Effective

Residence Hall Programming
Presented and compiled by Michael Heck,Student Life Coordinator at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania
 

The Goals of Programming

(from Blimling & Miltenberger 1990)

1. To develop a community.
2. To Educate.
3. To involve students in their own learning.
4. To provide an outlet for the release of emotions.

“So long as instruction and life do not merge in our colleges, so long as what the undergraduates do and what they are taught occupy two separate, air-tight compartments in their consciousness, so long will the college be ineffectual.”

-Woodrow Wilson

Purposes of Programming

1. To create a relaxed atmosphere in which students may meet one another and strengthen already established relationships.
2. To introduce students to topics which they know very little about as well as explore in depth interests already held by students.

2. To offer students a chance to sharpen their own leadership and communication skills.

3. To give students the opportunity to meet formally and informally with outside resource people.

5. To serve as learning situations in which student leaders work to create a worthwhile experience for their peers
6. To aid in the adjustment of a student to college life.
7. To make students aware of the needs, interests, and desires of those in and out of the University Community.
8. To supplement and make more valuable the academic course work that students are involved in.
9. To encourage students to heighten their self-awareness.

Levels of Programming

One-to-One                                         Small Group                 Large Group

Roommate to Roommate                      Interest Groups Movies

Friend to Friend                                    Forums             Concerts

Friend to Foe                                       Coffee Houses              Picnics

Classmate to Classmate                        Team Events                 Barbecues

Staff to Student                                     Tournaments                 Dances

Instructor to Student                                                                Lectures

Adapted from materials used at Central Michigan University and a workshop by Cathy Clark, UIUC Area Coordinator.

A Six Step Model for Effective Programming

1.   NEEDS ASSESSMENT:    The procedures for finding out what programs are wanted needed, or useful

• Use information you get from the interest surveys.

• Make informal student contact - talk to people about what they are interested in, and most importantly, listen to what they say

• Discuss interest at floor meetings.

• Have students write out on noted cards during first floor meeting their hobbies, interests, skills, programs they would be willing to do for the floor.

• Generate ideas for programs which may address floor problems or difficulties expressed by your residents

Common Problems with Needs Assessment:

•  Making assumptions abut what people want or need

•  Having predetermined programs in mind before doing a needs assessment

•  Assuming that our needs are identical to other people's needs

2.   IDEA FORMULATION:   Playing with everyone's ideas and options abut what programs would fit the assessed needs, then making an informed choice based on priorities and limits

• Brainstorm - non-critically with high value placed on creativity

•  "Play" with ideas - loosen the mental locks and forget temporarily, about rules, practicality or being wrong

•  Compare and Contrast - to similar or related programs from this campus, other schools, other disciplines, etc.

•  Critically analyze ideas resulting in the choice of programs

 Common problems with idea formation:  most overlooked step and not enough time given. 

Free Advice About Hidden Resources:  Check Files, RHA, RDs,

3.   PROGRAM PLANNING:   Determining what needs to be done by when and whom

•  Make a checklist  and an assignment sheet

•  People support what they help create

•  Timing is critical what you competing against?

•  Determine the goals, evaluation criteria and strategies to be used before

•  Follow up delegated responsibilities

shows you care

subtle pressure is helpful

some people need more support and structure than others

makes their role seem more important

you must role model appropriately

don't expect them to do as you say not as you do

ask for them to meet with you at set intervals to take off pressure

•  Don't assume things - space, vouchers, food service, equipment remember these are hurdles to jump not barriers

Common Problems:

•  Not enough people involved in planning stages

• Tasks are delegated but no follow up is done to ensure completion

• No one volunteers so the RA does everything

• Too many details are left to the last minute and then things fall through

4.   PUBLICITY:  Determining effective strategies to inform people about the event, but, most importantly, to create a sense of enthusiasm and motivation in the audience

•  "Back to the Basics" - make sure that you cover the basics like who, what, when, where, why, and how much ($); also, methods like using the back of stall  doors and making announcements at hall government and SCC meetings should be considered standard practice

•  Plan backwards from the date of the event - what publicity needs to be out for what audience by when

•  Tell the truth - do you read 8 1/2 x 11 white signs in the hallways?  DO SOMETHING NEW AND CREATIVE!!!

•  See the attached "Ways To Advertise" sheet for new and creative ideas

•  Who are you trying to reach?!  A good question to ask!

•  WORD OF MOUTH - still THE most effective advertising known to humankind - another one of those trite, but oh-so-true realities

•  Emphasize the benefits and value of the program

•  If you are not enthusiastic about the program, no one else  will be - ask five people a day for two weeks prior to the event if they will be attending the program (yes, I'm totally serious!) - they will either say "yes" to get you off their back or  they will be convinced that they won't want to miss such a good program

 Common Problems with Publicity:

•  Lack of creativity

•  Poor location for advertising

•  Timeliness - no one will go to your program if the publicity goes up the day before the event

•  Depending totally on the written word - TALK YOUR PROGRAMS UP!!!

5.   PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION:  Putting on the actual program

    (Note:  Murphy's Law has an incredible track record at this time)

•  Run through your checklists and confirm arrangements the  day before and/or the day of the program

•  Arrive early to ensure that everything is ready

•  After the event thank everyone for participating and plant seeds for their participating in future programs

•  Leave the facilities in the same condition that you found them - you will soon realize the incredible benefits of good working relationships with the Building Service and Maintenance staff.

• Return all equipment the day of or the day after the event - especially if you ever want to use that equipment again!

• Reward the people who helped with the program

different people need different kinds of attention

celebrate your successes

public thank yous are almost always appreciated (at floor meetings, in the hall newspaper, etc.)

Common Problems with Program Implementation:

•  Failure to plan and/or follow through on any number of details from your planning checklists - Murphy's Law will catch up with you!

6.   EVALUATION:  Determining if the program was successful and worth repeating - various degrees of sophistication for measuring and defining success

•      Plan program goals, evaluation strategies and evaluation criteria in the Program Planning stage

•      What the heck did the program planners learn from planning the program and/or from the program itself?

•      Encourage honest feedback from the participants

•      Make recommendations for potential future programmers to  use

•      Leave the evaluation results in a place where others can utilize them in the future

Common Problems with Evaluation:

•      Not done at all

•      Not planned for in advance

•      Uncertainty about what to measure - usually because there are no program goals

Program Planning Checklist

 _____  Assess needs of population

_____  Brainstorm ideas

_____  Determine goals of program

_____  Choose theme

_____  Select planning committee

_____  Choose time and date

_____  Choose location (reserve space, turn in furniture requests and/or diagrams,

             pay any deposits, etc.)

_____  Arrange finances (prepare budget, identify sources of  income, ask for money,

            prepare vouchers/contracts/transfers/purchase orders/etc. with hall

            treasurer or graduate assistant)

_____  Coordinate plans with other groups (housing staff,  advisor, other groups in

            the hall,  (space reservations and furniture rearrangements), Food

            Services (ordering food on Social Events Order forms),

_____   Maintenance (some special equipment needs)., etc.)

_____  Contact guest speakers, etc. to arrange and verify details

_____   Reserve audio-visual equipment (pick-up, cost, return,

_____  Turn in all forms needed for permission or approval (check with RD if unsure)

_____  Arrange for staffing (at doors, exits, refreshments)

_____  Arrange for set-up (details, committee, rewards)

_____  Arrange for clean-up (details, return equipment, commit­tee, rewards)

_____  Arrange for security (usually only for all-campus events or when large sums of

            money are collected)

_____  Prepare decorations (check fire and safety codes, if in doubt)

_____  Order refreshments and serving items (napkins, cups, plates, etc.)

_____  Determine publicity strategies (costs, what kinds, loca­tions, timing)

_____  Order tickets (printing, distribution, collection)

_____  Plan for money collection (who, when, change fund and container, how to

            deposit money, staff to lock up in office safe)

_____  Order needed transportation

_____  Plan evaluation strategies (goals, criteria, methods, timing)

_____  Send out thank you notes

_____  Reward program planners

Adapted from materials designed by Kathy Obear, Colorado State University

Aber & Shay, 4/11/87, UIUC

Why Programs Fail

 1.  Poor design:

                        not setting goals                                    not well planned

                        not getting input (needs and interests)

                        reaching wrong group

 2.  Choosing poor location:

                        too far from students                             too many distractions

                        not comfortable--sit in chairs                 not known to students

                        too cold

 3.  Poor publicity:

                        not eye catching                                    not creative information

                        not enough                                            too cluttered

                        not enough in advance                       poorly located

 4.  Choosing poor facilitator:

                        poor interpersonal skills                        not knowledgeable enough in area

                        poor speaker

 5.  Not gaining support of colleagues through:

                        good communication                             delegation

                        involvement

 6.  Unprepared facilitator:

                        lack of agreement on topic                    expectations of number of people

                        doesn't show                                        not enough time before program

                        does speaker arrive?

 7.  Timing:

                        didn't check students schedules to see what people do

                        during certain times of day

                        didn't check out other activities--finals, mid-terms, holidays

 8.  Murphy's Law:

                        film doesn't show                                  equipment doesn't work

                        poor films                                             room not set up or lights

                        uncomfortable temperature                    don't work

                        run short of money                                other helpers don't come through

 9.  Not following University procedure

10. Program runs too long:  didn't specify with speaker

Adapted from materials used at Central Michigan University and a workshop by Cathy Clark, UIUC Area Coordinator.