SEAHO Report - Winter 2013 - (Page 19)

SEAHO FEATURE years because you can see their differences with each year that they paint. This year I took each painting and attached ribbon to the backs so I can hang them from curtain rods across the walls of my office. Each time someone enters my office and notices them I get compliments and it is also a wonderful way to look up and remember the great staff members you have had over the years. Through these small activities and many others I have managed to break down the barriers in very diverse staffs over the years and helped them to better understand one another and realize that although they may come from different backgrounds, they have more in common than they realize. It is a wonderful feeling to see the walls start to crumble and the family start to be created through a few simple programs. And all of the above programs can be adjusted for RAs to use with their residents. As a final thought, it is important to note that keeping up staff morale and creating a tight team is a year-long effort. One of the most common mistakes staffs make is to focus on staff development solely at semester breaks. August and January are the easiest times to do it, but the best time is right now…and tomorrow…and yesterday. Any idea is a good idea as long as it speaks to your individual staff and their needs. Silly, serious, professional, or fun – it does not matter as long as you are taking the time to invest in the staff as a whole. Good luck!! Sustaining Sustainability: How Housing and Residence Life Can Impact the Sustainability Movement By James S. Bridgeforth Associate Director of Housing & Residence Life Lauren Gulsby Coordinator of Marketing & Summer Conferences Sharon E. Davis Secretary V University of South Alabama The concept of sustainability is rapidly moving away from a theoretical approach and becoming a practice of daily life. As the global community continues to be more readily concerned about the ecological health of the planet and economic pressures increase, sustainability seems to be at the forefront of the potential solutions. The National Center for Public Policy & Higher Education (2008) suggests that colleges and universities are considered a key component for helping the United States transition into a green nation; therefore, at many colleges and universities across the country housing and residence life professionals are leading the way. Student affairs professionals, specifically housing and residence life staff, are responsible for leading students in changing behavior. Therefore, housing and residence life professionals have a great responsibility SEAHO Report Winter 2013 in helping students learn about sustainability and transforming their behavior in a manner that is consistent with securing the environmental and economic health of the global community. Since facilities often have a great impact on student demand for university housing it may be paramount to implement sustainability initiatives into student living and learning. Before we can begin to address the challenges of establishing sustainability initiatives for student living and learning it is important to define sustainability. There are many great examples of definitions that may fit into a specific organization; however, there are a few definitions that are consistent staples for higher education and corporations alike. For example, the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (2013) defines sustainability as an 19

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SEAHO Report - Winter 2013

SEAHO Report - Winter 2013
Contents
SEAHO President
SEAHO “Editor”
SEAHO News
Officer Elections
RELI – 10th Annual Institute
SEAHO 2013 Conference Schedule
Bridging Academic & Student Life Missions: Faculty- Inclusive Community Building in Residence Halls
Are We Ready?
Staff Development Tactics
Sustaining Sustainability: How Housing and Residence Life Can Impact the Sustainability Movement
Starting something that Matters—James Madison University partners with TOMS Shoes
Putting Professional Competencies into Practice
Ten Tips to Revolutionize Your Work Using Your iPad
Advising 101
Hiring Practices and Staff Supervision: Integrating Multicultural Competency to Foster an Inclusive Work Environment
Shifting Sands: Technology and the Shifting Landscape of Residence Hall Student Leadership
Best Practices: Student Athlete Population in Housing
Student Affairs Around the Region
Alabama Updates
Florida Updates
Kentucky Updates
Mississippi Updates
North Carolina Updates
Tennessee Updates
Virginia Updates

SEAHO Report - Winter 2013