainted right away with other participants, and form a team.

I want to be a cohort leader this year to help create that same atmosphere for this year’s AIMHO College, and ensure every participant has a fantastic experience.”

Sarah Gutierrez

Assistant Education Coordinator at the University of Utah “I wanted to be an AIMHO College cohort leader because my AIMHO College experience last year was very impactful. Our cohort leader reached out to us before the conference began and hosted a conference call where those of us in the cohort could meet one another. Going to AIMHO College already knowing some people helped ease me into the conference environment and I am still in touch with people from AIMHO College 2013. As a cohort leader, I look forward to meeting other professionals in the region and sharing my personal experiences with AIMHO and the wonderful professionals I have met through the organization. “ 22 | AIMHO Angle

2013AIMHOCollegeParticipants Duke Beard

Community Director at Arizona State University “I wanted to be a cohort leader to share the connection I made with the region and field I love with a new group of colleagues. AIMHO College was such an amazing experience for myself and a great way to get introduced to the AIMHO region. My small way of giving back/saying thank you is by becoming a cohort leader to share the connections and knowledge I have gained with a new set of professionals entering in their first years of work with Student Affairs.”

Meghan Walsh

Residence Director at Fort Lewis College “I wanted to give back to AIMHO College by becoming a cohort leader and help other new professionals connect with the AIMHO region. The cohort leaders and participants last year quickly went from acquaintances to friendships over the course of the conference, and we all keep in touch regularly. I can’t wait to reach out to the new participants and help them feel at home with the AIMHO region.”

Brande Bernat

Residence Director at Weber State University

“I wanted to be an AIMHO College cohort leader because my experience last year was greatly intensified by the cohort model. Before the conference even started I had built relationships with other members of the AIMHO region.”

The energy and excitement continues to build as we come closer to AIMHO College 2014. The committee has been hard at work and we can’t wait to meet the new College participants and help them feel connected to the AIMHO Region!

November 2014 | 23

AIMHO College faculty

By MEGHAN WALSH, Fort Lewis College, AIMHO College Committee

AIMHO College is coming in just a few short weeks and the committee is excited to finally show off the extinguished staff members from the intermountain region that will be participating in AIMHO College as faculty members. The faculty members will lead sessions and help guide discussions on some of housing’s hottest topics throughout AIMHO College. They will act as a resource for the cohort groups and help each participant feel more engaged and supported in their role as a housing officer. The well-rounded topics range from self-care to supervision techniques and the faculty members are eager to share their knowledge with new professionals during sessions and in small group time. The Faculty is excited to start connecting with the new professionals of the region and have given a few words of advice to start.

Jeff Bondy

Director of Residence Life at Montana State University ADVICE FOR NEW HOUSING PROFESSIONALS: “Make friends, take time to get to know your colleagues at work and establish a professional network. Take care of them, treat them well and ask for help when you need it. “

Cindy Anderson

Director of Residence Life at Northern Arizona University and AIMHO Sage ADVICE FOR NEW HOUSING PROFESSIONALS: “Manage others’ perceptions of you: Dress better than required, complete tasks ahead of time and view every challenge as an opportunity to demonstrate you are ready for the next promotion.”

Rob Budach

Assistant Director of University Housing at Arizona State University ADVICE FOR NEW HOUSING PROFESSIONALS: “1. The first year is your hardest year. 2. In the first 6mo you will find every organization has problems, the grass is never greener.”

24 | AIMHO Angle

From the AIMHO 2014 HostTeam:  NIGHT ON THE TOWN

 EVENTS

Meet the Challenge

 FOOD

UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY – LOGAN, UT

Host site for AIMHO 1959, 1977, 1985, and 2014. Founded in 1888.

Last-Minute Announcements!

It’s go-time, AIMHO! The conference is right around the corner, and Utah State is ready to give you a great experience!

The Corporate Partner Fair will be visited by our very own Big Blue mascot, and he will be bringing some Aggie ice cream!

Our Campus Store has generously offered some discounts for conference participants, so remember to visit the Tagart Student Center and get your USU swag.

This year, we are focusing on sustainability. Please bring your own water bottle! Each session will have drinking water provided, but you may want to keep more on hand.

For driving directions to Logan, please visit www.usu.edu/visit/directions. #MeetTheChallenge There’s still time to register online at http://aimho.usu.edu:2002/Default.a spx if you haven’t already!

Can’t Get Enough?

Follow us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/AIMHO2014 See more at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMXjbmaNtu8!

AIMHO 101: The “Be” List

By KRISTI BURCH & MARYKATHERINE WOODSON, University of Nevada, Reno Welcome to AIMHO 101! Much like any course, we want to make sure you have all the materials that you will need to be successful before attending this conference. Attending professional conferences can open your mind and career to new opportunities you didn’t know were available. It’s important as a new attendee to make the most of the conference while charting new territory. So let’s dive in and welcome to your first AIMHO Conference!

Be Prepared:

Traveling to a conference is similar to catching a 4 am flight for vacation. It’s an exciting time and you are so stoked to get there and as soon as you do, you remembered your forgot your favorite bathing suit. Here are some commonly forgotten items by conference attendees- we took the liberty of making a packing list for you.

Be Connected:

The AIMHO Conference gets us connected in more ways than one. You can utilize the twitter handle (@aimho) see all the activity while at the conference. Several different sessions will be twitter-friendly, meaning that, the presenter wants the conversation to continue once the session ends. When you meet someone new, ask if they use social media and you can keep in touch with them once the conference is over. If you are brand new to the region, talk to your friends in other regions to see who they know. They could have friends in the AIMHO network that you could connect with.

Be Involved:

Attending the AIMHO Conference is an opportunity for your professional development. But there are ways for professional development to continue past attending the conference. Joining a committee gives you an opportunity to stay involved; stay connected, and become invested in the region. Becoming a member of a committee is hard work but it is work that is invaluable for your experience. This wonderful conference takes a lot of effort and dedication from the members in the region. (And we salute you committees!)

Be Intentional:

There are so many sessions that you could attend. This is the time to be intentional. You should be looking for sessions that align with challenges that you are experiencing at your home institution. Or you should attend sessions that will inspire the innovation for developing an idea you want to implement. Study the program book and plot out the sessions you want to attend. If there are 15 of your colleagues from the same institution in one room, contemplate picking another session and trust that your co-workers can give you their session notes.

We know that attending a new conference can be intimidating, exciting and a combination of other emotions. Don’t be nervous.

Seek advice from others who have attended AIMHO before you. If all else fails, just remember to be yourself and enjoy the experience. If you are having trouble making new friends, come find us….we like to have fun too! §

*

Fun Fact: This is Kristi & Marykatherine’s third consecutive AIMHO Angle submisson.

Thank you, Kristi & Marykatherine!

26 | AIMHO Angle

TOPTENTHINGSTODOATAIMHO2014

By PROGRAM COMMITTEE

Download the Guidebook Say “hello” to a Corporate Register for and attend 10 9 8 App on 11/9, so you can Partner before, during and the AIMHO Connections begin planning the sessions you will after the Corporate Partners’ Fair.

Session and meet new as well as attend.

View the Poster Session during the Corporate Partners’ Fair.

Follow the AIMHO backClean the sink at Angie’s 7 6 channel on twitter, #AIMHO or Restaurant.

AIMHO on Facebook.

experienced delegates.

Chat it up for some 5 networking/knowledge with Sam Davidson (Keynote Speaker), Von Stange (Featured Speaker) or Cindy Anderson (Sage).

Watch the Newcomers Case Become a recipient of Join a committee and 4 3 2 Study Presentations as our the AIMHO Star Award by volunteer your time to make region’s young and brightest completing up to 10 tasks aimed at AIMHO 2015 in Tucson, AZ a huge test their critical thinking and presentation skills in front a panel of expert judges.

getting you connected and involved success! in the conference/region.

1 Rub Cory Shapiro’s head for good luck and win a door prize.

Wait... are you curious about “the sink” from Angie’s?

Mike Billar, your Program Committee Chair, is happy to “explain” it .

Will you clean the sink at AIMHO 2014?

November 2014 | 27

AIMHO 2 KEYNOTE FE

& SPEAKE [KEYNOTE] SAMDAVIDSON

/SamDavidsonSpeaks @samdavidson

Fresh out of college and needing a job, Sam quickly climbed the ranks at a multi-national hotel company, being promoted to management in less than 90 days, overseeing staff and a sizable departmental budget at just 23-years-old. Wanting his day job to mean more, be began searching for work in the nonprofit sector.

After a stint in the nonprofit world, where he specialized in starting and implementing new programs, his budding entrepreneurial spirit led him to co-found Cool People Care in 2006. He currently serves as the company’s president, managing its rapid growth (Cool People Care has raised more than $125,000 for charities with its merchandise line).

Since then, Davidson has gone on to start three more companies, the most recent of which are Batch and Onward. He has also helped other organizations and companies develop messaging strategies aimed at the next generation.

In 2007, Sam wrote his first book, New Day Revolution: How to Save the World in 24 Hours. In 2010, 50 Things Your Life Doesn’t Need hit store shelves, which helps people find their passion and begin to live a life full of it. He followed that up a year later with Simplify Your Life: How to de-clutter and de-stress your way to happiness.

Sam is a sought-after keynote speaker and conference leader. Recent speaking engagements have included The YMCA of the USA’s General Assembly, The International Institute for Education’s Foreign Fulbright Program, Toastmaster’s International Annual Convention, and The Young Nonprofit Professional Network. He also appears frequently on TV, in print, and on radio as a resource and expert when it comes to Generation Y, philanthropy, social entrepreneurship, and community leadership.

And now, he spends most of his time helping students and world-changers make the most of their leadership experience, whether in college, in the workplace, or at home. That’s why he tells stories, both on this site and when on stage. Sam believes that when we each have a chance to tell our stories, we have an opportunity to motivate others to follow. Leadership often starts with a story before it ends in a commitment.

Says Sam, “I know that at heart, we’re all looking to make an impact, to leave our mark on the world by writing our legacy on the hearts of others. And whether you’re a student, entrepreneur, leader, dreamer, parent, or artist, I bet you have a big idea or are trying to solve a big problem. In that quest, we often start to sacrifice the things we care about and need the most: time with family, friendships, recreation, artistic expression, and our own sanity.”

28 | AIMHO Angle

2014 EATURED

KERS

DR.VONSTANGE [FEATURED]

Dr. Von Stange serves as Assistant Vice President for Student Life and Senior Director of University Housing & Dining at the University of Iowa. In addition, Dr. Stange is an adjunct assistant professor in the University of Iowa’s Graduate Programs in Higher Education and Student Affairs. Prior to coming to Iowa Von worked at the University of South Dakota from 1989-2003, with 10 of those years as the Director of University Housing. Von also worked at Lehigh University and Texas Tech University early in his professional career.

Von has served as president of the Upper Midwest Region-Association of College and University Housing Officers (UMR-ACUHO) and has been an active member of this organization presenting at their annual conferences on a variety of topics related to Housing and Student Affairs. Von is a 2007 graduate of the ACUHO-I Professional Standards Institute and served 4 years as the editor of The Journal of College and University Student Housing. He currently serves on the ACUHO-I executive board as the Knowledge Enhancement Director.

*

Did you know?

TheAIMHOkeynoteandfeaturespeakersareresearchedandselected bytheProgramCommittee. Ifthatsoundscooltoyou,consider joiningthecommittee!

November 2014 | 29

SPOTLIGHT: Executive Committe Member RICH CLARK AIMHO Treasurer

Current Position: Executive Director (Housing and Residential Life, Campus Life Technology, Student Affairs Maintenance, and University Card Services) Institution: University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) Alma Maters: Northern Michigan University, Bachelors in Speech Communications & Business Eastern Michigan University, Masters in Counseling University of Illinois at Chicago, MBA in Finance and Strategic Planning Certified Educational Facilities Professional (APPA), CEFP

Why Housing for you?

It started with my involvement at Northern Michigan University in hall government, then as a RA and eventually as a GA at Eastern Michigan University where I realized people do this for a career. I love the constant change and energy in housing and residential life. It doesn’t feel like a job and I truly love what I do.

“

I have always felt at home in AIMHO and value the friendships I been able to develop over the years. I believe this is at the heart of what makes AIMHO very special.

What drew you to run for an Executive Committee position?

”

Simple. An opportunity to give back to an association that welcomed me as one of their own. I have always felt at home in AIMHO and value the friendships I been able to develop over the years. I believe this is at the heart of what makes AIMHO very special.

Outside of work and AIMHO, what do you spend your time doing?

I spend my free time hiking, riding ATVs, traveling with family to the national parts in the region, attending my daughter’s musicals, helping build sets for my daughter’s musicals and photography. I also scuba anytime we get close to an ocean.

30 | AIMHO Angle

MoreThan A Party Planner: Legitimizing the Advisor Role

By CHRISTINA SCHWIDERSKI, University of Northern Colorado In a field that is dominated by “five-alarm fires,” I struggled in my first year as an Assistant Director focusing on student leadership to find my significance in our housing department.

With such high priorities as crisis response, retention data, and department budgets, I was unsure of where student leadership fit within department meetings and structures. In the past two years, I have found that the answer is really “everywhere.”

I don’t think that I am alone in this struggle. Professionals who advise student organizations full time, constantly face stereotypes about our work. After all, if it is a student run organization what do we actually do as advisors? Don’t we just hang out and plan parties? For those of us who serve as advisors, we know that what we do is so much more, but sometimes it is hard to communicate that to others.

3. Be the Expert! Participate in the ART program and facilitate it on your campus. Create your own professional development opportunities for advisors. Even a roundtable discussion can provide an opportunity to share ideas and discuss challenges. Write articles… like this one. Utilize social media to share information about student leadership, and READ! Not being in a grad program is not an excuse. People are doing research on student leadership all the time. Read it! Share it! Apply it!

We all know that recruitment and retention are key issues facing a number of our campuses. Without student leadership opportunities, it would hard to make the student experience appealing for new students, and even harder to keep them once on campus. Additionally, we are risk managers, conflict mediators, and teachers of life skills. Our work assists residents in being better students, leaders, and people by the end of their leadership experience.

So how can we get others to see the importance of the work that we do, and look past the stereotypes that come with the role? The answer is that advising and student leadership will only be important if YOU make it important. “How do I do that?” Great question!

1. Get Buy-In! Whose support do you need, and what are their priorities? For example, if your department’s priority is retention, how can you use your role to assist in retaining students, and how can you involve your student organization in this effort? Add student leadership topics to meeting agendas. Invite the important people to your meetings and events, and ask for your student leaders to attend your department meeting to give updates and answer questions. Lastly, there is nothing that our Directors like more than when we bring home regional and national awards. Encourage your students to write award bids and nominations, and support them through the process.

2. Assess! Assess! Assess! If student leadership is important, get the proof. Do surveys and gather data. How many of your student leaders returned to the residence halls? How many of them are RAs? How many of them made the dean’s list?

What have your students learned from their involvement?

Do a pre-test in the fall and a post test in the spring. Find out and share your information up and wide. Then use this information to market and recruit more student leaders.

Some of the IACURH delegation advisors at NACURH 2014 4. Get Involved! Share your passion for student leadership with others by getting involved. Volunteer for regional and national organizations and present at conferences on student leadership. Get to know others who do similar work.

Your IACURH Regional Advisor and Regional NRHH Advisor are great resources. Get involved in student leadership organizations such as ACPA’s Commission for Student Involvement, NASPA’s Student Leadership Programs, or the National Clearinghouse for Leadership Programs.

5. Brag! The majority of the work that we do is done when no one is around to see it. Make sure that your colleagues know what you are doing and where your students are succeeding. Befriend your marketing department and utilize them to share all the great things your students are doing to your campus and your local community. Take pictures, send departmental Emails, and tell your supervisor, their supervisor, and their supervisor!

You are in control. You get to set the tone. Don’t let the stereotypes get you down. Do the work and prove them wrong.

We have amazing jobs full of fun, laughter, and importance.

Your role is vital to student success, now go out there and show them!

November 2014 | 31

AIMHO ConferenceTips andTricks

By JENNA WILKINSON, Colorado Christian University

New to AIMHO and professional conferences? Here are a few quick tips to help you prepare, engage at, and reflect on your AIMHO 2014 conference experience!

Before the Conference

• Think through what you’d like to get out of the conference • Pack business professional clothes • Pack business cards • Reflect on your professional goals • Think through some topics that you’d like to learn about • Talk to colleagues that have previously attended the conference • Attend the orientation for first time attendees • Join the mentoring program • Plan which sessions you will attend ahead of time • Attend a variety of presentations • Participate during sessions- ask questions • Attend sessions where you can learn about a new area of Housing and Residence Life • Pay attention to current events and trends • Attend the business meeting to stay current on events and happenings in the region • Introduce yourself to new people • Attend the social events and outings

After the Conference

During the Conference

• Share what you learned with your boss and colleagues • Follow up with contacts you’ve made at the conference • Implement new ideas and strategies at your University

*

Don’t forget about AIMHO Connections too!

What is AIMHO Connections? AIMHO Connections is an opportunity for professionals within AIMHO to network with other housing professionals in the region at the annual conference in Logan, Utah. AIMHO Connections takes place on Sunday, November 16th from 5:15-6:00pm. The focus of AIMHO connections is to aid graduate students and new professionals (Connectees) in developing relationships with experienced professionals (Connectors). It is a casual gathering that allows connectees to meet peers as well as learn from the collective insight of our connectors on how to get the most out of their conference experience and how to get involved in the AIMHO region.

Don’t forget to sign up to participate in AIMHO Connections when you register for the annual conference!

If you have any questions, contact Xavier Hudson at xdhudson@fortlewis.edu

32 | AIMHO Angle

Whatisinyourprodevoplan?

HowareyougivingbacktoAIMHO? ApplyforanAIMHOcommittee!!

Where can I find a Committee application form?

-The executive board used to hand them out and you had to turn them back in to them.

-They used to be on the back of the program booklet.

-Didn’t they used to be available for pick up at the registration area?

-Does Shirl Portillos, the AIMHO President have them?

The answer is to the question of where can I find a Committee Volunteer application is online! http://www.aimho.org/committees/join

When are applications due?

November 21, 2014.

Will I find out at the annual conference what committee I am on?

No, the application will still be open until after the conference.

What are the expectations of committee members?

A Committee Member Engagement form has been developed to detail the expectations of committee members so that you are making an informed choice to serve. The Engagement form is located at the bottom of the page: http://www.aimho.org/committees/join .

Do you have to have been in the region for several years to serve?

No, in fact most of the committee members are New Professionals.

The New Process

The process has changed quite a bit in order to open up the opportunities outside of the annual conference. Here are some of the considerations we made in changing the process: • Allows for a broader base of volunteers, • Allows for those individuals who are able to attend the conference and see some of the work done by committees to return to their campus and have a conversation with their supervisor about being involved instead of having the urgency to sign up at the conference, • Allows for all of the applications to be submitted electronically, • Allows for the committee selection to be done away from the time limitations within the conference schedule, • Allows for those unable to attend the annual conference an opportunity to be involved.

• Allows for the dates of service to follow the calendar which provides time to transition after the annual conference.

Dates of service are form January 1 to December 31.

Questions? Contact Barb Remsburg, AIMHO President-elect at bremsburg@housing.utah.edu & 801-587-0851 November 2014 | 33

FROM THE SENIOR HOUSING OFFICER INSTITUTE

THANK YOUS 34 | AIMHO Angle

Thank you tothe2014SHOIn Paula Bland

University of Colorado, Boulder

Torry Brouillard-Bruce University of the Pacific

Julie Love

Fort Lewis College

Dave McKelfresh Colorado State University

Andahuge thank you toSou

Thank you to Southwest Contract for their continue Officer Institute! Due to their generous financial contr professional development opportunity at an extremely

InstituteFaculty!

Chris Ralphs

Southern Utah University

Brad Shade

University of Northern Colorado

Mari Strombom Colorado State University

uthwestContract!

ed sponsorship of the 2014 AIMHO Senior Housing ribution, AIMHO has been able to offer this incredible y affordable rate. We couldn’t do it without them!

November 2014 | 35

Social Media at Conferences

By ASHLEY BAGGOT, Northern Arizona University As the annual conference is fast approaching, here are a few tips for how you can use social media at the conference. Below are 5 tips from the article “5 Tips for Using Social Media During Conferences” posted on Mashable.com on October 21, 2014 by Lily Herman that are all about social media at conferences.

1. Play Nice

Most conference tweets are filled with words of encouragement, inspirational sound bites from speakers and panelists and generally exciting moments of the event. So what should you be tweeting? The same thing.

Feel free to share your thoughts or opinions on what’s happening, of course, but your goal should be to keep that good energy going and be positive on social media. Even if you don’t like one of the speakers or completely disagree with something he or she said, be respectful online (or, follow your parents’ sage advice and don’t say — or tweet — anything at all). Remember: Not only will that person probably see your tweet afterward, but if you use the conference hashtag or tag the organizers, a lot of other people might see your comment too. And trust me: You don’t want to be known as “that person” with the message. It could make for an awkward networking mixer later on.

2. Get the Hashtag Right

Speaking of the hashtag — make sure you use it! Conference hashtags are an awesome way to find all things conferencerelated in one place, figure out who’s at the same event you are, and share your own thoughts and comments. Oh, but make sure you’re using the right one. Nothing is more awkward and frustrating than feeling like you’ve been tweeting up a storm about a great conference only to find that you’ve been using the wrong hashtag the entire time.

3. Interact with Others Online

Social media has the word “social” in it for a reason. In other words, don’t be afraid to reach out to other people on Twitter or Instagram who are covering the event as well! This is where the beauty of that handy dandy conference hashtag comes in; just click the hashtag and comment, favorite, and retweet away. Also, I encourage you to take your online conversations offline. If you’ve met someone else who’s at the conference you generally like, make plans to meet up for lunch or find each other during a networking session. These can be some of the most valuable connections.

4. Don’t Get Carried Away

That said, it’s easy to get wrapped up in live tweeting or Instagraming the event that you totally forget that you’re there to network and listen to great speakers. If it’s your first time using social media at a conference, here’s a rule of thumb to follow: Take one Instagram per panel or speaker and tweet two to five times per session. If you’re in a more intimate setting (for example, you’re in a breakout session where there are only 10 people in the room with you), put your phone away and pay attention — you can always sum up your thoughts on social afterward. The key to finding that happy medium is posting enough so that it’s informative but not so much that it seems like you aren’t even really paying attention to the event.

5. Have Fun with It

Last but not least, remember that social media is meant to be fun, so have a good time posting about the event. Not every post has to be an extremely serious piece of commentary of what you’re doing; you can also show the other sides of the conference, too. For example, if there are some great vendors at the event, take a cute picture and tag those companies. One of my favorite conference shots to take is one of the swag bag you’re handed when you check in. Who doesn’t love seeing a picture of free stuff on Instagram?

I think these are great tips that Lily Herman provided whether you are an avid social media user, or someone that only tweets at conferences. Also, if you are not attending the annual conference you can also keep up with conference topics and colleagues by following the conversations with the conference hashtags!

If you would like to read the article in it’s entirety, go to http://mashable.com/2014/10/21/using-social-media-events/

36 | AIMHO Angle

Looking Back at RAppin’2014

By RAPPIN’ 2014 HOST TEAM, University of New Mexico

This year, RAppin 2014 was held at the University of New Mexico. The conference theme was inspired by the book, “Our Iceberg is Melting” by John Kotter. The book illustrates the effective strategies for leadership development and is a relatable tale for all student leaders. The programming tracks were derived from the themes in the book which included; creating a sense of urgency, pulling together the guiding team, communicating for understanding, empowering others to act, and creating a new culture. We received over 70 program submissions around the derived themes allowing for 36 excellent program presentations.

The schools that attend our conference include: • Adams State University • Arizona State University • Brigham Young University • Casper College • Campus Village Apartments • Colorado Mountain College • Colorado Northwestern Community College • Colorado School of Mines • Colorado State University • Colorado State University-Pueblo • Dine College • Fort Lewis College • Idaho State University • Institute of American Indian Arts • Montana State University-Billings

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

New Mexico Tech Northern Arizona University Peru State College The University of Arizona University of Utah Tohona O’odham Community College University of Colorado- Boulder University of Nevada-Las Vegas University of New Mexico University of Northern Colorado University of Wyoming Utah State University Weber State University Western State Colorado University Western Wyoming Community College

November 2014 | 37

In the Media

By ASHLEY BAGGOT, Northern Arizona University

Town and Gown: What Great Cities Can Teach Higher Education By: Geoffrey M. Vaughan, as published in The Chronicle of Higher Education on October 20, 2014 http://chronicle.com/article/TownGown-What-Great/149511/

Cities and colleges are more alike than people think. Both are considered economic engines that also offer rites of passage and an escape from parochialism. Both host sports teams and their own police forces. Recently the overwhelming debts run up by cities and by students have forced themselves on the public’s attention. Yet despite the significant woes of Detroit and the impending bankruptcies of other American cities, no one is expecting urban living to disappear or be radically transformed. Higher education, however, is not so lucky.

Some doomsayers predict the rise of a completely online educational system, spurred by the spread of massive open online courses. Telecommuting did not destroy cities, but many fear it will do so to colleges.

In the 1970s, some critics thought that cities were finished. There was nothing you could get in a city that could not be found in a suburb, at least nothing you would want. With the advent of telecommuting in the 90s, even Bill Gates championed a new exurban existence. Home offices would replace office buildings just as shopping malls replaced downtown department stores.

That has not happened. Yes, Detroit may be at death’s door, but that is largely a specific incident of mismanagement by politicians, auto executives, and union leaders. The city’s stunning depopulation, down 25 percent in the past decade, is an anomaly. Urban life is booming, and we have reached the point at which half the world’s population is urbanized.

In the United States, every region has increased its level of urbanization over the past 50 years, with the most recent census putting the national level at just over 80 percent.

Whatever may happen to Detroit and its unfortunate citizens, the city as an idea is healthy; higher education does not seem to be.

because they concentrate people in a small area, unleashing a remarkable intellectual potential that is otherwise inaccessible when dispersed over a large landmass. Yet there is more to the success of cities than an economy of scale. According to Glaeser, “Cities enable collaboration, especially the joint production of knowledge that is mankind’s most important creation.” Yet too many have been distracted from that goal. As a result, eager efforts to reform cities left swaths of destruction behind them.

No city is now proud of the freeways that cut across it or the housing projects that blight it. Boston has buried the freeway it once thought would save it. Its agonizing experience may mean that no other city will ever try such a massive correction again, no matter how appreciated the change. (Although Seattle, at the opposite end of the I-90, is engaged in a similar, and similarly fraught, endeavor.)

If colleges and universities are going to survive the 21st century, however, they must not make the mistakes that cities made in the 20th.

Colleges are at their best when they focus and intensify the intellectual drama that they uniquely provide. We should feel sorry for the person who has never had an experience in which, for at least a moment, the whole world seemed to make sense around one intellectual achievement. For most of us, this probably happened first, or most often, in college. But it is unlikely to happen at all when that intellectual drama is given a small and shrinking stage.

What do cities do? We are mistaken when we think of them merely as structures for delivering public services. Rather, we should look at them as the dense social networks that the Harvard economist Edward Glaeser detailed in Triumph of the City. They make possible what Lewis Mumford called in 1937 “the social drama that comes into existence through the focusing and intensification of group activity.” The concrete canyons of New York are thrilling because they hold and then funnel together millions of people.

Recent studies of student engagement reveal that less and less time is devoted to studying, and more and more to entertainment. The 2013 National Survey of Student Engagement found that freshmen spent an average of 14 hours a week on schoolwork. Even if you believe that a three-credit course represents three hours in the classroom each week (it is more like two hours), and assume that students are taking five three-credit courses a semester, that means students are spending only about 29 hours a week on their education. A Bureau of Labor Statistics survey of how college students spend their weekdays found that on average, from 2009 to 2013, students spent 2.5 hours of their day on paid work, 3.3 hours on educational activities, and 4.0 hours—second only to sleeping—on “leisure and sports.”

From early Mesopotamia to Boston, cities have worked

Should we blame students for the party atmosphere on many

38 | AIMHO Angle

campuses? That might be tempting, but it ignores the “Club Ed” ambitions of some presidents. Dorms, in many cases, have become full-scale resorts. What is a student to think when seeing, for instance, Texas Tech University’s leisure pool and “lazy river”?

A recent survey from the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association found that there are nearly 160 leisure-andrecreation projects under way on campuses, representing an investment of some $1.7-billion. Perhaps as a response to such excesses, institutions advertise themselves as primarily jobtraining centers. However, apart from a few very specialized programs like nursing and accounting, what are the specific jobs attached to degrees in English, history, or philosophy—or business studies, psychology, and the others, for that matter?

The unfortunate result is that many colleges have tried to become vocational schools while failing to teach vocational skills.

“

If colleges and universities are going to survive the 21st century, they must not make the mistakes that cities made in the 20th.

”

If people are not sure what, if anything, students are learning in college, they are not alone. The institutions themselves and their accreditors are not so sure, either. Recent efforts to assess student learning are an inelegant and ham-fisted response to that uncertainty, just as many of the urban-planning efforts of the 20th century were inadequate responses to the problems of urban life.

The danger is that our colleges will be left with their own versions of freeways, housing projects, and Brutalist architecture. There may not be a college with a monorail (yet), but there are certainly an awful lot with dubious programs to develop skills for the 21st century.

A clear focus on the essentials of civic life—safety, security, cleanliness, sanitation—made our cities strong and, where that has worked, allowed urban dwellers to flourish in the ways we associate with successful cities. People act in unexpected ways, innovate, and create excitement that encourages others.

Focusing on the essentials of intellectual life can do the same for colleges. But recall how little time students spend on their studies and how much money is spent on recreational facilities.

Should I add that coaches are the highest-paid employees of most states? The economic necessity of these expenses may be open; the case is closed regarding their relationship to any intellectual drama.

Cities have also invested in projects that were meant to attract people yet do nothing to encourage the social drama that is the real attraction of cities. We must remember, however, that successful cities are not always the most efficient—that is, efficient in a hasty way. New York has, along with London, some of the most expensive real estate in the world tied up in parkland. Should Central Park be sold off to pay the city’s debts?

No, there is more to a city than balancing a budget and more to balancing a budget than balancing it in one year. Whatever gains might be achieved by the quick sale of parkland would be offset by the long-term erosion in quality of life.

Just so with higher education. Philosophy and art may have no direct relation to a job qualification, but an education without them is as soulless and inhumane as the housing projects that were inflicted on generations of the poor.

Aristotle wrote that any man who did not need to live in a city was either a beast or a god. Here is where the analogy of the city and the university holds most strongly: Large parts of our lives are impossible without other people, not only because we need what they have but also because we need them to encourage us and spur us on. The social drama of urban life arises from the subtle comparisons we make between ourselves and other people when we encounter them regularly. Because of these constant interactions, cities make possible a way of life that we could never achieve in small bands or isolated communities.

Likewise, colleges make possible an intellectual life that only the rare hermit could attain alone. But neither cities nor colleges will achieve their potential spontaneously and without care. Cities can become violent, isolating, and dispiriting. Universities can become indulgent, shortsighted, and hostile to human greatness. We have many cases of both, and even the best are in danger of falling into these vices.

November 2014 | 39

In the Media (continued) Colleges need to learn from the success of our better cities.

First and foremost, they have to understand themselves as the sites of the most significant intellectual experiences many people will ever have. Institutions that can’t help students experience such moments, and can’t stop getting in the way, will neither survive nor deserve to do so. An education lacking moments of intellectual drama probably should be replaced with MOOCs. An example of colleges getting in the way? New students are consistently anxious about making friends, yet we are selling them on living arrangements that inhibit interaction. According to a new book by Daniel F. Chambliss and Christopher G. Takacs, How College Works, friendships are developed most easily in the traditional, long-hallway-style dorms that are being torn down to make way for pod-style apartments that resemble the set of Friends. These mini-McMansions defy every sensible study of cities since Jane Jacobs’s The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961). But parents and prospective students love those apartments and don’t understand how counterproductive they are. So our challenge is not only to learn how to foster the unique intellectual drama of college life, but also to be able to explain it to the outside world.

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What are your thoughts?

Share them on Twitter and use #aimho to connect with others!

If higher education is going to outlast the 21st century, now is the time to learn from the best of our urban experiences and avoid the fate of our worst.

Beforeyouleave...

don’tmissaquicknotefromtheResearch&Info Committee!

Are you coming to the AIMHO Conference in Logan? Be sure to stop by the posters during the Corporate Partner fair on Tuesday, November 18. Come see what the other schools in the region are doing. The posters will be judged, but attendee’s will have the chance to vote for a “People Choice” poster. If you want to participate in the poster session, submit a proposal today. There are still a limited number of spots available.

40 | AIMHO Angle

AIMHO

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