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Welcome to UC Berkeley Residential Living! On behalf of all of the Residential Living staff, I thank you for your interest in our program and website. Our goal is to develop inclusive communities that foster academic success and personal growth while providing students with transitional support. The Resident Directors and the live-in student staff they supervise accomplish this through a combination of educational events, community building activities, student empowerment and personal conversations. Resident Director Background and Training - Here at Berkeley, the development of each community is facilitated by full-time professional staff members (Resident Directors) who live and work in the residence halls with the students. Our Resident Directors bring years of experience working with students in higher education and typically hold masters degrees in student personnel services, counseling or a related field. Health and Safety - Safety and security is the responsibility of each and every person in the halls. We provide a variety of safety programs each semester to help students develop awareness and skills for living in an urban environment. For example, self-defense courses, safe party tips, and property engraving programs are often held in the halls. Security Monitor staff also work in each unit from 5 PM to 3 AM nightly. We also highly encourage students to take advantage of free campus resources such as the night shuttle and door-to-door walk service. Student Leadership Opportunities - Students are empowered to participate in the creation of their residential community through a wide variety of leadership opportunities. For example, they may choose to run for a student government position in their hall, become a member of the student judicial board (Peer Review Board), or work as a Security Monitor, Health Worker or Hall Staff member. Programming - We take a holistic approach to student education and wellness and require each staff member to develop educational programs in the following four areas each semester: Academic Success, Community Development, Transitional Support, and Service to Others and Leadership. Examples of programming include: Nobel Lunches, Hurricane Katrina Poker Tournament, Salsa Lessons, and Movie Nights: Crash. Social Justice - Integrated into all of our work is a commitment to social justice. As a result, the Resident Directors and the staffs they supervise are trained to engage students in dialogue around issues of race, gender, sexual orientation, class, spirituality, and ability. We believe this focus helps students to develop the skills necessary to have positive interactions with all members of the student body and to succeed in a global community. Community Living Policies - The Office of Student Development has developed community living policies for the residence halls. The policies, such as quiet hours and fire alarm procedures, exist to promote the health and safety of the students and are enforced by the RAs and Resident Directors. Resident Directors may meet individually with a student to address concerns and support behavioral changes or refer a student to a panel of their peers (Peer Review Board) or the campus Health Center. As you can see, the residence halls provide a strong support system for students while transitioning into life at UC Berkeley. We are passionate about the services we provide and we are committed to providing students with the support and challenge necessary for academic success and personal growth. We look forward to meeting you on Move-in Day!
On behalf of all the Resident Directors, |
Only At Berkeley
