Overview of Programming Model

Three parts:

1.  Each RA will conduct ONE floor/section/bldg program a month for their designated residents. This program can be social, educational, community service or academic initiative.

2.  Each RA will attend a university event (sporting game, breakout entertainment, music dept.) with residents from their area each month.

3.  Each hall staff will do an all hall program each month to bring residents of the hall together which will cover the four topical areas by the end of the semester:  community service, cultural, social, and academic initiative.

• All programs (including campus events) will be advertised in ways other than just using an 8 ½ by 11 sheet of paper for a flyer.
• A sign up sheet for each program will done. The campus events program will include a sign up sheet given to the HD prior to the event.
• RA’s are responsible for the programs. They are expected to do all aspects if the programs (advertising, planning, requisition, set-up, clean-up, etc.)

Guideline for Requesting Funds

The Department of Housing has funds available each year for use in programming.  The following are the specific guidelines that are to be used when requesting funds for programming.  The Assistant Director of Housing determines the amount of programming money available to each Hall and Residence Hall Association.

• All requests must be accompanied by an itemized cost list, titled "Purchase Requisition List Sheet".  You'll need to ask the vendor if they will accept a
• TAMU-C Purchase Order.
• The Purchase Requisition List Sheet must be approved by the RA’s Hall Director, for in the case of RHA, the Adviser.  This list sheet must be delivered to the Family Housing Secretary in the Housing Office.
• Requisitions must be turned in to be Housing Office at least one week in prior to a scheduled to event.
• You're Hall Director will give you the purchase order what it is ready.
• Pick up the items listed on the purchase order, and give the purchase order to the vendor listed.  The vendor will give you a receipt, and you'll give the receipt to your Hall Director.

CANs AND CANNOTs

• Purchase orders can be used purchase recreational equipment (softball equipment, table games, volleyball equipment, pool queues, ETC.) to be used by the residents Hall community.
• Purchase orders can be used purchase food and non-alcoholic beverages for all hall functions.
• Purchase orders cannot be used purchase alcoholic beverages. 

Purchase Requisition (PDF)

Utilizing Faculty

When planning programs within the residence halls, it is helpful for RAs to be aware of resources that are available to them. As you plan programs, you can avoid frustration and searching if you know where you can turn to find programming resources right here on campus. RAs are strongly encouraged to involve TAMU-C Faculty in any/all residence hall programming efforts.

When planning programs that involve faculty, try to remember that you do not necessarily need to ask a professor to speak on a specific topic. At times, an informal discussion is an effective and welcomed format. At the same time, make attempts to invite faculty to your "regular" social programs - professors like to have fun and eat junk food just as much as your residents! A faculty member does not have to "be" the program in order for both students and the professor(s) involved to benefit from that program.
Planning Tips:

• Be specific when providing information regarding date, time, location, etc.
• Make the program presenter aware of the number of residents expected.
• Make sure someone is available to welcome and escort the faculty member during their visit to your residence hall.
• ALWAYS write a thank-you note. People like to know their efforts are appreciated. A THANK-YOU NOTE IS AN EXPECTED AND NECESSARY COURTESY.
• Be conscious of the time at which you invite a professor to your residence hall. Those faculty members with spouses and/or children will appreciate considerate scheduling on your part. If appropriate, you may even want to think about inviting faculty families into your buildings.

The 5 W's of Successful Program Planning
Being a successful program planner can be easy if you keep in mind the following:

• Think about WHO you are planning your program for…
• To be successful in the programming game, you need to consider the needs of your residents. These needs come in two forms:
• Those recognized by your residents, easily identified by talking to floor members or perhaps distributing an interest survey at your first floor meeting.
• Those not recognized by your residents, but things that people could truly benefit from learning about.
• Remember, a little common sense and your own personal experiences as a resident will be helpful in generating appropriate ideas.
• Think specifically about WHAT program idea you will pursue. Your task here is to match resident needs with programming ideas. Again, use resources available to you including other RAs, your HD, campus, as well as community groups and organizations…
• Think about WHY you are programming… What are the goals of the program?
• WORK out the Nuts and Bolts of the event:
• What are the resources available?
• How will the program actually be presented?
• How much is this thing going to cost and do we have enough money in our budget?
• How will I publicize the event?
• What else am I not thinking of? ASK SOMEONE TO PLAY DEVIL’S ADVOCATE
• WATCH what happens. Evaluate what has happened. Either ask for informal feedback or distribute an actual evaluation sheet at the end of the event. Keep any evaluation quick, simple, and concise. In addition, solicit suggestions for follow-up programs.

Large numbers are not always what determines the SUCCESS of a program. If those who attend an activity have benefited from what you have created, consider it a job well done!
Program Planning Checklist

THE CREATION
1.             ____ Have you assessed the needs of  your residents?
2.             ____ Have you taken steps to insure that this program does not reflect stereotypes or assumptions about any ethnic, religious or political group, lifestyle preference or gender?
3.             ____ Is there enough time to plan this event between now and the scheduled date?
4.             ____ Do you, as person-in-charge, have the necessary time to do the job?
5.             ____ Is the selected date of the program the best time? Does it conflict with exams, holidays, on/off campus programs, athletic events, etc.?
6.             ____ Is this program accessible to community members with disabilities?
7.             ____ Is the desired space available?
8.             ____ Are there people committed to help with the work involved? Have you designated duties to each of these people?
9.             ____ Are there funds available for the program? Do you know where to get the necessary funds?

PREPARE YOURSELF!
1.             ____ Have you turned in your requisition/ purchase order form? (1 week before the event for approval)
2.             ____ Has the space been reserved?
3.             ____ Has any special equipment been ordered or reserved?
4.             ____ Have the entertainers/ presenters been selected and/ or approached
5.             ____ Are you, as a planner of this program, prepared to confront insensitive comments or gestures from participants?

TALK IT UP
1.             ____ Has the event been announced to the Residence Life population?
2.             ____ Does this program and its publicity invite all community members to attend, not just those who are members of the group of the topic focus (i.e., black history, women’s issues,  etc.)?
3.             ____ Have you given your publicity to your Hall Director to take to the Office and make copies?
4.             ____ Do you have volunteers to make large promotional signs, put them up, and take them down after the event?
5.             ____ Have plans been made to get publicity under way at least one week prior to the event?
6.             ____ Have you been creative with your publicity efforts? Have you exhausted your advertising possibilities?

GET IT TOGETHER
1.             ____ Have arrangements been made for the pick-up, serving, and clean-up of refreshments?
2.             ____ Have plans been made to prepare as many of the decorations as possible prior to the date?
3.             ____ Has the decorating committee assigned tasks so as to best use the talents of its’ members?
4.             ____ Have arrangements been made for a sufficient number of staff to supervise the event?
5.             ____ Have the workers, including staff, security and responsible members been informed of their responsibilities?

BACK TO NORMAL
1.             ____ Is there a clean-up committee and do they know what must be done and by when?
2.             ____ Have arrangements been made to secure the necessary equipment? (mops, brooms, dust pans, etc.)
3.             ____ Has all equipment been returned?
4.             ____ Have thank-you cards been sent?

Stress Calendar
As you plan your programs, it is often helpful to know ahead of time what the needs and interests of your residents may be. Certain stress related events tend to occur . With this quick list of stress points throughout the academic year, you will be better equipped and able to implement some proactive ( that is such a good word) programming in an effort to catch stressors before they become causes for major anxiety.
September:

• Meeting and confronting new people and feelings.
• First year students are often experiencing freedom for the first time.
• Stress of overcrowded housing situations.
• Homesickness - ESPECIALLY for first year students.
• Alcohol blitz.
• Some first year students notice a discrepancy between their high school status and their initial college performance.
• Students feel depressed because of real or perceived restrictive policies and regulations of the College.
• Time Management - Students perceive that they have all the time in the world to "hit the books."

October:

• First year students begin to realize that life at college isn't as perfect as they thought it would be.
• Mid-term anxiety, often followed by a feeling of failure and loss of self-esteem.
• Change in hometown relationships begin to show.
• Confusion over sexual values as students are confronted with different lifestyles.
• Depression about social scene at the College.
• Planning for spring semester classes.
• Roommate conflicts begin to surface. The "honeymoon" is over.
• Winter Break can't arrive soon enough!

November:

• Academic pressure begins to mount due to overall work load, lack of ability and/or time management skills.
• Depression and anxiety increase for those who have not adjusted to college life.
• Economic Anxiety - Funds from parents and summer earnings begin to run out.
• Cold weather brings on the cold and flu season and less of a chance to be outdoors.
• Students who have over-extended themselves in campus activities feel stressed out about over committing themselves.

December:

• Anxiety, fear, and guilt increase as finals approach and papers are due.
• Pre-Christmas/Holiday depression, ESPECIALLY for those who have concerns for family and those who prefer not to go home due to family conflicts.
• Financial strain due to holiday shopping and travel costs.
• FINALS!
• Depression over going home and anticipated loss of freedoms.

January/February:

• Weather at this time of year keeps students cooped up with no way to release excess energy. Tempers may flare as cabin fever sets in.
• Everything seems the same!
• Many students experience depression because they perceive the second semester as "going downhill."
• Couples begin to establish stronger ties, or experience weakening of established ones.
• Financial stress as Spring Break plans are finalized.
• It seems as if Spring Break will never arrive.

March:

• Drug and alcohol seems to rise during this month.
• Anticipation of separation as the end of the semester approaches.
• Academic pressure from mid-terms and papers.

April:

• Course selection for the following semester.
• Summer job pressure.
• Academic pressure continues to build.
• Job panic for graduating seniors begins.
• Do I have enough credits to graduate?
• Spring fever hits HARD as the weather begins to improve.

May:

• Senior panic over lack of jobs, financing oneself until the first paycheck
• Depression over leaving college, friends, and significant others.
• Spring fever continues.
• FINALS!
• Depression over going home and anticipated loss of freedoms.

Program Planning Cop-Outs

• I don't know what activity to plan. PICK SOMETHING!
• No one on my floor seems interested. HOW DO YOU KNOW?
• I don't know how. LEARN!
• You can't cram programming down people's throats. SURE YOU CAN, WE DO IT TO RA’S ALL THE TIME…
• It's not the responsibility of the RA. CHECK YOUR JOB DESCRIPTION
• I have other, more important things to do. SHOULD YOU BE AN RA???
• I will as soon as I get to know the residents better. HOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO THAT?
• I thought Jon was going to do it. COME ON, CAN YOU REALLY DEPEND ON JON? WHO IS THAT ANYWAY?
• Our building doesn't have any money. $1,000
• My residents just want to be left alone.  WELL YOUR BOSS WANTS YOU TO BOTHER THEM…
• I don't know what the resident's interests are.  DO A SURVEY
• My residents don't want to meet people.  HOW DID THEY MEET YOU
• There are too many things going on already. WELL JOIN THEM
• I'm afraid no one will come. TOO BAD FOR THEM
• I'm a student first. TRUE, AND WE WILL REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU REAPPLY
• Upperclassmen are too wrapped up in their own stuff for programs. UNWRAP THEM
• First year students don't understand the value of all this. TEACH THEM THE VALUE
• I've already completed my programming requirements for the semester. GOOD FOR YOU AND WHEN YOU NEED HELP NEXT WEEK I THINK I HAVE HELPED YOU ENOUGH FOR THE SEMESTER