Talking Stick - September/October 2015 - 66

 55  CONTINUED

ALL TOGETHER NOW: TALKING IN CODE

on the IT staff, who work behind the
scenes. When systems are running
as they should and there is time to
improve digital processes rather than
simply manage them, the relationship
feels secondary but is working exactly
as it should. As Rhegness explains,
"Although residence life has depended
on me for IT knowledge and expertise,
it's also imperative that they can
function on a daily basis without my
assistance. This is achieved through
process documentation and clear
communication. Over time, much
of the work that I have done has
been transferred to the residence life
staff." Rhegness helped residence
life implement a new fee activation
process that pushes out fees for all
students for the upcoming term. The
first several times the process was run,
Rhegness was at the helm running the
system. After that, residence life ran

the process with Rhegness watching
and available to assist. "As the director
has stated, she wants to move me
from the front seat of processes to the
passenger. Eventually I'll be in the
back seat, only providing input when
there are questions or problems," she
explains.
The benefits of a positive working
relationship between residence life and
IT are highlighted in the successful
implementation of a new technology
solution or a redesigned schematic
that allows for an increased wireless
Internet signal in the residence
halls. Collaboration provides an
opportunity to understand where the
two departments' missions meet in
the middle and how staff can work
together to support institutional
and student success. For Kotadia,
that lesson has been invaluable.
"The process of working with IT

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has taught me to learn more about
technology and really question how
something is being coded or put into
place. Sometimes the information
technology folks will make a decision
because it is easier to code it that way
and will take less time. However, that
is not the best approach for everything.
This collaborative process has really
taught me to look at the how and why
and make sure those match the vision
and goals of residence life and the
institution." 

Stacy Oliver-Sikorski is the associate director of
residence life for student success at Lake Forest
College in Illinois.
Stacy Oliver-Sikorski is the associate director
oliver@mx.lakeforest.edu
of residence life for student success at Lake
Forest College in Illinois.
 oliver@mx.lakeforest.edu

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66

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Talking Stick - September/October 2015

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