A New Approach to Residence Life

Drawing on 15 years of experience, John, the first Dean of Students at Woodsworth College, spearheaded the creation of a unique residence life program, reimagining the traditional approach to staffing, policy, and programming. The program was rooted in Student Development Outcomes established by the Council for Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS), aiming to create a more impactful residence life experience.

The new approach influenced various aspects of the residence, from paint colors and furniture to room layouts. Most importantly, it fostered a transformative living environment. The hiring process for Resident Assistants (RAs) was redesigned to prioritize candidates skilled in assertive communication, feedback, and rapport building. RAs were tasked with facilitating weekly activities aligned with the 17 CAS outcomes, encouraging students to define these outcomes for themselves and co-create events and activities that promoted their achievement.

The residence policies were rewritten to be outcome-focused rather than rule-focused, supported by processes that encouraged open dialogue and flexibility in determining consequences. This approach fostered a sense of shared responsibility and personal growth among students.

A Story of Social Responsibility

One example illustrates the effectiveness of this approach. A student faced potential removal from residence due to a significant breach of the 'Social Responsibility' outcome. Before the investigation, the student's suitemates requested a meeting, surprising John with their focus on social responsibility and related outcomes. They offered to take responsibility for the accused student's future behavior, recognizing the impact of the residence life program on their understanding of social responsibility.

John acknowledged their proposal and met with the accused student, who took responsibility for their actions. When John shared the suitemates' offer, the student was stunned by their willingness to sacrifice on their behalf. Based on the information presented and the clear demonstration of the residence life outcome, the student was allowed to stay.

Following this experience, the student became significantly more active in the residence, taking on a leadership role. This story exemplifies how the outcome-focused approach fostered a sense of community and personal development, making the residence life experience truly impactful. 

Thanks to Stacey Platt for her collaboration in the creation of this model.