The 2016 Conference Pulse

THE PULSE THE NEWSLETTER OF THE ONTARIO ASSOCIATION OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY HOUSING OFFICERS

JUNE 2016

SPECIAL CONFERENCE EDITION

WELCOME TO WESTERN

THE PULSE

Outgoing Board of Directors PRESIDENT

CONFERENCE DIRECTOR

Julie West

Sara Wills

University of Guelph jwest@uoguelph.ca

Carleton University sara.wills@carleton.ca

PRESIDENT-ELECT / FINANCE DIRECTOR

CORPORATE PARTNER RELATIONS DIRECTOR

Daryl Nauman

Jordon McLinden

York University dnauman@yorku.ca

Carleton University jordon.mclinden@carleton.ca

PAST PRESIDENT

SENIOR-LEVEL MEMBER AT LARGE

Laura Storey Carleton University laura.storey@carleton.ca

Chris Alleyne

COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR

MEMBER AT LARGE

Brian Cunha

University of Windsor rawlin1@uwindsor.ca

Western University calleyne@housing.uwo.ca

Diane Rawlings

University of Toronto brian.cunha@utoronto.ca

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

MEMBER AT LARGE

Melissa Steadman

Humber College meaghan.mcneil@humber.ca

Western University msteadma@housing.uwo.ca

Meghan McNeil

MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR

ASSOCIATION MANAGER

Andrew Quenneville

OACUHO info@oacuho.com

Western University aquennev@housing.uwo.ca

Carol Ford

The Communications Committee DIRECTOR Brian Cunha

SPECIAL PROJECTS Meaghan McNeil

THE PULSE EDITORS Rebecca Mudge Andrea Pape Cory Coletta Jonathan Amanatidis Brittany Reifenstein

SOCIAL MEDIA Mary Stefanidis Brian Millado RESEARCH Aman Litt

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

H

ello OACUHO colleagues,

After much anticipation, we are now together for the OACUHO 2016 Spring Conference!

I would like to thank the host committee from Western University for exemplifying the conference theme Be Extraordinary in all of their work. I know we are going to have a fantastic time filled with learning, opportunities to connect with each other, and fun thanks to their dedication, creativity, and care in organising and hosting our annual conference. As you look through the conference program, you will see how talented and innovative our members are. I extend my thanks on behalf of the Board to everyone who took the time to put forward a session proposal and express our sincere appreciation to those who are sharing their knowledge and experience with us. Also, this conference is possible in part thanks to the generous support of the sponsors and I encourage you to take the time to meet with them to learn about the services and products they offer that can assist us in reaching our goals.

As we look to the future of student housing, OACUHO will continue to be instrumental in advancing our profession. With input from our members, we have a strategic plan to guide the organisation over the next several years. I encourage you to continue to participate and take advantage of opportunities to get involved helping us move forward together.

In closing, please join me in thanking the current Board for giving their time and energy to our organisation and its members. Looking ahead, I am excited to work with our incoming Board as we advance the strategic plan, serve our members, and position OACUHO for success.

OACUHO President, 2016-17


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BE EXTRAORDINARY OACUHO Annual Spring Conference, 2016 - Western University We would like to extend an Extraordinary “Welcome to Western” to all OACUHO Spring Conference delegates. We are excited that you are all finally here, and we can’t wait to begin!

Our theme, Be Extraordinary, reflects the intense commitment Housing professionals make to continually enhance the student experience, and raise the bar to achieve excellence in all we do.

In keeping with our theme, we have many plans in place to make your experience extraordinary. Two fabulous keynote speakers, 48 concurrent sessions, six expert speakers, six Pecha Kucha presentations, and a CHO panel moderated by Dr. David Helfand. Not to mention the extraordinary social experiences we have organized. You will be “fascinated” with what we have in store….

You’re staying in our newest residence, Ontario Hall. You will find two fully stocked hospitality suites in the floor lounges of the fifth and sixth floors. Most meals will be held in the Ontario Hall Dining Hall located on the second floor.

We have put an emphasis on wellness for the conference, including adult colouring books for destressing, morning river walks, and information booths on good health practices. Find out about the “purple bike” program from the front desk and enjoy Ontario Hall’s gym facilities located in the lobby. The Front Desk will be open 24/7 throughout the conference. If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach them by dialling 519-661-2088.

We hope you have and extraordinary experience at OACUHO Spring Conference 2016!

Chris Alleyne and Jennifer McLean (formerly Ashenden)

Making the Most of Your Conference Experience Welcome to an Extraordinary OACUHO Spring Conference! I am so glad that you have joined us to be a part of such a fun, engaging, and educational experience.

In preparation for the conference, you have hopefully already had a chance to look through the educational experiences and have a good idea of which sessions you would like to attend.

Delegates are so lucky to have such an array of topics and experienced presenters this year, and I am confident you will be able to find many options that interest you. Over the next few days, I encourage you to take the opportunity to actively engage in these sessions, meet new colleagues, network with peers in other functional areas, enjoy the beautiful Western University campus, and share ideas that you can bring back to your home institutions. To effectively do so, here is a “Top 5” list of ways you can make the most of your conference experience.

1. Divide and Conquer As you are likely coming to the conference with at least one other teammate, make the most of both of your experiences by attending different sessions. Splitting up will allow you to maximize your learning and bring back unique ideas to your institution. There will be plenty of opportunities over meals or in the evenings to discuss takeaways. Dividing also allows you to network with other professionals in the field. Whether you are sharing ideas, learning about each others’ institutions, or making a new friend, splitting up from your team allows you to grow your professional network.

Think of all the new LinkedIn Connections you could have!

2. Always Have Business Cards Handy Throughout the week, you may hear of an exciting project happening at another institution that you want to learn more about, or be captivated by a presenter and want to connect with them in the future for more information. As there will be plenty of opportunities for you to introduce yourself to colleagues from all levels of membership and various functional areas, be sure to always have your business cards with you so that you can network and follow up after the conference is over. Having business cards on you at all times is considered to be good professional practice.

3. Challenge Yourself to Apply Strategies It is not uncommon to choose a session at a conference that sounds interesting, seems applicable to your job, or has a well-known presenter to then find out that perhaps the topic is not as relevant to your work as you originally thought. If you start to feel in a session that perhaps the information is not perfectly aligned with your role, challenge yourself to find the tangible pieces and applicable strategies. Ask yourself what the core concepts of the presentation are, and how you could apply them to your campus. Reflect on who in your department could benefit from this information, and challenge yourself to learn on their behalf to update them later. You should always be walking into a session ready to find a golden nugget or transferable strategy, even if it may be hard to find. If you go into a learning experience thinking about it as an opportunity to gain insight and transferable strategies, whether for you or a colleague, you should always be able to find a useful tidbit.

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4. Share What You Learn We live in an age of technology and social media. Each day, our members are posting insightful articles, engaging blog posts, or conference take always using the OACUHO hashtag. It is not uncommon for colleagues who cannot attend a conference to follow along via Twitter to feel engaged and participate in the discussion from afar. When possible, tweet what you are learning in sessions, ask key questions of members, and share your top 3 daily takeaways. Not only does it help keep the conversation going after a learning experience, it also allows you to network electronically with housing professionals from within our Association and outside of it.

5. Talk to Sponsors and Vendors While we recognize that depending on your role, you may or may not interact with Corporate Partners or vendors very often, but use the opportunities provided at the Spring Conference to introduce yourself and learn about their products. These sponsors invest a lot of resources into our Association and help reduce conference fees, so the least we can do is give them a couple minutes of our time. Furthermore, making these connections now is a great way to have pre-existing relationships should you ever decide to join the Board, host a conference, or be in a position of buying power in the future. It also opens expands your professional network well beyond student affairs and housing. A couple minutes of conversation now may prove to be worthwhile in the future!

When the conference comes to an end on Thursday, leave with two or three goals for when you get back to the office and set realistic timelines. Consider making one of them a follow up with some of the new colleagues you met while networking, or those that you shared successes and challenges with. Within the week you return, reach out to let them know you enjoyed meeting them and recap your experience. Another example could be setting a goal to teach your peers about what you learned from the conference. Many of us consider ourselves peer educators, so we should be practicing what we preach. Make it a point to set aside time to go for coffee with a colleague to share resources, ideas, and best practices that you learned, especially if it relates to their portfolio.

Third, perhaps consider thinking about how you will challenge yourself to apply what you learned to the work you do each day, ways in which you can continue to develop in this area, and start thinking about giving back to the Association by submitting a presentation at an upcoming professional development event or conference. It is important to remember that OACUHO is our professional home, and while conferences give us a lot of great professional resources, it is equally as important to give those learning experiences back to others as well.

I hope you enjoy your conference experience and have an extraordinary few days on this beautiful campus!

Sara Wills Conference Director

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Keynote Spotlights David J. Helfand Although he is the recent past-President of the American Astronomical Society, the professional organization of the astronomers, astrophysicists, planetary scientists and solar physicists, David's real love is Gastronomy. Indeed, all of his professional colleague agree, ambiguously, that he is a better cook than an astronomer (he chooses not to think about the meaning of this too deeply).

In October of 1968, he invented Ultimate Frisbee on Webster Quad at Amherst College.

While he eschews birthday parties (since a "year" is a total happenstance meaning of where the Earth happened to form in the early solar system with no physical ), he has major parties for more significant events: when he turned 2 billion seconds old, when his beard turned 40 (it is now past 45) and, coming up just after this meeting, when he reaches 2000 takeoffs and landings (fortunately, they are equal) on commercial airline flights.

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Ivan Coyote Ivan Coyote is the author of 11 books, the creator of three albums and four short films, and a former Western University Writer in Residence.

The Globe and Mail newspaper called Coyote "a natural-born storyteller" and the Ottawa Xpress once said that "Coyote is to Canadian literature what kd lang is to country music: a beautifully odd fixture.�

Ivan often grapples with the complex and intensely personal issues of gender identity in their work, as well as topics such as family, class, social justice and queer liberation, but always with a generous heart, a quick wit, and the nuanced and finely-honed timing of a gifted raconteur. Ivan's stories remind of us of our own fallible and imperfect humanity while at the same time inspiring us to change the world.

Come and join Ivan Coyote for a written-just-for-Western keynote address that touches on the important topics with the grace and humour of a seasoned stage p e r f o r m e r, c r o s s e d w i t h a pragmatic Yukoner, all cooked up by an artist's tender heart.

Fun facts: Ivan owns over 100 neckties, and an extensive antique suitcase collection. They also collect miniature teaspoons and weight lift in their spare time. Ivan plays the baritone saxophone and the ukulele. Not at the same time. That would be hard.

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in house

RESEARCH

with Research Writer Aman Litt

Are we Supporting our First Gen Students?

F

irst generation students are defined as students from families where neither parent pursued academics past high school (Chen, 2005).

As the demand for acceptance into elite institutions becomes more competitive and the entrance GPAs for desired programs continues to rise, our students are struggling with trying to keep up with their day to day academic requirements and they are lacking the needed support or unaware it even exists on their campus.

“Ethnic minority first-generation college students typically have poorer academic performance and higher dropout rates than other students” (Dennis, Phinney & Chuateco, 2005, 223). Are we supporting our First Generation students enough and are we advertising the benefits of living in Residence to them enough and/or successfully? Our First Generation Students are a strong group of individuals who not only succeed, but really thrive within the strong programming and support network created in Residences across Canada.

As the child of immigrant parents, a mother who did some University in India and completed a college program after moving to Canada, and a father who has completed high school in India, the cultural shift was very large for my parents, when their children commenced post secondary. Though they always told us that going to university was something that we would all be doing, there was no question about that, they could not really support us beyond specific forms of encouragement. I do not fit cleanly into the definition as to who is a first generation student, but I have many family members, friends and

colleagues who I have attained insight from and find my own situation comparable, in some respects.

My parents could not equip us with efficient tools for university because they had not ventured into the environment my siblings and I were going into. I was provided with much support in other ways; fiscally, a vehicle for transportation and rent-free accommodations are just a few perks, which supported me during my path to academic success.

They never questioned the program I was in, and would provide financial aid where necessary, but I still struggled, because finances, though significant, are not the only area of stress for a student.

At the beginning of my academic career, my struggles were around feeling connected to my campus, balancing schoolwork and my social life, and how to determine which courses to take and when, but I thought my issues were parallel to my peers’ issues. I thought that university was meant to be this murky, dangerous place and you were suppose to be on unstable footing from beginning to end.

What I learned, through trial and error, was that I was taking on too many classes at once and not dedicating enough time to my studies. I was completely oblivious that there were counselling support centres on campus and classes to help me manage my time; I realized, years into my degree, that those feelings of being lost, stressed and alone, are not the goal of our institutions whatsoever. Yes, my parents had provided me support, but they did not have the background in university studies to recommend taking three classes instead of five--if you are overwhelmed, discuss how much time you should spend studying for each three credit course THE OACUHO PULSE CONFERENCE EDITION

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IN HOUSE RESEARCH

you are taking, or how living on campus can help you thrive in all areas of your life and feel like an integral member of your institution.

because I did not understand the importance of utilizing your campus. Residences can be doing a better job marketing towards this niche audience as well. By strongly advertising the academic successes of our Residence students and directing marketing to address the concerns many First Generation Students’ parents have about students socializing too much in Residence, we open up the ability for a dialogue about what Residences have to offer, and alleviation of assumptions.

I was not aware of all the supports or opportunities on campus and I also did not live in residence, which would have better supported me during this difficult time. I hardly spent anytime on campus when I was not attending a class or lecture. I actually felt being on campus or attending orientation events was a waste of my time--time I could be using studying. This hurt me and my first few years of university included a lot of stumbles, falls and bruises to my ego. For example, dropping a course, I went through three years of university before realizing you could actually do that without penalty. Social support via living in residence is the key to first-generation student success because you are immersed with your peers and have a lot of opportunity to hear about what your campus provides for you, asides from academic courses.

When I speak with first-generation students, and I speak to quite a few in the Indo-Canadian community, I promote living in Residence to them, even if they were planning on being a commuter student. I will speak to their parents and explain the value of living within Residence. They represent a third of our Canadian university students and a group which can easily opt out of considering to live in Residence, without the proper explanation of our Housing opportunities (Hayes, 2015).

It was very common for me to drive home during my breaks at school, rather than studying there and creating my own connections, to peers and the institution

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First generation students really need a strong personal, social and academic overhaul when they come to university and this is something which can be easily overlooked in programming within Residence, because of other demands. First generation students typically have “unrealistic expectations about college” so how are we preparing them and supporting them for this transition? (Dennis, Phinney & Chuateco, 2005, 223).

Many minority students who are the first in their families to attend college do very well, but sometimes with extreme sacrifices or inordinately hard learning curves (Dennis, Phinney & Chuateco, 2005). It is important for us to keep in mind, when advertising and promoting the strengths of Residence to our First Generation Students and to their parents, is the support and introduction to resources, which comes alongside living with your peers and making social strengths. By not hiding and acknowledging the socializing which occurs in Residence and how those friendships create academic networks, we can normalize the connection between going to university alongside living in Residence.

IN HOUSE RESEARCH

Peers play a very important role for proper adjustment into a university setting (Dennis, Phinney & Chuateco, 2005). During programming for the year, a lot of attention is paid to first year students, and international students, but this niche, our first time unviersity families, is niche which is easily overlooked.

Providing programming and marketing to directly support our first generation students is vital and encompasses a wide range of our students, from international students, to students in nearby rural communities.

“Peers can provide support that is more directly instrumental to college outcomes by forming study groups, sharing notes and experiences, and giving advice about classes to take and strategies to use”(Dennis, Phinney & Chuateco, 2005, 226). The reason as to why this type of support is so important is because this is the hole these students’ parents cannot fill; they simply do not have the relatable experience to support their child during this endeavour effectively.

There are many first generation scholarships, bursaries and programs, but promotion of living on campus in specific cultural settings will increase our numbers in Residence.

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Generation Student marketing needs to be looked at from multiple angles, the parent’s apprehensions, the students focus and how going to university is more than the degree at the end; it is about the community created and traveling to the endpoint together, fully supported, by your peers, campus and faculty.

References: Chen, X. (2005, July). First Generation Students in Postsecondary Education: A Look at their College Transcripts. US Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office.

D e n n i s , J . M . , P h i n n e y, J . S . , & Chuateco, L.I. (2005, May/June) The Role of Motivation, Parental Support and Peer Support in the Academic Success of Ethnic Minority First-Generation College Students, Journal of College Development, 46(3), 223-. http:// muse.jhu.edu/article/182831 Hayes, D. (2015, November 3). Helping First-Generation Students Find Their Way. University Affairs. http:// www.universityaffairs.ca/features/featurearticle/first-gen-students-find-their-way/

Getting to Know the New Board PRESIDENT Daryl Nauman

PRESIDENT-ELECT / FINANCE DIRECTOR Amanda Ziegler

York University

Brock University

First Student Housing Professional Job: Manager in residence at Durham College & UOIT

First Student Housing Professional Job: Residence Life Coordinator at Brock

I Love to talk about: Fitness, technology, music, and of course housing

I Love to talk about: Student and Group Development; Future of Higher Education

Tips for networking at the Conference: Find individuals whose interests or work intrigues you; ask them questions, as others will often embrace an opportunity to talk about their passions. Don't forget to wear your name tag.

What I love about OACUHO: Our engaged members who volunteer in a variety of ways contributing to the organisation. I love that OACUHO brings us together to share knowledge and experiences, as well as, creates opportunities to have some fun together! I value sustaining connections with colleagues through involvement in OACUHO. Why I joined the BOD: OACUHO plays a valuable role in advancing our profession and the BOD is instrumental in guiding the organisation. I joined so I could continue to give back to the Association that I benefited from early in my career while having the opportunity

Tips for networking at the Conference: Set a specific goal that is right for you - not everyone is a natural "networker" but developing connections matters.

What I love about OACUHO: The opportunity to connect, collaborate and commiserate with colleagues.

Why I joined the BOD: After a few people encouraged me to consider it, the timing seemed right for me to take the opportunity to learn more about OACUHO and serve the membership.

WELCOME

25% off*

OACUHO *Receive 25% off one regular priced clothing item at The Book Store or Books Plus when you use your conference coupon.

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THE OACUHO PULSE CONFERENCE EDITION

Coupon is located in your conference package.

Lower level, University Community Centre 519-661-3520 • www.bookstore.uwo.ca

PAST PRESIDENT Julie West

CONFERENCE DIRECTOR Sara Wills

University of Guelph


Carleton University

First Student Housing Professional Job: Residence Life Assistant - Sault Collge

First Student Housing Professional Job: Residence Programmer at Lakehead University

I Love to talk about: Statistics, OACUHO and cats

I Love to talk about: Assessment, student retention, football, travel and cats

Tips for networking at the Conference: Talk to people from other institutions, ask good questions, jot down notes later, treat it like a puzzle you're trying to solve.

What I love about OACUHO: Breadth and depth of knowledge, friendliness of everyone.

Why I joined the BOD: To serve (and give back to) an organization I've been a member of for a long time.

COMMUNICATION DIRECTOR Cory Colletta Trent University

First Student Housing Professional Job: College Residence Life Coordinator, Trent University I Love to talk about: Expanding learning opportunities in residence for students and staff Tips for networking at the Conference: Don't be afraid to chat with folks from institutions you know nothing about! There's lots to learn from the breadth of experience that comes together at the Spring Conference, and a variety of roles that come together to learn and share ideas.

What I love about OACUHO: OACUHO is where we learn together, share ideas, better one another, challenge the status quo, and constantly work, as a collective, to bring the best experiences to the college and universities in our province, within residence. OACUHO is a place to experiment, collaborate, challenge one another, and grow!

Why I joined the BOD: My role brings together two of my passions: student housing and communications / marketing. Additionally, I'm always excited about the work that I do with OACUHO and the contributions I can make to the Association and its members, so stepping into a role where I can do that while working with a great group of people was too appealing to turn away from!

Tips for networking at the Conference: Always have your business cards handy, and challenge yourself to meet someone new in every session or at socials. Once you've met a new colleague, keep the conversation going after the conference!

What I love about OACUHO: What I love most about OACUHO is the community aspect. You meet so many great colleagues and develop real friendships so many of the members. It's also an incredible support network to share resources, discuss ideas, or offer insight on how to overcome challenges.

Why I joined the BOD: I joined the Board because I wanted to give back to the Association that provided me with so many develop opportunities and gave me the tools to grow in the field. In this role, I wanted to have the opportunity to help shape that experience for others in OACUHO and ensure that conferences offered opportunities for all members.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Tammy Douglas York University
 First Student Housing Professional Job: University of Manitoba, Residence Life Coordinator I Love to talk about: My wife and pet-children Tips for networking at the Conference: Delve deeper than surface conversation in order to make the moment and person memorable What I love about OACUHO: The opportunities that are provided for both student and professional staff to participate in professional development Why I joined the BOD: The opportunity meshed with good timing in my work/ personal life to allow for the additional responsibility.

That, and an added recommendation from a mentor to solidify my thoughts!

MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR Hilary Jandricic

CORPORATE PARTNER DIRECTOR Nathan Calder Trent University

Carleton University First Student Housing Professional Job: ARLM at the University of Guelph

First Student Housing Professional Job: Facilities Assistant at Dalhousie University

I Love to talk about: Student conduct, Big Brother, Star Wars and where you got those shoes.

I Love to talk about: Sports, Food & Facilities

Tips for networking at the Conference: Don’t be afraid to take a step outside your comfort zone. I challenge you to say hello to at least one new person each day. But don’t stop there! Have intentional conversations and ask lots of questions.

Really get to know the other person and exchange tips and tricks of the trade. For an added challenge, find someone whose role is very different from that of your own. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by how much you can learn.

What I love about OACUHO: I love the opportunity to engage with such a diverse group of people. It’s great to bounce ideas off one another, to share in our successes and learn from colleagues. There is so much potential coming together in one space which allows us to create exciting opportunities.

Why I joined the BOD: I joined the Board to foster engagement and build connections between members. And to have fun doing it! Whether it’s through hockey pools, social media interactions, March Madness, mentorship programs or networking at conferences, engagement happens all around us and I am so excited to be a part of it.

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Tips for networking at the Conference: OACUHO is an open and friendly group of people. Ask questions, make a reason to talk to someone (even if it is a small topic or question). Once you have that first conversation, others will be easier.

What I love about OACUHO: I love that we are up to talk about what we do in our jobs and at our institutions as well as hearing how other institutions work which makes the membership an invaluable resource. It is also great to catch up with past colleagues at the conferences!

Why I joined the BOD: I really wanted a new and rewarding experience that allows me to give back to the membership while having an amazing professional development opportunity as I am not usually the one gets up in front of people. The facilities area of Housing is also an underrepresented group within OACUHO and I like to be able to assist in bringing this area further opportunities.

MEMBER AT LARGE Genevieve de Bruyn Nipissing University

SENIOR-LEVEL MEMBER AT LARGE Chris Lengyell University of Toronto Mississauga

First Student Housing Professional Job: Residence Life Supervisor, Nipissing University

First Student Housing Professional Job: Community Life Assistant, University of Toronto Mississauga

I Love to talk about: Food, fun facts, my university/city, audio books, fabric/ sewing

I Love to talk about: Food, travel, 90's R&B, postsecondary education

Tips for networking at the Conference: Be open to meeting new people and plan to introduce yourself a LOT. Each sessions, break, meal and social is an opportunity to make connections, and you can build on the connections you make early on to further your networking throughout the conference.

Tips for networking at the Conference: Do your best to re-connect with colleagues that you don't get to see often enough - while also pushing yourself to meet new people across all functional areas. It’s a rare opportunity to be surrounded by so many people who are truly passionate about this work – so take advantage and have fun.

What I love about OACUHO: The learning, support and inspiration that has come from experiences related to OACUHO and the professionals and friends I have connected with has been very valuable to me.

Why I joined the BOD: I attribute a significant amount of my professional development in housing to my involvement in OACUHO. This I have always enjoyed being involved in committees & organizations that connect to things I am passionate about. The discussions, the possibilities and the motivations that come from these involvements really motivate me.

MEMBER AT LARGE Mary Stefanidis

What I love about OACUHO: I really value the true sense of community among our membership. The shared experience of working in a housing operation is something that is hard for folks from outside our field to understand. I often lean on my colleagues when faced with challenges and I find inspiration from the countless innovative practices within the association.

Why I joined the BOD: I attribute a significant amount of my professional development in housing to my involvement in OACUHO. This role is an opportunity to continue my learning and contribute to the association in a new way - while supporting the evolving identity of our senior membership.

University of Waterloo

First Student Housing Professional Job: Community Coordinator, University of Waterloo I Love to talk about: Equity, social issues and Buzzfeed videos Tips for networking at the Conference: Sit with individuals from other institutions than your own during sessions. It’s a great way to casually meet people and you already have a topic to talk about!

What I love about OACUHO: OACUHO provides so many different ways to connect across institutions. It's very easy to get absorbed in the work your home institution or even department is up to, but OACUHO does a great job of breaking these barriers down and connecting us!

Why I joined the BOD: Student affairs and development is something I’m very passionate about. I joined in order to meet others with a similar passion as well as engage in discussions and projects that help push our field forward so that we can continue to provide the best support and experiences for our students!

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CONFERENCE SOCIALS Here is an overview of some of the fun social activities we have planned for you at the upcoming OACUHO conference!

On Monday, test your wits at OACUHO Trivia night. This event will be held at The Spoke, an on-campus establishment that has offered the Western Community an opportunity to relax and unwind while taking in a game of billiards or watching sporting events on the big screen, since 1969. We’ve also arranged for you to ponder the wonders of the cosmos as you gaze at the stars during a tour of Western’s Cronyn Observatory!

On Tuesday, join us for a pleasant dinner under the stars in the Ontario Hall Courtyard, followed by a night at The Ceeps, a London favourite since 1890. We’ll play Bingo, with a smashing twist… and then hear and learn new callbacks to some of the most timeless classic rock songs in history, performed by Rick McGhie, a beloved local musician who has been entertaining the Western community for the last 30 years! If the weather is warm (and we hope it will be), you can also step out onto the famous Barney’s patio.

On Wednesday, arrive in style to the Banquet, held at Western’s The Great Hall. Marvel at the beautiful décor and enjoy the exquisite cuisine while you listen to exciting music and dance the night away with your friends and colleagues.

Once the conference has wrapped up, stick around the London area to take in some performances at the Fringe Festival, see a play in Stratford, or go strawberry picking at Heeman’s Farm!

student residence advisors on 13 Ontario campuses

CENTENNIAL COLLEGE

YORK UNIVERSITY

U OF T MISSISSAUGA

UNIVERSITY OF OTTAWA

planning & feasibility | implementation services | management consulting

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The Bath Fitter Story

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OACUHO | Faculty-in-Residence Position Description The Faculty-in-Residence program at the 2016 OACUHO Spring Conference in London, Ontario is intended to promote interaction between attendees and esteemed members of faculty from postsecondary institutions. Faculty-in-Residence will advise conference attendees on high-impact, out-ofclassroom teaching and learning practices.

Faculty Bio Dr. David Helfand David J. Helfand has been a faculty member at Columbia University for 38 years, serving half of that time as Chair of the Department of Astronomy. He is the author of nearly 200 scientific publications, has mentored 22 PhD students, and instituted the first change in Columbia's Core Curriculum in 50 years by introducing science to all first-year undergraduate students.

In 2005, he became involved with an effort to create Canada's first independent, non-profit, secular university, Quest University Canada. He served as a Visiting Tutor in the University's inaugural semester in the fall of 2007 and by next year was appointed President & Vice-Chancellor to lead this innovative experiment in higher education. During his seven-year term, Quest grew from 73 students to 700 students (the campus design limit) hailing from 45 countries, and added 40 faculty to the original cohort of 7; construction of the fully residential campus was completed in 2014. For the last six years in a row, Quest has ranked number one in Canada in the National Survey of Student Engagement.

David completed a four-year term as President of the American Astronomical Society in 2015, and

published his first book earlier this year, "A Survival Guide to the Misinformation Age".

How to Engage with Dr. Helfand During the conference, attendees are encouraged to informally interact with Dr. Helfand in 1-1 conversations or in a more structured group setting.

Dr. Helfand will maintain a high level of visibility in Ontario Hall, during concurrent sessions, and at all major events (i.e., meals and receptions) throughout the conference. Dr. Helfand will host office hours in the University Community Centre for a minimum of 1 hour per day, and will be available to attendees during that time. Dr. Helfand may also provide individual appointments, as requested.

Contact Info Dr. David Helfand Email: djh@astro.columbia.edu

Booking Info Conference attendees may visit the Faculty-inResidence information booth, located in the atrium of the University Community Centre (at Conference Registration), to sign up for a 1-1 consult with Dr. Helfand. Attendees will be able to view the sign-up sheet throughout the day on Tuesday, May 31.

Attendees are encouraged to sign up no later than 6:00 PM on Tuesday, May 31 for a 30 minute block of time with Dr. Helfand on Wednesday, June 1.

Tuesday May 31, 2016 | University Community Centre, Atrium Drop-in hour (first come, first served) • 4:45 - 5:45 PM (during concurrent session #3 time block)

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Wednesday June 1, 2016 | University Community Centre, Atrium 30 minute bookable blocks of time (1 on 1 or in small groups) • 1:00 – 1:30 PM • 1:30 – 2:00 PM • 2:00 – 2:30 PM • 2:30 – 3:00 PM • 3:15 – 3:45 PM • 3:45 – 4:15 PM

Conversation Topics Here are some suggested topics to discuss with faculty-in-residence: • How to increase faculty presence and role modeling in the residence halls • How to provide opportunities for faculty and students to interact outside the classroom • How to provide a seamless transition between the classroom and the residence hall environment • How to incorporate faculty into residence leaders training • How to recruit faculty to participate in residence curriculum development and program delivery (i.e., how to create “buyin”) • Perks that would interest faculty in participating in experiential learning activities in residence

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• •

How to use assessment data that “speaks to faculty” How to utilize faculty as academic mentors to residents in Living-Learning communities

Example Programs/Activities to Discuss with Faculty-in-Residence •

• • • • • • • • • •

Facilitating debate on current issues (i.e. research grants, domestic policy, world events, etc.)

Panel discussions on topics related to faculty research and interests Seminars, workshops, film series Study groups Sporting or cultural events around the campus and in the community Book discussions or literature reviews Academic advising opportunities in residence halls Residence meet and greets, door-to-door visits Open houses Assisting with staff training and mediation services Holiday dinners for students who stay on campus

Communities of Practice It Takes a Village: Communities of Practice in Housing Operations We’ve all heard the saying, “it takes a village to raise a child”. In a similar way, it takes a lot of different people to run a successful housing operation and to support students living in residence.

Communities of Practice represent the various functional areas that collaborate to manage a campus housing operation.

They reflect the breadth and diversity of roles within a Housing department. From those who manage admissions processes and assign rooms; to those who ensure that those rooms are ready to go: cleaned, patched and painted, furnished, and wired. Students need Internet after all! They also need keys, and mail, and things to do on a Saturday night.

They need help with their studies, and adjusting to their new surroundings.

Everyone plays a vital role in ensuring the safety and well-being of our students.

The OACUHO 2016 Spring Conference features learning experiences designed to appeal to each of the following Communities of Practice: Admissions, Assignments and Marketing Professionals promoting student accommodations, managing admissions processes and overseeing room assignments in student housing facilities. Responsibilities may include occupancy management, medical accommodations, database management, marketing, and communication with parents and students.

Facilities, Services, and Front Desk Operations Professionals maintaining, building, or renovating student housing facilities and managing the dayto-day operations. Responsibilities may include capital planning, budgeting, coordinating trades and custodial services, and managing guest registration, mail services, and keys/access.

Living-Learning Communities Professionals working with, or interested in, living-learning communities in residence.

Responsibilities may include programming, curriculum development, academic initiatives, and faculty engagement.

Off-Campus Housing and Community Relations Professionals managing off-campus housing and establishing relationships between Universities/ Colleges and the communities in which they are located. Responsibilities may include reviewing lease agreements, educating students and landlords on the Residential Tenancies Act, providing mediation services, and consulting with local stakeholders.

Residence Life Professionals working with, or interested in, the overall student experience in residence by providing programming and supports that encourage student success and retention.

Responsibilities may include student staff selection and development, programming, community development, community management, and student conduct.

Information Technology Professionals working with, or interested in, technology and its applications to housing operations. Responsibilities may include selecting and implementing assignments software, managing on-line applications, and providing internet services.

Using Guidebook, you can filter the conference schedule by Community of Practice to find the learning experiences most relevant to your role within Housing. But just as we don’t work in silos, many of the session topics will appeal to more than one functional area. We trust that there is something for everyone, and hope that you will find a number of sessions relevant to your line of work.

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In addition to the sessions at Next Gen, it was interesting to be able to meet and network with other delegates that were hoping to move into a career in student affairs and gather their perspectives on what they’ve experienced in their functional areas. It can be easy to get caught up in your own functional area when in reality, career paths can cross numerous landscapes. Next Gen provided insight into other career opportunities in the broad sector that is Student Affairs.

I would highly recommend the Next Gen conference to other new professionals as it provided me with a multitude of tools not only for my job in student affairs, but for my career and how to advance my career.

I tried to attend a melange of session types that appealed to me and that would apply to my role.

A session that continued to stick with me after the convention had completed was from a fellow Canadian, Heather Lane Vetere, the Vice-Provost, Students at Ryerson University on Fashion, Basketball & Empathy.

The session followed her journey to experience real empathy with students by putting herself in their shoes and it highlighted the importance of having meaningful interactions with students, beyond the regular day-to-day work responsibilities. Another session that I attended directly addressed an issue that many new supervisors struggle with; providing critical feedback to staff. There was an amazing mix of sessions that I was able to attend that provided me with relevant learning that I was able to apply to my job immediately, and others that opened a personal dialogue over difficult topics.

As soon as the Next Gen conference wrapped up, it fed its way directly into the full ACPA convention.

ACPA’s 2016 convention in Montreal marked my first ever international conference. My initial impression of ACPA can be summed up into one word: overwhelming.

At any one time there were about 20 concurrent sessions to choose from, a buzz of activity in the vendor’s fair and an open access Career Café. After taking some time and planning out my own conference, it became clear going to a conference of such great magnitude was that at any given time there would be a session of interest for nearly every functional level and experience level of Student Affairs.

It was entirely possible to build an entire residence life conference, conduct conference, student development conference, and more with the wide range of selections that were available.

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The keynote speakers for ACPA were both enlightening as well as challenging, pushing the over 3000 attendees to reconsider their opinions, and provided learning on how cultural experiences inform values. While I still consider OACUHO to be my professional home, I would encourage other housing professionals to attend the ACPA conference as there are educational opportunities for nearly every level of professional and for a vast range of interests.

Mentorship Program 2016/17

C

ongratulations OACUHO, you made it to the 2016 Spring Conference! You’ll be spending the next few days engaging with colleagues from across the province and beyond. The conference provides a wonderful opportunity to network with colleagues, share experiences, learn about what others in housing are excited about and to make connections that can be revisited after the conference. If this excites you, then I implore you to consider participating in the 2016/17 Professional Mentorship Program.

association that you don’t want to miss out on! It provides a forum for newer professionals to engage with mid-level and seasoned pros in the field of housing from across the province and within Canada.

Mentors and mentees connect monthly to learn from each other, and develop personally and professionally. Over the course of the last five years the program has continued to grow, with over 60 professionals participating this past year!

To learn more about the program and to sign-up, check-out the OACUHO booth at the Exhibitor’s Fair on Wednesday June 1.

The Professional Mentorship Program was launched in 2007 at the Spring Conference at the University of Toronto, Mississauga and is an exciting component of our

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OACUHO Spring Conference 2016 Tentative Schedule

Sun, May 29

Mon, May 30

Tues, May 31

Wed, June 1

7:30

7:30

7:45

7:45

PreConference Registration & Breakfast

8:00 8:15 8:30

Wellness Activity & Breakfast

8:00 8:15

Travel

9:00

8:45 9:00

9:15

9:15 Expert Speakers UCC Rooms

9:30 9:45

PreConference

10:00 10:15 10:45 11:00

9:30 9:45 10:00

Coffee Break

Critical Incident Group Debriefing

10:30

10:15

11:30

11:15

11:45

11:45 12:00

Travel PreConference Lunch

1:45

PreConference

2:00 2:15

Critical Incident Group Debriefing

2:30 2:45 3:00

Lunch at Ontario Hall

Travel

4:00

12:45 1:00

4:15 4:30 4:45 5:00 5:15 5:30 5:45

Opening Reception at Physics & Astronomy

6:00

10:00

Closing Keynote Dr. David Helfand McKellar Room

10:30

9:45 10:15

11:00 Closing Remarks

11:45 12:15

Lunch Vendor's Fair Mustang Lounge

2:15

Concurrent CHO Meeting Session #2 StvH 3101 UCC Rooms

3:30

Concurrent Session #4 UCC Rooms

Senior Level Meeting StvH 3101

2:45

3:45 4:15 4:30

4:45 Concurrent 5:00 CHO Meeting Session #3 StvH 3101 5:15 UCC Rooms 5:30 5:45

Travel

Opening Keynote at Von Kuster Hall

2:45

Concurrent Session #5 UCC Rooms

3:30

3:15 3:45 4:00 Coffee Break

4:15 4:30 4:45

Concurrent Session #6 UCC Rooms

5:00 5:15 5:30

Travel

5:45 6:00

Banquet Prep

6:15 6:30 6:45

Shuttles to Banquet

7:00 7:15 7:30

7:45

Downtown Social

2:15 2:30

7:30

8:15 Evening Social at The Spoke

1:00

7:15

8:00

8:15

12:45

3:00

6:00

7:00

8:00

12:30

Travel

6:45

Dinner at Ontario Hall

Lunch at Ontario Hall

1:45

3:00

Formal Welcome

11:15 11:30

2:00

Travel

Coffee Break

10:45

1:45

2:30

Travel & Prep for Dinner

7:15

Possible Social for Pre8:30 Conference 8:45

Coffee Break

9:15

2:00

6:15

7:45

9:30

1:15

6:30

7:30

Ignite 20x20 (Pecha Kucha) McKellar Room

1:30

6:15

7:00

9:00

1:30

6:30 6:45

8:45

Travel

12:00

4:00 New Delegate Reception / Mentor Meet & Greet

8:15 8:30

Travel

3:15 PreConference Registration

8:00

1:15

Concurrent Session #1 UCC Rooms

3:15 3:30 3:45

OACUHO Annual General Meeting McKellar Room

7:45 Wellness Activity & Breakfast

12:15

Conference Registration at Ontario Hall

1:30

Coffee Break & AGM Registration

12:30

12:45 1:15

CHO Panel Moderated by Dr. David Helfand McKellar Room

11:30

12:00

1:00

Travel

Travel

10:30 11:00

Expert Speakers UCC Rooms

12:30

Wellness Activity & Breakfast

10:45

11:15

12:15

7:30 Buyer's Breakfast (7am-8:30)

8:30

8:45

Thurs, June 2

7:45 Banquet at The Great Hall

8:00 8:15

8:30

8:30

8:45

8:45 Last Revised May 12, 2016

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Ontario Association of College and University Housing Officers 312 Oakwood Crt, Newmarket Ontario, L3Y 3C8 
 Telephone: 905-954-0102 Fax: 905-895-1630