2012 - 2013 Residence Hall Handbook

1.2 University Housing Contact and Staff Information

STAFF

Residential living units exist to provide an opportunity for students to extend their learning experiences beyond the classroom, library, and laboratory. The University Housing staff attempts to create a living environment in which each student is offered an opportunity to develop as an individual in an atmosphere that encourages emotional and intellectual growth.

The University Housing Residence Education staff consists of Resident Assistants (RA), typically undergraduate students who live and work on the residential floors and apartments, many having an academic success or citizenship focus; Coordinators for Residence Education, who live in the residence halls and are responsible for supervising RAs, advising Hall Government and managing daily residence life operations. The Coordinators and RAs receive centralized leadership and support from a Director, Associate Director and Specialist for Academic Initiatives, three Assistant Directors, and a Graduate Assistant. Hall secretaries assist in the administrative operations of the hall and provide customer service.

In addition to the hall staff you will meet Facilities staff members: Housekeepers and Skilled Trades maintenance workers who maintain the living environment in the building. University Housing also employs ResNet Technicians, students who assist residents by identifying problems with computers on the campus network (including personal computers), and troubleshooting solutions when appropriate.

The Housing Office is located at 410 North Arkansas Avenue. Here you will find several University Housing units: the Executive Director for University Housing; Administrative Services, responsible for room assignments, Housing and Dining Contracts, and departmental research. The Residence Education leadership and support offices are also located at 410 N. Arkansas.

Housing has administrative offices in two additional buildings - in Pomfret Hall: Business Affairs, responsible for appropriate stewardship of Housing resources including accounting, purchasing, and staff development/human resources management, and the supervisory staff for the Housekeeping and Maintenance, Facilities Operations, Safety and Security and Interior Design internship students, as well as Accounting and Purchasing staff.

Information Technology, consisting of System Administrators, Computer Support Specialists and Application Designers, is located in Futrall Hall along with the Housing Marketing Office.

COUNSELORS-IN-RESIDENCE

The Counselors-In-Residence (CIR) are doctoral students who are trained to listen and assist you in making life decisions. The CIR staff is available for assistance with problem solving and decision-making. This is a service provided by University Housing to all residence hall students free of charge. You can contact your RA for more information about the Counselor-In-Residence program.

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1.3 Welcome to University Housing

Welcome Home!

As you embark on the start of what I hope will be one of the best experiences of your life, I encourage you to take advantage of the leadership opportunities, involvement opportunities, services, and resources that are available to you. University Housing has a fabulous team of staff members that are committed to your success and development as a student, resident, member of the University of Arkansas community, and most importantly, as an individual.

Students breathe life into the facilities. They are the driving force that stimulates not only programmatic and developmental growth, but also the need for assessment and change. Central to the residential life experience is the community and living environment in which you live. University Housing embraces diversity, respect, ethics, accountability for one's actions, and integrity. This handbook will help you understand housing policies, procedures, services, leadership opportunities, involvement opportunities, and your rights and responsibilities as a member of your hall community.

Remember that you are not alone in your college life experience. College is also an opportunity to establish life-long friendships and develop mentor-protègè relationships with faculty and staff members.

Equally important to Housing's dedication to your success, is your dedication to yourself, your academic success, your development, and your contributions to your residence hall community. The key to your success is in the palm of your hand. We can only provide you with tools that may be able to help you navigate through your journey.

Explore the opportunities!

Sincerely,
Florence Johnson
Executive Director of University Housing

On behalf of Residents' Interhall Congress, we would like to warmly welcome you to an unforgettable year at the University of Arkansas.

Living on-campus in a residence hall is one of the best decisions you can ever make because opportunities are everywhere! You will have the opportunity to engage in several activities, make friends and establish relationships, utilize countless academic resources, and enjoy a type of lifestyle matched by any other. Living in a residence hall provides residents with a remarkable living experience that you will not find in a classroom setting.

Residents' Interhall Congress (RIC) is the student organization that governs over all of the residence halls on-campus and represents ALL on-campus students. While our motto is "The voice of the on campus student," we are not limited to serving as a mere legislative body. From representing your interests regarding on-campus issues, to providing entertaining programs for residents such as Razorback Idol and Casino Night, our goal is to work for your interests. We not only operate on our own, but RIC works closely with your individual hall governments to assist in reaching the goals they have set out for the year to enhance and improve your quality of live as a student living on campus.

We hope to accomplish many things this year and improve our standing among students and administrators. It is our goal to provide you with an image of our organization that ignites and truly encapsulates what it is that we serve to do. We want to do all that we can to provide you with the best on-campus experience possible. One of the ways we hope to start is by addressing things like: sidewalk traffic, campus crowding, and sustainability. We want to involve ourselves in anything that could make living on campus more safe and enjoyable for you.

There are lots of opportunities for you to get involved in RIC in order to make a difference for your hall and all those that live on-campus. You can serve as an RIC senator, hall executive, or hall senator, but remember that as an on-campus resident you are already a member of RIC. Within a short time of moving in, you will likely notice some things that invite change - let RIC help you accomplish those ideas, and don't be a stranger. Our goal is to voice your thoughts, your opinion, and your ideas because this is your college experience and we want to make it as best and as safe as possible.

Again, we are excited to welcome you into our on-campus community and wish you luck in all your pursuits here at the University of Arkansas. If you have any questions, please email us at ric@uark.edu.

Sincerely,
Onnissia Harries
President
Residents' Interhall Congress
University of Arkansas

RIC Home Page

RIC Facebook: UarkRIC

RIC Twitter: @UARK_RIC

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1.4 Purpose of This Website

PURPOSE

This website is a "guide" to life in a University of Arkansas residence hall. It describes policies relating to contractual relationships, fire, safety, and maintenance standards and is intended as your Housing resource. University Housing and the University of Arkansas reserve the right to update and/or change policies throughout the year. Any questions concerning policies and procedures should be addressed to the Residence Education staff in your living unit. Living units and/or residential facilities refer to houses, individual rooms, suites, or apartments in any facility operated by University Housing for which a student has contracted for a space.

MISSION

University Housing is committed to providing a quality living and learning environment that both challenges and supports the personal, social, and academic development of our residents and their diverse communities.

UNIVERSITY HOUSING

University Housing has responsibility for residential student welfare, residence hall and apartment staffing, educational and social programs, student advisement, residence hall and apartment maintenance and repair, housekeeping, and University Housing contract issues. The central office is located at 410 N. Arkansas Avenue. We can be reached by telephone at 479-575-3951 or by e-mail at housing@uark.edu.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION

The University of Arkansas is committed to the policy of providing educational opportunities to all qualified students regardless of their economic or social status, and will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, creed, sexual orientation, disability, veteran's status, age, marital or parental status, or national origin.

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