Showing posts with label SIU Res Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SIU Res Life. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

February OTM Winners

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We also hope people considering working in RA, graduate assistant, or full-time positions with our department will take a minute to learn more about the things we are doing. More information about our department, including position descriptions, application information, and graduate and full-time staff profiles can be found on ourrecruitment website.

February flew by and we had LOTS going on! We hosted the Illinois Residence Hall Association 2014 conference, assisted with the overnight program and interviews for the Chancellor's and University Excellence Scholarship interview weekend, interviewed over 200 candidates for Resident Assistant positions, coordinated a campus-wide Tunnel of Oppression as part of Black History Month, and sent a recruitment team to the Oshkosh Placement Exchange to interview candidates for graduate and full-time positions. Here are a few highlights our students and staff chose to nominate for Of The Month recognition.

Regional Winner

University Housing - Organization Of The Month - nominated by Gena Stack

"While cooperation and teamwork are core values of the department, this month has been a shining example of what can be accomplished when dedicated staff members pull together for a common purpose. University Housing put on a major program or event each week this month, and each was a resounding success - not because of the commitment of an individual, but because of the combined strength of the team."

Campus Winners

Jennifer Dilbeck - Student Of The Month - nominated by Christopher Weiss

Rishae Rucker - First Year Student Of The Month - nominated by Alyssa Davis

Cookies & Community - Social Program Of The Month - nominated by Gena Stack

To submit an Of The Month nomination, please go to http://otms.nrhh.org/

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

November OTM Winners

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We also hope people considering working in RA, graduate assistant, or full-time positions with our department will take a minute to learn more about the things we are doing. More information about our department, including position descriptions, application information, and graduate and full-time staff profiles can be found on our recruitment website.

22 Of The Month nominations were submitted for November. Of those, 8 were selected as Campus Winners, and 3 went on to be regional winners for GLACURH.

Regional Winners

Xzavier Lee, First Year Student Of The Month, nominated by Justin Schuch

"One first year student and outstanding leader in our residence halls has gone above and beyond 'doing things' throughout the month of November. Mr. Xzavier Lee spent this past month developing personally, assisting others, and being a model representative of our institution. Xzavier is a first year student studying computer science and brand new to the Saluki family! Mr. Lee is also a dedicated member of the Residence Hall Association and has worked diligently all month to develop those around him this month."


"Harvey Henson serves as an incredible example of an academic partner who supports the holistic development of students across campus, as well as in the academic arena."


"Throughout the hustle and bustle of fall, the month of November provides an opportunity for reflection and thanks to be shared with those who deserve it. In Residence Life at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, one staff member deserves endless thanks for the dedication they have showed the department throughout the month. Steven Yeagley, Assistant Director of Residence Life, has bent over backward to keep things running smoothly this month."

Campus Winners

Minute to Win It: Interview Edition, Educational Program Of The Month, nominated by Gena Stack




Challenge Day, Social Program Of The Month, nominated by Kalekey Love El

Thank you to the following individuals for submitting OTMs for November: Lucas Sears, Alyssa Davis, Jamaal Moore, Rachel Homewood, Mariah Patz, Joe Leet, Ciara Maxwell, Elizabeth Nielsen, Lauren Kyriazes, Miranda Hayes, Kalekey Love El, Justin Schuch, Gena Stack, Drew Donahoo, and Dennis Hoyle. Thanks for making recognition a priority!

To nominate an outstanding person or program for an Of The Month award, go to otms.nrhh.org 

Friday, July 26, 2013

The First Few Weeks by Amber Woyak

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We also hope people considering working in RA, graduate assistant, or full-time positions with our department will take a minute to learn more about the things we are doing. More information about our department, including position descriptions, application information, and graduate and full-time staff profiles can be found on our recruitment website.

Today's blog post was written by Amber Woyak. Amber began working at SIU on July 1, 2013, and is one of two Hall Directors in Schneider Hall. Amber has two years full-time experience working as a Hall Director at Ferris State University in Michigan. She received her Master's degree from SIU Carbondale and her Bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

For the past few weeks, SIU Residence Life Staff have been participating in Hall Director training.  As a new HD at SIU, it has been very exciting to meet the professional staff that I’ll be working with this coming year.  As a team, we have been fortunate to be able to spend the last few weeks together and continue planning for an excellent year.   I wanted to take this time to share a few of the exciting things we have been discussing for the coming year.

One part of training that was most exciting to me was the opportunity to travel to different departments on campus, such as AutomotiveTechnology & Aviation, University Honors Program, Mass Communication and Media Arts, College of Liberal Arts and School of Architecture.  As a team, we were able to meet with some of the Staff and Faculty members in these areas to learn more about their academic programs so we can serve as a better resource to our students.  We were able to tour their buildings and offices so we could see where our students are spending their time when they are not in our buildings.  It was extremely beneficial, as a new staff member to SIU, to participate in these tours and learn more about the academic side of campus.

Another exciting part of our training was taking a day to have a retreat at Touch of Nature.  During this time, we truly jumped into the details of the student organizations that our department advises or works with (RHA, Area Councils, NRHH, BTO, F/UAs, etc.)  Additionally, we were able to talk about the strengths and weaknesses of our programs and develop a tangible plan for the coming year with new initiatives.  I’m excited to see these come to fruition and be an active member of the change happening on campus. 

The last few weeks have been eye-opening to the changes happening on campus and in Residence Life. I’m lucky to be a part of such a great team and I am looking forward to the rest of training, opening and the academic year with the students!

Friday, June 7, 2013

Collaboration on Campus by Brian Gallagher

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We also hope people considering working in RA, graduate assistant, or full-time positions with our department will take a minute to learn more about the things we are doing. More information about our department, including position descriptions, application information, and graduate and full-time staff profiles can be found on our recruitment website.

Brian Gallagher is one of two Hall Directors in Schneider Hall. Brian's post discusses how, as a Hall Director, he has collaborated with SIU's Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities.

One of the great things about working at SIU are the good relationships Hall Directors are able to form with various professionals across campus. As a second year Hall Director, I have found myself able to connect with professionals even more than I was able to last year.

This year, one office in particular that has been great to connect with is the Office of Student Rights and Responsibility (SRR). At SIU, this is our conduct office. The office has some fantastic professionals in it.

I can remember several instances where we have needed to get a hold of their staff after hours to ask about an individual’s status (suspended, interim action, etc). There has been more than one occasion where the Director of SRR has come to my residence hall to discuss a situation with a student or to deliver a suspension/interim action letter. I really appreciate this office supporting the daily work we do in Residence Life.

Personally, I have also enjoyed connecting with these professionals. Sometimes we are sending one another links to various tumblr sites – while other times we call to share stories of interesting interactions with students (not violating any FERPA laws – rest assured!).

Finally, it has been great to work collaboratively with this office when it comes to using social media. The SRR twitter account has become a hub of activity during busy times this year. It is great to be able to point students (and colleagues alike) to this source of good information.

I look forward to continuing to develop my relationship with SRR – as well as other offices at SIU throughout my time here.

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Of The Month Award Winners - April 2013!

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We also hope people considering working in RA, graduate assistant, or full-time positions with our department will take a minute to learn more about the things we are doing. More information about our department, including position descriptions, application information, and graduate and full-time staff profiles can be found on our recruitment website.

12 Of The Month nominations were submitted during the month of April, 2013. Of those, 8 were selected as Campus Winners; and 1 was chosen as the Regional Winner for GLACURH. We're very proud of all our staff and the hard work they've done this year.

Regional Winner

Brandon Macier - Residence Life Faculty/Staff Of The Month, submitted by Gena Stack. "Brandon serves as photographer, historian, public relations representative, technology adviser, graphic designer, and more - all IN ADDITION to his traditional Hall Director responsibilities. Brandon could not accomplish all of this without a commitment to completing tasks and advancing the department. This commitment shows through in all that he does."

Campus Winners

Cats and Dogs on Campus - Community Service Program Of The Month  presented by Katelyn Walker and submitted by Dennis Hoyle. "Numerous residents had the opportunity to relax outside on a beautiful day and enjoy a positive mental health boost by playing with insanely cute animals. This was a great late-semester break for our students. In addition, the residents donated supplies and signed-up to volunteer their time for the local shelters. It is likely that many of these student volunteers will develop a long-term relationship with the animal shelter. This is a great opportunity for students to get a chance to collaborate with off-campus organizations!"

Nicole Carlen - Executive Board Member Of The Month, nominated by Jac Jewell. "Nicole has a love for this organization and it has shown vividly through all she has done this month. She has been a vital role to NRHH this year and she will be missed next year. However, during the month of April she was able to help find new members and keep our current members motivated."

Elaheh Bashang - First Year Student Of The Month, nominated by Justin Schuch. "As an active member of her Area Council, Elaheh was a cornerstone in making sure the month of April was filled with programming efforts driven towards improving the on-campus living experience."

Residence Hall Association - Organization Of The Month, nominated by Justin Schuch. "Lead by a dynamic and dedicated executive board, the Residence Hall Association has endeavored to truly enhance the on campus living experience for all those they represent throughout the month of April. By creating inclusive and welcoming meetings, intentional collaborations, strong programming, and setting the stage for the future of their group, members of the Residence Hall Association have redefined what spring can look like for a successful organization!"

Nicolette Winn - Resident Assistant Of The Month, nominated by Lauren Kyriazes. 'April of 2012, Nicolette has launched a movement called the “No Longer Silenced” project. “The mission of the No Longer Silenced Movement is to raise awareness for and inspire teen survivors of child abuse. It is the No Longer Silenced Movement's highest aspiration that these teens will understand that they are not alone, realize how to ask for help, and acquire skills to aid in future success.” '

Robert Konzelmann - Residential Community Of The Month, nominated by Katelyn Walker. "Throughout the year Robert has stood out as a student and a community member in the Architecture Living Learning Community (LLC)."

Rebecca Dycus - Spotlight Of The Month, nominated by Gena Stack. "I can confidently say Rebecca lives this mission in her work. She promotes our residential communities positively; represents our staff team as a warm, open, caring individual; and makes University Housing a better workplace for all with whom she comes in contact."

Thank you to the following individuals for submitting OTMs for April: Elizabeth Nielsen, Sarah Larsen, Lauren Kyriazes, Beisabel Velasco, Katelyn Walker, Dennis Hoyle, Jac Jewell, Justin Schuch, and Gena Stack. Thank you for making recognition a priority!

Friday, April 26, 2013

March OTM Winners!

SIU Residence Life has some great things going on, and we want to showcase some of our proud moments on our blog. We also hope people considering working in RA, graduate assistant, or full-time positions with our department will take a minute to learn more about the things we are doing. More information about our department, including position descriptions, application information, and graduate and full-time staff profiles can be found on our recruitment website.

During the month of March, 9 Of The Month nominations were submitted. Of those, 8 were selected as Campus Winners (1 Campus Honorable Mention); of those 8, 2 were selected as Regional Winners for GLACURH. We are so proud of our team and excited to share the things that happened last month.

Regional Winners

Sign the Soap - Diversity Program Of The Month, presented and submitted by Rachel Head

Alyssa Davis - First Year Student Of The Month, nominated by Travis Gibler

Campus Winners

H.D. Motyl - Institution Faculty/Staff Of The Month, nominated by Rachel Head

Gamma Phi chapter of Phi Beta Lambda - Organization Of The Month, nominated by Nicole Gharbawi

Living in On Campus Whoville - presented by Bryan Walsh, nominated by Rachel Head

Kristy Beights - Residence Life Faculty/Staff Of The Month, nominated by Justin Schuch

Lauren Kyriazes - Residence Life Faculty/Staff Of The Month (Campus Honorable Mention), nominated by Jac Jewell

Jeanette Grosman - Resident Assistant Of The Month, nominated by Rebecca Borowiak

Thank you to the following individuals for submitting OTMs for January: Rachel Head, Travis Gibler, Nicole Gharbawi, Rebecca Borowiak, Nicole Carlen, Jac Jewell, and Justin Schuch. Thank you for making recognition a priority!