SEAHO Report - Spring 2017 - 24

SEAHO Features
According to Kuh (2005), these interactions are critical to student engagement and retention, as "regular contact
can reduce the psychological distance between faculty and students and increase perceptions of accessibility."
Once faculty understand the circumstances around your program, determine the best topic.
Ideas for in-hall programming include:
* Film Series: While many focus areas work, Grogan capitalizes on one of the professional majors featured in Grogan's Residential College program - education. For this series, "Teachers in Hollywood,"
Grogan education faculty members take turns screening popular education-related movies, such Freedom Writers or Good Will Hunting. The movie is followed by a discussion around the film's themes.
* Coffeehouse Conversations: Coffee bar supplies are relatively inexpensive - find someone with a Keurig,
purchase some k-cups and flavored creamers, and students will congregate. Encourage students to
"BYO mug" - you'll save even more money and role model environmental consciousness. Either students or faculty can pick a starter topic, and let the conversation flow as needed.
* Expert Panels: Another featured major in Grogan Residential College is science; areas of study include
biology, chemistry, kinesiology and public health. While some students have explored potential career
paths in the field of science, many have not. Inviting experts from a variety of science related professions allows students to hear about uncommon opportunities, like Food Chemist, Zoo Endocrinologist
or Storm Tracker. Students quickly realize that options are seemingly endless, and have experts on hand
to answer questions like "I love science but I hate blood. What are my options?" Panels are happy to answer these questions, in addition to inquiries about necessary qualifications and recommended internships for potential paths.
Ideas for out-of-the-hall programming include:
While there are numerous benefits to bringing faculty into the residential community, interactions are not limited or confined to our hall's walls.
* Meals: We've all heard "everybody has to eat," and the concept applies here too. Many Resident Advisors
already go to weekly or monthly meals with residents; why not invite a faculty member to join? Conversation can be informal or guided. Just as faculty have concerns about entering the halls, some have hesitations around eating where students eat. To ease concerns, encourage Resident Advisors to get lunch
or dinner one-on-one with the faculty member first. Show the faculty around the dining facility - what
are the food options? Where are the fountain drinks? Where do trays go? Once faculty feel comfortable
in the dining space, they can come back with the RA and residents, and mentality can shift from unfamiliarity to conversation with residents. Students can see faculty as people who have lives and hobbies
outside the classroom, and vested interests in student growth.
* Faculty vs. student athletic games: Any game works; for Grogan, it's Ultimate Frisbee. As students
formed an informal team in the beginning of the year, games were naturally occurring, and easy for
faculty to jump in. In this setting, friendly competition trumped conversation, as students and faculty
alike showcased their athletic abilities, celebrated points earned and brainstormed creative team names.
Games are not long, but offer an impactful opportunity for casual interaction.
Thinking Bigger:
House Calls is an annual campus-wide program sponsored by UNCG's Housing and Residence Life. Each August, faculty and staff come together for an opportunity to interact with first year students who live on campus.
By going door-to-door, faculty, staff and campus leadership are able to provide valuable information about
UNCG programs and services, and help ease the transition of first-year students to the university experience.
Students get their questions answered and receive a UNCG bag that contains campus information and some
small school supplies. The program requires advanced planning and faculty buy-in, but engages students immeSEAHO Report Spring 2017

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