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Two student leaders engage with one another during a training activity.

Student Leader Training

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Training is a priority for our Residential Education team to help prepare student leaders for success. In support of the academic mission of the university, the residential student leader training curriculum for resident assistants (RA) and ethnic theme associates (ETA) are rooted in the responsibilities of their roles as outlined in the terms and obligations of appointment.

Decorative accent featuring eight dots representing the eight Neighborhood colors.

Alert

Attendance and participation throughout student leader training is a requirement as outlined in your student leader agreement.

Student Leader Training Information

Per the Undergraduate Residential Student Leader Terms and Obligations of Appointment, all student leaders must:

  • Attend and participate in all training and retreats required for all student leaders (even those who have previously attended) and for assigned residence. This includes but is not limited to training prior to the start of your student leader role, and supplemental training sessions throughout the academic year.
  • Attend training, retreats, and classes in person when required to do so.
  • Complete required online or alternative format training and classes when required to do so.
  • Complete any summer commitments, including internships, before Labor Day weekend in early September.

As a result of participating in training, student leaders will practice and achieve proficiency in the core principles of the neighborhoods. While the training curriculum prioritizes the expectations of student leader roles as determined by Residential Education, we collaborate with various Student Affairs units, faculty, and other campus partners as content experts to effectively train our residential student leaders. 

Evidence-based practices and theories utilized include:

  • Social Change Model of Leadership Development (Astin, Bonous-Hammarth, HERI)
  • Mattering and Marginality (Schlossberg)
  • Intersectionality (Crenshaw)
  • Public Health Harm Reduction
  • Question, Persuade, and Refer (QPR)
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy

Core Training Topics Include:

  • Agreement Review and Role Expectations
  • Community Building and Levels of Belonging 
  • How and Why We Program
  • Engaging with Difference
  • Facilitation
  • Mediation, De-Escalation, and Conflict Resolution
  • SHARE & Title IX Resources
  • Title VI Resources
  • Clery and Reporting Requirements 
  • Alcohol and Other Drug Education and Support Resources
  • Mental Health and Helping Skills
  • Flourishing and Well-Being
  • Fire & Life Safety
  • Financial Stewardship and PCARD compliance
  • Role Playing and Behind Closed Doors
  • Week One - Neighborhood-based group sessions with campus partners and resources are primarily scheduled throughout the first week. These sessions represent the foundational values and core competencies for all student leaders.
  • Week Two - Role specific training or Track Training for ETAs, RA-Cs, and RA-Os to allow learning and application of role specific and house specific content.

Please email if you have documented accommodations that should be considered. 

Contact Student Support via email here

More information about training, including a detailed schedule, will be sent to student leaders over summer from our Residential Training team. 

For general questions about training, reach out to us here

ResEd Student Leader Training Check-in, 2023. Credit: Nikolas Liepins / Ethography

Important Training & Move-in Dates for 2025

  • Student Leader Move-in
    • Labor Day Weekend
      • Friday, August 29 – Monday, September 1
  • Student Leader Training
    • Tuesday, September 2 – Sunday, September 14
      • Please expect to be in contact with your RF or GRA about a student leader retreat.
Wide shot of student leader training in session.