Campus Collaboration by Ellen Malito, Schneider Hall Director

University Housing is viewed as a strong organization on campus. We often have volunteers at events and help support many campus efforts. Individually, we have been supported in working with other departments. Personally, I have had the opportunity to volunteer in the Greek Life office and to teach a University 101 course. Other Hall Directors have taught various leadership courses with the Student Development staff, and collaborated on projects with the Student Programming Council and the Recreation Center.

In addition, much of the work we do includes collaboration with other offices on campus. We have standing relationships with the Counseling Center, the Saluki First Year office and with Faculty and Staff members through our Faculty and University Associate (FUA) program.

In my experience, I have had the opportunity to connect with students individually and share knowledge gained through these interactions, whether that interaction is through Sorority recruitment or a classroom. Additionally, the relationships built with other faculty and staff members are essential to the work we do.

Our relationship with the Counseling Center is strong. Each year, each Residence Hall(s) is paired of with a Counseling Liaison, a PhD student who currently works in the Counseling Center. The interactions these Liaisons have with the Hall Directors are not prescribed, but rather formed by the counselor and the Hall Director staff. Over the past three years, I have had Liaisons who have had meetings over lunch where we have discussed trends we are seeing on campus or individual student concerns, worked with RAs to help facilitate programming, and provided de-stressing activities for the RA staff. I know that if I need advice or need to alert them of a situation my Liaison is always available.

Many Faculty and Staff members across campus volunteer their time to be part of the floor communities in the halls. The relationships are individualized and based off of the needs, wants, and availability of the FUAs, the RAs, and the floors. Some FUAs provide weekly programming, and others choose the more casual approach of meeting with students over a meal.

The opportunities campus wide and within our department to have contacts with our student body and other professionals are limitless and encouraged. SIUC University Housing is a great place to be involved.