Talking Stick - January/February 2011 - 40

the Revolution Will Be Digitized

technology contributes significantly to productivity within these activities.”

Student Programming

nce checked in, students begin the process of growing and developing within their residential setting. With the advent of social networking via Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, developing relationships in the residence hall has taken a different form, impacting the students as well as the student staff. Stories abound of students using Facebook chat to communicate with hall mates who may be only a few feet away. This connectivity also allows students to more easily remain in touch with old friends – regardless of where they live – by e-mail, texting, and Skyping.

One criticism of the rising importance of information technology in campus housing is its impact on the traditional notion of programming. Students are now so plugged in with technology in their rooms that staff may be less successful in getting them to participate in traditional programs in the lounge. Sharon Shevlin, assistant director of housing and residence life for technology services at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, disagrees with this assessment: “With wireless Internet in the halls now, we’re seeing students out of their rooms. Students are actually using the lounge spaces more.” In addition, the traditional model of pizza-and-a-movie in the lounge has given way to communal participation in games like “Mario Kart,” “Madden,” and “Guitar Hero.” Staff at Stony Brook have also begun to utilize information technology to aid student staff in RA program management. As part of their student employee database, Stony Brook RAs can submit programming requests electronically, and professional hall staff can then review these proposals online. Once a supervisor approves an event, it is automatically published to a calendar
0
Talking STick

... once the link was made, the housing department could begin to accept credit card payments for housing-related items such as application fees and rent, as well as other university charges such as bursar bills and meal plans.
that can be viewed anywhere on campus. In terms of monitoring participation in the event itself, RAs can use a laptop computer and have students swipe in, which helps them track attendance and overall numbers.

the staff began with a goal five years ago to “automate as many processes as possible and provide the ability for residents to conduct transactions wherever, whenever,” says Azfar Mian, the director of housing for financial and IT services. One critical component was becoming linked into the larger university system; once the link was made, the housing department could begin to accept credit card payments for housingrelated items such as application fees and rent, as well as other university charges such as bursar bills and meal plans. Though many large institutions point to their size as an obstacle to this kind of automation, the University of Florida’s system – a 7,500-bed operation – decided that improved communication was too valuable a goal to let go. As Mian states, “Automation means change and communication. We just have to have honest conversation with each other to realize it is win-win for us all.” The latest technology is also being utilized as a means of handling student data when recruiting student staff. At Stony Brook, for example, staff created an employment database to track student staff from the point of hire to that of separation or termination. Students can also upload application forms and resumés when applying for the RA position. The system is linked to the university database, so all the students’ demographics are easily accessible, including their local address, grade point average, and judicial history. The new technology is also beginning to impact how staff are trained for their positions. Many housing departments are starting to alter more traditional training models to meet the needs of younger, more tech-savvy student and professional staff. Some institutions are implementing competencybased online training modules for student, graduate, and full-time staff. Systems such as the “Online Web Learning” (OWL) one used at the

ommunication technology not only keeps students connected; it also connects a network of campus departments. At the University of Florida in Gainesville,

Operational and Social Connections

Talking Stick - January/February 2011

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Talking Stick - January/February 2011