Page 22 - Penn State Altoona 2020-2021 Student Planner

RESIDENCE LIFE altoona.psu.edu/residence-life 814-949-5710 | askrl@psu.edu Residence Life is committed to a safe and inclusive living and learning community which fosters academic, social, cultural, and personal growth. Our initiatives and services are infused with the values of respect and responsibility for self, others, and the Penn State community. Residence Life plays an essential role in the education of Penn State students. We connect their in-class academic experiences to those in the residence halls. Furthermore, we have established an Educational Priority that outlines our commitment to facilitate learning beyond the classroom. Our Educational Priority enables residents to develop respect and responsibility for themselves and their communities. We strive to create dynamic learning communities where students have the opportunity to explore their identities and system of beliefs, connect their experiences to those of others, and build the skills necessary to become involved members of the Penn State community and society at large. Director of Residence Life The director is responsible for the overall operations in the Office of Residence Life and supervises all professional staff and provides additional support to the resident assistants. The director ensures all residence halls are run in accordance with Penn State Altoona’s Student Code of Conduct and the Educational Priority. The director also serves as contact for collaborative opportunities with other offices and departments at Penn State Altoona. The director’s office is in Spruce Hall. Residence Life Coordinators Residence Life coordinators are live-in, professional staff responsible for supervising all residence hall activities and students. Coordinators directly supervise the resident assistant and participate in the recruitment, selection, and training for the Resident Assistant Leadership Program. Additionally, coordinators provide support to residents utilizing Residence Life’s Educational Priority as a basis for educational programming, conflict mediation, community standards, and connecting students to different campus resources such as Career Services, Housing and Food Services, Civic and Student Engagement, and Health and Wellness. Resident Assistants Resident assistants are student leaders selected to live in each residence hall. They serve as mediators, assist with questions about academics and campus life, enforce Penn State’s Student Code of Conduct, and build community through social activities. RAs are trained through a collegiate-level, 3-credit course on topics such as cross-cultural communication, student development theory, community building, and social justice issues concerning residents and how to promote growth in these areas through community building within the living environment. Resident assistants play vital roles in achieving the goals of the Office of Residence Life. 20